2000 Edition

Background

The Kingdom of the Netherlands was formed in 1815. In 1830 Belgium seceded and formed a separate kingdom. The Netherlands remained neutral in World War I but suffered a brutal invasion and occupation by Germany in World War II. A modern, industrialized nation, the Netherlands is also a large exporter of agricultural products. The country was a founding member of NATO and the EC, and participated in the introduction of the euro in 1999.

Area

land

33,889 sq km

total

41,532 sq km

water

7,643 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey

Climate

temperate; marine; cool summers and mild winters

Coastline

451 km

Elevation extremes

highest point

Vaalserberg 321 m

lowest point

Prins Alexanderpolder -7 m

Environment - current issues

water pollution in the form of heavy metals, organic compounds, and nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates; air pollution from vehicles and refining activities; acid rain

Environment - international agreements

party to

Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Geographic coordinates

52 30 N, 5 45 E

Geography - note

located at mouths of three major European rivers (Rhine, Maas or Meuse, and Schelde)

Irrigated land

6,000 sq km (1996 est.)

Land boundaries

border countries

Belgium 450 km, Germany 577 km

total

1,027 km

Land use

arable land

25%

forests and woodland

8%

other

39% (1996 est.)

permanent crops

3%

permanent pastures

25%

Location

Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between Belgium and Germany

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

exclusive fishing zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

the extensive system of dikes and dams protects nearly one-half of the total area from being flooded

Natural resources

natural gas, petroleum, arable land

Terrain

mostly coastal lowland and reclaimed land (polders); some hills in southeast

Age structure

0-14 years: 18% (male 1,497,290; female 1,431,671) 15-64 years: 68% (male 5,490,518; female 5,305,848) 65 years and over: 14% (male 885,839; female 1,281,071) (2000 est.)

Birth rate

12.12 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate

8.72 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups

Dutch 91%, Moroccans, Turks, and other 9% (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate

4.42 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Languages

Dutch

Life expectancy at birth

female

81.28 years (2000 est.)

male

75.4 years

total population

78.28 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

NA%

male

NA%

total population

99% (1979 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Dutch

noun

Dutchman(men), Dutchwoman(women)

Net migration rate

2.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Population

15,892,237 (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate

0.57% (2000 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 34%, Protestant 25%, Muslim 3%, other 2%, unaffiliated 36% (1991)

Sex ratio

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female

total population

0.98 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.64 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Administrative divisions

12 provinces (provincien, singular - provincie); Drenthe, Flevoland, Friesland, Gelderland, Groningen, Limburg, Noord-Brabant, Noord-Holland, Overijssel, Utrecht, Zeeland, Zuid-Holland

Capital

Amsterdam; The Hague is the seat of government

Constitution

adopted 1814; amended many times, last time 17 February 1983

Country name

conventional long form

Kingdom of the Netherlands

conventional short form

Netherlands

local long form

Koninkrijk der Nederlanden

local short form

Nederland

Data code

NL

Dependent areas

Aruba, Netherlands Antilles

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Cynthia P. SCHNEIDER

embassy

Lange Voorhout 102, 2514 EJ, The Hague

mailing address

PSC 71, Box 1000, APO AE 09715

telephone

(70) 310-9209

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

4200 Linnean Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Joris M. VOS

telephone

(202) 244-5300

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch

chief of state

Queen BEATRIX Wilhelmina Armgard (since 30 April 1980); Heir Apparent WILLEM-ALEXANDER (born 27 April 1967), son of the monarch

elections

none; the monarch is hereditary; following Second Chamber elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the monarch; vice prime ministers appointed by the monarch

head of government

Prime Minister Wim KOK (since 22 August 1994) and Vice Prime Ministers Annemarie JORRITSMA (since 3 August 1998) and Els BORST-EILERS (since 3 August 1998)

note

government coalition - PvdA, VVD, and D'66; there is also a Council of State composed of the monarch, heir apparent, and councilors consulted by the executive on legislative and administrative policy

FAX

(202) 362-3430

(70) 361-4688

consulate(s) general

Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York

consulate(s) general

Amsterdam

Flag description

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue; similar to the flag of Luxembourg, which uses a lighter blue and is longer

Government type

constitutional monarchy

Independence

1579 (from Spain)

International organization participation

AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, EIB, EMU, ESA, ESCAP, EU, FAO, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Judicial branch

Supreme Court or Hoge Raad, justices are nominated for life by the monarch

Legal system

civil law system incorporating French penal theory; constitution does not permit judicial review of acts of the States General; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Legislative branch

bicameral States General or Staten Generaal consists of the First Chamber or Eerste Kamer (75 seats; members indirectly elected by the country's 12 provincial councils for four-year terms) and the Second Chamber or Tweede Kamer (150 seats; members directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)

election results

First Chamber - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CDA 20, VVD 19, PvdA 15, D'66 4, other 17; Second Chamber - percent of vote by party - PvdA 30.0%, VVD 25.3%, CDA 19.3%, D'66 9.3%, other 16.1%; seats by party - PvdA 45, VVD 38, CDA 29, D'66 14, other 24

elections

First Chamber - last held 25 May 1999 (next to be held NA May 2003); Second Chamber - last held 6 May 1998 (next to be held May 2002)

National holiday

Queen's Day, 30 April

Political parties and leaders

Christian Democratic Appeal or CDA ; Democrats '66 or D'66 ; Labor Party or PvdA ; People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (Liberal) or VVD ; a host of minor parties

Political pressure groups and leaders

Federation of Netherlands Trade Union Movement (comprising Socialist and Catholic trade unions) and a Protestant trade union; Federation of Catholic and Protestant Employers Associations; Interchurch Peace Council or IKV; large multinational firms; the nondenominational Federation of Netherlands Enterprises

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

grains, potatoes, sugar beets, fruits, vegetables; livestock

Budget

expenditures

$170 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999 est.)

revenues

$163 billion

Currency

1 Netherlands guilder, gulden, or florin (f.) = 100 cents; note - to be replaced by the euro on 1 January 2002

Debt - external

$0

Economic aid - donor

ODA, $3.4 billion (1999)

Economy - overview

The Netherlands is a prosperous and open economy in which the government has successfully reduced its role since the 1980s. Industrial activity is predominantly in food processing, chemicals, petroleum refining, and electrical machinery. A highly mechanized agricultural sector employs no more than 4% of the labor force but provides large surpluses for the food-processing industry and for exports. The Dutch rank third worldwide in value of agricultural exports, behind the US and France. The Netherlands successfully addressed the issue of public finances and stagnating job growth long before its European partners. This has helped cushion the economy from a slowdown in the euro area. Strong 3.8% GDP growth in 1998 was followed by an only slightly lower 3.4% expansion in 1999. The outlook remains favorable, with real GDP growth in 2000 projected at 3.25%, along with a small budget surplus. The Dutch were among the first 11 EU countries establishing the euro currency zone on 1 January 1999.

Electricity - consumption

94.325 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - exports

400 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports

12.2 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - production

88.736 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

91.32%

hydro

0.11%

nuclear

4.08%

other

4.49% (1998)

Exchange rates

euros per US$1 - 0.9867 (January 2000), 0.9386 (1999); Netherlands guilders, gulden, or florins (f.) per US$1 - 1.8904 (January 1999), 1.9837 (1998), 1.9513 (1997), 1.6859 (1996), 1.6057 (1995)

note

on 1 January 1999, the EU introduced a common currency that is now being used by financial institutions in some member countries at a fixed rate of 2.20371 guilders per euro; the euro will replace the local currency in consenting countries for all transactions in 2002

Exports

$169 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Exports - commodities

machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels; foodstuffs

Exports - partners

EU 78% (Germany 27%, Belgium-Luxembourg 13%, France 11%, UK 10%, Italy 6%), Central and Eastern Europe, US (1998)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $365.1 billion (1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

3.5%

industry

26.8%

services

69.7% (1998 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $23,100 (1999 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

3.4% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.9% highest 10%: 24.7% (1991)

Imports

$152 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Imports - commodities

machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, fuels; foodstuffs, clothing

Imports - partners

EU 61% (Germany 20%, Belgium-Luxembourg 11%, UK 10%, France 7%), US 9%, Central and Eastern Europe (1998)

Industrial production growth rate

3% (1999)

Industries

agroindustries, metal and engineering products, electrical machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum, construction, microelectronics, fishing

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.2% (1999 est.)

Labor force

7 million (1998 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

services 73%, industry 23%, agriculture 4% (1998 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

3.5% but generous welfare benefits have prompted large numbers to drop out of the labor market (1999 est.)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

70 (1999)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 4, FM 58, shortwave 3 (1998)

Radios

15.3 million (1996)

Telephone system

highly developed and well maintained

domestic

the existing system of multi-conductor cables is gradually being replaced by fiber-optic cables; the density of cellular telephone traffic is rapidly increasing and further modernization of the system is expected in the year 2001, with the introduction of the third generation of the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM)

international

5 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 2 Atlantic Ocean), 1 Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions) (1996)

Telephones - main lines in use

8.431 million (1996)

Telephones - mobile cellular

1.016 million (1996)

Television broadcast stations

15 (plus five low-power repeaters) (1997)

Televisions

8.1 million (1997)

Airports

28 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total

19 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 1 (1999 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

9 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 6 (1999 est.)

Heliports

1 (1999 est.)

Highways

paved

113,018 km (including 2,235 km of expressways)

total

125,575 km

unpaved

12,557 km (1998 est.)

Merchant marine

note

many Dutch-owned ships are also operating under the registry of Netherlands Antilles (1998 est.)

ships by type

bulk 3, cargo 343, chemical tanker 41, combination bulk 2, container 56, liquified gas 20, livestock carrier 1, multi-functional large load carrier 8, passenger 8, petroleum tanker 25, refrigerated cargo 32, roll-on/roll-off 16, short-sea passenger 3, specialized tanker 5 (1999 est.)

total

563 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,035,899 GRT/4,576,841 DWT

Pipelines

crude oil 418 km; petroleum products 965 km; natural gas 10,230 km

Ports and harbors

Amsterdam, Delfzijl, Dordrecht, Eemshaven, Groningen, Haarlem, Ijmuiden, Maastricht, Rotterdam, Terneuzen, Utrecht

Railways

standard gauge

2,739 km 1.435-m gauge; (1,991 km electrified) (1998)

total

2,739 km

Waterways

5,046 km, of which 47% is usable by craft of 1,000 metric ton capacity or larger

Military branches

Royal Netherlands Army, Royal Netherlands Navy (includes Naval Air Service and Marine Corps), Royal Netherlands Air Force, Royal Constabulary

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$6.956 billion (FY98)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

NA%

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 4,090,273 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 3,566,882 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - military age

20 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males

96,684 (2000 est.)

Disputes - international

none

Illicit drugs

major European producer of illicit amphetamines and other synthetic drugs; important gateway for cocaine, heroin, and hashish entering Europe

NEW CALEDONIA