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The Netherlands: small country, big ambitions
With an average of 484 inhabitants per square kilometer, the Netherlands is one of the most densely populated countries in the world. But the Dutch have turned their crowded country into such a success that the world’s planners and architects flock here to find out how. The Netherlands is best known for its tulips, windmills and clogs. And for its low altitude and vulnerability to flooding. Less well known is that it is one of the world’s largest exporters of goods and capital and the world’s third largest exporter of food. Equally little known is that the Dutch people have won 18 Nobel prizes, nine for physics and the rest for chemistry, medicine, economics and peace. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Dutch_Nobel_Prize_winners The Dutch are major players in the fields of science, economy, art and sports, and their country is a beacon of forward-thinking social and cultural policy. The name ‘Netherlands’ comes from ‘nether’ which means ‘low’, since nearly a quarter of its area is below sea level. However, it is often called “Holland”, which comes from the two western coastal provinces, North and South Holland, which have played an important role in the country’s history.
Before the beginning of the Christian era, the Netherlands was inhabited by Celtic and Germanic tribes. Until the early 5th century, the south of the Netherlands was part of the Roman Empire. During the Middle Ages, the Low Countries – now the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg – were divided into autonomous provinces, each with its own feudal lord. Under Charles V (1500-1558), these territories were united and became part of the Burgundian-Habsburg Empire. In 1568, Prince William of Orange led an uprising against restrictions on freedom of religion and the absolutist aspirations of Charles V’s son, Philip II of Spain. This marked the beginning of what is known in the Netherlands as the Eighty Year’s War, which ended in 1648 with the Treaty of Münster, in which the Republic of the United Provinces was recognized as an independent state. The republican form of government retained one remnant of feudalism in the powerful position of Stadholder (provincial governor), held in Holland by the descendants of William of Orange.
Signing of the Treaty of Münster 1648 In the 17th century, also called the Golden Age, the Republic enjoyed great prosperity, thanks greatly to the activities of the Dutch East India Company, which was established in 1602 for shipping and trade along the coasts of Asia and Africa. It was at this time that the Netherlands acquired colonies in Asia (Indonesia) and South America (Suriname and the Netherlands Antilles). In the 18th century, the Netherlands had to relinquish its leading position as a trading nation to the British, though not until several wars had been fought. After being annexed by the French under Napoleon, the Netherlands once again became an independent state in 1813, when, together with present-day Belgium, it formed the Kingdom of the Netherlands under King William I. When Belgium seceded in 1830, the Netherlands acquired its present-day borders. William I was succeeded by William II and William III. Wilhelmina became Queen in 1898, to be followed by her daughter Juliana in 1948. The Netherlands was neutral during the First World War (1914-1918). It continued to pursue a policy of neutrality after the Second World War broke out, but it was attacked and invaded by Germany in 1940 and occupied for five years. Indonesia became an independent republic in 1948, to be followed by Suriname in 1975. Queen Juliana abdicated in 1980 in favor of her daughter, Beatrix.
Portrait of Queen Beatrix by Carla Rodenburg 1995 The Netherlands was a major colonial power until the Second World War, but after 1945 its colonies quickly became independent. Indonesia severed all its constitutional links with the Netherlands in 1949. Suriname and the Netherlands Antilles in the Caribbean became equal partners with the Netherlands in 1954 under the Charter for the Kingdom, which made the Netherlands responsible for foreign affairs and defense on behalf of its former colonies. In 1975 Suriname became an independent republic. And in 1986 Aruba – until then part of the Netherlands Antilles – acquired separate status within the Kingdom, making it equal partner in the Kingdom of the Netherlands with the Netherlands Antilles and the Netherlands itself.
Constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system
The House of Representatives The Senate The Nethelands is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system, the monarch and ministers constituting the government. For historical reasons, the seat of government is in The Hague, though Amsterdam is the country’s capital. The House of Orange-Nassau, whose founder was Prince William of Orange (1533-1584), has historical links with the Netherlands dating back to the 16th century. Queen Beatrix (born in 1938) has been head of state since 1980. Her eldest son, Prince Willem-Alexander is the crown prince. Constitutional monarchy means that the Constitution stipulates the powers of the hereditary Monarch, setting out the division of powers between the Monarch and other institutions of state. The Constitution also sets out the principles underlying representative democracy, the rule of law (including fundamental rights), decentralization and unity. The monarch, the ministers and Parliament (the States-General) all take part in the legislative process. Parliament has an Upper and Lower House. The Upper House (The Senate) has 75 members, who are elected by the members of the provincial authorities. The Lower House (The House of Representatives) has 150 members, elected by universal suffrage of all Dutch nationals over 18 years of age. Since the electoral system is based on proportional representation, it is easier for small parties to gain seats in Parliament. Many parties are therefore represented, and coalition governments always have to be formed. Government in the Netherlands is strongly decentralized. The 12 provincial authorities and 538 municipal authorities are responsible for local government.
Foreign policy: Peace, freedom and prosperity in the world
The Peace Palace in The Hague, housing the International Court of Justice The Netherlands has always had an international outlook. Its foreign policy aims to guarantee Dutch interests and is informed by the wish to promote peace, freedom, prosperity and international rule of law. Development cooperation is an important part of foreign policy. The Netherlands pursues its foreign policy largely within the framework of multilateral organizations, such as the United Nations, the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organizations, all of which the Netherlands was a founding member. It takes part regularly in the peace operations of these organizations. The Hague hosted the world’s first peace conferences in 1899 and 1907. And it is home to many international organizations, including the UN International Court of Justice, the Permanent Court of Arbitration, the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and the International Criminal Court. As a relatively small country with a globally-oriented economy, the Netherlands attaches great importance to a well-structured world order. By contributing much to the efforts of the United Nations to promote international legal order and the development of international law, the Netherlands is protecting the values of democracy and human rights to which the Dutch attach the highest importance.
Social policy: Equal opportunities for all
The main principle underpinning the Dutch social system is that everyone should be able to play an equally active role in society. The Netherlands first social legislation dates from 1800. It was a very minor law setting down rules for employing young people and women, but it was the first in what would become the most extensive and generous body of social legislation in the world, regarded as one of society’s most important achievements. The social system aims at arriving at a flourishing community, by providing help to the under-privileged and encouraging the integration of minorities while at the same time trying to keep the social security system affordable and ensuring that no individual group becomes isolated.
Typical Dutch windmills A canal in Delft The Netherlands lies on the delta of three major rivers: the Rhine, Maas and Scheldt. It owes its existence to feats of hydraulic engineering, and a recurring theme in Dutch history has been the struggle against the sea. The Dutch are proud of their conquest of water. Their struggle to keep dry has helped them develop a can-do attitude. And since controlling water requires many parties to meet and plan together, it has forced them to learn how to work as a team. That is why their European partners and the broader international community regard the Dutch as bridge builders and often ask them to serve as such. The area of the Netherlands under sea level is where almost 60% of the population live. Over the years, large areas of land have been reclaimed from the sea and many large-scale waterworks have been completed to safeguard the country against flooding, such as the Delta Projects. The landscape in the south and east of the country alternates between woodland and heath. While in the west and the north, criss-crossed by countless rivers and canals, it is made up mainly of polders, i.e. reclaimed land, protected from flooding by dikes. The country’s location near the sea also influences its climate. The average temperature is 17° C, and 2° C in winter. On average, 760 mm of rain falls each year, fairly evenly distributed over the seasons.
Rotterdam, the largest seaport in the world The Netherlands has been a trading nation for centuries due to its open economy and outlook. The Dutch are seasoned travelers. They are proficient in languages and skilled in negotiating trade agreements and implementing projects against the odds. The Dutch economic system is based on consensus. The Netherlands has a long tradition of negotiation, which lives on in close and regular contacts between trade unions, employers’ organizations and government. Employers and employees hold regular talks, while the government interferes as little as possible. The seaport of Rotterdam is the largest in the world, trans-shipping millions of tons of goods per year. And Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport is the fourth largest airport in Europe for the traffic of both passengers and goods. Thanks to the Netherlands’ location and excellent distribution facilities, many companies – both within Europe and beyond – regard it as an ideal location for their operations. Despite its small size, the Netherlands is one of the largest exporters of agricultural produce in the world. This applies in particular to flowers and dairy produce. The agricultural sector has benefited from good education, first-class research and practical information facilities. The introduction of the Euro in 2002 is the crowning achievement of EU integration. Europe and the European Union are very important to the Netherlands, and “Europe” is an important area of central government expenditure, used to fund, among other things, the Common Agricultural Policy, transnational infrastructure projects and economic and social initiatives in Europe. The Netherlands also receives money from Europe, largely in the form of agricultural subsidies.
A culture on the move: Freedom, creativity and innovation
Sunflowers, Van Gogh Composition no.2, Mondriaan Lion, Karel Appel The Netherlands is a fascinating place for lovers of the arts. Music, dance, theater, art, literature and architecture are all characterized by an immense diversity. Major international art festivals are held in the Netherlands every year. And it is home to almost 1,000 museums, making it the country with the highest museum density in the world. The Netherlands has produced an impressive list of world famous artists. The works of Rembrandt, Vermeer, Van Gogh and Mondriaan are known throughout the world. Modern Dutch artists have been extremely successful in keeping up this age-old tradition. And the Netherlands is now seen as the place to be for artists. It attracts many young designers, architects and artists who come especially to Amsterdam to work in a climate of artistic freedom, dialogue and innovation. Dutch design is characterized by a minimalist, economical approach and enjoys an international reputation. Its simplicity is reflected in a variety of everyday objects, ranging from postage stamps to traffic signs and office equipment. |
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