NETHERLANDS

Physical geography

The Kingdom of the Netherlands, 41,530 km², usually known as the Netherlands or Holland is situated in the North West of Europe, facing the North Sea. It has borders with Belgium, Germany and France. Length: 310 km (from the south of Limburg to the north of Gronique), breadth: 190 km (from Walcheren island in the west to the German border in the east). It’s a very flat country and more than 21% of the country is below sea level. It is a vast plain, the average altitude is about 45m. There are hills, like Ubashsberg  (210m high), or Vaalserberg (322m high). Rivers: the Scheldt, which comes from Belgium, has a breadth of 1200m at the Netherlands border and divides into two smaller rivers. There is also the Meuse, 925 km long, with 239 km inside the Netherlands. The Rhine also flows through the Netherlands. There are many lakes. Climate: there are winds from the west; the weather is often wet and mild, and often very cold in the east of the country. Overall, temperatures are between 10 and 30 °C.

An iconic place

Anne Frank’s House in Amsterdam, now a museum; she wrote her famous diary there during World War II.

Iconic objects

When someone thinks about the Netherlands, he thinks about tulip fields. The tulip it is one of the country’s symbols. He also thinks about windmills, market places with cheeses, clogs, canals, blue porcelain, and bicycles. All these things represent the Netherlands.

There are also more official symbols of the country, like its flag, and its motto (“I will maintain”), and he national anthem “Het Wilhemus” (written by Philippe de Marnix and Balthasar Houwaert). To listen to the national anthem of the Netherlands, here is the link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwBrR_G70RE

Things the country has done for the world

The first metronome was invented by Dietrich Nikolaus Winkel in Amsterdam in 1812. The pendulum clock was invented by Christiaan Huygens in 1656 (it was a revolution in measuring time).

The Nightwatch by Rembrandt

Famous historical figures

The painters Rembrandt van Rijn (1606–1669), Johannes Vermeer (1632-1675), and Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890). The philosopher Baruch Spinoza (1632-1677).

Important living people

The football player Robin Van Persie. The singers Dave and Edward Van Halen. The violinist André Rieu. The fashion model Doutzen Kroes.

History before 2000

There is archaeological evidence of agricultural activity in the Netherlands dating back to 5,000 BC. The area was one of the northern borders of the Roman Empire. During the Middle-Ages, there was no unified equivalent of the current country. Several peoples lived there. In 1433, the Duke of Burgundy created Burgundian Netherlands (which included present day Belgium, Luxembourg and part of France). The period from 1581 to 1714 was known as Spanish Netherlands. Napoleon made the Kingdom of Holland a French imperial province. In 1815, the United Kingdom of the Netherlands was created, governed by the House of Orange. After a period of conservative politics, a constitution made the country a parliamentary democracy with a constitutional monarch. During WW1, the country was neutral. During WW2, the country was invaded by the Germans (May 1940). During the post-war period, the Benelux association of countries was created (Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg). These three countries were founder members of the various European Communities.

History after 2000

Like the rest of the world the Netherlands suffered in the recession of 2009 but it soon recovered. Today, the Netherlands is a prosperous country. Flower-growing is still an important industry. The country has had several financial scandals (tax evasion).

Human geography

Population: 16,902103 inhabitants (density: 407 inhabitants per Km²); it is the 10^th most populous country in Europe. The country is made up of twelve provinces and two overseas territories.

Language(s)

The official language is Dutch, which is spoken by the vast majority of the inhabitants. The majority also speaks good English. German, French and Spanish are also widely spoken.

Culture(s)

Our playlist: Gebroeders Ko Ik heb een boot; K3, luchtballonnen; K3, le loko; K3, Kusje von jou; Clouseau, ik denk aan jou; Halleja, Angelo Groothuizen; Gordon Heuckeroth, Omdat ik Zo van je Hon; Gordon Heuckeroth, Ga dan; Patricia Paoey, Als dat zou kunne; Amsterdam, David Bowie; Amsterdam, Jacques Brel

Politics

The country is a member of NATO. It has a constitutional monarchy; the King is Willem-Alexander. The Prime Minister is Mark Rutte.

Place in the EU

One of the six founder-members of the ECSC in 1952, and the EEC and Euratom in 1957. The country signed the Schengen Accords in 1985. There are 26 MEPs (out of 754). The aim of the Netherlands is to build a strong Europe, but also increase trade with the Americas. The Netherlands is an active member of the Benelux. The Netherlands also works to make small countries as important as bigger ones within the European Union.

Economy

Its currency is the Euro. It has the fourth highest GDP in the EU.

Youth

Schools are not State-run (so national directives are not as numerous as in France for example), and there are many confessional schools. There are many different ways to learn. It is an elitist system. After twelve, children have a wide choice of studies. Schools are modern, and ways of learning too. The atmosphere is not strict. Classrooms are personalized; there are always many drawings on the walls. Biology rooms are full of animals and plants. School days are short. Parents really cooperate with the teacher. Kids are educated to be active citizens; that’s why the government sponsors a lot of activities for them so that they feel part of European democracy.

Important towns

Amsterdam

Amsterdam, 799,50 inhabitants (2013), is the capital. It is an economic pole of the country. It is an important European financial centre. Size: about 220 km². It is a very old town which attracts many tourists. It is known for its web of canals and many bridges. The historical center is beautiful and well preserved. Amsterdam grew considerably in the 17^th century because the Netherlands became independent, and because it is a port. Since the 19^th century, the town has not stopped growing. There are many cycle paths, as bicycles are the main means of transport (the streets are too narrow for cars). The municipality doesn’t want to destroy the historical center to make way for transport routes.

Amsterdam is also a cultural capital. There are many famous museums, like the Van Gogh museum and Rembrandt’s house. You can also find eight traditional windmills. To get to Amsterdam, you can take a plane from Paris to Schiphol airport. Then, you just have to rent a bike and visit all the famous places. You can spend your nights at the Hampshire Hotel - Eden Amsterdam (near the metro, next to the famous Rembrandt house).

The Hague

The Hague, 515,880 inhabitants (2015), was the capital of the country. Today, it’s a very important area for the Netherlands. It is the seat of the Dutch government and parliament, the Supreme Court, and the Council of State. Size : 98.2 km². It is an elegant city, situated near the coast, with many historical districts. You can visit the very famous peace palace, the Mauritshuis museum, and several beautiful buildings and castles.

Rotterdam

Rotterdam, 610,386 inhabitants (2011),  is a dynamic city, with a very big port. Size: 319 km². It is one of the most dynamic regions of Europe, because of its geographical situation. Its main activity is maritime trade. There are several museums, like the Boijmans Van Beuningen Museum, the Netherlands Architecture Institute, the Wereldmuseum, the Kunsthal, Witte de With Center for Contemporary Art, and the Rotterdam Maritime Museum.

Article by Pierre-Dominique ANCEL, Lisa GALLAY & Coline MICHAUD

For tasty recipes, see below!

Typical food

Bitterballen

In Holland, a night out on the town, or a social event with coworkers, usually starts out at a local café, with a beer or two and something to snack on. This something is called a "bittergarnituur". The word translates as the slightly confusing "garnish for bitters", where bitters in this case refers to alcoholic beverages. The bittergarnituur will usually contain bite-size cubes of Gouda cheese, miniature eggrolls and meatballs, perhaps some slices of a local meat sausage and, of course, bitterballen, Holland’s favorite snack. Traditionally made with beef, they can also be prepared with chicken, veal or even with mushrooms, for those that prefer a vegetarian option.

Ingredients:

100 grams (3.5 oz) butter

150 grams (5.3 oz) flour

700 ml (23.7 fl oz) beef bouillon

30 grams (1 oz) fresh onion, minced

1 tablespoon fresh parsley, minced

400 grams (14 oz) cooked meat, shredded

Salt

Pepper

Nutmeg

For the breading

50 grams (1.8 oz) flour

2 eggs, beaten

50 grams (1.8 oz) bread crumbs

Recipe:

Melt the butter in a skillet or pan. When melted, add the flour little by little and stir into a thick paste. Slowly stir in the stock, making sure the roux absorbs the liquid. Simmer for a couple of minutes on a low heat while you stir in the onion, parsley and the shredded meat. The mixture should thicken and turn into a heavy, thick sauce. Pour the mixture into a shallow container, cover and refrigerate for several hours, or until the sauce has solidified. Take a heaping tablespoon of the cold, thick sauce and quickly roll it into a small ball. Roll lightly through the flour, then the egg and finally the breadcrumbs. Make sure that the egg covers the whole surface of the bitterbal. When done, refrigerate the snacks while the oil in your fryer heats up to 190C (375F). Fry four bitterballen at a time, until golden. Serve on a plate with a nice grainy or spicy mustard.

Poffertjes

Poffertjes are a typically Dutch treat resembling very small, fluffy pancakes. They are a must-eat on national holidays, during summer festivals and other festivities in Holland. In the Christmas and New Year’s Eve period, you can find poffertjes stalls on every Christmas market. Traditionally they are served with powdered sugar and hot melted butter. Poffertjes are baked in a special pan. Their name is derived from the way they are prepared since the dough puffs up in the pan in the process of baking.

Ingredients:

200 ml hot milk

3/4 teaspoon yeast

250 grams flour

2 eggs

Pinch of salt

Powdered sugar

Butter

Recipe:

Stir the yeast into the hot milk. Stir the milk into the flour and eggs little by little, mixing well to avoid lumps. Add a pinch of salt. Cover the batter and leave to rise for 45 to 60 minutes. Heat the pan, melting a little butter so the batter won’t stick to the pan. Pour about a spoonful of batter into every hollow. Turn the poffertjes with a fork as soon as bubbles appear on the surface of the batter. Serve your poffertjes with powdered sugar and some butter, which will melt into gooey deliciousness.