General Statistics on the Kingdom of the
Netherlands
Government, geography and demography
|
Form of government |
Constitutional monarchy, parliamentary democracy |
| Head of
state |
Queen Beatrix |
|
Administrative regions |
12
provinces: Drenthe, Flevoland, Friesland, Gelderland,
Groningen, Limburg, Noord-Brabant, Noord-Holland, Overijssel,
Utrecht, Zeeland, Zuid-Holland |
|
Dependencies |
Aruba, Netherlands Antilles |
| Currency |
Euro |
|
Location |
Western
Europe, bordering the North Sea, between Belgium and Germany |
| Capital |
Amsterdam |
| Largest
cities |
Amsterdam: 743,393 inhabitants |
|
|
Rotterdam: 599,859
inhabitants |
| |
The Hague: 472,087 inhabitants |
| |
Utrecht: 300,000 inhabitants |
| Area |
Total: 41,526 square kilometres |
| |
Land: 33,883 square kilometres |
| |
Water: 7,643 square kilometres |
| Land
boundaries |
Total: 1,027 kilometres |
|
|
Belgium:
450 kilometres, Germany: 577 kilometres |
| Coastline |
451 kilometres |
|
Climate |
Temperate; maritime; cool summers and mild winters |
|
Terrain |
Mostly
coastal lowland and reclaimed land (polders) |
|
Elevation extremes |
Lowest
point: Zuidvlaspolder - 7 m below sea level |
|
|
Highest
point: Vaalserberg - 322 m above sea level |
|
Natural resources |
Natural
gas; petroleum; peat; limestone; salt; sand and gravel;
arable land |
| Population |
16,486,587 (February 2009) |
| Age
structure |
0 - 20 years: 23.9% |
| |
20 - 45 years: 25.7% |
| |
45 - 65 years: 35.5% |
| |
65 - 80 years: 11.2% |
| |
80-years and older: 3.8% |
| Population
growth rate |
0.49% (2009 est.) |
| Migration
balance (immigration minus emigration) |
26,842 (2008) |
|
Ethnic groups |
Dutch:
80,4%, other: 19,6% (of which 10,8% are non-Western origin;
mainly Turks, Moroccans, Antilleans, Surinamese and
Indonesians (2008) |
|
Religions |
Roman
Catholic: 27%, Protestant: 16.6%, Muslim: 5.7%, other: 2.3%,
none: 48.4% (2005) |
| Languages |
Dutch (official), Frisian (official) |
Economic performance
| GDP |
670,2 billion euro (2008 est.) |
| GDP per
capita |
Purchasing power parity: |
| |
$40,300 (2008 est.) |
|
Economic growth |
2.1% (2008) |
|
Working population |
7,410 million (2008) |
| Unemployed |
3.9% (2008) |
| European
economic growth |
0.63% (2008) |
| Inflation
rate |
2.5% (2007) |
| Inflation
rate Euro zone |
3.7% (2008) |
|
International trade |
Exports: 537.5 billion euro (2008) (goods and services) |
|
|
Imports: 485.3
billion euro (2008) (goods and services) |
|
Export commodities |
Machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels, foodstuffs |
|
Import commodities |
Machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, fuels,
foodstuffs, clothing |
|
Export partners |
Germany
24.4%; Belgium 13.6%; UK 9.1%; France 8.5%; Italy 5.1%; US
4.3% (2008) |
|
Import partners |
Germany:
17.7%; Belgium: 9.3%; US: 7.3%; China: 10.5%; Russia: 5.15;
UK: 5.8%; France: 4.4% (2008) |
Education
system
The education
system in Holland is known for its high quality in education
and research and its international study environment. In
addition, with 1,462 international study programmes and
courses it has the largest offer of continental Europe.
Holland has two main types of
higher education institutions: research universities and
universities of applied sciences. Research universities
focus on the independent practice of research-oriented work
in an academic or professional setting. Universities of
applied sciences are more practically oriented, preparing
students directly for specific careers.
A third, smaller branch of
higher education is provided by institutes for international
education, which offer programmes designed especially for
international students.
Dutch
way of teaching
Respect for each
individual’s opinions and convictions is a national virtue
that gives strength to the fabric of Holland’s diverse and
plural society. This is the foundation of the teaching
method used at the Dutch educational institutions.
The teaching style can be described as interactive and
student-centred, providing students with the attention and
freedom they need to develop their own opinions and
creativity in applying their newly acquired knowledge.
Problem-based learning
Holland has received international acclaim for its
groundbreaking problem-based learning system, which trains
students to analyze and solve practical problems
independently through emphasis on self-study and
self-discipline.
A large portion of all study programmes is dedicated to
writing papers, working in groups to analyze and solve
specific problems, acquiring practical work experience
through internships, and conducting experiments in
laboratories.
|
Source: Statistics Netherlands (NFIA) |
