THE NETHERLANDS
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. The political capital of the Netherlands is the City of The Hague,
but Amsterdam (the biggest cit) is the administrative capital.
The head of state is Queen Beatrix,
from the House of Orange-Nassau. The official name of the country is
"The Netherlands", Holland being actually only the name of the area
around Amsterdam and Rotterdam.
The Netherlands is
one of the world’s smaller countries, with 15.8 million
inhabitants and an area of 41,864 square kilometres. Even so, it is the
sixth largest exporter and investor in the world. And flat as it is, the
Netherlands is full of surprises. A country where different cultures
have lived together for centuries, the Netherlands is renowned for its
accomplishments in the arts and sciences, but no less for its dairy
farming and flower industry.
The Kingdom of the Netherlands consists of the
Netherlands proper and the Caribbean islands of the Netherlands Antilles
and Aruba. The name Holland is often used instead of the
Netherlands, although, strictly speaking,
it refers to the two western
coastal provinces, North and South Holland, which have played an
important role in the country’s history. The fact that the Netherlands
lies on the coast and is situated on the estuaries of three major
Western European rivers - the Rhine, the Maas and the Scheldt - has
always been a major factor in the development of the economy. And with
Rotterdam as the largest port in the world, it is truly the gateway to
Europe. What is more, the Netherlands has one of the biggest airports in
Europe and the most up-to-date communications technology.
The major cities are all relatively close together, yet each has a
character of its own. And none, incidentally, has a population of more
than one million. Amsterdam with its historic city centre and museums,
its unique ring of canals and impressive buildings, attracts the most
tourists. But the cities of The Hague, Delft, Haarlem, Utrecht,
Groningen and Maastricht certainly have their share of historic
buildings, museums, traditions and attractions. Rotterdam is renowned
for its striking modern architecture, like the Erasmus Bridge, known
locally as the ‘Swan’.
The Netherlands has a long coastline
with many interesting villages and towns, and areas of natural beauty.
Lovers of water sports such as surfing, sailing and swimming will find
ideal conditions on one of the country’s many beaches or, further
inland, on the lakes, rivers and canals. Trips through beautiful nature
reserves may be made under sail, by motor boat or canoe. One of the most
popular ways to explore the Netherlands is by bicycle. The country is
criss-crossed by thousands of kilometres of cycle path. Visitors will
find a wide range of accommodation, excellent opportunities for
recreation and tourism, and outstanding facilities for international
congresses.
The many bridges, dikes, water mills and pumping stations are an
impressive sight. The extensive Delta works are a powerful reminder of
the battle the Dutch are still waging against the sea. The final part of
the project, the storm surge barrier in the New Waterway near the
Europort, was completed in 1997. The barrier has two enormous hinged
gates which can be lowered in severe weather conditions to close off the
360-metre-wide waterway and protect one million people in Rotterdam and
the surrounding area from flooding, without doing any harm to the
environment.
Nearly half of the country is below sea level. The lower Netherlands
consists largely of flat polders surrounded by dikes, where the water
table is regulated artificially. From the 16th century on, windmills
were used not only to keep the land dry but also to drain entire inland
lakes. They have since been replaced by pumping stations. Most of all,
the Netherlands is known for its flowers. The bulb fields in the
provinces of North and South Holland are at their most beautiful in
April and May, when the daffodils, hyacinths and tulips are in bloom.
Thousands of visitors flock to see them. The Netherlands produces 60 per
cent of the world’s commercially-grown flowers
What do South Africa, the USA, Holland and the Indian Ocean all have in
common? – They all have an Amsterdam
! However, only one of them has over 800 000 inhabitants from 140
countries, who do their shopping in 10 334 stores, 165 antique shops and
26 markets. They rush about at a leisurely pace on their 550 000
bicycles across 1 281 bridges, zig-zagging around 160 canals, riding
through one shower of rain after another and chasing the minority of car
drivers who still venture onto this territory claimed by the trusty
bike.
Yes, of course, this is the Amsterdam, coronation city and capital of
the Netherlands ! Of course the seat of government is in The Hague, but
the City of Canals is the true
“First Lady”. She wears the cosmopolitan scent of a world city, she is
open-minded, lively and breathtaking. As early as the
Golden Age of the 17th century the
city had acquired great wealth by trading with the exotic lands of Asia.
Nowadays the times of the great sea adventures are long gone, you can
only admire museum reconstructions of the proud East Indies cutters in
the port. Instead of the merchants and sailors haggling over china and
spices, today more than four million visitors pour into the city each
year. Amsterdam is a jewel, and the hallmark “Amsterdam cut” is
recognised by more than just dealers in precious stones as a sign of the
highest quality.
(Information Courtesy the Royal
Dutch Embassy in the US)
