Info on the Netherlands

(This is all Copy&Paste from http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0107824.html)

Sovereign: Queen Beatrix (1980)

Prime Minister: Jan Peter Balkenende (2002)

Land area: 13,104 sq mi (33,939 sq km); total area: 16,033 sq mi (41,526 sq km)

Population (2010 est.): 16,783,092 (growth rate: 0.4%); birth rate: 10.3/1000; infant mortality rate: 4.7/1000; life expectancy: 79.4; density per sq km: 491

Capital and largest city (2003 est.): Amsterdam (official), 737,900; The Hague (administrative capital), 465,900

Other large cities: Rotterdam, 600,700; Utrecht, 263,900; Eindhoven, 206,900

Monetary unit: Euro (formerly guilder)

National name: Koninkrijk der Nederlanden

Current government officials

Languages: Dutch, Frisian (both official)

Ethnicity/race: Dutch 83%, other 17% (9% of non-Western origin, mainly Turks, Moroccans, Antilleans, Surinamese, and Indonesians) (1999 est.)

Religions: Roman Catholic 31%, Dutch Reformed 13%, Calvinist 7%, Islam 6%, none 41% (2002)

National Holiday: Queen's Day, April 30

Literacy rate: 99% (2003 est.)

Economic summary: GDP/PPP (2009 est.): $654.9 billion; per capita $39,200. Real growth rate: –3.9%. Inflation: 1.2%. Unemployment: 5%. Arable land: 22%. Agriculture: grains, potatoes, sugar beets, fruits, vegetables; livestock. Labor force: 7.5 million; agriculture 2.2%, industry 24%, services 73.8% (2007 est.). Industries: agroindustries, metal and engineering products, electrical machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum, construction, microelectronics, fishing. Natural resources: natural gas, petroleum, arable land. Exports: $397.6 billion (2009 est.): machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels; foodstuffs. Imports: $358.9 billion (2009 est.): machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, fuels, foodstuffs, clothing. Major trading partners: Germany, Belgium, UK, France, Italy, U.S., Russia, China (2006).

Communications: Telephones: main lines in use: 7.6 million (2005); mobile cellular: 15.834 million (2005). Radio broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 246, shortwave 3 (2004). Radios: 15.3 million (1996). Television broadcast stations: 21 (plus 26 repeaters) (1995). Televisions: 8.1 million (1997). Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 11.17 million (2007). Internet users: 14.544 million (2006).

Transportation: Railways: total: 2,811 km (2006). Highways: total: 34,000 km (includes 3,270 km of expressways) (2004). Waterways: 6,183 km (navigable for ships of 50 tons). Ports and harbors: Amsterdam, Delfzijl, Dordrecht, Eemshaven, Groningen, Haarlem, Ijmuiden, Maastricht, Rotterdam, Terneuzen, Utrecht, Vlissingen. Airports: 27 (2007).

Comparison to the US

The biggest difference I see is that it's a much smaller country. So everything ends up being less problematic. They really aren't a huge player in the world political scene. But over there is that everything is legal in the Netherlands but they tax everything. Interesting fact: US has what 3 assassination attempts in it's history? The dutch have three major assassination attempts too in it's history though thier most recent one is in 2004. Religiously they are mostly Christian and don't seem to like muslims too much. 41% of the population doesn't claim anything though. 6% practice Islam. Thats about it I believe?

History of The Netherlands

Julious Ceaser found the area now known as the Netherlands. At the time Germanic tribes lived there. Rome took control in 13 B.C. Next the Franks ruled the area for 4 centuries. Then Charlemagne's empire was in control for the 8th and 9th century. As with all good things, this rule ended and nothing important happened here until the 16th century when Spain took it over. Then of course people want thier inpendance so the now Dutch fought with Spain in an 80 year war. In 1648 they won thier independence. Nothing the Dutch do affects the world, besides settling New Amsterdam, until World War 1. They stay nuetral so they still don't do anything. World War 2 they try the same thing but Hitler's not having it this time and he takes it over. Now interestingly enough most of the citizans in the Netherlands cooperated whole-hartedly with German rule. The goverment that was outcasted did not. Nothing world changing happens with the Dutch anymore though their goverment is rocked with assassination attempts. It doesn't seem like a very safe place if you make noise, but that's what happens when you decide to legalize everything.