Outline of the Netherlands
Encyclopedia
The Netherlands
(ˈnɛðərləndz; , ˈneːdərlɑnt) is a sovereign country comprising the mainland located in Northwest Europe and several islands
located in the Caribbean
that, together with Aruba
, Curaçao
and Sint Maarten in the Caribbean Sea
, constitute the Kingdom of the Netherlands
. The Netherlands is a parliamentary democratic constitutional monarchy
. Its European mainland is bordered by the North Sea
to the north and west, Belgium
to the south, and Germany
to the east.
The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to the Netherlands:
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
(ˈnɛðərləndz; , ˈneːdərlɑnt) is a sovereign country comprising the mainland located in Northwest Europe and several islands
BES islands
The Caribbean Netherlands collectively refers to the three special municipalities of the Netherlands that are located overseas, in the Caribbean: Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba...
located in the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
that, together with Aruba
Aruba
Aruba is a 33 km-long island of the Lesser Antilles in the southern Caribbean Sea, located 27 km north of the coast of Venezuela and 130 km east of Guajira Peninsula...
, Curaçao
Curaçao
Curaçao is an island in the southern Caribbean Sea, off the Venezuelan coast. The Country of Curaçao , which includes the main island plus the small, uninhabited island of Klein Curaçao , is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands...
and Sint Maarten in the Caribbean Sea
Caribbean Sea
The Caribbean Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean located in the tropics of the Western hemisphere. It is bounded by Mexico and Central America to the west and southwest, to the north by the Greater Antilles, and to the east by the Lesser Antilles....
, constitute the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Kingdom of the Netherlands
The Kingdom of the Netherlands is a sovereign state and constitutional monarchy with territory in Western Europe and in the Caribbean. The four parts of the Kingdom—Aruba, Curaçao, the Netherlands, and Sint Maarten—are referred to as "countries", and participate on a basis of equality...
. The Netherlands is a parliamentary democratic constitutional monarchy
Constitutional monarchy
Constitutional monarchy is a form of government in which a monarch acts as head of state within the parameters of a constitution, whether it be a written, uncodified or blended constitution...
. Its European mainland is bordered by the North Sea
North Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
to the north and west, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
to the south, and Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
to the east.
The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to the Netherlands:
General reference
- Pronunciation: ˈnɛðərləndz
- Common English country names: NetherlandsNetherlandsThe Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, (imprecisely Holland) - Official English country name: NetherlandsNetherlandsThe Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
- A constituent countryConstituent countryConstituent country is a phrase sometimes used in contexts in which a country makes up a part of a larger entity. The term constituent country does not have any defined legal meaning, and is used simply to refer to a country which is a part Constituent country is a phrase sometimes used in contexts...
of the Kingdom of the NetherlandsKingdom of the NetherlandsThe Kingdom of the Netherlands is a sovereign state and constitutional monarchy with territory in Western Europe and in the Caribbean. The four parts of the Kingdom—Aruba, Curaçao, the Netherlands, and Sint Maarten—are referred to as "countries", and participate on a basis of equality...
, which comprises the NetherlandsNetherlandsThe Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, ArubaArubaAruba is a 33 km-long island of the Lesser Antilles in the southern Caribbean Sea, located 27 km north of the coast of Venezuela and 130 km east of Guajira Peninsula...
, CuraçaoCuraçaoCuraçao is an island in the southern Caribbean Sea, off the Venezuelan coast. The Country of Curaçao , which includes the main island plus the small, uninhabited island of Klein Curaçao , is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands...
and Sint Maarten.
- A constituent country
- Common endonym(s): Nederland
- Pronunciation: ˈnɛðərləndz, ˈneːdərlɑnt
- Official endonym(s): Nederland
- Adjectivals: Dutch, NetherlandsNetherlandsThe Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
- Demonym(s): Dutch
- EtymologyEtymologyEtymology is the study of the history of words, their origins, and how their form and meaning have changed over time.For languages with a long written history, etymologists make use of texts in these languages and texts about the languages to gather knowledge about how words were used during...
: Name of the Netherlands - International rankings of the NetherlandsInternational rankings of the Netherlands-Economy:*International Monetary Fund: Income per capita in purchasing power parity ranked 8 out of 181 *United Nations Development Programme: Human Development Index ranked 7 out of 169 * ranked 4 out of 155...
- ISO country codes: NL, NLD, 528
- ISO region codes: See ISO 3166-2:NLISO 3166-2:NLISO 3166-2:NL is the entry for the Netherlands in ISO 3166-2, part of the ISO 3166 standard published by the International Organization for Standardization , which defines codes for the names of the principal subdivisions of all countries coded in ISO 3166-1.Currently for the Netherlands, ISO...
- InternetInternetThe Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
country code top-level domainCountry code top-level domainA country code top-level domain is an Internet top-level domain generally used or reserved for a country, a sovereign state, or a dependent territory....
: .nl.nl.nl is the Internet country code top-level domain for the Netherlands. Registrations are processed via a network of participants. It is one of the more popular ccTLDs, ranked 3rd in the quarterly VeriSign Domain Name Industry Brief of May 2011 for the first quarter of 2011, after .de and .uk.It...
Geography of the Netherlands
- The Netherlands is: a country, part of the Kingdom of the NetherlandsKingdom of the NetherlandsThe Kingdom of the Netherlands is a sovereign state and constitutional monarchy with territory in Western Europe and in the Caribbean. The four parts of the Kingdom—Aruba, Curaçao, the Netherlands, and Sint Maarten—are referred to as "countries", and participate on a basis of equality...
- Location:
- Northern HemisphereNorthern HemisphereThe Northern Hemisphere is the half of a planet that is north of its equator—the word hemisphere literally means “half sphere”. It is also that half of the celestial sphere north of the celestial equator...
and Eastern HemisphereEastern HemisphereThe Eastern Hemisphere, also Eastern hemisphere or eastern hemisphere, is a geographical term for the half of the Earth that is east of the Prime Meridian and west of 180° longitude. It is also used to refer to Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australasia, vis-à-vis the Western Hemisphere, which includes... - EurasiaEurasiaEurasia is a continent or supercontinent comprising the traditional continents of Europe and Asia ; covering about 52,990,000 km2 or about 10.6% of the Earth's surface located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres...
- EuropeEuropeEurope is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
- Western EuropeWestern EuropeWestern Europe is a loose term for the collection of countries in the western most region of the European continents, though this definition is context-dependent and carries cultural and political connotations. One definition describes Western Europe as a geographic entity—the region lying in the...
- Western Europe
- Europe
- Time zoneTime zoneA time zone is a region on Earth that has a uniform standard time for legal, commercial, and social purposes. In order for the same clock time to always correspond to the same portion of the day as the Earth rotates , different places on the Earth need to have different clock times...
: Central European TimeCentral European TimeCentral European Time , used in most parts of the European Union, is a standard time that is 1 hour ahead of Coordinated Universal Time . The time offset from UTC can be written as +01:00...
(UTC+01), Central European Summer TimeCentral European Summer TimeCentral European Summer Time is one of the names of the Daylight saving time offset using the UTC offset of UTC+02:00, 2 hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time. It is used as a summer daylight saving time in most European countries. During the winter, Central European Time is used...
(UTC+02) - Extreme points of the NetherlandsExtreme points of the NetherlandsThis is a list of the extreme points of the Netherlands, the points that are farther north, south, east or west than any other location.-European part of the Netherlands:*Northernmost Point — Rottumerplaat...
:- North: 53°33′18″N 6°28′41″E
- East: 53°10′49″N 7°13′40″E
- South: 50°45′01.5″N 5°54′54.0″E
- West: 51°18′57″N 3°21′30″E
- High: VaalserbergVaalserbergThe Vaalserberg is a hill 322.7 metres in height and the highest point in the European part of the Netherlands. The Vaalserberg is located in the province of Limburg, at the south-easternmost edge of the country in the municipality of Vaals, near the eponymous town, some three kilometres west of...
322 m (1,056 ft) - Low: ZuidplaspolderZuidplaspolderThe Zuidplaspolder is a polder in the Netherlands, containing the lowest point of Western Europe and in the entire European Union...
-6.7 m
- Land boundaries: 1,027 km
- Northern Hemisphere
-
Germany 577 km
Belgium 450 km
- Coastline: North SeaNorth SeaIn the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
451 km - Population of the NetherlandsDemographics of the NetherlandsThis article is about the demographic of the Netherlands, including population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population.-Population size:...
: 16,558,672 - Area of the Netherlands: 41,526 km2 / 16,033 sq mi
- Water: 18.41%
- Atlas of the Netherlands
- Coastline: North Sea
Environment of the Netherlands
- Climate of the Netherlands
- Environmental issues in the Netherlands
- Ecoregions in the Netherlands
- Renewable energy in the Netherlands
- Geology of the NetherlandsGeology of the NetherlandsThe geology of the Netherlands describes the geological sequence of the Netherlands. Large parts of the Netherlands today are below sea level and have in the past been covered by the sea or flooded at regular intervals. The modern Netherlands formed as a result of the interplay of the four main...
- Protected areas of the Netherlands
- Biosphere reserves in the Netherlands
- National parks of the Netherlands
- Wildlife of the Netherlands
- Flora of the Netherlands
- Fauna of the Netherlands
- Birds of the Netherlands
- Mammals of the Netherlands
Natural geographic features of the Netherlands
- Islands of the Netherlands
- Lakes of the Netherlands
- Rivers of the Netherlands
- World Heritage Sites in the Netherlands
Administrative divisions of the Netherlands
- Provinces of the NetherlandsProvinces of the NetherlandsA Dutch province represents the administrative layer in between the national government and the local municipalities, having the responsibility for matters of subnational or regional importance. The government of each province consists of three major parts: the Provinciale Staten which is the...
- Municipalities of the NetherlandsMunicipalities of the Netherlands|All provinces of the Netherlands are divided into municipalities , together 418 , excl. the 3 "special municipalities" of the Caribbean Netherlands.Among the municipalities we can distinguish:...
- Municipalities of the Netherlands
Municipalities of the Netherlands
- Capital of the NetherlandsCapital of the NetherlandsThe capital of the Netherlands is Amsterdam, even though the States-General and the government have been both situated in The Hague since 1588. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of 24 August 1815 and its...
: AmsterdamAmsterdamAmsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, though the seat of government is in The HagueThe HagueThe Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam... - Cities of the Netherlands
Demography of the Netherlands
- Dutch peopleDutch peopleThe Dutch people are an ethnic group native to the Netherlands. They share a common culture and speak the Dutch language. Dutch people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in Suriname, Chile, Brazil, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and the United...
- Ethnic minorities in the Netherlands
Government and politics of the Netherlands
- Main article: Government of the NetherlandsCabinet of the NetherlandsThe cabinet of the Netherlands is the main executive body of the Dutch government. The current cabinet of the Netherlands is the Rutte cabinet.-Composition and role:...
and Politics of the NetherlandsPolitics of the NetherlandsThe politics of the Netherlands take place within the framework of a parliamentary representative democracy, a constitutional monarchy and a decentralised unitary state. The Netherlands is described as a consociational state...
- Form of governmentForm of governmentA form of government, or form of state governance, refers to the set of political institutions by which a government of a state is organized. Synonyms include "regime type" and "system of government".-Empirical and conceptual problems:...
: constitutional monarchyConstitutional monarchyConstitutional monarchy is a form of government in which a monarch acts as head of state within the parameters of a constitution, whether it be a written, uncodified or blended constitution...
, democracyDemocracyDemocracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law... - Capital of the NetherlandsCapital of the NetherlandsThe capital of the Netherlands is Amsterdam, even though the States-General and the government have been both situated in The Hague since 1588. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of 24 August 1815 and its...
: AmsterdamAmsterdamAmsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
. Note that the seat of government is in The HagueThe HagueThe Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
- Elections in the NetherlandsElections in the NetherlandsElections in the Netherlands are held for six territorial levels of government: the European Union, the state, the twelve Provinces of the Netherlands, the 25 water boards, the 418 municipalities and in two cities for neighbourhood councils...
- Dutch general election, 2010Dutch general election, 2010The 2010 Dutch general election was held on Wednesday, 9 June 2010. After the fall of the cabinet Balkenende IV on 20 February, Queen Beatrix accepted the resignation of the Labour Party ministers on 23 February...
- Dutch municipal elections, 2010
- European Parliament election, 2009European Parliament election, 2009 (Netherlands)The European Parliament election of 2009 in the Netherlands was the election of the delegation from the Netherlands to the European Parliament in 2009 and took place on June 4, 2009. Seventeen parties competed in a D'Hondt type election for 25 seats...
- Dutch water board elections, 2008
- Dutch provincial elections, 2007Dutch provincial elections, 2007Provincial elections were held in the Netherlands, on March 7, 2007. The election also determined the members of the Senate, since the 564 members of the twelve States-Provincial elect its 75 members...
- Dutch general election, 2006Dutch general election, 2006The General Election to the House of Representatives of the States-General of the Netherlands was held in the Netherlands on November 22, 2006. And followed the call for new elections after the fall of the Second Balkenende cabinet....
- Dutch municipal elections, 2006Dutch municipal elections, 2006The Dutch municipal elections of 2006 were held on March 7, 2006. About 11.8 million people could vote in 419 municipalities. Due to local redistricting, 15 municipalities have already held elections in January 2006 and 24 municipalities will hold elections in November 2006...
- Dutch general election, 2010
- Political parties in the Netherlands
- Taxation in the NetherlandsTaxation in the NetherlandsThe Netherlands has a rich history dealing with taxation, predating the Romanic period.Some of the most important taxes are that of the income tax , the wage withholding tax , the value added tax and the corporate tax .-Income tax:The Netherlands has...
Executive branch of the government of the Netherlands
- Head of stateHead of StateA head of state is the individual that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchy, republic, federation, commonwealth or other kind of state. His or her role generally includes legitimizing the state and exercising the political powers, functions, and duties granted to the head of...
: Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, - Head of governmentHead of governmentHead of government is the chief officer of the executive branch of a government, often presiding over a cabinet. In a parliamentary system, the head of government is often styled prime minister, chief minister, premier, etc...
: Prime Minister of the NetherlandsPrime Minister of the NetherlandsThe Prime Minister of the Netherlands is the chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Netherlands. He is the de facto head of government of the Netherlands and coordinates the policy of the government...
, Mark RutteMark RutteMark Rutte is a Dutch politician who has been Prime Minister of the Netherlands since 14 October 2010, as well as Minister of General Affairs in the Rutte cabinet... - Cabinet of the NetherlandsCabinet of the NetherlandsThe cabinet of the Netherlands is the main executive body of the Dutch government. The current cabinet of the Netherlands is the Rutte cabinet.-Composition and role:...
: List of cabinets of the Netherlands from 1945 onwards- Current cabinet: Netherlands cabinet RutteNetherlands cabinet RutteThe Rutte cabinet is the current Dutch coalition cabinet formed by the political parties People's Party for Freedom and Democracy and Christian Democratic Appeal . The coalition is a minority cabinet, but is supported by the Party for Freedom to have a small majority in the House of...
- Current cabinet: Netherlands cabinet Rutte
Legislative branch of the government of the Netherlands
- Parliament of the Netherlands: States GeneralStates-General of the NetherlandsThe States-General of the Netherlands is the bicameral legislature of the Netherlands, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The parliament meets in at the Binnenhof in The Hague. The archaic Dutch word "staten" originally related to the feudal classes in which medieval...
(bicameral)- Upper houseUpper houseAn upper house, often called a senate, is one of two chambers of a bicameral legislature, the other chamber being the lower house; a legislature composed of only one house is described as unicameral.- Possible specific characteristics :...
: Senate of the Netherlands - Lower houseLower houseA lower house is one of two chambers of a bicameral legislature, the other chamber being the upper house.Despite its official position "below" the upper house, in many legislatures worldwide the lower house has come to wield more power...
: House of Representatives of the Netherlands
- Upper house
Judicial branch of the government of the Netherlands
- Supreme Court of the Netherlands
Foreign relations of the Netherlands
- Foreign ministerForeign ministerA Minister of Foreign Affairs, or foreign minister, is a cabinet minister who helps form the foreign policy of a sovereign state. The foreign minister is often regarded as the most senior ministerial position below that of the head of government . It is often granted to the deputy prime minister in...
: Uri RosenthalUri RosenthalUriël "Uri" Rosenthal is a Dutch politician of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy . He is the Minister of Foreign Affairs since October 14, 2010 in the Cabinet Rutte. He served as a Member of the Senate from June 8, 1999 until October 14, 2010. And the Parliamentary leader in the Senate...
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the NetherlandsMinistry of Foreign Affairs (Netherlands)The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the Dutch ministry of foreign affairs: it is occupied with the external relations of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, including European cooperation and International development...
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands
- Diplomatic missions in the Netherlands
- Diplomatic missions of the NetherlandsDiplomatic missions of the NetherlandsThis is a list of diplomatic missions of the Netherlands, excluding honorary consulates.-Europe:** Tirana ** Vienna ** Baku ** Brussels ** Antwerp ** Ghent...
International organization membership of the Netherlands
Economic Affairs and Finance of the Netherlands
- Minister of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation: Maxime VerhagenMaxime VerhagenMaxime Jacques Marcel Verhagen is a Dutch politician in the Christian Democratic Appeal party. He is the Minister of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation and Deputy Prime Minister since October 14, 2010 in the Cabinet Rutte.He previously served as a Member of the European Parliament for...
- Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation of the Netherlands
- Finance ministerFinance ministerThe finance minister is a cabinet position in a government.A minister of finance has many different jobs in a government. He or she helps form the government budget, stimulate the economy, and control finances...
: Jan Kees de JagerJan Kees de JagerJan Cornelis "Jan Kees" de Jager is a Dutch politician of the Christian Democratic Appeal . He is the Minister of Finance first in the Cabinet Balkenende IV from February 23, 2010 until October 14, 2010, and in the Cabinet Rutte since that date.He previously served as State Secretary for Finance...
- Ministry of Finance of the NetherlandsMinistry of Finance (Netherlands)The Ministry of Finance is the Dutch ministry of finance: it is occupied with the national budget, taxation and financial economic policy, including supervision of financial markets...
- Ministry of Finance of the Netherlands
Law and order in the Netherlands
- Justice ministerJustice MinisterA justice ministry is a ministry or other government agency charged with justice. The ministry is often headed by a minister for justice or secretary of justice or secretary for justice; sometimes the head of a department of justice is entitled attorney general.Specific duties may relate to...
: Ivo OpsteltenIvo OpsteltenIvo Willem Opstelten is a Dutch politician of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy . He is the Minister of Security and Justice in the Cabinet Rutte since October 14, 2010....
- Ministry of Public Safety and Justice of the Netherlands
- Capital punishment in the NetherlandsCapital punishment in the NetherlandsCapital punishment in the Netherlands was first abolished in 1870, though only in criminal law, by the Dutch justice minister Van Lilaar. Following the abolition of the death penalty, life imprisonment was made an official punishment in 1878...
- Constitution of the NetherlandsConstitution of the NetherlandsThe Constitution of the Netherlands is the fundamental law of the European territory of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The present constitution is generally seen as directly derived from the one issued in 1815, constituting a constitutional monarchy. A revision in 1848 instituted a system of...
- Human rights in the NetherlandsHuman rights in the NetherlandsThe human rights of the Netherlands are codified in the Dutch constitution. Together with other European states, the Netherlands is often at or near the head in international civil liberties and political rights rankings.-Constitutional rights:...
- LGBT rights in the Netherlands
- Same-sex marriage in the NetherlandsSame-sex marriage in the NetherlandsSame-sex marriage has been legal in the Netherlands since 1 April 2001...
- Same-sex marriage in the Netherlands
- Religion in the NetherlandsReligion in the NetherlandsThe Netherlands is historically characterized by multitude of religions. Since the mid of the Middle Ages, the Netherlands was a predominantly Christian country until late into the 20th century. Although religious diversity remains to the present day, there is a major decline of religious adherence...
- Euthanasia in the NetherlandsEuthanasia in the NetherlandsEuthanasia in the Netherlands is regulated by the "Termination of Life on Request and Assisted Suicide Act" from 2002. It states that euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide are not punishable if the attending physician acts in accordance with criteria of due care...
- Abortion in the NetherlandsAbortion in the NetherlandsAbortion in the Netherlands was fully legalized on November 1, 1984, allowing abortions to be done on-demand until the twenty-first week. Cases which involve urgent medical attention can be aborted until the twenty-fourth week. There is a five-day waiting period for abortions.- History :Abortion...
- LGBT rights in the Netherlands
- Law enforcement in the NetherlandsLaw enforcement in the NetherlandsLaw enforcement in the Netherlands is provided by 25 regional police forces , the Netherlands Police Agency and the Royal Marechaussee , a gendarmerie.-Organisation:...
- Prostitution in the NetherlandsProstitution in the NetherlandsProstitution in the Netherlands is legal and regulated. Operating a brothel is also legal. In the last few years, a significant number of brothels and "windows" have been closed because of suspected criminal activity...
- Drug policy of the NetherlandsDrug policy of the NetherlandsThe drug policy of the Netherlands officially has four major objectives:# To prevent recreational drug use and to treat and rehabilitate recreational drug users.# To reduce harm to users....
- GedogenGedogenIn the context of the law of the Netherlands, the term gedogen refers to not enforcing certain laws. The Dutch government tolerates some offences. Some things like possessing small amounts of marijuana are formally forbidden by law, but the Dutch government abstains from bringing criminal charges...
(toleration of certain illegal practices for the greater good)
- Gedogen
- Prostitution in the Netherlands
Military of the Netherlands
- Command
- Commander-in-chiefCommander-in-ChiefA commander-in-chief is the commander of a nation's military forces or significant element of those forces. In the latter case, the force element may be defined as those forces within a particular region or those forces which are associated by function. As a practical term it refers to the military...
(ceremonial): Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands - Defence ministerDefence ministerA defence minister is a person in a cabinet position in charge of a Ministry of Defence, which regulates the armed forces in some sovereign nations...
: Hans HillenHans HillenJohannes Stefanus Joseph "Hans" Hillen is a Dutch politician of the Christian Democratic Appeal . He is the current Minister of Defence in the Rutte cabinet.-Early life:Hillen studied sociology at Utrecht University...
- Ministry of Defence of the NetherlandsMinistry of Defence (Netherlands)The Netherlands Ministry of Defence governs the Netherlands Armed Forces. The Minister is assisted by a State Secretary...
- Ministry of Defence of the Netherlands
- Chief of the Netherlands Defence StaffChief of the Netherlands Defence StaffThe Chief of the Netherlands Defence Staff is the Dutch Chief of Defence and the highest-ranking officer in the Dutch military.The main role of the CDS is as an intermediary between the Minister of Defence and the Armed Forces of The Netherlands...
: Peter van UhmPeter van UhmGeneral Petrus J.M. "Peter" van Uhm is a four-star general in the Royal Netherlands Army and the current Chief of the Netherlands Defence Staff...
- Commander-in-chief
- ForcesMilitary of the NetherlandsThe Armed forces of the Netherlands consist of the Army, Navy, and Air Force.The service branches consist of:* Koninklijke Landmacht , Royal Netherlands Army....
- Royal Netherlands ArmyRoyal Netherlands ArmyThe Royal Netherlands Army is the land forces element of the military of the Netherlands.-Short history:The Royal Netherlands Army was raised on 9 January 1814, but its origins date back to 1572, when the so-called Staatse Leger was raised...
- Korps CommandotroepenKorps CommandotroepenThe Korps Commandotroepen are the elite special forces of the Royal Netherlands Army. It is one of the two principal units tasked with special operations in the Netherlands , and it is deployable anywhere in the world under any circumstance, conducting all conceivable missions from...
(special forces commandoCommandoIn English, the term commando means a specific kind of individual soldier or military unit. In contemporary usage, commando usually means elite light infantry and/or special operations forces units, specializing in amphibious landings, parachuting, rappelling and similar techniques, to conduct and...
)
- Korps Commandotroepen
- Royal Netherlands NavyRoyal Netherlands NavyThe Koninklijke Marine is the navy of the Netherlands. In the mid-17th century the Dutch Navy was the most powerful navy in the world and it played an active role in the wars of the Dutch Republic and later those of the Batavian Republic and the Kingdom of the Netherlands...
- Netherlands Marine CorpsNetherlands Marine CorpsThe Korps Mariniers is the marine corps and amphibious infantry component of the Royal Netherlands Navy. The marines are trained to operate anywhere in the world in all environments, under any condition and circumstance, as a rapid reaction force. The Korps Mariniers can be deployed to a given...
(special forces marines)
- Netherlands Marine Corps
- Royal Netherlands Air ForceRoyal Netherlands Air ForceThe Royal Netherlands Air Force , Dutch Koninklijke Luchtmacht , is the military aviation branch of the Netherlands Armed Forces. Its ancestor, the Luchtvaartafdeling of the Dutch Army was founded on 1 July 1913, with four pilots...
- Royal Marechaussee (military policeMilitary policeMilitary police are police organisations connected with, or part of, the military of a state. The word can have different meanings in different countries, and may refer to:...
)
- Royal Netherlands Army
- Military history of the NetherlandsMilitary history of the NetherlandsThe Dutch-speaking people have a long history; the Netherlands as a nation-state dates from 1568. Belgium became an independent state in 1830 when it seceded from the Netherlands....
- Military ranks of the Dutch armed forcesMilitary ranks of the Dutch armed forces-Koninklijke Landmacht, KL :The Landmacht is the land based part of the Dutch military. Its task are the following:* To defend Dutch soil and that of NATO allies.* To contribute to peace, stability and safety world wide....
Local government in the Netherlands
- Provincial politics in the NetherlandsProvincial politics in the NetherlandsThe Politics of the Dutch provinces takes places within the framework of the politics of the Netherlands. The province is the second highest level of government, after the national government. The Netherlands is divided into twelve provinces....
- Water boardWater board (The Netherlands)Dutch water boards are regional government bodies charged with managing the water barriers, the waterways, the water levels, water quality and sewage treatment in their respective regions...
- Municipal politics in the NetherlandsMunicipal politics in the NetherlandsMunicipal politics in the Netherlands is an important aspect of the politics of the Netherlands. The municipality is the lowest level of government, but this does not reflect the importance that the Amsterdam and Rotterdam governments play in Dutch political life...
History of the Netherlands
- Main article: History of the NetherlandsHistory of the NetherlandsThe history of the Netherlands is the history of a maritime people thriving on a watery lowland river delta at the edge of northwestern Europe. When the Romans and written history arrived in 57 BC, the country was sparsely populated by various tribal groups at the periphery of the empire...
, Timeline of the history of the Netherlands, and Current events of the Netherlands
- Economic history of the Netherlands
- Military history of the NetherlandsMilitary history of the NetherlandsThe Dutch-speaking people have a long history; the Netherlands as a nation-state dates from 1568. Belgium became an independent state in 1830 when it seceded from the Netherlands....
Culture of the Netherlands
- Architecture of the NetherlandsArchitecture of the NetherlandsDutch architecture has played an important role in the international discourse on architecture in three eras. The first of these was during the 17th century, when the Dutch empire was at the height of its power. The second was in the first half of the 20th century, during development of modernism...
- Cuisine of the Netherlands
- Ethnic minorities in the Netherlands
- Festivals in the Netherlands
- Music festivals in the Netherlands (category)
- Humor in the Netherlands
- Cabaret
- Languages of the NetherlandsLanguages of the NetherlandsThe official language of the Netherlands is Dutch, spoken by almost all people in the Netherlands. Dutch is also spoken in Flanders and Suriname. It is a West Germanic, Low Franconian language that originated in the Early Middle Ages The official language of the Netherlands is Dutch, spoken by...
- Media in the NetherlandsMedia in the NetherlandsThe media in the Netherlands – television, radio, newspapers, magazines – are characterized by a tradition of "pillarization" on the one hand and an increasing degree of commercialization on the other.-Television and radio:...
- National symbols of the Netherlands
- Coat of arms of the NetherlandsCoat of arms of the NetherlandsThe Greater Coat of Arms of the Realm, , is the personal coat of arms of the monarch of the Netherlands . The government of the Netherlands uses a smaller version without the mantle or the pavilion or sometimes even only uses the shield and crown...
- Flag of the NetherlandsFlag of the NetherlandsThe flag of the Netherlands is a horizontal tricolour of red, white, and blue. Since 1937, the flag has officially been the national flag of the Netherlands and of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.-Description:...
- National anthem of the Netherlands
- Coat of arms of the Netherlands
- Dutch peopleDutch peopleThe Dutch people are an ethnic group native to the Netherlands. They share a common culture and speak the Dutch language. Dutch people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in Suriname, Chile, Brazil, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and the United...
- Prostitution in the NetherlandsProstitution in the NetherlandsProstitution in the Netherlands is legal and regulated. Operating a brothel is also legal. In the last few years, a significant number of brothels and "windows" have been closed because of suspected criminal activity...
- Public holidays in the NetherlandsPublic holidays in the NetherlandsThe Netherlands has 13 main holidays. The Holidays in the Netherlands are:Even though Good Friday is a National Holiday, it is not a mandatory day off for commercial companies. However, most governmental organizations, banks, and insurers honor this day with a day off work...
- Records of the Netherlands
- Religion in the NetherlandsReligion in the NetherlandsThe Netherlands is historically characterized by multitude of religions. Since the mid of the Middle Ages, the Netherlands was a predominantly Christian country until late into the 20th century. Although religious diversity remains to the present day, there is a major decline of religious adherence...
- Buddhism in the NetherlandsBuddhism in the NetherlandsBuddhism is a small minority religion in the Netherlands, but it has shown rapid growth in recent years. As of the 2006 estimate, 170,000 Dutch people identified their religion as Buddhist .-Early history:...
- Christianity in the Netherlands
- Hinduism in the NetherlandsHinduism in the NetherlandsHinduism is a minority religion in the Netherlands, with around 100,000 adherents out of a population of 16,500,000. Most of these are relatively recent first or second generation "Hindoestanen" immigrants, South Asians who had been resident in the former Dutch colony of Surinam and travelled to...
- Islam in the NetherlandsIslam in the NetherlandsThe history of Islam in the Netherlands started in the 19th century when the Netherlands experienced sporadic Muslim migration from the Dutch East Indies when it was a colony from the Netherlands...
- Judaism in the Netherlands
- Sikhism in the NetherlandsSikhism in the NetherlandsSikhs are a religious minority in the Netherlands. They number around 12,000 and most of them live in or around Amsterdam. There are 5 gurudwaras in Netherland.-Gurdwaras:*Gurdwara Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, Rotterdam*Shri Guru Nanak Gurdwara, Amsterdam...
- Buddhism in the Netherlands
- World Heritage Sites in the Netherlands
Arts in the Netherlands
- Art in the Netherlands
- Cinema of the NetherlandsCinema of the NetherlandsBecause the Dutch film industry is relatively small, and there is little or no international market for Dutch films, almost all films rely on state funding. This funding can be achieved through several sources, for instance through the Dutch Film Fund or the Dutch public broadcast networks...
- Literature of the Netherlands
- Music of the NetherlandsMusic of the NetherlandsThe Netherlands has multiple musical traditions. Contemporary Dutch popular music is heavily influenced by music styles that emerged in the 1950s, in the United Kingdom and United States. The style is sung in both Dutch and English...
- Television in the Netherlands
- Theatre in the Netherlands
Sports in the Netherlands
- Football in the NetherlandsFootball in the NetherlandsFootball is the most popular Sport in the Netherlands. Football was introduced to the Netherlands by Pim Mulier in the 19th century when in 1879, at the age of 14, he founded Haarlemsche Football Club...
Economy and infrastructure of the Netherlands
- Economic rank, by nominal GDP (2007): 16th (sixteenth)
- Agriculture in the Netherlands
- Banking in the Netherlands
- National Bank of the NetherlandsDe Nederlandsche BankDe Nederlandsche Bank is the central bank of the Netherlands. It is part of the European System of Central Banks .-History:...
- National Bank of the Netherlands
- Communications in the NetherlandsCommunications in the Netherlands- Mail :The postal service in the Netherlands is performed by PostNL in most cases—which has, as of 2008, a monopoly on letters lighter than 50 g. The monopoly is planned to expire in 2009. PostNL's competitors include Selekt Mail and Sandd...
- Internet in the NetherlandsInternet in the NetherlandsAccording to research done by the OECD the Netherlands is ranked with Switzerland in having the most broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants, has no bandwidth caps and has the most homes passed in Europe in terms of connection speeds of 50 Mbps and higher....
- Internet in the Netherlands
- Companies of the Netherlands
- Currency of the NetherlandsCurrencyIn economics, currency refers to a generally accepted medium of exchange. These are usually the coins and banknotes of a particular government, which comprise the physical aspects of a nation's money supply...
: EuroEuroThe euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
(see also: Euro topics)- ISO 4217ISO 4217ISO 4217 is a standard published by the International Standards Organization, which delineates currency designators, country codes , and references to minor units in three tables:* Table A.1 – Current currency & funds code list...
: EUREuroThe euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
- ISO 4217
- Economic history of the Netherlands
- Energy in the NetherlandsEnergy in the NetherlandsEnergy in the Netherlands describes energy and electricity production, consumption and import in the Netherlands. Energy policy of the Netherlands will describe the politics of the Netherlands related to energy more in detail....
- Energy policy of the Netherlands
- Oil industry in the NetherlandsRoyal Dutch ShellRoyal Dutch Shell plc , commonly known as Shell, is a global oil and gas company headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands and with its registered office in London, United Kingdom. It is the fifth-largest company in the world according to a composite measure by Forbes magazine and one of the six...
- Health care in the NetherlandsHealth care in the NetherlandsHealthcare in the Netherlands is financed by a dual system that came into effect in January 2006. Long-term treatments, especially those that involve semi-permanent hospitalization, and also disability costs such as wheelchairs, are covered by a state-controlled mandatory insurance...
- Mining in the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Stock ExchangeAmsterdam Stock ExchangeThe Amsterdam Stock Exchange is the former name for the stock exchange based in Amsterdam. It merged on 22 September 2000 with the Brussels Stock Exchange and the Paris Stock Exchange to form Euronext, and is now known as Euronext Amsterdam.-History:...
- AEX indexAEX indexThe AEX index, derived from Amsterdam Exchange index, is a stock market index composed of Dutch companies that trade on Euronext Amsterdam, formerly known as the Amsterdam Stock Exchange. Started in 1983, the index is composed of a maximum of 25 of the most actively traded securities on the exchange...
- AEX index
- Tourism in the Netherlands
- Transport in the NetherlandsTransport in the Netherlands-Rail transport:Rail transport for public transport is operated mainly by Nederlandse Spoorwegen , minor parts by Arriva, Syntus, Connexxion, DB Regionalbahn Westfalen, Veolia Transport Nederland and Prignitzer Eisenbahn .The Dutch rail network is the busiest network in the entire world.-Public...
- Airports in the Netherlands
- Rail transport in the NetherlandsRail transport in the NetherlandsRail transport in the Netherlands utilises a 2809 km long network maintained by ProRail and operated by a number of different operators. The entire network is standard gauge.The Netherlands is a member of the International Union of Railways...
- Roads in the Netherlands
- Water supply and sanitation in the NetherlandsWater supply and sanitation in the NetherlandsWater supply and sanitation in the Netherlands is provided in good quality and at a reasonable price to the entire population. Water consumption is one of the lowest in developed countries at 124 litres per capita per day and water leakage in the distribution network is one of the lowest in...
See also
- Index of Netherlands-related articles
- List of international rankings
- Member state of the European UnionMember State of the European UnionA member state of the European Union is a state that is party to treaties of the European Union and has thereby undertaken the privileges and obligations that EU membership entails. Unlike membership of an international organisation, being an EU member state places a country under binding laws in...
- Member state of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
- Member state of the United Nations
- Outline of Europe
- Outline of geographyOutline of geographyThe following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to geography:Geography – science that studies the lands, features, inhabitants, and phenomena of Earth.- Geography is :...
External links
- About the Netherlands -- Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Overheid.nl - official Dutch government portal
- Government.nl - official Dutch government web site
- CIA - The World Factbook -- Netherlands
- CBS - Key figures from the Dutch bureau of statistics
- Local news and features on the Netherlands,Expatica
- Holland.com - English website of the Netherlands tourist office