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FAQs The ten most frequently asked questions about the Netherlands
1. How many parts does the Kingdom of the Netherlands have?The Kingdom of the Netherlands has three parts: the Netherlands and two countries in the Caribbean – the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba. With an area of 41,528 km and a population of over 16 million, the Netherlands (the European part of the Kingdom) is one of the world’s smaller countries.2. Is there a difference between the Netherlands and Holland?The Netherlands is often called Holland. But North Holland and South Holland are in fact the two coastal provinces in the west that played an important part in the country’s history. The official name is the Kingdom of the Netherlands or the Netherlands for short.3. What is the system of government?Which city is the capital? The Netherlands is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system, in which the government consists of the queen and the ministers. For historical reasons, The Hague is the seat of government, but Amsterdam is the capital. The current government is a coalition between the Christian democrats (CDA) and two liberal parties (VVD & D66). Jan Peter Balkenende (CDA) is the Prime Minister. Queen Beatrix is the head of state.4. How flat is the Netherlands?Very flat. A quarter of its surface area is below sea level. The lowest point in the Netherlands, near Rotterdam, is 6.7 metres below sea level. Its highest point, the Vaalserberg, is 323 metres above sea level. The Vaalserberg is in the province of Limburg, where the borders of the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany meet.5. What is the weather like?The Netherlands has a temperate climate, thanks to its long coastline. The average temperatures are 18°C in summer and 3°C in winter. Average annual rainfall is 800 mm.6. What language is spoken?The official language is Dutch, but a second official language, Frisian, is spoken by approximately 400,000 people in the province of Friesland. Frisian bears some similarities to English and the Scandinavian languages. Dutch is the language of instruction in schools throughout the Netherlands.7. Which currency can you use?The euro is now the official currency in the Netherlands. As part of the drive towards European integration, many European countries replaced their national currencies with the euro (€) on 1 January 2002. There are coins of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 eurocents and 1 and 2 euros, and notes of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 500 euros. The notes are the same in all 12 euro countries. Only the coins have a European and a national side. You can pay with the euro in many European countries – the Netherlands, Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, Finland, Ireland, Austria and Greece.Exchange rate: € 1 = US$ 1.32 (rate in March 2005) 8. What is the best way to travel in the Netherlands?The Netherlands has an excellent infrastructure, with good roads and first-rate public transport services, thanks to its close-knit network of trains and buses. The Dutch themselves like to get around by bike.9. When is the day of national celebration?The Queen’s Birthday on 30 April. Queen Beatrix’s actual birthday is on 31 January, but she celebrates it on 30 April, her late mother’s birthday. Events like parades, street markets and sports days are organised throughout the country.10. What are the Netherlands’ economic strengths?The Dutch economy has a strong international focus, the Netherlands being one of the European Union’s most dynamic centres of trade and industry. Due to its favourable location by the North Sea, the Netherlands plays an important role as a main port and distribution centre for companies operating worldwide. The port of Rotterdam handles some 327 million tonnes of goods every year, and is the biggest port in the world. Amsterdam Schiphol international airport is the fourth biggest cargo-handling airport in Europe. That is why the Netherlands is often called the Gateway to Europe. In 2003, the Netherlands was ranked the eighth largest exporter in the world. |
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