Netherlands : Country overview

Geography

• Full country name: Kingdom of the Netherlands or the Netherlands (Nederland).
• Population: 16.7 million (July 2010 estimate)
• Border countries: Belgium and Germany.
• Climate: its winters tend to be cool and its summers mild.
• Terrain: the Netherlands is renowned for being flat. Mostly coastal lowland and reclaimed land (polders) with some hills in the southeast of the country. Lies along the North Sea and along several major rivers making it an important transportation hub of Europe.
• Natural hazards: flooding.

Living in the Netherlands

• Cost of living: the Netherlands is not a cheap country to live in, and most people spend a very substantial part of their income on fixed living expenses. The standard of living is higher than the UK. The social welfare system is generous.
• Utilities: excellent provision throughout the country.
• Internet domain: .nl
• Health: private health suppliers manage the Dutch healthcare system. If you are paying income tax in the Netherlands, you are required to purchase a basic health insurance with a Dutch insurance company. The length of your stay is important in determining if you need this insurance or not. If you are visiting or staying for less than a year, you do not need to purchase insurance. If you are a long-term resident or earn a salary, you do.
• Laws and customs: the Netherlands has a reputation for being tolerant on the use of so-called ‘soft drugs’. In reality, drugs are prohibited, and this tolerance exists only for designated premises in the major cities. Possession of prohibited substances or the purchase of them outside these designated areas can carry a prison sentence. The Dutch culture is very open to gay relationships, and the law recognises these relationships.

Economy and finance

• Currency: Euro.
• Type of economy: Capitalist, Western. The internationally renowned 'polder model' is often seen as the secret behind the success of Dutch socio-economic policy, with agreement between employers, unions, the government and the main political parties on wage moderation.
• Health of economy: usually known for its low inflation, stable industrial relations and a sizeable current account surplus. Following the 2008 recession, the government sought to boost the hard hit economy by offering corporate tax breaks and increasing export credit facilities. Two banks were nationalised and a billions of dollars were invested in a third. As a result, the deficit in 2009 was 4.6% of GDP, as compared with the surplus of 0.7% in 2008.
• Unemployment rate: 5.6% (April 2010)
• Main exports: machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels and food.

Culture

• People: the ethnic composition of the country is 81% Dutch and 19% other (which includes Turkish, Moroccan, Antillean, Surinamese and Indonesian origins).
• Major religion: the religious composition is Roman Catholic 30%, Dutch Reformed 11%, Calvinist 6%, other Protestant 3%, Muslim 5.8%, 2.2% other and 42% none (The World Factbook).
• History: see BBC Timeline - The Netherlands
• Local etiquette: appearances are important to the Dutch. They are disciplined, conservative and pay attention to the smallest details. The handshake is the common form of greeting Dutch people.

Politics

• Type of government: constitutional monarchy.
• Major political parties: Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA), Labour Party (PvdA), Socialist Party (SP), People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD).

Travel advice

Find the latest travel advice and a travellers’ checklist on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) website.