Netherlands
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The Kingdom of the Netherlands is in
Western Europe, bordered by the North Sea, Belgium and Germany. The West Frisian
Islands, off the coast of North Holland, and the islands of the Dutch Antilles,
in the Caribbean, are part of the Kingdom.
The Netherlands is divided into twelve provinces: Drenthe, Flevoland, Friesland,
Gelderland, Groningen, Limburg, Noord-Brabant, Noord-Holland, Overijssel,
Utrecht, Zeeland and Zuid-Holland.
Amsterdam is the capital city and an important port; the government of the
Netherlands is situated in The Hague. Rotterdam is a major city and one of the
world’s leading ports.
Most of the country is low-lying with half of the Netherlands below sea level.
Dikes (dams) have been built along the coast and the land drained. In the north
the former Zuider Zee, separated from the North Sea by an eighteen mile long
dike, forms a lake called the IJsselmeer. Rivers include the Rhine (Waal and Lek)
and the Maas or Meuse.
The climate is temperate with cool summers and mild winters.
Population: The population of the Netherlands was estimated at 16,491,461 in
2006.
Languages: Dutch and Frisian are official languages. English is widely used.
Religion: Over thirty percent of the people are Roman Catholic and twenty
percent are Protestant. Over five percent are Muslim.
Sport: Football is played at national and international level. Rugby is also
played. Skating and cycling are popular.
Holidays: Liberation Day (5 May) marks the end of German occupation in 1945 and
the Queen’s Birthday is celebrated on 30 April.
Easter and Christmas are observed and St. Nicholas’ Day is on 5 December.
