2011 Edition

Background

The Dutch United Provinces declared their independence from Spain in 1579; during the 17th century, they became a leading seafaring and commercial power, with settlements and colonies around the world. After a 20-year French occupation, a 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 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 EEC (now the EU), and participated in the introduction of the euro in 1999. In October 2010, the former Netherlands Antilles was dissolved and the three smallest islands - Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba - became special municipalities in the Netherlands administrative structure. The larger islands of Sint Maarten and Curacao joined the Netherlands and Aruba as constituent countries forming the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Area

41,543 sq km 33,893 sq km 7,650 sq km

total

41,543 sq km

water

7,650 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

Zuidplaspolder -7 m Mount Scenery 862 m (on the island of Saba in the Caribbean, now considered an integral part of the Netherlands following the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles) the highest point on continental Netherlands is Vaalserberg at 322 m

highest point

Mount Scenery 862 m (on the island of Saba in the Caribbean, now considered an integral part of the Netherlands following the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles)

lowest point

Zuidplaspolder -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

Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling none of the selected agreements

party to

Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

8.86 cu km/yr (6%/60%/34%) 544 cu m/yr (2001)

per capita

544 cu m/yr (2001)

total

8.86 cu km/yr (6%/60%/34%)

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

4,600 sq km (2008)

Land boundaries

1,027 km Belgium 450 km, Germany 577 km

border countries

Belgium 450 km, Germany 577 km

total

1,027 km

Land use

21.96% 0.77% 77.27% (2005)

arable land

21.96%

other

77.27% (2005)

permanent crops

0.77%

Location

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

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

12 nm 24 nm 200 nm

contiguous zone

24 nm

exclusive fishing zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

flooding

Natural resources

natural gas, petroleum, peat, limestone, salt, sand and gravel, arable land

Terrain

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

Total renewable water resources

89.7 cu km (2005)

Age structure

17% (male 1,466,218/female 1,398,463) 67.4% (male 5,732,042/female 5,624,408) 15.6% (male 1,141,507/female 1,484,369) (2011 est.)

0-14 years

17% (male 1,466,218/female 1,398,463)

15-64 years

67.4% (male 5,732,042/female 5,624,408)

65 years and over

15.6% (male 1,141,507/female 1,484,369) (2011 est.)

Birth rate

10.23 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)

Death rate

8.85 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)

Drinking water source

urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population (2008)

rural

100% of population

total

100% of population (2008)

urban

100% of population

Education expenditures

5.3% of GDP (2007)

Ethnic groups

Dutch 80.7%, EU 5%, Indonesian 2.4%, Turkish 2.2%, Surinamese 2%, Moroccan 2%, Caribbean 0.8%, other 4.8% (2008 est.)

Health expenditures

10.8% of GDP (2009)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.2% (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 100 (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

22,000 (2009 est.)

Hospital bed density

4.25 beds/1,000 population (2008)

Infant mortality rate

4.59 deaths/1,000 live births 5.08 deaths/1,000 live births 4.07 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

female

4.07 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

total

4.59 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Dutch (official), Frisian (official)

Life expectancy at birth

79.68 years 77.06 years 82.44 years (2011 est.)

female

82.44 years (2011 est.)

total population

79.68 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write 99% 99% 99% (2003 est.)

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

99% (2003 est.)

male

99%

total population

99%

Major cities - population

AMSTERDAM (capital) 1.044 million; Rotterdam 1.008 million; The Hague (seat of government) 629,000 (2009)

Maternal mortality rate

9 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)

Median age

41.1 years 40.3 years 41.9 years (2011 est.)

female

41.9 years (2011 est.)

male

40.3 years

total

41.1 years

Nationality

Dutchman(men), Dutchwoman(women) Dutch

adjective

Dutch

noun

Dutchman(men), Dutchwoman(women)

Net migration rate

2.33 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)

Physicians density

3.921 physicians/1,000 population (2007)

Population

16,847,007 (July 2011 est.)

Population growth rate

0.371% (2011 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 30%, Protestant 20% (Dutch Reformed 11%, Calvinist 6%, other Protestant 3%), Muslim 5.8%, other 2.2%, none 42% (2006)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population (2008)

rural

100% of population

total

100% of population (2008)

urban

100% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

17 years 17 years 17 years (2008)

female

17 years (2008)

male

17 years

total

17 years

Sex ratio

1.052 male(s)/female 1.05 male(s)/female 1.02 male(s)/female 0.76 male(s)/female 0.98 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

15-64 years

1.02 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.76 male(s)/female

at birth

1.052 male(s)/female

total population

0.98 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

under 15 years

1.05 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

1.66 children born/woman (2011 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

6.6% 7.1% 6.2% (2009)

female

6.2% (2009)

total

6.6%

Urbanization

83% of total population (2010) 0.8% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

rate of urbanization

0.8% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

83% of total population (2010)

Administrative divisions

12 provinces (provincies, singular - provincie); Drenthe, Flevoland, Fryslan (Friesland), Gelderland, Groningen, Limburg, Noord-Brabant (North Brabant), Noord-Holland (North Holland), Overijssel, Utrecht, Zeeland (Zealand), Zuid-Holland (South Holland)

Capital

Amsterdam 52 23 N, 4 54 E UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October The Hague is the seat of government; time descriptions apply to the continental Netherlands only, not to the Caribbean components

daylight saving time

+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

geographic coordinates

52 23 N, 4 54 E

name

Amsterdam

time difference

UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

adopted 1815; amended many times, most recently in 2002

Country name

Kingdom of the Netherlands Netherlands Koninkrijk der Nederlanden Nederland

conventional long form

Kingdom of the Netherlands

conventional short form

Netherlands

local long form

Koninkrijk der Nederlanden

local short form

Nederland

Dependent areas

Aruba, Curacao, Sint Maarten

Diplomatic representation from the US

Ambassador Fay HARTOG LEVIN Lange Voorhout 102, 2514 EJ, The Hague PSC 71, Box 1000, APO AE 09715 [31] (70) 310-2209 [31] (70) 361-4688 Amsterdam

chief of mission

Ambassador Fay HARTOG LEVIN

consulate(s) general

Amsterdam

embassy

Lange Voorhout 102, 2514 EJ, The Hague

FAX

[31] (70) 361-4688

mailing address

PSC 71, Box 1000, APO AE 09715

telephone

[31] (70) 310-2209

Diplomatic representation in the US

Ambassador Regina "Renee" JONES-BOS 4200 Linnean Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 244-5300, [1] 877-388-2443 [1] (202) 362-3430 Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York Boston

chancery

4200 Linnean Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Regina "Renee" JONES-BOS

consulate(s)

Boston

consulate(s) general

Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York

FAX

[1] (202) 362-3430

telephone

[1] (202) 244-5300, [1] 877-388-2443

Executive branch

Queen BEATRIX (since 30 April 1980); Heir Apparent WILLEM-ALEXANDER (born 27 April 1967), son of the monarch Prime Minister Mark RUTTE (since 14 October 2010); Deputy Prime Minister Maxime VERHAGEN (since 14 October 2010) Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch the monarchy is hereditary; following Second Chamber elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the monarch; deputy prime ministers appointed by the monarch there is also a Council of State composed of the monarch, heir apparent, and councilors that provides consultations to the cabinet on legislative and administrative policy

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch

chief of state

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

elections

the monarchy is hereditary; following Second Chamber elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the monarch; deputy prime ministers appointed by the monarch

head of government

Prime Minister Mark RUTTE (since 14 October 2010); Deputy Prime Minister Maxime VERHAGEN (since 14 October 2010)

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; the colors were those of WILLIAM I, Prince of Orange, who led the Dutch Revolt against Spanish sovereignty in the latter half of the 16th century; originally the upper band was orange, but because it tended to fade to red over time, the red shade was eventually made the permanent color; the banner is perhaps the oldest tricolor in continuous use

Government type

constitutional monarchy

Independence

23 January 1579 (the northern provinces of the Low Countries conclude the Union of Utrecht breaking with Spain; on 26 July 1581 they formally declared their independence with an Act of Abjuration; however, it was not until 30 January 1648 and the Peace of Westphalia that Spain recognized this independence)

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council (observer), Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CBSS (observer), CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, Schengen Convention, SECI (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Judicial branch

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

Legal system

civil law system based on the French system; constitution does not permit judicial review of acts of the States General

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 to serve four-year terms) and the Second Chamber or Tweede Kamer (150 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) First Chamber - last held on May 2011 (next to be held in May 2015); Second Chamber - last held on 9 June 2010 (next to be held by May 2015) First Chamber - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - VVD 16, PvdA 14, CDA 11, PVV 10, SP 8, D66 5, GL 5, other 6; Second Chamber - percent of vote by party - VVD 20.5%, PvdA 19.6%, PVV, 15.4%, CDA 13.6%, SP 9.8%, D66 6.9%, GL 6.7%, CU 3.2, other 4.3%; seats by party - VVD 31, PvdA 30, PVV 24, CDA 21, SP 15, D66 10, GL 10, CU 5, other 4

election results

First Chamber - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - VVD 16, PvdA 14, CDA 11, PVV 10, SP 8, D66 5, GL 5, other 6; Second Chamber - percent of vote by party - VVD 20.5%, PvdA 19.6%, PVV, 15.4%, CDA 13.6%, SP 9.8%, D66 6.9%, GL 6.7%, CU 3.2, other 4.3%; seats by party - VVD 31, PvdA 30, PVV 24, CDA 21, SP 15, D66 10, GL 10, CU 5, other 4

elections

First Chamber - last held on May 2011 (next to be held in May 2015); Second Chamber - last held on 9 June 2010 (next to be held by May 2015)

National anthem

"Het Wilhelmus" (The William) Philips VAN MARNIX van Sint Aldegonde (presumed)/unknown adopted 1932, in use since the 17th century, making it the oldest national anthem in the world; also known as "Wilhelmus van Nassouwe" (William of Nassau), it is in the form of an acrostic, where the first letter of each stanza spells the name of the leader of the Dutch Revolt

lyrics/music

Philips VAN MARNIX van Sint Aldegonde (presumed)/unknown

name

"Het Wilhelmus" (The William)

National holiday

Queen's Day (Birthday of deceased Queen-Mother JULIANA and accession to the throne of her oldest daughter BEATRIX), 30 April (1909 and 1980)

National symbol(s)

lion

Political parties and leaders

Christian Democratic Appeal or CDA [Maxime VERHAGEN]; Christian Union or CU [Andre ROUVOET]; Democrats 66 or D66 [Alexander PECHTOLD]; Green Left or GL [Henk NIJHOF]; Labor Party or PvdA [Job COHEN]; Party for Freedom or PVV [Geert WILDERS]; Party for the Animals or PvdD [Marianne THIEME]; People's Party for Freedom and Democracy or VVD [Mark RUTTE] (Liberal); Reformed Political Party of SGP [Kees VAN DER STAAIJ]; Socialist Party of SP [Emile ROEMER]; plus a few minor parties

Political pressure groups and leaders

Christian Trade Union Federation or CNV [Jaap SMIT]; Confederation of Netherlands Industry and Employers or VNO-NCW [Bernard WIENTJES]; Federation for Small and Medium-sized businesses or MKB [Loek HERMANS]; Netherlands Trade Union Federation or FNV [Agnes JONGERIUS]; Social Economic Council or SER [Alexander RINNOOY KAN]; Trade Union Federation of Middle and High Personnel or MHP [Richard STEENBORG]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

$358.5 billion $400 billion (2010 est.)

expenditures

$400 billion (2010 est.)

revenues

$358.5 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-5.3% of GDP (2010 est.)

Central bank discount rate

1.75% (31 December 2010) 1.75% (31 December 2009) this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro area

Commercial bank prime lending rate

3.013% (31 December 2010 est.) 3.367% (31 December 2009 est.)

Current account balance

$60.09 billion (2010 est.) $38.74 billion (2009 est.)

Debt - external

$NA (30 June 2011) $3.733 trillion (31 December 2009)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

30.9 (2007) 32.6 (1994)

Economy - overview

The Netherlands economy is noted for stable industrial relations, moderate unemployment and inflation, a sizable current account surplus, and an important role as a European transportation hub. Industrial activity is predominantly in food processing, chemicals, petroleum refining, and electrical machinery. A highly mechanized agricultural sector employs only 2% of the labor force but provides large surpluses for the food-processing industry and for exports. The Netherlands, along with 11 of its EU partners, began circulating the euro currency on 1 January 2002. The country has been one of the leading European nations for attracting foreign direct investment and is one of the four largest investors in the US. After 26 years of uninterrupted economic growth, the Netherlands' economy - which is highly open and dependent on foreign trade and financial services - was hard-hit by global economic crisis. Dutch GDP contracted 3.9% in 2009, while exports declined nearly 25% due to a sharp contraction in world demand. The Dutch financial sector has also suffered, due in part to the high exposure of some Dutch banks to U.S. mortgage-backed securities. In response to turmoil in financial markets, the government nationalized two banks and injected billions of dollars into a third, to prevent further systemic risk. The government also sought to boost the domestic economy by accelerating infrastructure programs, offering corporate tax breaks for employers to retain workers, and expanding export credit facilities. The stimulus programs and bank bailouts, however, resulted in a government budget deficit of nearly 4.6% of GDP in 2009 and 5.3% in 2010 that contrasts sharply with a surplus of 0.7% of GDP in 2008. With unemployment weighing on private-sector consumption, the government of Prime Minister Mark RUTTE is likely to come under increased pressure to keep the budget deficit in check while promoting economic recovery.

Electricity - consumption

112.5 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - exports

10.56 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - imports

4.888 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - production

105.7 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Exchange rates

euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.755 (2010) 0.7198 (2009) 0.6827 (2008) 0.7345 (2007) 0.7964 (2006)

Exports

$486.7 billion (2010 est.) $424.4 billion (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities

machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels; foodstuffs

Exports - partners

Germany 26%, Belgium 13%, France 9.2%, UK 7.7%, Italy 4.9% (2010)

GDP - composition by sector

2.8% 24.4% 72.9% (2010 est.)

agriculture

2.8%

industry

24.4%

services

72.9% (2010 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$40,300 (2010 est.) $39,800 (2009 est.) $41,600 (2008 est.) data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

1.7% (2010 est.) -3.9% (2009 est.) 1.9% (2008 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$783.3 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$676.9 billion (2010 est.) $665.3 billion (2009 est.) $692.4 billion (2008 est.) data are in 2010 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

2.5% 22.9% (1999)

highest 10%

22.9% (1999)

lowest 10%

2.5%

Imports

$429.5 billion (2010 est.) $373.4 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

Germany 15.5%, China 12.6%, Belgium 8.3%, US 6.8%, UK 6.2%, Russia 5.6% (2010)

Industrial production growth rate

7.1% (2010 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.3% (2010 est.) 1.2% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

18.2% of GDP (2010 est.)

Labor force

7.816 million (2010 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

2% 18% 80% (2005 est.)

agriculture

2%

industry

18%

services

80% (2005 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$661.2 billion (31 December 2010) $542.5 billion (31 December 2009) $387.9 billion (31 December 2008)

Natural gas - consumption

53.19 billion cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - exports

57.75 billion cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - imports

25.77 billion cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - production

85.17 billion cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

1.387 trillion cu m (1 January 2011 est.)

Oil - consumption

1.009 million bbl/day (2010 est.)

Oil - exports

1.871 million bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - imports

2.577 million bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - production

59,490 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

310 million bbl (1 January 2011 est.)

Population below poverty line

10.5% (2005)

Public debt

62.7% of GDP (2010 est.) 60.8% of GDP (2009 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$46.24 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $39.61 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$1.088 trillion (31 December 2010 est.) $1.165 trillion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$954.6 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $949.9 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$587.3 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $659.3 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$2.083 trillion (31 December 2009 est.) $1.824 trillion (31 December 2008)

Stock of narrow money

$375.5 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $361.8 billion (31 December 2009 est.) see entry for the European Union for money supply in the euro area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 17 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money circulating within their own borders

Taxes and other revenues

45.8% of GDP (2010 est.)

Unemployment rate

5.5% (2010 est.) 4.8% (2009 est.)

Broadcast media

more than 90% of households are connected to cable or satellite TV systems that provide a wide range of domestic and foreign channels; public service broadcast system includes multiple broadcasters, 3 with a national reach and the remainder operating in regional and local markets; 2 major nationwide commercial television companies, each with 3 or more stations, and a large number of commercial TV stations in regional and local markets; nearly 600 radio stations operating with a mix of public and private stations providing national or regional coverage (2008)

Internet country code

.nl

Internet hosts

12.607 million (2010)

Internet users

14.872 million (2009)

Telephone system

highly developed and well maintained extensive fixed-line fiber-optic network; large cellular telephone system with 5 major operators utilizing the third generation of the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) technology; one in five households now use Voice over the Internet Protocol (VoIP) services country code - 31; submarine cables provide links to the US and Europe; satellite earth stations - 5 (3 Intelsat - 1 Indian Ocean and 2 Atlantic Ocean, 1 Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat (2007)

domestic

extensive fixed-line fiber-optic network; large cellular telephone system with 5 major operators utilizing the third generation of the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) technology; one in five households now use Voice over the Internet Protocol (VoIP) services

general assessment

highly developed and well maintained

international

country code - 31; submarine cables provide links to the US and Europe; satellite earth stations - 5 (3 Intelsat - 1 Indian Ocean and 2 Atlantic Ocean, 1 Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat (2007)

Telephones - main lines in use

7.169 million (2010)

Telephones - mobile cellular

19.31 million (2010)

Airports

27 (2010)

Airports - with paved runways

1 (2010)

1,524 to 2,437 m

3

2,438 to 3,047 m

9

914 to 1,523 m

5

over 3,047 m

2

total

20

under 914 m

1 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways

4 (2010)

914 to 1,523 m

3

total

7

under 914 m

4 (2010)

Heliports

1 (2010)

Merchant marine

bulk carrier 1, cargo 464, carrier 21, chemical tanker 57, container 73, liquefied gas 19, passenger 17, passenger/cargo 15, petroleum tanker 5, refrigerated cargo 10, roll on/roll off 21, specialized tanker 3 217 (Australia 1, Denmark 36, Finland 14, France 2, Germany 92, Ireland 7, Italy 9, Japan 1, Norway 18, Sweden 18, UAE 4, US 15) 240 (Antigua and Barbuda 18, Australia 1, Bahamas 22, Belize 1, Cambodia 1, Canada 1, Cyprus 24, Gibraltar 33, Liberia 35, Luxembourg 2, Malta 2, Marshall Islands 16, former Netherlands Antilles 52, Panama 8, Paraguay 1, Philippines 18, Portugal 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 2, Singapore 1, unknown 1) (2010)

foreign-owned

217 (Australia 1, Denmark 36, Finland 14, France 2, Germany 92, Ireland 7, Italy 9, Japan 1, Norway 18, Sweden 18, UAE 4, US 15)

registered in other countries

240 (Antigua and Barbuda 18, Australia 1, Bahamas 22, Belize 1, Cambodia 1, Canada 1, Cyprus 24, Gibraltar 33, Liberia 35, Luxembourg 2, Malta 2, Marshall Islands 16, former Netherlands Antilles 52, Panama 8, Paraguay 1, Philippines 18, Portugal 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 2, Singapore 1, unknown 1) (2010)

total

706

Pipelines

gas 4,413 km; oil 365 km; refined products 716 km (2010)

Ports and terminals

Amsterdam, IJmuiden, Moerdijk, Rotterdam, Terneuzen, Vlissingen

Railways

2,896 km 2,896 km 1.435-m gauge (2,195 km electrified) (2010)

total

2,896 km

Roadways

136,827 km (includes 2,631 km of expressways) (2010)

total

136,827 km (includes 2,631 km of expressways) (2010)

Waterways

6,214 km (navigable for ships of 50 tons) (2010)

Manpower available for military service

3,911,098 3,817,031 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

3,817,031 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

3,911,098

Manpower fit for military service

3,201,328 3,122,889 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

3,122,889 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

3,201,328

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

103,462 98,383 (2010 est.)

female

98,383 (2010 est.)

male

103,462

Military branches

Royal Netherlands Army, Royal Netherlands Navy (includes Naval Air Service and Marine Corps), Royal Netherlands Air Force (Koninklijke Luchtmacht, KLu), Royal Military Police (2010)

Military expenditures

1.6% of GDP (2005 est.)

Military service age and obligation

20 years of age for an all-volunteer force (2004)

Disputes - international

none

Illicit drugs

major European producer of synthetic drugs, including ecstasy, and cannabis cultivator; important gateway for cocaine, heroin, and hashish entering Europe; major source of US-bound ecstasy; large financial sector vulnerable to money laundering; significant consumer of ecstasy