2  definitions  found 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  Netherlands 
  n  :  a  constitutional  monarchy  in  northwestern  Europe;  half  the 
  country  lies  below  sea  level  [syn:  {Netherlands},  {The 
  Netherlands},  {Holland}] 
 
  From  The  CIA  World  Factbook  (1995)  [world95]: 
 
  Netherlands 
 
  Netherlands:Geography 
 
  Location:  Western  Europe,  bordering  the  North  Sea,  between  Belgium  and 
  Germany 
 
  Map  references:  Europe 
 
  Area: 
  total  area:  37,330  sq  km 
  land  area:  33,920  sq  km 
  comparative  area:  slightly  less  than  twice  the  size  of  New  Jersey 
 
  Land  boundaries:  total  1,027  km  Belgium  450  km  Germany  577  km 
 
  Coastline:  451  km 
 
  Maritime  claims: 
  exclusive  fishing  zone:  200  nm 
  territorial  sea:  12  nm 
 
  International  disputes:  none 
 
  Climate:  temperate;  marine;  cool  summers  and  mild  winters 
 
  Terrain:  mostly  coastal  lowland  and  reclaimed  land  (polders);  some 
  hills  in  southeast 
 
  Natural  resources:  natural  gas,  petroleum,  fertile  soil 
 
  Land  use: 
  arable  land:  26% 
  permanent  crops:  1% 
  meadows  and  pastures:  32% 
  forest  and  woodland:  9% 
  other:  32% 
 
  Irrigated  land:  5,500  sq  km  (1989  est.) 
 
  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 
  natural  hazards:  the  extensive  system  of  dikes  and  dams,  protects 
  nearly  one-half  of  the  total  area  from  being  flooded 
  international  agreements:  party  to  -  Air  Pollution,  Air 
  Pollution-Nitrogen  Oxides,  Air  Pollution-Sulphur  85,  Air 
  Pollution-Volatile  Organic  Compounds,  Antarctic-Environmental 
  Protocol,  Antarctic  Treaty,  Biodiversity,  Climate  Change,  Endangered 
  Species,  Environmental  Modification,  Hazardous  Wastes,  Marine  Dumping, 
  Marine  Life  Conservation,  Nuclear  Test  Ban,  Ozone  Layer  Protection, 
  Ship  Pollution,  Tropical  Timber  83,  Wetlands,  Whaling;  signed,  but  not 
  ratified  -  Air  Pollution-Sulphur  94,  Biodiversity,  Desertification 
  Law  of  the  Sea 
 
  Note:  located  at  mouths  of  three  major  European  rivers  (Rhine,  Maas  or 
  Meuse,  and  Schelde) 
 
  Netherlands:People 
 
  Population:  15,452,903  (July  1995  est.) 
 
  Age  structure: 
  0-14  years:  18%  (female  1,382,057;  male  1,445,451) 
  15-64  years:  68%  (female  5,184,224;  male  5,369,018) 
  65  years  and  over:  14%  (female  1,238,336;  male  833,817)  (July  1995 
  est.) 
 
  Population  growth  rate:  0.52%  (1995  est.) 
 
  Birth  rate:  12.42  births/1,000  population  (1995  est.) 
 
  Death  rate:  8.48  deaths/1,000  population  (1995  est.) 
 
  Net  migration  rate:  1.29  migrant(s)/1,000  population  (1995  est.) 
 
  Infant  mortality  rate:  6  deaths/1,000  live  births  (1995  est.) 
 
  Life  expectancy  at  birth: 
  total  population:  77.95  years 
  male:  74.9  years 
  female:  81.17  years  (1995  est.) 
 
  Total  fertility  rate:  1.56  children  born/woman  (1995  est.) 
 
  Nationality: 
  noun:  Dutchman(men),  Dutchwoman(women) 
  adjective:  Dutch 
 
  Ethnic  divisions:  Dutch  96%,  Moroccans,  Turks,  and  other  4%  (1988) 
 
  Religions:  Roman  Catholic  34%,  Protestant  25%,  Muslim  3%,  other  2%, 
  unaffiliated  36%  (1991) 
 
  Languages:  Dutch 
 
  Literacy:  age  15  and  over  can  read  and  write  (1979  est.) 
  total  population:  99% 
 
  Labor  force:  6.4  million  (1993) 
  by  occupation:  services  71.4%,  manufacturing  and  construction  24.6%, 
  agriculture  4.0%  (1992) 
 
  Netherlands:Government 
 
  Names: 
  conventional  long  form:  Kingdom  of  the  Netherlands 
  conventional  short  form:  Netherlands 
  local  long  form:  Koninkrijk  de  Nederlanden 
  local  short  form:  Nederland 
 
  Digraph:  NL 
 
  Type:  constitutional  monarchy 
 
  Capital:  Amsterdam;  The  Hague  is  the  seat  of  government 
 
  Administrative  divisions:  12  provinces  (provincien,  singular  - 
  provincie);  Drenthe,  Flevoland  Friesland,  Gelderland  Groningen 
  Limburg  Noord-Brabant,  Noord-Holland,  Overijssel  Utrecht,  Zeeland, 
  Zuid-Holland 
 
  Dependent  areas:  Aruba,  Netherlands  Antilles 
 
  Independence:  1579  (from  Spain) 
 
  National  holiday:  Queen's  Day  30  April  (1938) 
 
  Constitution:  17  February  1983 
 
  Legal  system:  civil  law  system  incorporating  French  penal  theory; 
  judicial  review  in  the  Supreme  Court  of  legislation  of  lower  order 
  rather  than  Acts  of  the  States  General;  accepts  compulsory  ICJ 
  jurisdiction,  with  reservations 
 
  Suffrage:  18  years  of  age;  universal 
 
  Executive  branch: 
  chief  of  state:  Queen  BEATRIX  Wilhelmina  Armgard  (since  30  April 
  1980);  Heir  Apparent  WILLEM-ALEXANDER,  Prince  of  Orange,  son  of  Queen 
  Beatrix  (born  27  April  1967) 
  head  of  government:  Prime  Minister  Willem  (Wim)  KOK  (since  22  August 
  1994);  Vice  Prime  Minister  Hans  DIJKSTAL  and  Hans  VAN  MIERLO  (since  22 
  August  1994) 
  cabinet:  Cabinet;  appointed  by  the  prime  minister 
 
  Legislative  branch:  bicameral  legislature  (Staten  Generaal) 
  First  Chamber  (Eerste  Kamer):  members  indirectly  elected  by  the 
  country's  12  provincial  councils  for  four-year  terms;  elections  last 
  held  9  June  l991  (next  to  be  held  9  June  1995);  results  -  percent  of 
  vote  by  party  NA  seats  -  (75  total)  number  of  seats  by  party  NA 
  Second  Chamber  (Tweede  Kamer):  members  directly  elected  for  four-year 
  terms;  elections  last  held  on  3  May  1994  (next  to  be  held  in  May 
  1999);  results  -  PvdA  24.3%,  CDA  22.3%,  VVD  20.4%,  D'66  16.5%,  other 
  16.5%;  seats  -  (150  total)  PvdA  37,  CDA  34,  VVD  31,  D'66  24,  other  24 
 
  Judicial  branch:  Supreme  Court  (De  Hoge  Raad) 
 
  Political  parties  and  leaders:  Christian  Democratic  Appeal  (CDA),  Hans 
  HELGERS  Labor  (PvdA),  Wim  KOK;  Liberal  (VVD  -  People's  Party  for 
  Freedom  and  Democracy),  Frits  BOLKESTEIN  Democrats  '66  (D'66),  Hans 
  van  MIERLO  a  host  of  minor  parties 
 
  Other  political  or  pressure  groups:  large  multinational  firms; 
  Federation  of  Netherlands  Trade  Union  Movement  (comprising  Socialist 
  and  Catholic  trade  unions)  and  a  Protestant  trade  union;  Federation  of 
  Catholic  and  Protestant  Employers  Associations;  the  nondenominational 
  Federation  of  Netherlands  Enterprises;  and  Interchurch  Peace  Council 
  (IKV) 
 
  Member  of:  AfDB  AG  (observer),  AsDB  Australia  Group  Benelux,  BIS, 
  CCC,  CE  CERN,  EBRD,  EC  ECE,  ECLAC  EIB,  ESA,  ESCAP,  FAO,  G-10,  GATT, 
  IADB,  IAEA,  IBRD,  ICAO,  ICC,  ICFTU  ICRM,  IDA,  IEA,  IFAD,  IFC,  IFRCS 
  ILO,  IMF,  IMO,  INMARSAT  INTELSAT,  INTERPOL,  IOC,  IOM,  ISO,  ITU,  MTCR, 
  NACC,  NAM  (guest),  NATO,  NEA,  NSG,  OAS  (observer),  OECD  OSCE,  PCA, 
  UN  UNAVEM  II  UNCTAD  UNESCO,  UNHCR  UNIDO  UNITAR,  UNOMOZ  UNOMUR 
  UNPROFOR  UNTSO  UNU,  UPU,  WCL,  WEU,  WHO  WIPO,  WMO,  WTO,  ZC 
 
  Diplomatic  representation  in  US: 
  chief  of  mission:  Ambassador  Adriaan  JACOBOVITS  DE  SZEGED 
  chancery:  4200  Linnean  Avenue  NW  Washington,  DC  20008 
  telephone:  [1]  (202)  244-5300 
  FAX:  [1]  (202)  362-3430 
  consulate(s)  general:  Chicago,  Houston,  Los  Angeles,  New  York 
 
  US  diplomatic  representation: 
  chief  of  mission:  Ambassador  Kirk  Terry  DORNBUSH 
  embassy:  Lange  Voorhout  102,  2514  EJ  The  Hague 
  mailing  address:  PSC  71,  Box  1000,  the  Hague;  APO  AE  09715 
  telephone:  [31]  (70)  310-9209 
  FAX:  [31]  (70)  361-4688 
  consulate(s)  general:  Amsterdam 
 
  Flag:  three  equal  horizontal  bands  of  red  (top),  white,  and  blue; 
  similar  to  the  flag  of  Luxembourg,  which  uses  a  lighter  blue  and  is 
  longer 
 
  Economy 
 
  Overview:  This  highly  developed  and  affluent  economy  is  based  on 
  private  enterprise.  The  government  makes  its  presence  felt,  however, 
  through  many  regulations,  permit  requirements,  and  welfare  programs 
  affecting  most  aspects  of  economic  activity.  The  trade  and  financial 
  services  sector  contributes  over  50%  of  GDP.  Industrial  activity 
  provides  about  25%  of  GDP  and  is  led  by  the  food-processing, 
  oil-refining,  and  metalworking  industries.  The  highly  mechanized 
  agricultural  sector  employs  only  4%  of  the  labor  force,  but  provides 
  large  surpluses  for  export  and  the  domestic  food-processing  industry. 
  Indeed  the  Netherlands  ranks  third  worldwide  in  value  of  agricultural 
  exports,  behind  the  US  and  France.  High  unemployment  and  a  sizable 
  budget  deficit  are  currently  the  most  serious  economic  problems.  Many 
  of  the  economic  issues  of  the  1990s  will  reflect  the  course  of 
  European  economic  integration. 
 
  National  product:  GDP  -  purchasing  power  parity  -  $275.8  billion  (1994 
  est.) 
 
  National  product  real  growth  rate:  2%  (1994  est.) 
 
  National  product  per  capita:  $17,940  (1994  est.) 
 
  Inflation  rate  (consumer  prices):  2.5%  (December  1994) 
 
  Unemployment  rate:  8.8%  (December  1994) 
 
  Budget: 
  revenues:  $109.9  billion 
  expenditures:  $122.1  billion,  including  capital  expenditures  of  $NA 
  (1992  est.) 
 
  Exports:  $153  billion  (f.o.b.,  1994  est.) 
  commodities:  metal  products,  chemicals,  processed  food  and  tobacco, 
  agricultural  products 
  partners:  EC  77%  (Germany  27%,  Belgium-Luxembourg  15%,  UK  10%), 
  Central  and  Eastern  Europe  10%,  US  4%  (1991) 
 
  Imports:  $137  billion  (f.o.b.,  1994  est.) 
  commodities:  raw  materials  and  semifinished  products,  consumer  goods, 
  transportation  equipment,  crude  oil,  food  products 
  partners:  EC  64%  (Germany  26%,  Belgium-Luxembourg  14%,  UK  8%),  US  8% 
  (1991) 
 
  External  debt:  $0 
 
  Industrial  production:  growth  rate  -1.5%  (1993  est.);  accounts  for  25% 
  of  GDP 
 
  Electricity: 
  capacity:  17,520,000  kW 
  production:  72.4  billion  kWh 
  consumption  per  capita:  5,100  kWh  (1993) 
 
  Industries:  agroindustries  metal  and  engineering  products,  electrical 
  machinery  and  equipment,  chemicals,  petroleum,  fishing,  construction, 
  microelectronics 
 
  Agriculture:  accounts  for  4.6%  of  GDP;  animal  production  predominates; 
  crops  -  grains,  potatoes,  sugar  beets,  fruits,  vegetables;  shortages 
  of  grain,  fats,  and  oils 
 
  Illicit  drugs:  important  gateway  for  cocaine,  heroin,  and  hashish 
  entering  Europe;  European  producer  of  illicit  amphetamines  and  other 
  synthetic  drugs 
 
  Economic  aid: 
  donor:  ODA  and  OOF  commitments  (1970-89),  $19.4  billion 
 
  Currency:  1  Netherlands  guilder,  gulden,  or  florin  (f.)  =  100  cents 
 
  Exchange  rates:  Netherlands  guilders,  gulden,  or  florins  (f.)  per  US$1 
  -  1.7178  (January  1995),  1.8200  (1994),  1.8573  (1993),  1.7585  (1992), 
  1.8697  (1991),  1.8209  (1990) 
 
  Fiscal  year:  calendar  year 
 
  Netherlands:Transportation 
 
  Railroads: 
  total:  2,757  km 
  standard  gauge:  2,757  km  km  1.435-m  gauge  (1,991  km  electrified;  1,800 
  km  double  track)  (1994) 
 
  Highways: 
  total:  104,831  km 
  paved:  92,251  km  (2,118  km  of  expressway) 
  unpaved:  gravel,  crushed  stone  12,580  km  (1992) 
 
  Inland  waterways:  6,340  km  of  which  35%  is  usable  by  craft  of  1,000 
  metric  ton  capacity  or  larger 
 
  Pipelines:  crude  oil  418  km  petroleum  products  965  km  natural  gas 
  10,230  km 
 
  Ports:  Amsterdam,  Delfzijl  Dordrecht  Eemshaven  Groningen  Haarlem, 
  Ijmuiden  Maastricht  Rotterdam,  Terneuzen  Utrecht 
 
  Merchant  marine: 
  total:  343  ships  (1,000  GRT  or  over)  totaling  2,629,578  GRT/3,337,307 
  DWT 
  ships  by  type:  bulk  2,  cargo  195,  chemical  tanker  21,  combination  bulk 
  3,  container  33,  liquefied  gas  tanker  12,  livestock  carrier  1, 
  multifunction  large-load  carrier  1,  oil  tanker  37,  railcar  carrier  1, 
  refrigerated  cargo  18,  roll-on/roll-off  cargo  14,  short-sea  passenger 
  3,  specialized  tanker  2 
  note:  many  Dutch-owned  ships  are  also  registered  on  the  Netherlands 
  Antilles  register 
 
  Airports: 
  total:  29 
  with  paved  runways  over  3,047  m:  1 
  with  paved  runways  2,438  to  3,047  m:  9 
  with  paved  runways  1,524  to  2,437  m:  5 
  with  paved  runways  914  to  1,523  m:  3 
  with  paved  runways  under  914  m:  8 
  with  unpaved  runways  914  to  1,523  m:  3 
 
  Netherlands:Communications 
 
  Telephone  system:  9,418,000  telephones;  highly  developed,  well 
  maintained,  and  integrated;  extensive  redundant  system  of 
  multiconductor  cables,  supplemented  by  microwave  radio  relay  links 
  local:  nationwide  mobile  phone  system 
  intercity:  microwave  radio  relay 
  international:  5  submarine  cables;  3  INTELSAT  (1  Indian  Ocean  and  2 
  Atlantic  Ocean)  and  1  EUTELSAT  earth  station 
 
  Radio: 
  broadcast  stations:  AM  3  (relays  3),  FM  12  (repeaters  39),  shortwave  0 
 
  radios:  NA 
 
  Television: 
  broadcast  stations:  8  (repeaters  7) 
  televisions:  NA 
 
  Netherlands:Defense  Forces 
 
  Branches:  Royal  Netherlands  Army,  Royal  Netherlands  Navy  (includes 
  Naval  Air  Service  and  Marine  Corps),  Royal  Netherlands  Air  Force, 
  Royal  Constabulary 
 
  Manpower  availability:  males  age  15-49  4,177,555;  males  fit  for 
  military  service  3,656,529;  males  reach  military  age  (20)  annually 
  94,771  (1995  est.) 
 
  Defense  expenditures:  exchange  rate  conversion  -  $7.1  billion,  2.2%  of 
  GDP  (1994) 
 
 
 

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