STUDY IN NETHERLANDs - about netherlands

General Information

Area: 41,528 sq km (16,034 sq miles).

Population: 16,067,754 (July 2002 est.)
Population Growth Rate: 0.53% (2002 est.)
Population Density: 390.1

Capital: Amsterdam; The Hague is the seat of government

Ethnicity / Race: Dutch 83%, other 17% (of which 9% are non-western origin mainly Turks, Moroccans, Antilleans, Surinamese and Indonesians) (1999 est.)

Language: Dutch is the official language. English, German and French are widely spoken.

Currency: Single European currency (Euro): The Euro is now the official currency of 12 EU member states (including the Netherlands). The first Euro coins and notes were introduced in January 2002; the Dutch Guilder was in circulation until 28 January 2002, when it was completely replaced by the Euro. Euro (€) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of €500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of €2 and 1, and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cents.

Religion: 31 per cent Roman Catholic, 21 per cent Protestant; 40 per cent do not profess any religion.

Time: GMT + 1 (GMT from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October).

Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz. Two-pin European-style plugs are in use.

Health: Rabies may be present in animals, although risk to travellers is very rare. For those at high risk, vaccination before arrival should be considered. If you are bitten, seek medical advice without delay. For more information, consult the Health appendix.

Customs: Single European currency (Euro): The Euro is now the official currency of 12 EU member states (including the Netherlands). The first Euro coins and notes were introduced in January 2002; the Dutch Guilder was in circulation until 28 January 2002, when it was completely replaced by the Euro. Euro (€) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of €500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of €2 and 1, and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cents.

Communications: Country code: 31 (followed by 20 for Amsterdam, 10 for Rotterdam and 70 for The Hague). Outgoing international code: 00. Telephone information is given in French, English and German.

Geography

Location: Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between Belgium and Germany

Geographic coordinates: 52 30 N, 5 45 E

Area:
Total: 41,526 sq km
Water: 7,643 sq km
Land: 33,883 sq km

Coastline: 451 km

Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM

Territorial sea: 12 NM

Climate: temperate; marine; cool summers and mild winters

Terrain: mostly coastal lowland and reclaimed land (polders); some hills in southeast

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Zuidplaspolder -7 m
highest point: Vaalserberg 322 m

Natural resources: natural gas, petroleum, arable land

Natural hazards: flooding

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

Geography - note: located at mouths of three major European rivers (Rhine, Maas or Meuse, and Schelde)

Government

Government Structure: The Netherlands is a constitutional monarchy with a bicameral multiparty legislature: the First (Lower) Chamber has 150 members, elected for a four-year term; and the Second (Upper) Chamber has 75 members, indirectly elected by provincial councils for the same length of term.

Communication

Telephone: Full IDD is available. Country code: 31 (followed by 20 for Amsterdam, 10 for Rotterdam and 70 for The Hague). Outgoing international code: 00. Telephone information is given in French, English and German. The cheap rate is from Mon-Fri 2000-0800. Calls can be made from public booths or post offices. Most booths only accept cards, which can be bought at post offices, VVV offices, and shops displaying the PTT-telephone card poster; and sometimes coins.

Mobile telephone: GSM 900 and 1800 networks across the Netherlands. Operators include KPN Telecom (website: www.kpn.com), T-mobile (website: www.t-mobile.com), Orange (website: www.orange.nl) and Telfort (website: www.telfort.nl).

Fax: Services are widely available and are also provided by some hotels.

Internet: There are many Internet cafes and some Internet access centres. Business centres also provide public access. Using the Internet is very straightforward in Amsterdam, where PCs are available free of charge in libraries and public buildings.

Telegram: Facilities are available at all main post offices; telegrams can also be sent directly from telephone kiosks.

Post: Stamps are available from all post offices as well as from tobacconists and kiosks selling postcards and souvenirs. Mail within Europe takes approximately 5 days. Post offices are open Mon-Fri 0900-1700. Some post offices in major towns are also open on late shopping nights (Thursday or Friday night) and Sat 1000-1300. There are all-night post offices in Amsterdam (Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal, behind the Royal Palace) and Rotterdam (Coolsingel).

Press: The main newspapers are De Telegraaf, De Volkskrant, Trouw and NRC Handelsblad (an evening paper). Foreign newspapers are widely available.

Radio: BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online.