Netherlands
The Netherlands are situated on the west coast of Europe. Its neighbours are Germany and Belgium.
FACTS & FIGURES
Total surface: 41.500 km2 (33.800 land km2 and 7.700 km2 water)
Land under sea level: 26%
National flag: red - white - blue
National color: orange
National anthem: Wilhelmus
Number of cities: 467
Capital: Amsterdam
The government is situated in: Den Haag (The Hague)
Inhabitants: 16.336.000
Money: Euro
Airport: Schiphol
The Netherlands are a constitutional monarchy. This means that the position of the Queen (or King) is mentioned in the Constitution. The Queen is the Head of State and forms the government together with the parliament. Queen Beatrix has been Queen of the Netherlands since 1980.
Queen’s Day
Queen’s Day - or Koninginnedag, as it is known in Dutch - is a national holiday that falls on 30 April. It is marked by celebrations and special events throughout the country. The Queen and other members of the Royal House visit one or two towns or villages. Her visit is always broadcast live on television. If 30 April is a Sunday, Queen’s Day is celebrated on 29 April. During the reigns of Queen Wilhelmina and Queen Juliana, it was traditionally celebrated on the monarch’s birthday, on 31 August and 30 April respectively. In honour of her mother, Queen Beatrix decided to continue to celebrate Queen’s Day on Queen Juliana’s birthday.
(Fun) facts abut the Netherlands
Did you know that:
- a quarter of the Netherlands lies below sea level?
- the international Court of Justice (Peace palace) is in The Hague?
- the Netherlands are one of the founders of the European Union?
- the Netherlands have over 15.000 km paths especially for bicycles?
- Holland has about 1000 working classical mills?
- Dutch people are the tallest in Europe?
- the Netherlands have almost 1000 museums with 42 in Amsterdam alone?
- in the Netherlands people eat raw herring with onions?
- you can see 22 paintings of Rembrandt and 206 of Van Gogh in Amsterdam?
- there is a fresh bouquet of flowers in almost every Dutch home?
- The Dutch, after the Scandinavians, have the highest coffee consumption in the world?
- Amsterdam has 1281 bridges?
- when Dutch school children graduate the national flag is hung out of the window with their schoolbag attached to it?
