Population
(July 2006): 16,491,461
Ethnic groups: 80.9% Dutch / 2.4% Indonesians
/ 2.4% Germans / 2.0% Surinamese / 12.3% others
Official language: Dutch
Capital: Amsterdam
Government:
Parliamentary democracy
Constitutional monarchy
- Monarch Queen Beatrix
- Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende
The Netherlands (Dutch: Nederland) is the European part of the Kingdom
of the Netherlands (Dutch: Koninkrijk der Nederlanden), which consists
of the Netherlands, the Netherlands Antilles, (Dutch: Nederlandse
Antillen) and Aruba. The Netherlands is a constitutional monarchy,
located in northwestern Europe. It is bordered by the North Sea
to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the
east. The current borders were established in 1839.
The Netherlands is often referred to by the name Holland. This terminology
is not correct, as the provinces of North and South Holland in the
western Netherlands are only two of the country's twelve provinces
(for more on this and other naming issues see Netherlands terminology).
The Netherlands is a densely populated and geographically low-lying
country and is popularly known for its windmills, cheese, clogs
(wooden shoes), dikes, tulips, bicycles and social tolerance. Its
policies are liberal toward drugs, prostitution, same-sex marriage,
abortion and euthanasia.
The Netherlands has an international outlook, and is among others
member of the European Union, NATO, OECD and signed the Kyoto protocol.
The country is host to the International Criminal Tribunal for the
Former Yugoslavia, the International Court of Justice, the International
Criminal Court and the European Union's criminal intelligence agency
(Europol) at The Hague. It is also one of the Benelux nations along
with Belgium and Luxembourg.
Famous
People
Historical figures
William
I of Orange-Nassau (April 24, 1533 – July 10, 1584), also
widely known as William the Silent (Dutch: Willem de Zwijger), was
born in the House of Nassau, and became Prince of Orange in 1544.
He was the main leader of the Dutch revolt against the Spanish that
set off the Eighty Years' War and resulted in the formal independence
of the United Provinces in 1648. He is also known as the Vader des
vaderlands, "Father of the fatherland", and the Dutch
national anthem, The William (het Wilhelmus), was written in his
honour.
Desiderius
Erasmus Roterodamus (sometimes known as Desiderius Erasmus of
Rotterdam) (October 27, probably 1466 – July 12, 1536) was
a Dutch humanist and theologian.
Erasmus was a classical scholar who wrote in a "pure"
Latin style. Although he remained a Roman Catholic throughout his
lifetime, he was critical of what he considered the excesses of
the Roman Catholic Church.
Artist
Rembrandt
Harmenszoon van Rijn (July 15, 1606– October 4, 1669) is
generally considered one of the greatest painters and printmakers
in European art history and the most important in Dutch history.
Vincent
Willem van Gogh (March 30, 1853 in Zundert – July 29, 1890
in Auvers-sur-Oise) was a Dutch draughtsman and painter, classified
as a Post-Impressionist. His paintings and drawings include some
of the world's best known, most popular and most expensive pieces.
Sport
figures
Hendrik
Johannes Cruijff (Johan Cruijff )- (born April 25, 1947 in Amsterdam)
is a Dutch football manager/coach and former player. A brilliant
and tempestuous star and widely regarded as one of the greatest
footballers of all time. He was named European Footballer of the
Year three times (1971, 1973, 1974) which is a record jointly held
with Michel Platini and Marco Van Basten. Cruijff was the most famous
exponent of the football philosophy known as Total Football, developed
by Rinus Michels.
Ruud
Gullit (born September 1, 1962) is a Dutch footballer coach
and former player, who played professionally in the 1980s and 1990s.
He was a member of the Netherlands national team at the Euro 88
and the 1990 World Cup. He was named the European Footballer of
the Year in 1987 and the World Soccer Player of the Year in 1987
and 1989. He was a versatile player, as he played several positions
during his career.
Marcel
("Marco") van Basten (October 31, 1964 in Oog in Al,
Utrecht) is a Dutch football manager, currently in charge of the
Dutch national team. Previously, he was a football player who played
for Ajax Amsterdam and A.C. Milan in the 1980s and early 1990s.
He is regarded as one of the finest strikers of all time and scored
276 goals in a career cut short by injury. Known for his strength
on the ball, his tactical awareness and spectacular strikes and
volleys, Van Basten was named European Footballer of the Year three
times (1988, '89 and '92) and FIFA World Player of the Year in 1992.
He was elected the twelfth-best footballer of the 20th century in
a poll by the IFFHS.
William
I of Orange-Nassau (April 24, 1533 – July 10, 1584), also
widely known as William the Silent (Dutch: Willem de Zwijger), was
born in the House of Nassau, and became Prince of Orange in 1544.
He was the main leader of the Dutch revolt against the Spanish that
set off the Eighty Years' War and resulted in the formal independence
of the United Provinces in 1648. He is also known as the Vader des
vaderlands, "Father of the fatherland", and the Dutch
national anthem, The William (het Wilhelmus), was written in his
honour.
Desiderius
Erasmus Roterodamus (sometimes known as Desiderius Erasmus of
Rotterdam) (October 27, probably 1466 – July 12, 1536) was
a Dutch humanist and theologian.
Rembrandt
Harmenszoon van Rijn (July 15, 1606– October 4, 1669) is
generally considered one of the greatest painters and printmakers
in European art history and the most important in Dutch history.
Vincent
Willem van Gogh (March 30, 1853 in Zundert – July 29, 1890
in Auvers-sur-Oise) was a Dutch draughtsman and painter, classified
as a Post-Impressionist. His paintings and drawings include some
of the world's best known, most popular and most expensive pieces.
Hendrik
Johannes Cruijff (Johan Cruijff )- (born April 25, 1947 in Amsterdam)
is a Dutch football manager/coach and former player. A brilliant
and tempestuous star and widely regarded as one of the greatest
footballers of all time. He was named European Footballer of the
Year three times (1971, 1973, 1974) which is a record jointly held
with Michel Platini and Marco Van Basten. Cruijff was the most famous
exponent of the football philosophy known as Total Football, developed
by Rinus Michels.
Ruud
Gullit (born September 1, 1962) is a Dutch footballer coach
and former player, who played professionally in the 1980s and 1990s.
He was a member of the Netherlands national team at the Euro 88
and the 1990 World Cup. He was named the European Footballer of
the Year in 1987 and the World Soccer Player of the Year in 1987
and 1989. He was a versatile player, as he played several positions
during his career.
Marcel
("Marco") van Basten (October 31, 1964 in Oog in Al,
Utrecht) is a Dutch football manager, currently in charge of the
Dutch national team. Previously, he was a football player who played
for Ajax Amsterdam and A.C. Milan in the 1980s and early 1990s.
He is regarded as one of the finest strikers of all time and scored
276 goals in a career cut short by injury. Known for his strength
on the ball, his tactical awareness and spectacular strikes and
volleys, Van Basten was named European Footballer of the Year three
times (1988, '89 and '92) and FIFA World Player of the Year in 1992.
He was elected the twelfth-best footballer of the 20th century in
a poll by the IFFHS. 
