Wayzata World Factbook 1994/World Factbook - 1994 Edition - Wayzata Technology (1994).iso/pc/text/txtfiles/netherl.bkg

Text File | 1994-04-07 | 26KB | 458 lines

#CARD:Netherlands:Background Notes
US DEPARTMENT OF STATE BACKGROUND NOTES:  NETHERLANDS

January 1991
Official Name:  Kingdom of the Netherlands

Profile
Geography
Area: 41,473 sq. km. (16,464 sq. mi.). Cities: Capital- Amsterdam (pop.
687,450). Others-The Hague, seat of government, (pop. 449,350);
Rotterdam, principal port (pop. 558,850); Utrecht (pop. 231,750).
Terrain: Coastal lowland. Climate: Northern maritime.

People
Population: 15 million. Nationality: Noun-Dutchmen and Dutchwomen.
Adjective-Dutch.  Ethnic Groups:  Predominantly Dutch; largest minority
communities are Moroccans, Turks, Surinamese, and Indonesians.
Religions: Roman Catholic, Protestant, non-affiliated, and other.
Language: Dutch. Education: Years compulsory-10. Attendance-nearly 100%.
 Literacy-98%. Health: Infant mortality rate-6/1,000.  Life
expectancy-76 yrs. (males, 73 yrs.; females, 79 yrs.). Work force
(1985): 6 million. Agriculture-1.4%,  Trade-17%,  Industry-30%,
Services-45%. Of the above total, government-23% of the work force.

Government
Type: Parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarch.
Constitution: 1814 and 1848.
Branches: Executive-monarch (chief of state), prime  minister (head of
government), Cabinet. Legislative-Bicameral Parliament (First and Second
Chambers). Judicial-Supreme Court.
Subdivisions:  12 provinces.
Political parties: Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA), Labor Party
(PvdA), Liberal Party (VVD), Democrats '66 (D'66), other minor parties.
Suffrage:  Universal over 18.
Defense (1989): 2.9% of GNP.
Flag: Three horizontal stripes:  red, white, and blue, from top to
bottom.

Economy
GNP (1989): $224 billion; (1988) $227 billion.  GNP per capita (1988):
$15,000.  Annual growth rate (1989):  4.2%. Per capita income (1989)
$13,500. Inflation (1989): 1%; 1988: 0.7%.  Unemployment (1989): 6%;
(1988): 6%. Gov't deficit/GNP (1989): 5% (US: 3%).
Natural resources: Natural gas.
Agriculture (4% of Net National Income (NNI)): Products-dairy, poultry,
meat, flower bulbs, cut flowers, vegetables/fruits, sugar beets,
potatoes, wheat, barley, oats.
Industry (19% of NNI): Types-steel, metal products, electronics, bulk
chemicals, natural gas, petroleum products, transport equipment.
Trade (1989):  Exports-$103 billion:  mineral fuels, chemical products,
machinery and transport equipment, foodstuffs.  Imports-$104 billion:
mineral fuels and crude petroleum, machinery, chemical products,
foodstuffs. Major trade partners-FRG, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, UK,
US.
Official exchange rate (average 1989): 2 Dutch guilders= US $1.
Foreign Development aid:  1.5% of NNI, (1990 est.: $3 billion).
Membership in International Organizations UN, North Atlantic Treaty
Organization (NATO), European Community (EC), Organization for Economic
Cooperation and Development (OECD), International Energy Agency (IEA),
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), European Monetary System,
BENELUX Economic Union, European Space Agency (ESA), INTELSAT, Western
European Union, others.

PEOPLE
 The Dutch are primarily of Germanic stock with some Gallo-Celtic
mixture.  They have clung tenaciously to their small homeland against
the constant threat of destruction by the North Sea and recurrent
invasions by the great European powers.
 Religion influences Dutch history, society, institutions, and attitudes
and is closely related to political life, though to a diminishing
degree.  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 supports
artists, sculptors, and architects and attempts to use their works in
public projects whenever possible.  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.

HISTORY
 Julius Caesar found the Netherlands inhabited by Germanic tribes, one
of which, the Batavi, did not submit to Rome until BC 13, and then only
as an ally.  A part of Charlemagne's empire in the 8th century AD, the
area later passed into the hands of the House of Burgundy and the
Austrian Hapsburgs.  Falling under harsh Spanish rule in the 16th
century, the Dutch revolted in 1558, under the leadership of Willem of
Orange.  By virtue of the Union of Utrecht in 1579, the seven northern
Dutch provinces became the Republic of the United Netherlands.
 During the 17th century, considered its "golden era," the Netherlands
became a great sea and colonial power.  Its importance declined,
however, after wars with Spain, England, and France in the 18th century.
 In 1795, French troops ousted Willem V of Orange, the Stadhouder under
the Dutch Republic and head of the House of Orange.
 Following Napoleon's defeat in 1813, the Netherlands and Belgium became
the "Kingdom of the United Netherlands" under King Willem I, son of
Willem V of Orange.  The Belgians withdrew from the union in 1830 to
form their own kingdom.  King Willem II was largely responsible for the
liberalizing revision of the constitution in 1848.
 The Netherlands prospered during the long reign of Willem III
(1849-90).  At the time of his death, his daughter, Wilhelmina, was 10
years old.  Her mother, Queen Emma, reigned as regent until 1898 when
Wilhelmina reached the age of 18 and became the monarch.
 The Netherlands proclaimed neutrality at the start of both world wars.
Although the Netherlands escaped occupation in World War I, German
troops overran the country in May 1940.  Queen Wilhelmina fled to London
and established a government-in-exile. Shortly after the Netherlands was
liberated in May 1945, the queen returned.  Crown Princess Juliana
succeeded to the throne in 1948 upon her mother's abdication.  In April
1980, Queen Juliana abdicated in favor of her daughter, now Queen
Beatrix.
 The Netherlands' once far-flung empire was granted full independence or
nearly complete autonomy after World War II.  Indonesia formally gained
its independence in 1949, and Suriname became independent in 1975.  The
five islands of the Netherlands Antilles (Curacao, Bonaire, Saba, St.
Eustatius, and a part of St. Maarten) are an integral part of the
Netherlands realm but enjoy a large degree of autonomy.  On January 1,
1986, Aruba, which had been a part of the Netherlands Antilles, was
granted a separate status within the kingdom on par with, but apart
from, the Netherlands Antilles.
 [For more information, see Background Notes on Netherlands Antilles.]

GOVERNMENT
 The present constitution dates from 1848 and has been amended several
times.
 The first level administrative divisions are the 12 provinces, each
governed by a locally elected provincial council and a provincial
executive appointed by members of the provincial council.  The province
is formally headed by a queen's commissioner appointed by the crown.
 The government is based on the principles of ministerial responsibility
and parliamentary government.  It is composed of three institutions:
the crown, the States General, and the courts.

The Crown
 --  The monarch is the titular head of state.  The queen's function is
largely ceremonial, but she does have some influence deriving from the
traditional veneration of the House of Orange (from which Dutch monarchs
for more than three centuries have been chosen), the personal qualities
of the queen, and her power to appoint the formateur, who forms the
Council of Ministers following elections.
 --  The Council of Ministers plans and implements government policy.
Most ministers also head government ministries, although ministers
without portfolio exist.  The ministers, collectively and individually,
are responsible to the States General (parliament).  Unlike the British
system, Dutch ministers cannot simultaneously be members of parliament.
 --  The Council of State, a constitutionally established advisory body
to the government, consists of members of the royal family and
crown-appointed members generally having political, commercial,
diplomatic, or military experience.  The Council of State must be
consulted by the cabinet on proposed legislation before a law is
submitted to parliament.  The Council of State also serves as a channel
of appeal for citizens against executive branch decisions.

States General (Parliament)
 The Dutch parliament consists of two houses, the First Chamber and the
Second Chamber.  Historically, Dutch governments have been based on the
support of a majority in both houses of Parliament.
 The Second Chamber is by far the more important of the two houses.  It
alone has the right to initiate legislation and amend bills submitted by
the Council of Ministers and shares with the First Chamber the right to
question ministers and state secretaries.
 The Second Chamber consists of 150 members, directly elected for a
4-year term (unless the government falls prematurely) on the basis of a
nationwide system of proportional representation.  This system means
that members represent the whole country, rather than individual
districts as in the United States, and are normally elected on a party
slate, not on a personal basis.  The electoral system makes a coalition
government almost inevitable.  Elections for the Second Chamber were
held in September 1989.  New elections are not constitutionally required
until 1993.
 The First Chamber is composed of 75 members elected for 4-year terms by
the 12 provincial legislatures.  It cannot initiate or amend
legislation, but its approval of bills passed by the Second Chamber is
required before bills become law.  The First Chamber generally meets
only once a week, and its members usually have other full-time jobs.
The last First Chamber was constructed as a result of provincial
assembly elections in June 1987; the Chamber will next be revised
following such elections in March 1991.

Courts
 The judiciary comprises 62 cantonal courts, 19 district courts, 5
courts of appeal, and a Supreme Court which has 24 justices.  All
judicial appointments are made by the crown.  Judges are nominally
appointed for life but, in fact, are retired at age 70.

POLITICAL CONDITIONS
 From the end of World War II until December 1958, the Netherlands was
governed by a series of coalitions built on a Labor-Catholic base.
Since 1958, governments have been formed primarily from a center-right
coalition of the Christian Democrats and the Liberals.  The social
democratic-oriented Labor Party generally has been in opposition, except
between 1973-77 and briefly from April 1965 to October 1966, and from
September 1981 to May 1982.  The Labor Party is part of the present
coalition.
 The current government, formed in November 1989, is a center-left
coalition of the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) and Liberal (VVD)
parties headed by Prime Minister Ruud Lubbers of the CDA.  The
government has the support of 103 of the 150 members of the Second
Chamber who represent 10 political parties.  The four largest parties
hold 137 of the 150 seats.  They are:
 --  Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) was formed from a merger of the
Catholic People's Party and two Protestant parties, the
Anti-Revolutionary Party and the Christian-Historical Union.  The merger
process,  begun in the early 1970s to attempt to stem the tide of losses
suffered by religiously based parties, was completed in 1980.  The CDA
occupies the political center among the major Dutch political parties.
It supports free enterprise and NATO membership and holds to the
principle that government activity should supplement but not supplant
communal action by citizens.  On the political spectrum, the CDA sees
its philosophy as standing between the "individualism" of the Liberals
and the "statism" of the Labor Party.  The CDA won 54 seats in 1989
parliamentary elections.  This equalled the party's strong showing in
the 1986 elections.
 --  Labor Party (PvdA), a European social democratic party, is left of
center.  Labor has 49 seats in the current Second Chamber which makes it
the second largest party after the CDA.  The party joined the CDA to
form the present government, after having spent most of the past 11
years in opposition.  Labor's program is based on greater social,
political, and economic equality for all citizens, although in recent
years the party has begun to debate the role of central government in
that process.  The PvdA supports Dutch NATO membership but has been
critical of some alliance policies, particularly regarding nuclear
weapons.  Although called he "Labor Party," it has no formal links to
the trade unions.
 --  The Liberal Party (VVD) is "liberal" in the European, rather than
American, sense of the word.  It thus attaches great importance to
private enterprise and the freedom of the individual in political,
social, and economic affairs.  The VVD is generally seen as the most
conservative of the major parties and solidly supports most NATO
policies.  The VVD was the junior partner in two governing coalitions
with the CDA from 1982-89, but is now in opposition with 22 seats in the
Second Chamber.
 --  Democrats '66 (D'66), largest of the "small" parties in the Dutch
parliament. The electoral fortunes of D'66 have fluctuated widely since
the party's founding in 1966.  The 12 seats it currently holds are
slightly above the historical average of the party's showing over the
last 20 years.  D'66 is a center-left party, generally portrayed as
between the CDA and PvdA, with its strongest support among young, urban,
professional voters.  D'66 is currently an opposition party.

ECONOMY
 The Dutch economy is based on private enterprise.  Although the
government has little direct ownership or participation, it heavily
influences the economy, with more than 45% of the gross national product
(GNP) involved in its operations and social programs (including transfer
payments).  The government plays a significant economic role through the
many permit requirements and regulations pertaining to almost every
aspect of economic activity.
 Services, which account for more than half of the national income, are
primarily in transport and financial areas, such as banking and
insurance.  Industrial activity provides about 22% of the national
income and is dominated by the metalworking, oil refining, chemical, and
food-processing industries.  Construction amounts to about 9% of the
national income.  Agriculture and fishing, although visible and
traditional Dutch activities, account for slightly more than 4%.
 Foreign trade heavily influences the open Dutch economy, with exports
accounting for 66% of GNP.  The Netherlands find a liberal commercial

policy advantageous and participates in the European Community (EC), the
Benelux Economic Union, and the European Monetary System.  It is a firm
supporter of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and
supports multilateral trade negotiations to establish freer and expanded
world trade.
 The recent political developments in Eastern Europe are not expected to
have significant effects on the Dutch economy during the next few years
because the Dutch level of trade and investment in those countries is
very low.
 In 1959, the vast Slochteren gasfield in Groningen Province began
production and is now one of the world's largest producing natural
gasfields.  In addition, the Netherlands also discovered gas on the
North Sea's continental shelf.  At present, total proven natural gas
reserves (mainland and North Sea) amount to 1.2 trillion cubic meters.
The reserves of other Dutch gasfields, including the Dutch North Sea
sector, total about 24% of those of Slochteren.  Current gas production
is running annually at about 72 billion cubic meters, roughly half of
which is exported to EC member countries.  General government revenues
from natural gas totaled about $8.7 billion in 1986 and accounted for
more than 14% of total government revenue, dropping to $2.9 billion in
1989 (4% of revenue).
 Dutch economic growth has improved after several years of lackluster
performance.  The annual growth rate in 1989 was 4.2%, while inflation
remained low at 1.1%.  Corporate investment has been high.  Weakening
domestic demand and slower increases in export demand are expected to
slow down the rate of expansion in 1990.  The Netherlands'
balance-of-payments current account displays a strong surplus.
 The CDA/VVD coalition under Prime Minister Ruud Lubbers has agreed on
the broad outlines of its economic policy for the 1990-94 period,
leaving the basic goals of the previous government intact, but changing
its emphasis.  The new policies will boost public spending on the
environment by $3 billion and education, housing, social security, and
health by $1 billion over the next four years.  Defense spending will
grow by just 0.6% in 1990 and 1991, and will be frozen in 1992 and 1993.
 In total, the new policy measures will increase public spending by 4.6
billion guilders (about $2.3 billion) per year by 1994.

Environmental Policy
 Awareness of the environment plays a major role in Dutch life.  In
1988, the Netherlands spent 1.34% of its GNP on environmental
protection-almost twice as much per capita as in the United States.  The
Dutch Ministry of Environmental Affairs has released an ambitious and
expensive-$3 billion-environmental plan for 1990-94.  Under this plan,
Dutch industry will be required to double its spending on environmental
protection.  By 1994, industry will have to spend an extra $1 billion
each year to meet stricter pollution control guidelines.
 In November 1989, Prime Minister Lubbers presented his government's
proposals to the States General.  The Dutch goal is to make production
and consumption compatible with the conditions of sustainable
development within one generation.  In June 1990, a supplement to the
environmental plan, "Nmp-Plus", was submitted, including plans for a
leveling off and eventual reduction in CO2 emissions by 2000.
 To finance this program, a CO2 levy has been introduced, which is
expected to generate $75 million in 1990.  This will be spent on
anti-acidification measures ($20 million), energy conservation ($30
million), and promotion of public transport ($25 million).

FOREIGN RELATIONS
 The Netherlands abandoned its policy of neutrality after World War II,
and joined the NATO alliance as the best means to ensure security and
promote national interests.  The postwar Netherlands governments have
followed an active, engaged foreign policy in many areas of the world.
 In addition to pursuit of national interests, Dutch foreign policy in
recent years has been rooted in several important principles, which
include the promotion of peace and security in Europe, support for Third
World development, and respect for international law and human rights.
 The Netherlands seeks to advance many of its objectives through
multilateral cooperation.  It was a founding member of the European
Community, has long based its security policy upon membership in NATO,
and is one of five nations to sign the Schengen Accord abolishing border
controls between itself and Belgium, Luxembourg, France, and Germany).
 Economic and trade policy is closely coordinated through the European
Community and, to a lesser extent, other international bodies, such as
the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, GATT, and the
International Monetary Fund.
 Other foreign policy interests generally take into account
consultations within European Political Cooperation, the political
consultation process of the EC.  The Netherlands also is a member of the
Benelux group (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg).  Finally, the
Netherlands is an active and responsible participant in the United
Nations and its affiliated organizations.
 The Netherlands is a strong proponent of North-South cooperation and
maintains an impressive development assistance program.  Aid commitments
are fixed by law at 1.5% of net national income, although actual
disbursements have not always reached that level.  For 1990, the
development assistance program will give special attention to four
transnational problems:  poverty, population, environment, and debt.
The Netherlands has had a long term development relationship with 10
"program" countries (Bangladesh, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Yemen,
Pakistan, Sudan, Sri Lanka, Tanzania) and three geographic regions (the
Sahel, Southern Africa, and Central America).  They also contribute
large amounts of aid through multilateral channels, especially the UN
Development Program, International Development Association, and EC
programs.  A large portion of Dutch aid funds are channelled through
private ("cofinancing") organizations that have almost total autonomy in
choice of projects.  The Dutch are members of the European Bank for
Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) which was formed recently to
finance economic reforms in Eastern Europe.

US-DUTCH RELATIONS
 Our partnership with the Netherlands is our oldest continuous
relationship and dates back to the American revolution.  Our excellent
bilateral relations are based on close historical and cultural ties and
a common dedication to individual freedom and uman rights.  An
outward-looking nation, the Netherlands shares with the United States a
commitment to an open market and free trade.
 In May 1989, Prime Minister Lubbers was in Washington on a private
visit and met with President Bush, and 2 months later, President Bush
became the first American President to visit the Netherlands while in
office.  The President went to the Netherlands as a guest of Queen
Beatrix and spoke in the church in Leiden used by the Pilgrims before
many of them sailed to America.  The United States and the Netherlands
often have similar positions on issues affecting NATO, regional
problems, trade, and economic cooperation which enables them to work
together both bilaterally and in the United Nations and other
international and regional organizations.

DEFENSE
  The defense structure of the Netherlands comprises the Ministry of
Defense and the various branches of the armed forces.  Political
responsibility for the defense of the Netherlands lies with the minister
of defense and the state secretary for defense.  The Dutch, as members
of NATO, are engaged in arms control negotiations with members of the
Warsaw Pact which will affect the size and equipment of the
participants' conventional military forces.
 The Royal Netherlands Army Forces (RNAF) has a total peacetime
personnel strength of about 123,000 military and civilians.  The Royal
Netherlands Navy is composed of escort ships, submarines, maritime
patrol aircraft, helicopters, a mine countermeasure force, and a Marine
Corps, as well as the necessary supporting elements.  Priority has been
given to anti-submarine warfare, with emphasis on air defense and
surface warfare.  The weapons systems of the Royal Netherlands Air Force
are primarily fighter aircraft and surface-to-air guided weapons.

Principal Government Officials
Head of State-Queen Beatrix
Council of Ministers Prime Minister-Ruud Lubbers
Vice Prime Minister and Finance-Wim Kok
Foreign Affairs-Hans van den Broek
Ambassador to the United States-Johan H. Meesman
Ambassador to the UN- Robert Jan van Schaik

Principal US Officials
Ambassador-C. Howard Wilkins, Jr.
Deputy Chief of Mission-Thomas H. Gewecke
Political Counselor-Lawrence G. Rossin
Economic Counselor-George Boutin
Administrative Counselor-Timothy E. Roddy
Commercial Counselor-Michael Hegedus
Public Affairs Counselor-C. William La Salle
Defense and Naval Attache-Capt. Bruce Barker
Army Attache-Col. William Mitchell
Air Attache-Col. Allen Ryals
Agriculture Counselor-Norval Francis
Chief, Office of Defense Cooperation-Col. Charles W. Brewer, USAF
Country Attache:  Narcotics-Joseph Beachell Customs Attache-Robert L.
Gerber
Consul General, Amsterdam-Jake M. Dyels

 The US Embassy is located at Lange Voorhout 102, 2514 EJ The Hague
(telephone no. (070) 3-62-49-11). The consulate general is at
Museumplein 13, 1071 DJ Amsterdam  (tel. [phone]).

TRAVEL NOTES
 Clothing:  Clothing needs are similar to those of Seattle, Washington.
Currency unit is the Dutch guilder (Fl.); foreign exchange control
regulations place no limit on the amount of foreign currency or
negotiable instruments that may be imported. Health:  Medical facilities
are good.  Community sanitation is comparable to standards in US cities.

 Telecommunications:  Facilities are good for local and long-distance
use.  Amsterdam and The Hague are six time zones ahead of eastern
standard time.
 Transportation:  Good public transportation by bus and streetcar is
available in the cities and serves principal sectors of the city as well
as the suburbs.  Most Dutch cities are connected by rail, and almost all
regions of the Netherlands are accessible by good public transportation.
 Excellent transportation to other principal European cities also is
available.  The main international airport is at Schiphol, near
Amsterdam, but a few international flights also arrive at Rotterdam and
Maastricht Airports.

 Published by the United States Department of State --  Bureau of Public
Affairs  -- Office of  Public Communication  --  Washington, DC  --
Jan. 1991  --  Editor:  Susan Holly
 Department of State Publication  7967 -- Background Notes Series  --
This material is in the public domain and may  be reprinted without
permission; citation of this source is appreciated.  For sale by the
Superintendent of Documents, US overnment Printing Office, Washington,
DC  20402.  (###)


#ENDCARD