Geography
Area: 41,526 sq. km. (16,485 sq. mi.).
Cities: Capital--Amsterdam (pop. 739,104). Other cities--The
Hague, seat of government (469,059); Rotterdam (598,923); Utrecht
(270,244).
Terrain: Coastal lowland.
Climate: Northern maritime.
People
Population: 16.3 million.
Nationality: Noun--Dutchmen and Dutchwomen. Adjective--Dutch.
Ethnic groups: Predominantly Dutch; largest minority communities are
Moroccans, Turks, Surinamese.
Religions: Roman Catholic, Protestant, Muslim, other.
Language: Dutch.
Education: Years compulsory--10. Attendance--nearly
100%. Literacy--99%.
Health: Infant mortality rate--5.0/1,000. Life expectancy--78
yrs.
Work force (2003: 7.4 million): commercial services—46.3%;
non-commercial services—32.4%; industry—19.6%;
agriculture—1.7%.
Government
Type: Parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarch.
Constitution: 1814 and 1848.
Branches: Executive--monarch (chief of state), prime minister
(head of government), cabinet. Legislative--bicameral
parliament (First and Second Chambers). Judicial--Supreme
Court.
Subdivisions: 12 provinces.
Political parties: Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA), Labor Party (PvdA),
Liberal Party (VVD), other minor parties.
Suffrage: Universal at 18.
Economy
GDP (2004 est.): $591 billion.
GDP real growth rate (2004 est.): 1.3%.
GDP per capita (2004 est.): $36,236.
Natural resources: Natural gas, petroleum, fertile soil.
Agriculture (2.4% of GDP): Products--dairy, poultry, meat,
flower bulbs, cut flowers, vegetables and fruits, sugar beets,
potatoes, wheat, barley.
Industry (25% of GDP): Types--agro-industries, steel and
aluminum, metal and engineering products, electric machinery and
equipment, bulk chemicals, natural gas, petroleum products,
transport equipment, microelectronics.
Services (73% of GDP): Types--trade, hotels, restaurants,
transport, storage and communication, financial (banking and
insurance) and business services, care and other.
Trade (2004): Exports--$313 billion (f.o.b.): mineral fuels,
chemicals, machinery and transport equipment, processed food and
tobacco, agricultural products. Imports--$274 billion
(f.o.b.): mineral fuels and crude petroleum, machinery,
transportation equipment, consumer goods, foodstuffs. Major
trading partners in 2003 (exports/imports)--EU (76%/57%),
Germany (24%/20%), Belgium (12%/11%), U.K. (10%/7%), U.S. (4%/8%).