Netherlands | History, Flag, Population, Languages, Map ...

Netherlands, country located in northwestern Europe, also known as Holland. The country is low-lying and remarkably flat, with large expanses of lakes, ... Netherlands TableofContents Introduction&QuickFactsLandReliefDrainageanddikesSoilsClimatePlantandanimallifePeopleEthnicgroupsLanguagesTheheritageofDutchhumanismSettlementpatternsDemographictrendsEconomyAgricultureResourcesandpowerManufacturingFinance,trade,andservicesLabourandtaxationTransportationandtelecommunicationsGovernmentandsocietyConstitutionalframeworkLocalgovernmentJusticePoliticalprocessSecurityHealthandwelfareHousingEducationEnvironmentalcontrolCulturallifeDailylifeandsocialcustomsTheartsPaintingandsculptureLiteratureandtheperformingartsMusicCulturalinstitutionsSportsandrecreationMediaandpublishingHistoryTheUnionofUtrechtForeigninterventionTheformationofanewgovernmentAscendancyoftheDutcheconomyTheTwelveYears’TruceWarwithSpain(1621–48)ThefirststadtholderlessperiodWilliamIIIDutchcivilizationintheGoldenAge(1609–1713)TheeconomySocietyReligionCultureThe18thcenturyEconomicandpoliticalstagnationThePatriotmovementTheperiodofFrenchdominance(1795–1813)TheBatavianRepublic(1795–1806)TheKingdomofHollandandtheFrenchEmpire(1806–13)TheKingdomoftheNetherlands(1814–1918)KingWilliamIWilliamIIandWilliamIIIQueenWilhelminaandWorldWarITheNetherlandssince1918WorldWarIIThelate20thcenturyIntothe21stcentury FastFacts 2-MinSummary Facts&Stats Media Videos Images Audio More AdditionalReading MoreArticlesOnThisTopic Contributors ArticleHistory Home Geography&Travel CountriesoftheWorld Netherlands Alternatetitles:Holland,KingdomofTheNetherlands,KoninkrijkderNederlanden,Nederland Print print Print Pleaseselectwhichsectionsyouwouldliketoprint: TableOfContents Cite verifiedCite Whileeveryefforthasbeenmadetofollowcitationstylerules,theremaybesomediscrepancies. Pleaserefertotheappropriatestylemanualorothersourcesifyouhaveanyquestions. SelectCitationStyle MLA APA ChicagoManualofStyle CopyCitation Share Share Sharetosocialmedia Facebook Twitter URL https://www.britannica.com/place/Netherlands More GiveFeedback ExternalWebsites Feedback Corrections?Updates?Omissions?Letusknowifyouhavesuggestionstoimprovethisarticle(requireslogin). FeedbackType Selectatype(Required) FactualCorrection Spelling/GrammarCorrection LinkCorrection AdditionalInformation Other YourFeedback SubmitFeedback Thankyouforyourfeedback Oureditorswillreviewwhatyou’vesubmittedanddeterminewhethertorevisethearticle. JoinBritannica'sPublishingPartnerProgramandourcommunityofexpertstogainaglobalaudienceforyourwork! ExternalWebsites HistoryWorld-HistoryofTheNetherlands CentralIntelligenceAgency-TheWorldFactbook-Netherlands UnitedStatesHolocaustMemorialMuseum-HolocaustEncyclopedia-TheNetherlands BritannicaWebsites ArticlesfromBritannicaEncyclopediasforelementaryandhighschoolstudents. Netherlands-Children'sEncyclopedia(Ages8-11) Netherlands-StudentEncyclopedia(Ages11andup) By MarcusWillemHeslinga |SeeAll • LastUpdated: Feb11,2022 • EditHistory FastFacts 2-MinSummary Facts&Stats flagoftheNetherlands AudioFile: NationalanthemoftheNetherlands Seeallmedia HeadOfGovernment: PrimeMinister:MarkRutte ...(Showmore) Capital: Amsterdam ...(Showmore) Population: (2021est.)17,523,000 ...(Showmore) CurrencyExchangeRate: 1USDequals0.877euro ...(Showmore) SeatOfGovernment: TheHague ...(Showmore) Seeallfacts&stats→ Netherlands,countrylocatedinnorthwesternEurope,alsoknownasHolland.“Netherlands”meanslow-lyingcountry;thenameHolland(fromHoutland,or“WoodedLand”)wasoriginallygiventooneofthemedievalcoresofwhatlaterbecamethemodernstateandisstillusedfor2ofits12provinces(Noord-HollandandZuid-Holland).Aparliamentarydemocracyunderaconstitutionalmonarch,thekingdomincludesitsformercoloniesintheLesserAntilles:Aruba,Bonaire,Curaçao,Saba,SintEustatius,andSintMaarten.ThecapitalisAmsterdamandtheseatofgovernmentTheHague.NetherlandsEncyclopædiaBritannica,Inc.windmillsinNetherlandsWindmillsatKinderdijk,TheNetherlands.©Travelpix—FPGInternationalExploreHolland'spopulation,waterways,andvasttulipcross-breedingandcultivationprogramLearnaboutthegeography,agriculture,andcommerceofTheNetherlands.EncyclopædiaBritannica,Inc.SeeallvideosforthisarticleThecountryisindeedlow-lyingandremarkablyflat,withlargeexpansesoflakes,rivers,andcanals.Some2,500squaremiles(6,500squarekm)oftheNetherlandsconsistofreclaimedland,theresultofaprocessofcarefulwatermanagementdatingbacktomedievaltimes.Alongthecoasts,landwasreclaimedfromthesea,and,intheinterior,lakesandmarshesweredrained,especiallyalongsidethemanyrivers.Allthisnewlandwasturnedintopolders,usuallysurroundedbydikes.Initially,manpowerandhorsepowerwereusedtodraintheland,buttheywerelaterreplacedbywindmills,suchasthemillnetworkatKinderdijk-Elshout,nowaUNESCOWorldHeritagesite.Thelargestwater-controlschemeswerecarriedoutinthesecondhalfofthe19thcenturyandinthe20thcentury,whensteampumpsand,later,electricordieselpumpscameintouse.NetherlandsEncyclopædiaBritannica,Inc. BritannicaQuiz GeographyFunFacts Whatwasthenameofthesupercontinentthatexistedover200millionyearsago?Onwhichcontinentdidmankind’suprightancestorsoriginate?Unfoldyourmentalroadmapandtestyourknowledgeofgeographyinthisquiz. ExploreAmsterdam'snumerouscanals,canalhouses,thecitycenter,theDroogdesigncollective,andthecity'smuseumdistrictwiththeiconicMuseumVanLoonOverviewofAmsterdam.Contunico©ZDFEnterprisesGmbH,MainzSeeallvideosforthisarticleDespitegovernment-encouragedemigrationafterWorldWarII,whichpromptedsome500,000personstoleavethecountry,theNetherlandsistodayoneoftheworld’smostdenselypopulatedcountries.Althoughthepopulationasawholeis“graying”rapidly,withahighpercentageoverage65,Amsterdamhasremainedoneoftheliveliestcentresofinternationalyouthculture.There,perhapsmorethananywhereelseinthecountry,theDutchtraditionofsocialtoleranceisreadilyencountered.Prostitution,“soft-drug”(marijuanaandhashish)use,andeuthanasiaarealllegalbutcarefullyregulatedintheNetherlands,whichwasalsothefirstcountrytolegalizesame-sexmarriage.Thisrelativeindependenceofoutlookwasevidentasearlyasthe16thand17thcenturies,whentheDutchrejectedmonarchicalcontrolsandtookarelativelyenlightenedviewofothercultures,especiallywhentheybroughtwealthandcapitaltothecountry’stradingcentres.InthatperiodDutchmerchantshipssailedtheworldandhelpedlaythefoundationsofagreattradingcountrycharacterizedbyavigorousspiritofenterprise.Inlatercenturies,theNetherlandscontinuedtohaveoneofthemostadvancedeconomiesintheworld,despitethecountry’smodestsize.TheDutcheconomyisopenandgenerallyinternationalistinoutlook.WithBelgiumandLuxembourg,theNetherlandsisamemberoftheBeneluxeconomicunion,whichinthe1950sand1960sservedasamodelforthelargerEuropeanEconomicCommunity(EEC;nowembeddedintheEuropeanUnion[EU]),ofwhichtheBeneluxcountriesaremembers.TheNetherlandsisalsoamemberoftheNorthAtlanticTreatyOrganization(NATO)andtheOrganisationforEconomicCo-operationandDevelopment(OECD),anditplayshosttoanumberofinternationalorganizations,especiallyinthelegalsector,suchastheInternationalCourtofJustice.TheDutchreputationfortolerancewastestedinthelate20thandearly21stcenturies,whenanincreaseinimmigrationfromnon-EuropeanUnioncountriesandapopulistturninpoliticsresultedingrowingnationalismandevenxenophobia,markedbytworace-relatedpoliticalassassinations,in2002and2004,andthegovernment’srequirementthatimmigrantspassanexpensive‘‘integration’’testbeforetheyenterthecountry.LandReliefTheNetherlandsisboundedbytheNorthSeatothenorthandwest,Germanytotheeast,andBelgiumtothesouth.IftheNetherlandsweretolosetheprotectionofitsdunesanddikes,themostdenselypopulatedpartofthecountrywouldbeinundated(largelybytheseabutalsoinpartbytherivers).ThishighlydevelopedpartoftheNetherlands,whichgenerallydoesnotliehigherthanaboutthreefeet(onemetre)abovesealevel,coversmorethanhalfthetotalareaofthecountry.Abouthalfofthisarea(morethanone-fourthofthetotalareaofthecountry)actuallyliesbelowsealevel.NetherlandsEncyclopædiaBritannica,Inc.Urk,NetherlandsUrk,onceanislandoftheformerZuiderzee,nowpartoftheNorthEast(Noordoost)Polder,Netherlands.©Kruwt/FotoliaThelowerareaconsistsmainlyofpolders,wherethelandscapenotonlyliesataverylowelevationbutisalsoveryflatinappearance.Onsuchland,buildingispossibleonlyon“rafts,”orafterconcretepiles,sometimesaslongas65feet(20metres),havebeendrivenintothesiltlayer.Intheother,higherarea,thelayersofsandandgravelintheeasternpartofthecountrywerepushedsidewaysandupwardinsomeplacesbyicetonguesoftheSaaleGlacialStage,formingelongatedridgesthatmayreachaheightofmorethan330feet(100metres)andaretheprincipalfeatureoftheHogeParkVeluweNationalPark.Theonlypartofthecountrywhereelevationsexceed350feet(105metres)istheborderzoneoftheArdennes.TheNetherlands’highestpoint,theVaalserberg,intheextremesoutheasterncorner,risesto1,053feet(321metres).DrainageanddikesTheZuiderzeewasoriginallyanestuaryoftheRhineRiver.Bynaturalactionitthenbecameashallowinlandsea,bitingdeepintotheland,andeventuallyitwashollowedintoanalmostcircularshapebytheactionofwindsandtides.In1920workwasbegunontheZuiderzeeproject,ofwhichtheIJsselmeerDam(Afsluitdijk),begunin1927,wasapart.This19-mile-(30-km-)longdamwascompletedin1932tofinallysealofftheZuiderzeefromtheWaddenzeeandtheNorthSea.IntheIJsselmeer,orIJsselLake,formedfromthesouthernpartoftheZuiderzee,fourlargepolders,theIJsselmeerPolders,withatotalareaofabout650squaremiles(1,700squarekm),wereconstructedaroundafreshwaterbasinfedbytheIJsselandotherriversandlinkedwiththeseabysluicesandlocksinthebarrierdam.northdamacrosstheIJsselmeerPartofthenorthdam(theAfsluitdijk)acrosstheIJsselmeer,Netherlands.PierreBerger/PhotoResearchersThefirsttwopolderscreatedthere—WieringermeerandNorthEast(Noordoost)Polder,drainedbeforeandduringWorldWarII—areusedmostlyforagriculture.Thetwopoldersreclaimedinthe1950sand’60s—SouthFlevolandPolder(Zuidelijk)andEastFlevolandPolder(Oostelijk)—areusedforresidential,industrial,andrecreationalpurposes.AmongthecitiesthathavedevelopedthereareLelystadandAlmere.LearnhowtheNetherlandscombattedrisingsealevelsandfloodingdisasterswiththeDeltaWorksprojectFloodcontrolintheNetherlands.EncyclopædiaBritannica,Inc.SeeallvideosforthisarticleInthesouthwest,thedisastrousgalesandspringtideofFebruary1,1953,whichfloodedsome400,000acres(162,000hectares)oflandandkilled1,800people,acceleratedtheimplementationoftheDeltaProject,whichaimedtocloseoffmostoftheseainletsofthesouthwesterndelta.Thesedeltaworksweredesignedtoshortenthecoastlineby450miles(725km),combatthesalinationofthesoil,andallowthedevelopmentoftheareathroughroadsthatwereconstructedover10damsand2bridgesbuiltbetween1960and1987.Thelargestofthesedams,crossingthefive-mile-(eight-km-)wideEasternSchelde(Oosterschelde)estuary,hasbeenbuiltintheformofastorm-surgebarrierincorporatingdozensofopeningsthatcanbeclosedintheeventofflood.Thebarrierisnormallyopen,allowingsaltwatertoentertheestuaryandaboutthree-fourthsofthetidalmovementtobemaintained,limitingdamagetothenaturalenvironmentintheEasternSchelde.IntheinterestofthecommerceoftheportsofRotterdamandAntwerp,nodamswereconstructedintheNewWaterway,whichlinksRotterdamtotheNorthSea,ortheWestSchelde,anapproachtoAntwerp,Belgium.Thedikesalongthesewaterwaysconsequentlyhadtobestrengthened.Aregionwithaveryspecificcharacterhasbeenformedbythegreatrivers—Rhine,Lek,Waal,andMaas(Meuse)—thatflowfromeasttowestthroughthecentralpartofthecountry.Thelandscapeinthisareaischaracterizedbyhighdikesalongwiderivers,orchardsalongtheleveesformedbytherivers,andnumerouslargebridgesoverwhichpasstheroadsandrailwaysthatconnectthecentralNetherlandswiththesouthernprovinces.SoilsInthelatePleistoceneEpoch(fromabout126,000to11,700yearsago),theScandinavianicesheetcoveredthenorthernhalfoftheNetherlands.Afterthisperiod,alargeareainthenorthofwhatisnowtheNetherlandswasleftcoveredbymoraine(glacialaccumulationofearthandrockdebris).Inthecentreandsouth,theRhineandMaasriversunloadedthicklayersofsiltandgraveltransportedfromtheEuropeanmountainchains.Later,duringtheHoloceneEpoch(i.e.,thepast11,700years),claywasdepositedintheshelteredlagoonsbehindthecoastaldunes,andpeatsoiloftensubsequentlydevelopedintheseareas.Ifthepeatsoilwaswashedawaybytheseaordugawaybyhumans(fortheproductionoffuelandsalt),lakeswerecreated.Manyofthesewerereclaimedinlatercenturies(asmentionedabove),whileothersnowformhighlyvaluedoutdoorrecreationalareas.KeukenhofGardensKeukenhofGardens,nearLisse,Netherlands.©Madzia71/iStock.comClimateTheclimateoftheNetherlandsistemperate,withgentlewinters,coolsummers,andrainfallineveryseason.Southerlyandwesterlywindspredominate,andtheseamoderatestheclimatethroughonshorewindsandtheeffectoftheGulfStream.Thepositionofthecountry—betweentheareaofhigh-pressureairmassescentredontheAzoresandthelow-pressureregioncentredonIceland—makestheNetherlandsanareaofcollisionbetweenwarmandpolarairmasses,thuscreatingunsettledweather.Windsmeetwithlittleresistanceovertheflatcountry,thoughthehillsinthesouthsignificantlydiminishthevelocityofthepotentwindthatprevailsalongthecoast.Onaverage,frostoccurs60daysperyear.Julytemperaturesaverageabout63°F(17°C),andthoseofJanuaryaverage35°F(2°C).Annualrainfallaveragesabout31inches(790mm),withonlyabout25cleardaysperyear.Theaveragerainfallishighestinsummer(August)andautumnandlowestinspringtime.Thecountryisknown—notleastthroughthemagnificentlandscapesofDutchpainters—foritsheavyclouds,andonanaveragedaythree-fifthsoftheskyisclouded.Koninck,Philips:ViewoveraFlatLandscapeViewoveraFlatLandscape,oiloncanvasbyPhilipsKoninck,1664;intheMuseumBoymans-vanBeuningen,Rotterdam,Netherlands.MuseumBoijmansVanBeuningen,RotterdamPlantandanimallifeMostwildDutchplantspeciesareoftheAtlanticdistrictwithintheEuro-Siberianphytogeographicregion.Gradientsofsaltandwintertemperaturevariationscauserelativelyminorzonaldifferencesinbothwildandgardenplantsfromthecoasttomorecontinentalregions.Theeffectsofelevationarenegligible.Vegetationfromcoastalsanddunes,muddycoastalareas,slightlybrackishlakes,andriverdeltasisespeciallyscarceinthesurroundingcountries.Lakes,marshes,peatland,woods,heaths,andagriculturalareasdeterminethegeneralfloralspecies.Clay,peat,andsandareimportantsoilfactorsfortheinlandvegetationregions.Animallifeisrelegatedbyregionaccordingtovegetation.Seabirdsandothersealife,suchasmollusks,arefoundespeciallyinthemuddyWaddenzeeareaandintheextremesouthwest.MigratingbirdspassinhugenumbersthroughtheNetherlandsorremainforasummerorwinterstay.Speciesofwaterbirdsandmarshandpasturebirdsarenumerous.Largermammals,suchasroedeer,reddeer,foxes,andbadgers,aremostlyrestrictedtonaturereserves.Somespecies,suchasboars,beavers,fallowdeer,mouflons,andmuskrats,havebeenintroducedlocallyorreintroduced.Somereptilesandamphibiansareendangered.Numerousspeciesofriverfishandriverlobstershavebecomescarcebecauseofwaterpollution.Thereisadiversityofbrackishandfreshwateranimalsinhabitingthemanylakes,canals,anddrainageditches,butthevulnerablespeciesofthenutritionallydeficientwatershavebecomerare.Naturereserveshavebeenformedbygovernmentalandprivateorganizations.Well-knownreservesincludetheNaardermeerofAmsterdam,theHogeVeluweNationalPark,andtheOostvaardersplasseninthecentreofthecountry.Someendangeredspeciesareprotectedbylaw. 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