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Religion influences Dutch history, society, institutions, and attitudes and is closely related to political life, though to a diminishing degree. Around 60% of Dutch citizens profess religious affiliation, and one in seven regularly attends Church. The right of every individual to religious freedom is guaranteed by the constitution. Although church and state are separate, a few historical ties remain--the royal family belongs to the Dutch Reformed Church (Protestant). The arts have played a major role in the development and representation of Dutch culture. The works of Old Masters, including Rembrandt and Hals, and later artists, such as Mondriaan and Van Gogh, are on display in museums throughout the Netherlands. The government strongly promotes the arts, although government subsidies have declined in recent years. The Amsterdam Concertgebouw Orchestra and the Residentie Orchestra in The Hague and the Rotterdam Philharmonic enjoy excellent international reputations. The Netherlands' active intellectual life is stimulated by lively political satire and a counterculture and is sustained by prestigious universities. Nationality: Noun--Dutchmen
and Dutchwomen. Adjective--Dutch. |
| Geography Cities: Capital- Amsterdam (pop. 1,100,000). Others-The Hague, seat of government, (pop. 695,000); Rotterdam, the world's busiest port (1,074,000) Utrecht (pop. 545,000). Terrain : Coastal lowland. Climate : Northern maritime. Location : Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between Belgium and Germany Map references : Europe Area : Land boundaries : total 1,027 km, Belgium 450 km, Germany 577 km. Coastline : 451 km. Maritime claims : International disputes : none Climate : temperate; marine; cool summers and mild winters. Terrain : mostly coastal lowland and reclaimed land (polders); some hills in southeast. Natural resources : hnatural gas, petroleum, fertile soil. Land use : Irrigated land : 5,500 sq km (1989 est.) Environment—Natural hazards : the extensive system of dikes and dams, protects nearly one-half of the total area from being flooded. Environment—current issues : water pollution in the form of heavy metals, organic compounds, and nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates; air pollution from vehicles and refining activities; acid rain. Environment—international agreements : party to - Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Biodiversity, Desertification, Law of the Sea. Geography—note : located at mouths of three major European rivers (Rhine, Maas or Meuse, and Schelde) |
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The Netherland's early history is linked with Belgium and Luxembourg; the three were known as the 'Low Countries' until the 16th century when the present-day Netherlands' boundaries were roughly drawn. Originally the land was inhabited by tribal groups: the Germanic Batavi drained the sea lagoons while the Frisii lived on mounds in the remote north. In the late 16th century the region's northern provinces, inhabited by recent converts to Protestantism, united to fight the Catholic Spanish rulers. Philip II of Spain sent the cruel Inquisition to enforce Catholicism, and war broke out in 1568. The revolt of the Netherlands was led by Prince William of Orange, nicknamed William the Silent for his refusal to enter into religious arguments. After 80 years of conflict Holland and its allied provinces expelled the Spaniards in 1648, and Holland became synonymous with the independent country that emerged in this corner of Europe (a bit like saying England when you mean Britain). Amsterdam pranced onto the European stage in what was the province of Holland's most glorified period: the golden age from about 1580 to about 1740, after which the British began dominating the world's seas. The era's wealth was generated by the Dutch East India Company which sent ships to the Far East in search of spices and other exotic goods, while colonising the Cape of Good Hope, Indonesia, Surinam, the Antilles and New Amsterdam (today's New York) and establishing trading posts throughout Asia. Meanwhile Amsterdam's bourgeoisie indulged in fine, gabled canal houses and paintings of themselves and the remains of last night's dinner. This in turn stimulated the arts and brought renown to painters such as Rembrandt. But it didn't last. In 1795 the French invaded and Napoleon appointed his younger brother Louis as king. When the largely unpopular French occupation came to an end, the United Kingdom of the Netherlands - incorporating Belgium and Luxembourg was born. The first king, King William I of Orange, was crowned in 1814, and the House of Orange rules to this day. In 1830 the Belgians rebelled and became independent; Luxembourg did the same soon after. The Netherlands was able to stay neutral through WWI but couldn't exercise the same privilege in WWII. The Germans invaded in May 1940, obliterating much of Rotterdam in a bombing blitz four days later. Although a sound Dutch resistance movement formed, only a small minority of the country's substantial Jewish population survived the war. In 1949, despite military attempts to hold on to Indonesia, the colony won independence. Suriname followed with a peaceful handover of sovereignty in 1975. The Antilles, off the coast of Venezuela, are still a colony, but are largely self-ruled. The Netherlands is a staunch supporter of the European Union, and further integration is taken for granted by most Dutch people. |
| Culture The Netherlands has spawned a realm of famous painters starting with Hieronymous Bosch whose 15th-century religious works are charged with fear, distorted creatures and agonised people. Rembrandt, with his use of light and shadow, created shimmering religious scenes and led the historic artists of the golden age. Frans Hals and Jan Vermeer were the contemporary masters of portraiture and daily life scenes, two revolutionary themes which became popular due to the decline in the influence of the church as patron of the arts. Although Vincent van Gogh's (1853-90) spent much of his life in Belgium and France, he is very much claimed by the Dutch as one of their own. His early works, including the dour Potato Eaters, were painted in his homeland, but the later impressionistic works were greatly influenced by French artists. A little later, Piet Mondriaan introduced his cubic De Stijl movement, while this century has seen the perplexing designs of Maurits Escher. Dutch (Netherlandic) is a West Germanic language spoken by about 25 million people worldwide. As well as being the first language in the Netherlands, it's also spoken in the northern half of Belgium and a tiny north-western corner of France. Dutch often looks like it should be comprehensible to the English speaker, but once you hear it spoken, it shoots off into previously uncharted vowel and dipthong realms. Luckily, most Dutch people speak excellent English and are happy to use it. The Dutch do delightful dairy products and superb sweet snacks, but traditional main course Dutch gastronomy gets a bit heavy and meaty. Thanks to the sizeable Indonesian, Chinese, Surinamese, Turkish and Italian communities there are plenty of spicy alternatives. Vegetarians are not terribly well catered for, but most restaurants will have at least one meat-free dish. The national fast food is frites (chips). If you ask for frites met (chips with), you'll get them with mayonnaise just like a real Dutchie. Kroketten (croquettes) and other hot lumps of meat are dispensed by vending machines, à la the Jetsons. Beer is the staple drink, served cool and with a head of froth so big it would start a brawl in an Australian pub. According to Heineken, this is to 'capture the flavour bubbles which would otherwise fly away' - yeah, right! Double and triple strength Belgian beers are very popular in the Netherlands - beware. Dutch gin (genever) is often drunk with a beer chaser; the combination is known as a kopstoot ('head butt'). Anyone who's worth their weight in bongwater knows that you can buy wacky tabacky in shops in the Netherlands. Marijuana is not officially legal, but you are able to buy grass, hash, loose joints, smoking paraphernalia and seeds in registered 'coffee shops'. Magic mushrooms are also available. This doesn't mean that every Dutch person is a pothead. On the contrary, only about 5% of the population indulge (less than in France where drug policy is much stricter), and it's definitely not on to light up on the street or a non-'smoking' establishment. There's no shortage of hard drugs around, but you're likely to be ripped off if buying from street dealers, and be warned that the penalties are as severe as in other European countries. |
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The Netherlands has just one main international airport, Schiphol, about 10km south-west of Amsterdam. Although it's one of Europe's major international hubs, flights to London or Brussels are usually cheaper than flights to Amsterdam, and many travellers do the last leg to Amsterdam by train or bus. There are no departure taxes if leaving the Netherlands by air. Long-distance Eurolines buses connect Amsterdam to most European cities, as well as to North Africa. Eurolines and Citysprint buses travel across the channel to Britain, usually through France (make sure you've got a visa if required). Amsterdam's Centraal Station has regular and efficient rail connections to all neighbouring countries, but the bus will always be cheaper unless you've got a Eurail pass or equivalent. Travelling to the Netherlands by car or motorcycle on those lovely Western European highways is easy. If you're driving from the UK it's a fair bit cheaper to put your car on the ferry than hop on the shuttle through the Tunnel, though the latter might save a few hours travelling time from London. Most travellers go overland through Belgium and France to pick up a boat to England, but ferries also run between Hook of Holland and Harwich, UK; Europoort (near Rotterdam) and Hull, UK; Ijmuiden (near Amsterdam) and Newcastle, UK; and Ijmuiden and Kristiansand, Norway. Getting Around The best way to get around is by bicycle. Most places in the Netherlands are linked by dedicated cycle paths and the terrain is wonderfully flat. Bicycles are available for hire from train stations and from rental services in larger towns. If you're tempted to buy a cheap bike on the street, be aware that it's definitely hot, and that the money you hand over is probably going straight up the vendor's arm. And no matter what you're pedalling, make sure you lock it up securely to an immovable object; most locals use two locks, which are generally worth more than the bicycle itself. The train and bus networks are reliable, comfortable and quite expensive - you can take your bike on the train. Driving within the Netherlands isn't much fun once you're off the highways: the roads are narrow and parking spaces are hard to come by and usually very expensive. Driving a vehicle with foreign number plates is an invitation to having the car broken into, especially in Amsterdam: never leave anything valuable in your car. And if you're asking a Dutch person for directions, be aware that they'll know how to get there, but only by bike - you'll have developed a healthy appreciation for this cultural idiosyncrasy by the time you face up to your ninth no entry sign. |
| Attractions Amsterdam (Amsterdam Hotels & Amsterdam Resort Reservatoin Service) Amsterdam, the Netherlands' capital, is one of the world's best hangouts, a place where you can immerse yourself in history, in art, in the head of a beer or a self-rolled smokestack. The city is a canny blend of old and new: radical squatter art installations hang off 17th-century eaves, BMWs give way to bicycles and triple-strength monk-made beer is served in steel and glass 'grand cafés'. Amsterdam combines a huge case of big city exuberance with small-town manageability; it doesn't take much more than chaining your bike to a bridge to feel like you've got a handle on the place. Amsterdam is a cosmopolitan cauldron which has been enticing migrants and nonconformists for decades. It's a thriving city, and one of the hardest for travellers to leave, going on the number of expats trying to bike around like locals. Amsterdam seems to thrive on its funky mix, and there's very little of the tourist-fatigue which can take the happy edge off other LOB (lots of backpacks) cities. Perhaps this is because Amsterdam's quintessential Dutchness shines through: the 17th- and 18th-century architecture, the fleets of bicycles, the tree-lined canals and scattered parks all contribute to the mood of the city. As do the pavement-logs - Dutchies love their pooches and this is one of the squish 'n' squirm capitals of the world. The Randstad The Randstad translates as 'Urban Agglomeration'. It's the Netherlands' most densely populated region, spreading in a circle from Amsterdam, incorporating the Hague, Rotterdam and Utrecht, and smaller towns like Haarlem, Leiden and Delft. The area's most spectacular sight are the bulb fields which explode into colour between March and May. Even from the window of a train they're intoxicating, but a back-roads bicycle trip is the best way to enjoy the sights and smells. The Keukenhof, south of Haarlem, is the world's largest garden. It attracts a staggering 800,000 people during its eight-week season each year, but its beauty is something of an enigma. Nature's talents are combined with Dutch precision to create a garden where millions of tulips and daffodils bloom every year, perfectly in place and exactly on time. Other Randstad attractions include the stately mansions, palatial embassies and prestigious art galleries of The Hague, the country's seat of government; the distinctive blue-and-white pottery of Delft; the experimental postwar architecture of Rotterdam; and the vibrant and attractive city of Haarlem. Hoge Veluwe The Hoge Veluwe is the country's largest national park and home to the wonderful Kröller-Müller Museum. The park itself covers 5500 hectares and is a strange mix of forests and woods, shifting sands and heath moors that provide a sense of isolation (if not actual isolation) found nowhere else on the Dutch mainland. Red deer, wild boar and mouflon (a Mediterranean sheep) roam here. The Kröller-Müller Museum has 278 works by Van Gogh, as well as smaller collections of Picasso and Mondriaan. Out the back is Europe's largest sculpture garden with works by Rodin, Moore, Giacometti and many more. Hoge Veluwe is accessible by bus from Arnhem, which is one hour's train ride east of Amsterdam. White bicycles are available free of charge once you're inside the park. Maastricht The Netherland's oldest city, Maastricht sits at the bottom end of the thin finger of land which juts down between Belgium and Germany. Its history stretches back to 50 BC when the Romans set up camp on the bank of the River Meuse. Fortification walls still partly surround the city, and you can explore a 10km labyrinth of tunnels on the city's western outskirts. Today this lively city has a reputation even in its own country of being a little foreign. You can pay for a beer in Belgian francs or German marks; you can sample the distinct tastes of neighbouring cuisines; and in February you can party with the rest of the revellers in the Netherlands' largest carnival festival. |
| Facts for the Traveler Visas : European Union residents just need their EU papers to enter. No visas are required for travellers from Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan and the USA for visits of up to 90 days. Health risks: Cholesterol
and spinning out, man. When to Go Hordes of tourists snap their way around the Netherlands in summer, but there's no denying that this is the best time of year to sit by the canals for a sip and a toke. Spring is a good time to visit as the bulbs are in bloom - April for daffodils, tulips in May. If you can be in Amsterdam for Koninginnedag (April 30), do it! Rain is spread pretty evenly over the year, so there's not much point trying to avoid Dutch drizzle. Winter can get bitingly cold, but the museums are quiet, and if everything freezes over, there's great ice skating on the canals and flood plains. Events A cold January invites endless speculation about the nation-stopping Elfstedentocht (Eleven Cities Journey), a gruelling skating marathon though the countryside of Friesland. The last one was held in 1997, but it could be decades before it all freezes over again. Carnival in February is an excuse for silly costumes and revelling celebrated mostly in the Catholic south. Koninginnedag (Queen's Day) is on April 30 and is a huge party day in Amsterdam. The whole central city becomes a huge street market/party where anyone can sell whatever they like - it's a madhouse. The Holland Festival in June is celebrated mostly in Amsterdam and The Hague. It's often highbrow and pretentious but there are many fringe events. The Hague's North Sea Jazz Festival each July is the world's biggest jazz junket. Sinterklaas (Santa Claus) is the white-bearded patron saint of children who arrives 'from Spain' in mid-November. He is accompanied by a host of mischievous servants called Zwarte Pieten (Black Peters) - there are lots of PC Blue and Green Peters these days. On the evening of 5 December, people give one another anonymous and creatively wrapped gifts accompanied by poems about the recipient written by Sinterklaas. The Dutch sensibly have two Christmas Days (on 25 and 26 December), which is handy for step-families. Fireworks are only allowed to be sold in the days preceding New Year's Eve - there are hundreds of injuries each drunken, crackin 'n' bangin' 31 December. |
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