The Netherlands

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Holland? Or the Netherlands? And what’s the difference between the two? The Netherlands is  often referred to as Holland. Nevertheless, the official name of the country is the (Kingdom of the) Netherlands. The Netherlands consists out of twelve provinces. Two of them, North and South Holland, are the two provinces that together make Holland. Due to the maritime and economic power of these provinces in the 17th century, the Netherlands became known worldwide as Holland. To make matters even more confusing the inhabitants of the Netherlands are called Dutch.

Facts and figures

Surface area:           41,528 km² (18.41% water)

Total population:     over 16.5 million

Population density: 488 people per km2

Capital city:   Amsterdam (inhabitants: 805,166 in 2013)

Government:            The Hague

Official languages: Dutch, Frisian (only spoken in Friesland)

Type of government:          Constitutional monarchy - parliamentary democracy

Religion:       45% No religion, 27% Roman Catholic, 17% Protestant, 6% Muslim, 1% Hindu, 1% Buddhist

Currency:      Euro

National holidays:   King’s Day (26 April) Liberation Day (5 May)

Highest point:          323 m (Vaalserberg, Limburg)

Lowest point:            6.7 m (Nieuwerkerk aan den IJssel, Zuid-Holland)

Average temperature in July:       17.4 °C

Average temperature in January:            2.8 °C

People: With over 16.5 million people and a population density of 488 people per km2, the Netherlands is the most densely populated country of the European Union and one of the mostly densely populated countries in the world. The total size of the Netherlands is 41,500 km2. Amsterdam is the capital, but the government resides in The Hague. More than 40% of the total population live in the Randstad, the agglomeration of the cities of Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague and Utrecht.

Language: The official language is Dutch. The population of the province of Friesland has a choice between Dutch and Frisian, the only officially recognised regional language. The Netherlands also include the regional languages of West Low German and Limburgs. Inother parts of the Netherlands, people often speak a dialect besides Standard Dutch. Many Dutch people also speak German and English.

Landscape: Water dominates the Dutch landscape. Three big European rivers (Rhine, Meuse and Scheldt) reach the ocean via the Netherlands and create an important delta. 26% of the Netherlands is under sea level. During a age-long battle against the water, the Dutch constructed a water system consisting of dykes, polders and weirs. However, the Netherlands offers more variation than the familiar green, flat polder landscape with black and white cows.

Economy: The Netherlands is known as a politically stable country with a sound financial policy. The Netherlands is one of the most open economies in the world and is one of the world’s top 5 biggest exporters.

Three quarters of the professional population work in the tertiary sector, one quarter in the industrial sector and only 4 percent in agriculture. Despite these figure, the Netherlands are a big exporter of agricultural and horticultural products. Some big Dutch companies are: Shell, Unilever, Akzo Nobel, Philips, Aegon, ING Group, Rabobank, Heineken, TNT and Randstad.

Sports: The most popular sports in the Netherlands are football, hockey, tennis, cycling, golf, volleyball, korfball, handball, swimming and ice-skating. Dutch football and speed skating especially enjoy a worldwide reputation.

Orange is related to the Dutch Royal Family and represents the national identity of the Netherlands. That’s why Dutch fans dress up in orange. During some sport events the whole country turns orange and people become infected with what we like to call the ‘orange fever’.

National anthem: The Dutch National anthem is ‘Het Wilhelmus’, which consists of 15 stanzas about Prince William of Nassau, the Prince of Orange. The anthem is still played at official occasions, but most Dutch people will mainly recognise it because it is played during international football competitions.

Social ways: The Dutch are creative, open minded and pragmatic. They are also rather direct, honest and open in their dealings with others. The Dutch are known for their tolerant attitudes towards topics such as abortion, euthanasia and (soft) drug use.

Etiquette

Getting acquainted: When meeting family, friends and acquaintances it is common that everyone gives each other three kisses on alternating cheeks. Men in general shake each other’s hand.

Conversation: The Dutch are known for being straightforward (which is sometimes experienced as rudeness) and there isn’t a single topic that cannot be discussed in a informal setting. The only thing that is not done is to ask a Dutch acquaintance how much he or she earns.

Doing Business: The no-nonsense culture means there’s not much room for chitchatting. You shake hands, introduce yourself and talk business. Often you’re immediately called by your surname or first name, even if you’re the managing director.

It is not done to start negotiations all over again after a contract has been signed. To the Dutch a contract means the end of the negotiations: agreed is agreed. Spoken agreements, invitations and promises are often taken literally.

Presents: In Holland, it is a custom to bring along a present, not only to a birthday,  but also when you’re invited for dinner to someone’s house. This could be a book, flowers, chocolates or bottle of wine. If you receive a present, you’re expected to unwrap it straight away.

Food: Food doesn’t play a very important role in the Dutch culture. Breakfasts are often skipped, lunch is a simple meal of bread, dairy products and fruit, and dinner is mostly potatoes, vegetables and a piece of meat. Coffee and tea are enjoyed throughout the day.

Dinner is usually between 18.00 and 19.00 p.m. Restaurants often close their kitchen around nine o’clock.

Special Occasions

Birthday: Most people celebrate their birthday with family and friends. The birthday boy or girl receives presents, while guests enjoy cake and drinks. A fiftieth birthday is always celebrated  with a big party. Men whose fiftieth birthday it is are called Abraham, while women are referred to as Sarah on their fiftieth, in reference to the Bible characters of the same name.

Marriage: A civil ceremony is required to get married. A marriage in the church is traditional. Guests are often divided in ‘daytime’ and ‘evening’ guests. The latter are only invited for the party or reception. The Netherlands was the first country to permit gay marriage.

Birth of a Child: When a child is born you are served a biscuit rusk topped with blue or pink aniseed comfits, called ‘mice’. The Dutch often place a wooden or inflatable stork in the front garden to announce to the world that a child has been born.

Funeral: Typical to the character of the Dutch, a funeral isn’t seen as something to make a big fuss about. Although custom funeral services are gaining popularity, the traditional funeral is most common.

Did you know?

• The Netherlands and Holland are one and the same place?
  26% of the Netherlands is under sea level?
• The International Court of Justice (at the Peace Palace) and the International Criminal Court are both situated in The Hague?
• Holland still has around a thousand old-fashioned working windmills?
• Holland is the third biggest exporter of agricultural produce, preceded only by the US and France, even though only 4% of the Dutch population works in the agriculture sector?
• Holland has no less than 29,000 km of cycle paths?
• Flevoland, the twelfth province, was reclaimed from the Zuiderzee (‘Southern Sea’) in 1986?
• The Dutch are the tallest people in the world?
• Amsterdam was built entirely on piles?
• Holland always has a coalition government, so it is a country of compromises?
• Every Dutch person owns a bike and there are twice as many bikes as there are cars?
• The Van Gogh collections in the Van Gogh Museum and the Kröller-Müller Museum are the largest in the world?
• Holland has the highest concentration of museums in the world?
• Holland was one of the six founding members of the European Community?
• The canals of Amsterdam, the former island of Schokland, the fortifications around Amsterdam, the windmills of Kinderdijk-Elshout, the Beemster Polder, the Wadden Islands, D.F. Wouda Steam Pumping Station and the Rietveld-Schröderhuis are all on UNESCO’s World Heritage List?
• The highest point in Holland is in Vaals and is 323 meters above sea level, and is also the point where the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium meet?
• Amsterdam is the capital, but the government is in The Hague?
• Most Dutch people speak a foreign language as well as Dutch?
• Rotterdam is one of the largest ports in the world?
• Nieuwerkerk aan den IJssel is 6.76 meters below sea level, which is the lowest point in Holland?
• Amsterdam has over 1200 bridges?
• Prince Willem-Alexander, the heir to the Dutch throne, takes personal interest in water management?
• When you arrive at Schiphol Airport, you are four meters below sea level?
• Holland has more than 4,400 km of navigable rivers, canals and lakes?
• You can see how Holland waged war against the sea at Deltapark Neeltje Jans in Zeeland?
• The Dutch saying “Act normally, that’s crazy enough” fits the Dutch like a glove?
• Saint Nicholas’ Eve on 5 December is the Netherlands’ number one traditional holiday?
• There is no country in the world where more liqorice is consumed than in the Netherlands: 32 million kilos per year?
• 3% of the Netherlands consists of National Parks?
• In the Netherlands, anyone aged 14  or older is obliged to carry an original and valid proof of identity?
• The Netherlands has approximately 1,5 million cows, which together produce 10 billion liters of milk?
• On average, the Dutch eat 14.3 kg of cheese per person per year?
• 500 million kilos of cheese are exported per year?
• The Netherlands has 1048 windmills and 108 water mills?
• The mills in the Netherlands represent the age-long battle against water?
• Many of the Dutch eat raw herring with onions using only their hands?

Students

Hello I am Thomas.

I’m thirteen years old.

My family is my father Fred, my mother and my sister Judith.

I live in Holland in a village Boskoop.

My hobbies are cycling, cars, bicycles and computers.

I hate doing the dishes






Hello my name is Martine de Vries
I am twelve years old and I am from the Netherlands.

My hobbies are horse-riding and reading books.

I have one brother Thomas.

And I have six cousins.

My parents have their own company.

I have one pet a hamster her name is hompie.

My brother plays football

this is me.

Bye Martine de Vries (12)



Merel Kersseboom (R2C)

Martine de Vries (R2B)

HELLO EVERYBODY!!!!!!!         

I am Merel, I am 12 years old. I come from Holland, near Boskoop. And I love musicals, I also play in  musicals. I have a sister, her name is Linda, and she is 15 years old

Bye bye merel

Robin van Rijk (R2B)



Hello my name is robin and I’m 13 years old.

My hobbies are fishing and playing guitar.

I have a girl friend and a little sister she’s frustrate me so I hate her.

I like nice girls so you know a nice girl let me know!!:)

I hope you enjoy my story and I hope you send me a massage back :-D







Amber van der Hulst (R2E)

Hallo everybody

I am Amber,

I am 13 years old.

My hobbies are cycling, mountain biking and cycling on track, I am champion cycling in the Netherlands.

I have parents, my dad’s name is Edward and me mother’s name is Liesbeth. I have one sister her name is Britt. And I also have a dogg his name is Dino.

Bye bye Amber






Patrick Nieuwhoff (R2C)

Hello I am Patrick.

I am living in Boskoop,

My hobby is football.

I have two sisters, a dog, a father and mother.

Bas van den Dool (R2E)

Hello my name is Bas.

My hobby is football.

I live in Boskoop.

I am twelve years old.

I have a sister, she is ten years old.

I hope that you tell something about you.



Kjelt Verbeek (R2A)

 Hello my name is Kjelt.

I am twelve years old and I live in boskoop.

I like playing soccer football.

I like beautiful girls.

I have two brothers my brother Larsse is 16 years old and Torben he is 12 years old.

I have one sister Marissa.

I like music and rapping.

This is me x Kjelt



Edwin Overbeek (R2D)

Hey hey! My name is Edwin Overbeek,

I’m 13 years old and I was born on 20 august 1999.

I live in the Netherlands. My country is Zuid-Holland (South-Holland), and my village, not city, is Hazerswoude-Rijndijk.

My hobbies are: Gaming, playing tennis and playing with my friends.

On the computer I normally play Minecraft or Mount & Blade Warband.

I play tennis at H.T.C. (Hazerswoudse Tennis Club). I really like playing tennis there! J

Goodbye.

Edwin

Tatum van der Ark (R2E)

Hello, my name is Tatum. I’m twelve years old and I have a brother he is 16 years old. I have a rabbit her name is Zwiebertje, I don’t know how old she is. I live with my parents. I go to musical lesson.

Bye, bye

Tatum      



                                    

Kim van der Laan (R2D)

Hi, my name is Kim.

I have one brother, and he is fifteen years old.

I am twelve years old, and I live in Boskoop.

My best friend is Kaya, and she also is in the Europe class

My hobby is dancing



Torben Verbeek (R2D)





Hello,

My name is Iyanla

And I am from the Netherlands

I am twelve years old

My hobby is horse-riding

And I like listening to music, writing stories and I like to shop

I don’t like doing the dishes

Bye

Robin van Steijn (R1B)

Heey,

My name is Robin van Steijn.

I'm 13 years old.

I have one sister, her name is Eva.

My favorite sport is dancing.

My fathers name is Eric.

My mothers name is Annemarie.

I had a dog, and the name was Cas.

Hello, my name is Roos Kaashoek

I'm 12 years old.

I have a father, Mother and brother.My father name is Martin my Mother name is Karola and my brother name is Thijs.

My favorite sport is tennis. 

My hobby's are tennis, dancing and ice skaiting.

I have a rabbit, her name is Snuf.

  Roos Kaashoek (R1C)

Hey,

I'm Melony and i'm 12 years old.

I live with my parents and my little sister.
I have one pet: a rabbit.
My hobbies are dancing, listen to music, reading a book and horse riding.
Bye!