Netherlands

Netherlands

This small, densely populated country is also referred to as Holland, the name of two of its provinces. In the 16th and 17th centuries, Dutch merchants and sailors travelled far and wide, trading in gold and spices. The empire they established stretching from South East Asia to the Caribbean. Trade is still of great importance to the Netherlands today, since several large international companies are Dutch, and exports make up about half of the countries income.  The dutch are known for their tolerance and for their liberal social attitudes. The Netherlands is bounded by the North Sea to the north and west, Germany to the east, and Belgium to the south.

Ethnicity

There are 17.28 million people living in the Netherlands.

• 77% Dutch
• 10% Europeans
• 13% Other (Turks, Indonesians, Moluccas, Surinamese, Americans)

Economy

The Netherlands has one of the world’s largest economies. This is quite an accomplishment for such a small nation. There are numerous factors that contribute to the Dutch economy’s success. It has a diverse economy that adds to its power and global recognition. With a consistently high trade surplus, stable labour relations, and low unemployment, the Netherlands, the sixth-largest economy in the European Union, plays an important role as a European transportation centre. Food processing, chemicals, petroleum refining, and electrical equipment are the main industries. A highly mechanised agricultural sector employs just 2% of the labour force but generates significant surpluses for food processing, supporting the country’s role as the world’s second largest agricultural exporter.After a 1953 flood killed 1,835 people, the Netherlands built flood defences for centuries and added a vast network of dams and levees. The Netherlands held the 2021 Eurovision in Rotterdam. 

Food

Dutch Cuisine is delicious and is derived from various other cuisines. 30% of the Netherlands is arable land. In 2014 the Netherlands imported over 17 billion Euros worth of food. Poffertjes are small pancakes that are probably one of the most well-known Dutch dishes and are also a delicacy. New herring from the Netherlands the raw herring is eaten with raw onions and gherkins that have been diced. The Netherlands is the world’s second-biggest beer exporter, Mexico being the biggest. The Dutch invented gin and brought it to the British.

Some traditional Dutch dishes can include:

–Suikerbrood (Dutch bread)

–Kibbeling (Fish street food)

–Stroopwafel (Dutch cookies)

–Stamppot (Mashed pot)

–Kroket (Dutch croquettes)

Places

The Netherlands are a very flat country, Vaalserberg is a mountain with a height of 322 metres. One quarter of the Netherlands is below sea level. Tulips are native to the Netherlands and almost 80% of the world’s flower bulbs come from the Netherlands. During the 17th and early 18th centuries, The Netherlands saw the rise of Baroque architecture. The Netherlands are also known for there many windmills, there are 1,000 windmills scattered across the country. 

Some cities to visit in the Netherlands are:

• Amsterdam, canals and the capital
• Rotterdam, port town with post war buildings
• Haarlem, medieval city

Some places to visit are:

• Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam
• Mauritshuis, The Hague
• The Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam
• De Haar Castle, Utrecht
• The Anne Frank House, Amsterdam

History

 In 1275 Amsterdam was founded. In 1421 A storm triggers a flood that drowns nearly 10.000 people. 1516 King of Spain Charles V inherits the Netherlands. 1630 – 1654 when the Dutch conquer Brazil. In 1648 end of the war with Spain; recognition of Dutch independence. In 1661 the Netherlands sell Brazil to Portugal. 1814 The country becomes the Kingdom of the Netherlands headed by Willem l of the House of Oranje-Nassau. In 1919 Dutch women are allowed to vote. Four days after the aerial bombing of Rotterdam, Germany invades and conquers the Netherlands in 1940. Thousands of people perish during the Hunger Winter, which lasts from 1944 to 1945. In 1949 the Netherlands joined NATO and in 1957 the Netherlands where one of the founding members of the EU.

Published on the 23rd of May 2021