About the NetherlandsHistorically the Dutch people have fought against the sea. They built dykes to protect the land and crossed many oceans. They are a trading people, and in the Golden Age they gained great wealth, the fruit of which can still be seen today. Although the country is at peace right now, in the past the Dutch have participated in lots of wars, with Spain, England, France and Germany. The last one was World War II from 1940-1945 when the Germans occupied the Netherlands and many Jews were killed. That is the reason for Memorial Day (4 May) and Liberation Day (5 May). Today the Netherlands consists of eleven provinces, the newest being Flevoland, which is reclaimed land. The official difference between the names of 'the Netherlands' and 'Holland' is that Holland is only a part of the Netherlands: it consists of the provinces of North-Holland and South-Holland, which used to be (and still are) strong and powerful provinces.
Politics
The Netherlands has a parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy. This means it is governed democratically, but is a kingdom at the same time. Since 1980 the head of state has been Queen Beatrix. Her son, the crown prince Willem-Alexander, married Máxima from Argentina, a real favourite among the Dutch people. The head of government is our Prime Minister, also called Minister-President. The States General has two Chambers, the First (75 members) and the Second (150 members). In the Second Chamber the decision-making takes place. Every four years the Dutch elect their leaders, from many different parties. The main ones are labour, Christian Democratic, Liberal Party and Democrats 66. Because it is very rare for one party to have enough votes to govern, usually several parties form a 'coalition' for one period of political power. They make up an agreement for four years. If they cannot stick to it for the four year period, the coalition falls down and the Dutch people have to vote again.
Climate Because the Netherlands is situated next to the North Sea, the country has a sea climate. This means that the summers are not too hot (around 22°) and the winters not too cold, but above all it means lots of rain! Many people take their umbrellas and raincoats to school or work at all times except in summer… Just remember, 'we told you so!' In winter it can freeze, but generally temperatures don't go below -8°. When the ice appears on canals and ditches, you will see many Dutch people going skating. In summer temperatures can reach over 25°. The air is very humid then, and it is better to take it easy. Thunder and lightning are quite frequent on those days, and mosquitoes can also be a problem.
Some special days:1 January: New Year's Day, public holiday
30 April: Queen's Day, public holiday celebrated by means of a free market
4 May: Memorial Day, two minutes of silence at 8 p.m., ceremony at the Dam
5 May: Liberation Day, public holiday once every four years
5 December: Celebration of St. Nicholas (Sinterklaas); funny gifts and surprises party
31 December: New Year's Eve The days of Christian feasts differ every year, except Christmas, which is celebrated on two days, 25 December being 'Eerste Kerstdag' and 26 December 'Tweede Kerstdag' (First and Second Christmas Day). Other Christian feasts that last two days are Easter and Pentecost. Ascension Day is always celebrated on a Thursday. All shops are closed on these days. Note that public transport also follows a different schedule at these times.
READ MORE...There are many books available about living in the Netherlands and the Dutch culture. You can try to find one in your own language, but a couple of books in English, which we recommend, are the following: The Undutchables - by C. White.
This book, which is very funny, tells you the ins and outs of Dutch people and their culture. It covers all kinds of areas, from visiting toilets to the Dutch cycling culture. It even tells you how to climb Dutch stairs and how to behave during a Dutch birthday party. Highly recommended!
Lonely Planet Amsterdam - by R. van Driesum and N. Hall.
This is a good travel guide, very suitable for the travellers among you.
A Short History of the Netherlands - by professor P.J.A.N. Rietbergen and others. Very interesting for the historians among you.
The Low Sky - by Han Van der Horst.
A well-known and popular Nuffic book about the Dutch and their culture.
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