Netherlands - general information about the country

The name of the country: Netherlands (Kingdom of the Netherlands, Holland).

Geographical position: The Netherlands is located on the continent of Eurasia, in the northwest of Europe. From the west and north it is washed by the North Sea (the length of the coastline is 451 km), it borders on Germany (577 km) and Belgium (450 km).

The area of ​​the land: 41.5 thousand km².

Capital: Amsterdam (743.4 thousand inhabitants).

Political structure: The Kingdom of the Netherlands is a constitutional monarchy with a democratic parliamentary system. The head of state is Queen Beatrix, Prime Minister Mark Rutte. The party-political system of the Netherlands is characterized by a high degree of stability and consensus. There are 16 major parties; 7 of them have been represented at least once in the Parliament in the last 20 years.

Main Parties of the Netherlands:

• Christian Democratic Appeal
• Labor Party
• Socialist Party
• People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
• Freedom Party
• Green Left
• Christian Union
• Democrats 66
• Animal Protection Party
• Reform Party
• Pride of the Netherlands

Administrative-territorial division: In terms of the form of the state-territorial structure, the Netherlands is a decentralized unitary state. Power is distributed over three administrative levels: state, provinces and municipalities. The state does the work at the national level. Provinces and municipalities are decentralized subjects of government.

The Netherlands is divided into 12 provinces: Drenthe, Flevoland, Friesland, Gelderland, Groningen, Limburg, North Brabant, North Holland, Over IJssel, Utrecht, Zeeland, South Holland. The functions of the provincial government include environmental protection, space planning, energy supply, social security, sports and culture.

The leadership in each province is exercised by the provincial states, the college of deputies of the provincial states and the royal commissioner. electoral system.

There are 478 municipalities in the Netherlands. Their number is decreasing as the state seeks to improve the efficiency of administrative management through the reorganization of municipalities, most often a simple amalgamation.

In the Caribbean Sea, north of Venezuela, the Netherlands Antilles are located, which include the islands: Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, St. Eustatius and parts of the island of Saint Martin. the total territory is 800 km², the population is 194 thousand people. The official language is Dutch. The administrative center is the city of Willemstad.

General characteristics of the country

Physical and geographical characteristics

Climate: The climate is temperate, maritime, characterized by cool summers and fairly warm winters. The average temperature in July is 16-17°C in January - about 2°C on the coast and slightly colder inland. In winter, when anticyclones invade from Eastern Europe, temperatures drop below 0°C, snow falls, and canals and lakes freeze over. The average annual precipitation is 80 centimeters, but in the interior provinces they are somewhat less.

Vegetation: Forests cover 7.6% of the country's territory. On the slopes of the valleys there are beech, hornbeam, oak, ash, white poplar, elm are mixed with them. In conditions of a humid climate and flat low-lying terrain in the Netherlands, there were favorable conditions for the formation of swamps. The abundance of berry bushes and flowering plants is characteristic. Oak-birch forests grow on sandy hills, alternating with moorlands and swamps. On the wastelands there are thickets of shrubs (gorse, broom, juniper).

Animal world: In the process of human development of the territory of the Netherlands, many species of wild animals were forced out of their habitats. However, there are many birds in the country, especially waterfowl. Many rare animal species are protected in national parks and reserves. Preserved mainly are those species of wild animals that live in damp meadows, in reservoirs and canals. There are about 180 species of birds in the Netherlands. In the north of the country, on the shallows of the Wadden Sea, which separates the West Frisian Islands from the mainland, white-fronted geese, short-billed bean goose, barnacle goose, a lot of gulls and waders winter. In addition, the southernmost eider population lives here. The abundance of lapwings and bartails is typical for marches. On the coast itself, large curlews, herbalists, and turukhtans are common. The national bird of the Netherlands is the spoonbill. The delta of the Rhine, Meuse and Scheldt is known as a wintering and resting place for birds on migration. Thickets of reeds along the channels attract gray geese for wintering, as well as teals, pintails, curlews, snipes. Breeding species include the reed harrier, short-eared owl, shepherd, rutting, whiskered tit and bittern. Also in the delta region, along the overgrown shores of small bays, the muskrat is widely settled. Seals live off the northern coast of the Netherlands, the fishing of which is limited, and in some areas it is completely prohibited. In large forest areas, there are wood mice, squirrels, rabbits, roe deer, as well as representatives of the marten family. The moorland is characterized by black grouse and large crowns, and for the coastal dunes - wild crumbs. The North Sea is rich in fish - cod, herring.

The soil: In the north and east, soddy-pale-podzolic soils developed on sandy deposits are common. These soils are characterized by a humus horizon up to 20 cm thick with a humus content of more than 5%.

Natural resources: The main resources of the Netherlands are natural gas, oil, salt, sand, gravel, agricultural land.

Rotterdam has the largest port in Europe, with the Meuse and Rhine rivers providing excellent access to the hinterland, reaching upstream to Basel, Switzerland, and into France. The port's main activities are the petrochemical industries and general cargo handling and transshipment. The harbor functions as an important transit point for bulk materials both between the European continent and abroad. From Rotterdam, goods are transported by ship, river barge, train or road.

The highly mechanized agricultural sector employs 4% of the labor force but provides large surpluses for the food processing industry and for exports. The Dutch rank third worldwide in agricultural export value, behind the United States and France, with exports earning $55 billion annually. A significant part of Dutch agricultural exports are derived from fresh cut plants, flowers, and bulbs, with the Netherlands exporting two-thirds of the world's total. The Netherlands also exports a quarter of the world's tomatoes, and one third of the world's exports of chili peppers and cucumbers.

The Dutch economy is directed to the foreign market. The share of exports in the economy of the Netherlands is 51% and is the largest among European countries. Most exporters work in wholesale trade, industry and transport. The main specialization of Dutch exporters is raw materials and high-intensity products (chemistry, food industry, agriculture and oil products).

History of the country's development: The Netherlands has been inhabited since the last ice age (when the country had sparsely vegetated tundra), and the oldest traces of human activity are about a hundred thousand years old. The first inhabitants were hunters and gatherers. At the end of the Ice Age, the area was inhabited by various Paleolithic groups. Around 8000 BC, a Mesolithic tribe lived in the country, and in the next few millennia, the Iron Age came with a relatively high standard of living.

At the time of the arrival of the Romans, the Netherlands was settled by Germanic tribes such as the Tubans, Caninephates and Frisians who settled there around 600 BC. Celtic tribes such as the Eburones and the Menapii settled in the south of the country. At the beginning of Roman colonization, the German tribes of the Batavians and Toksandry also arrived in the country. During the Roman Empire, the southern part of what is now the Netherlands was occupied by the Romans and became part of the province of Belgica, and later the province of Germania Inferior.

During the Middle Ages, the Low Countries (roughly made up of today's Belgium and the Netherlands) included the various counties, duchies, and dioceses that were part of the Holy Roman Empire. They were united into one state under the rule of the Habsburgs in the 16th century. After the spread of Calvinism, the Counter-Reformation followed, causing a split in the country. The attempts of the Spanish king Philip II to centralize the state led to an uprising against Spanish rule led by William I of Orange. On July 26, 1581, the independence of the country was proclaimed, officially recognized by other states only after the Eighty Years' War (1568-1648). During the years of the War of Independence, the "Golden Age" of the Netherlands began, a period of economic and cultural prosperity that occupied the entire 17th century. William I of Orange is considered the founder of the independent Netherlands.

After the end of the French occupation at the beginning of the 19th century, the Netherlands became a monarchy under the rule of the House of Orange. In 1830, Belgium finally separated from the Netherlands and became an independent kingdom; Luxembourg gained independence in 1890. Under pressure from liberal politicians, the country was transformed in 1848 into a parliamentary democracy with a constitutional monarch. This political structure has survived to this day, with a brief break during the Nazi occupation.

During the First World War, the Netherlands remained neutral, but during the Second World War, it was occupied by Germany for five years. During the German invasion, Rotterdam was bombed, during which the city center was almost completely destroyed. During the occupation, about fifty thousand Dutch Jews became victims of the Holocaust.

After the war, the rapid reconstruction of the country began, which was facilitated by the Marshall Plan, organized by the United States of America. Thanks to this, the Netherlands quickly managed to become a modern industrial country. The former colonies of Indonesia and Suriname acquired state independence. As a result of mass immigration from Indonesia, Turkey, Morocco, Suriname and the Antilles, the Netherlands has become a country with many cultures and a large proportion of the Muslim population.

The sixties and seventies saw great social and cultural changes. Catholics and Protestants began to communicate more with each other, and the differences between classes also became less noticeable due to rising living standards and the development of education. Women's economic rights have been greatly expanded, and they are increasingly holding high positions in businesses and government. The government began to care not only about economic growth, but also about protecting the environment. The population received broad social rights; pensions, unemployment benefits and disability benefits have become among the highest in the world.

March 25, 1957 The Netherlands became one of the founders of the European Union and subsequently did a lot for European integration. However, in a referendum on the European Constitution in June 2005, more than half of the Dutch voted against its adoption. Thus, the Netherlands became the second country to reject the draft of a single EU constitution (after France).

Cultural Features

Floriculture: Tulips have a special place in Holland. From the end of March to the end of May, the most fantastic flower exhibition takes place in the Könenhof park. Plantations of bulbous flowers stretch along the entire Dutch coast from Katwijk to Den Helder. In April and May, the entire area is covered with a multi-colored carpet covering an area of ​​more than 17,500 hectares.

Cheeses: The Netherlands is the world's largest cheese exporter and is primarily famous for its Gouda and Edam cheeses. Both varieties are made from cow's milk. The only difference is in the recipe. For Edam cheese, the milk must be half-skimmed. For Gaudsky, whole milk is used. You will recognize the Edam cheese by its round shape, while the Gouda cheese is flatter and looks like a wheel. The cheese market in Alkmaar is one of the most famous. It is held every Friday morning from April to October.

Clompins: Klompins were originally in the Netherlands the traditional footwear of commoners. Only the rich could afford shoes. To date, the country produces more than 3.7 million pairs of klompins per year. They are no longer worn in cities, but people who work on the land still use them. Klompins are warmer and drier than rubber boots. Previously, klompen were part of the traditional folk costume.

Mills: Entire collections of windmills can be seen in Dutch villages and cities. The windmill was invented in the middle of the 16th century, which could pump water to a higher level. This event was a breakthrough in the struggle of man with the elements.

Population: 15.8 million people.

National composition: Dutch - 94%, Moroccans, Turks and others.

Confessional composition: Catholics (34%), Protestants (25%), Muslims (3%) and others. 40% of the population do not consider themselves followers of any religion.

Average life expectancy: 79.25 years old
Men: 76.66 years
Women: 81.98 years

The ratio of men and women, which has remained practically unchanged since 1980, is 49.5:51.5. 82% of the population lives in cities, the majority - in the industrial, commercial and transport agglomeration Randstad, which includes Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, Delft and Utrecht.

The level of education: The Dutch education system, unlike the British or American one, is not based on two degree diplomas. Each student receives a doctoral diploma, which is awarded after 4 years of full-time study in some disciplines and after 5 years in engineering, science and agriculture. Higher education is considered incomplete if the academic program is interrupted before the student has completed all study requirements. A feature of the Dutch education system is the interconnection and continuity of all its links, which allows you to move from one level to another and, following different educational routes, get a diploma of the desired degree. This circumstance is especially important for foreign students: in the case when the learning process in the first years is slow and difficult, you can go through the program again after moving from level to level.

Main occupation: trade, industry, agriculture and services.

Economic characteristics

GDP: The GDP of the Netherlands in 2008 amounted to 862.9 billion US dollars. GDP per capita was -51,657 billion USD

Currency: Euro (Until 2002 - Dutch guilder).

Volume of the annual budget and external debt: income -356 billion dollars, expenditure 399.3 billion dollars in 2010.3.733 trillion. dollars external debt as of December 31, 2009.

Characteristics of the main industries, agriculture. and world economic relations: The Dutch industry can be divided into large export-oriented industries and small industries focused on the production of products for the domestic market. Export industries are: metallurgical, machine-building, electrical, chemical and food industries. In terms of production, the following stand out from all industries: petrochemistry - 27% of turnover, food industry - 27%, mechanical engineering - 12.4%. The Netherlands cooperate and export to Belgium, France, Italy, Sweden and the UK.

Characteristics of the regions of the country

Questions	South Holland	North Holland
Availability of natural resources	brown and hard coal	natural gas
Branches of the world economy developed in this region	fishing, agriculture, fuel and energy industry	sheep breeding, fishing
The development of which industries is potentially possible due to favorable economic and geographical conditions	production of electricity, production of machinery, instruments, equipment, production of ferrous and non-ferrous metals	production of textiles, wool and wool products, meat products, dairy products, leather, electricity production
Assessment of tourism resources	favorable conditions in almost all areas for the development of tourism	a large number of potential and progressive resources that allow further successful development of the tourism market
What types of tourism are developed	wellness, beach, sightseeing, water	sightseeing, health-improving, sports (bicycle tourism), water tourism (diving, surfing)
Tourism market assessment	promising market, due to cultural, natural and recreational resources	a promising market, as there are many options for its development in different directions and areas
What types of tourism are potentially possible to develop in this region, due to the favorable resource and infrastructure base	water, beach, ecotourism, gastronomic, cultural, business tourism	business tourism, ecotourism, shopping tourism, gastronomic, educational, cultural

I have singled out these two regions, as they are one of the most densely populated and largest regions in the Netherlands, with a large amount of natural and industrial resources. Due to the mild climate and location along the coast, both tourism and agriculture are successfully developing in these two regions.

Netherlands(Kingdom of the Netherlands) is a state located in Western Europe. The Netherlands is a member of the European Union and is part of the Schengen area. The Hague International Military Tribunal (in The Hague) is located in the Netherlands, the main role of which is to ensure the inevitability of punishment for modern war criminals. The Netherlands is the first country in the world where a bourgeois revolution took place and a parliament began to function.

The Netherlands is often called Holland, although this is fundamentally wrong. Holland is just a part of the Netherlands and there are already two Hollands - North and South Holland, these are two provinces.

The Netherlands is one of the three Benelux countries. It is an economic union of three states: the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg. all three countries have the same legislation and taxes.

The Netherlands is the only country in Europe where prostitution and the use of soft drugs are allowed. Prostitution is allowed only in one quarter of Amsterdam - the Red Light District. Marijuana can only be smoked in coffeeshops, and even then not in all. In all other places, prostitution and marijuana smoking are punishable by law. The Queen of the Netherlands plays a symbolic role, although all the Dutch love her very much, and the country's leadership takes her opinion into account.

The Netherlands is also the lowest-lying country in Europe, with more than two-thirds of the Netherlands below sea level and protected from the sea by dikes. The country is in first place in the world in terms of land area reclaimed from the sea. This is the only country that has almost doubled its territory artificially, moving the coastline of the sea farther and farther.

The Netherlands is the country with the most fresh water reserves in Europe. In terms of the amount of rain and fog, the country is second only to Great Britain and Ireland.

The capital of the Netherlands is the city of Amsterdam. It is the largest city in the Netherlands. Other major cities are Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht, Groningen, Tilburg. There are no cities with a population of more than one million people in the country. The population of the country is almost seventeen million people. The Netherlands is the most populous country in Europe. The country is located in the same time zone. The difference with universal time is one hour.

The capital of the Netherlands - Amsterdam - is considered the "big brother" of the Russian St. Petersburg. It was here that Peter the Great came to study shipbuilding, it was the Amsterdam canals that served as an example of how St. Petersburg should have been designed.

The Netherlands borders on land with Germany and Belgium, by sea - with Great Britain, Norway and Denmark. The Netherlands is washed by only one sea - the North - and has direct access to the Atlantic Ocean. The Netherlands is a small country, stretching from north to south for 250 km, from west to east for 180 km. The country is located in the temperate climate zone.

There are very few forests in the Netherlands, about 3% of the territory. The rest of the area is occupied by water meadows and sand dunes on the coast.

The Netherlands is one of the few countries in Europe where there are no mountain ranges.

Three large rivers flow in the Netherlands - the Scheldt, the Rhine and the Meuse. All of them are navigable and flow into the North Sea. The largest lake in the Netherlands is the IJselmeer. It was formed after filling the dam (artificially). Other large natural lakes are Grevelingen, Emmer, Ketelmer.

Administratively, the Netherlands is divided into 12 provinces: Gelderland, Groningen, Drenthe, Zeeland, Limburg, Overijssel, North Brabant, North Holland, Utrecht, Flevoland, Friesland, South Holland. In addition to the provinces, the Netherlands has overseas possessions, and all of them are located in the Caribbean Sea: Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, Saba, the Netherlands Antilles.

Map

Roads

The Netherlands has an excellent road and rail network. The Dutch autobahns are considered one of the best in the world, and trains run to almost all cities in the country.

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport ranks fourth in Europe in terms of passenger traffic. Schiphol is also used for transit transfers to aircraft flying to cities in North and South America.

Story

The Netherlands has a rich and unique history:

a) prehistoric Netherlands (428 thousand years BC - 1000 BC) - the settlement of the territory by tribes of Neanderthals and Batavians;

b) the appearance of Celtic tribes - the ancestors of the modern Dutch - starting from 1000 BC;

c) the appearance of ancient Germanic tribes - from 300 BC;

d) the entry of the territory of the modern Netherlands into the Holy Roman Empire (Ancient Rome) - from the beginning of our era;

e) the period of the great migration of peoples, the invasion of the Goths and the Huns, the collapse of Ancient Rome - from 400;

f) the territory of the Netherlands as part of the Frankish kingdom - from 500 to 843;

g) the Netherlands as part of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation - since 843;

h) the Netherlands as part of France (the Burgundian Netherlands) - since 1384;

i) the first unification of the Dutch lands, as well as the territories of modern Belgium and Luxembourg (“Seventeen Provinces”) - since 1482;

j) The Netherlands under the rule of Habsburg Spain, loss of independence - since 1556;

k) the Dutch-Spanish ("Eighty Years") War, the victory of the Dutch revolution, the overthrow of the Spanish oppression, the restoration of state independence - from 1568 to 1648;

m) The Netherlands during the Golden Age, the heyday of the country - from 1648 to 1672;

m) The Netherlands during the Batavian Revolution (1795), loss of part of the territories;

o) the Netherlands was under the rule of Napoleonic France, French occupation (the so-called Batavian Republic) - from 1795 to 1806;

o) The Netherlands during the First French Empire - as part of France) 1806 - 1810):

p) restoration of independence, establishment of a monarchy, the Netherlands and Belgium as part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (1815 - 1830);

(c) the secession of Belgium and its declaration of independence, the territory of the Netherlands within its present borders, since 1830;

r) the Netherlands during the First World War (1914-1918);

s) the Netherlands between the two wars (1918 - 1939);

f) the Netherlands during the Nazi occupation (1940-1945);

x) The Netherlands after the Second World War (since 1945).

Minerals

The country is rich in strategic minerals - oil, coal and natural gas. Oil shale, peat and kaolin are mined from other minerals. There are no gold and silver mines in the Netherlands.

The Netherlands ranks first in the world in the export of flowers, and, in particular, tulips, which is why the country is sometimes called the “land of tulips”.

Climate

The climate of the Netherlands is temperate. Winters are mild and mostly snowless. Sometimes there are several frosty days a year. Summer is warm but not hot with frequent rains. As in Norway, in the Netherlands the weather can turn bad in a few minutes, this should be taken into account when planning a trip to this country.

Introduction

1. General information about the country.

1.2. Political structure

1.3. Story

1.4. People.

1.5. Religion and languages

2. Natural resources.

2.1 Nature and environment in the Netherlands.

2.2. Climate.

2.3. Relief.

2.4. Vegetable world.

2.5. Animal world.

2.6. National parks and reserves in Aruba (Netherlands).

3. Economic resources.

3.1. Transport.

3.2. Accommodation facilities (hotels).

3.3. Entertainment industry (clubs, parties).

3.4. Other entertainment (concerts, festivals).

4. Cultural - historical resources.

4.1. Monuments of secular architecture.

4.2. Socio-cultural heritage (holidays and traditions).

4.3. Special facilities for food.

5. Program tourism resources.

5.1. Events (holidays).

5.2. Thematic resources (parks, etc., etc.).

6. Tourist formalities.

6.1. Visa.

6.2. Currency.

6.3. Customs.

7. Cities - tourist centers.

8. Map of the Netherlands.

Conclusion.

Bibliographic list.

Introduction

In the west of the Central European Plain, at the confluence of the Rhine, Meuse and Scheldt into the North Sea, there is a small state of the Netherlands, also known as "Holland". These names are quite close in meaning: "Netherlands" - "low-lying country", "Holland" - "a land that does not have a solid foundation under it." The name "Holland" essentially refers only to the two western provinces (North and South Holland), which were the historical core of the state and still retain a leading role in its political, economic and cultural life. Bringing this name to the whole country is hardly justified. In all state documents, only the name "Netherlands" is accepted, which does not cause any discrepancies !!!

The Netherlands is famous for its abundance of inland waters. The area of ​​the country, including the area of ​​all rivers, lakes and canals, is 41.2 thousand square meters. km., and without water areas - 36.9 thousand sq. km. This small area is home to 14.56 million people. The borders of the Netherlands with Belgium and Germany run along the plains and are almost never connected with natural boundaries. Ethnic and linguistic differences in the border regions are equally not sharply expressed. On both sides of the Dutch-Belgian border live the Flemings, and in the north-west of Germany - small groups of Dutch and Frisians. The maritime borders of the Netherlands run along the shelf of the North Sea. This shallow basin rich in oil and gas is divided among Denmark, Germany, Great Britain, France, the Netherlands and Belgium on the basis of equal distance from the nearest points on the coast. The Netherlands owns a significant area in the south and southwest of the shelf.
The Netherlands occupies an advantageous position at the crossroads of many European and intercontinental routes of communication. The country has direct access to the North Sea, which is used by cargo and passenger ships between Europe and America. The nodal transport and geographical position of the Netherlands contributed to the development on their territory of such giant international industrial and transport complexes as Rotterdam and Amsterdam.

The purpose of this work is to review the history, natural resources and tourism in the Netherlands.

The goal set led to the solution of the following tasks:

1. Consider general information about the country.

2. Consider the natural resources of the Netherlands.

3. Consider economic, cultural, historical and program tourism resources.

4. Consider travel formalities.

5. Consider the cities and tourist centers of the Netherlands.

6. Draw appropriate conclusions.

1. General information about the country.

1.1. Geographical position.

The Netherlands, or, informally, Holland, is a state in Western Europe, on the coast of the North Sea. Holland is only part of the country, now divided into two provinces. Despite this, in colloquial speech, this name has taken root.

The name of the country ("Low Lands") contains the main characteristic of its relief. About half of the territory (mainly in the western part) lies below sea level.

In the east, flat and gently undulating plains predominate; their height rarely reaches 50 m above sea level. In the south, the territory is crossed by the rivers Rhine, Meuse and Scheldt, forming a single delta, providing maritime transport with access to the hinterland of Europe. one

A strip of sand dunes stretches along the coast, then there are vast lowlands protected from flooding by dams and dams. In the sea, parallel to the shore, the West Frisian Islands stretch, representing an outer chain of dunes, partially flooded.

The name itself gives the most accurate idea of ​​the location of this country ("neder" - lower, low, "landen" - land). The Kingdom of the Netherlands stretches along the coast of the North Sea and borders Germany in the east and Belgium in the south.

The Netherlands is famous all over the world for tulips, windmills and cheese. The country generously offers its residents and tourists a huge number of museums, parks, historical sites, sandy beaches, canals, flower fields, restaurants and cafes for every taste.

The Netherlands is also of particular interest to Russian tourists for its long-standing close historical and cultural ties with Russia, dating back to the time of Peter the Great, who literally fell in love with Holland, where he studied the art of shipbuilding.

1.2. Political structure

The form of government is a constitutional monarchy. The head of state is the king (queen). The monarch appoints ministers and judges, has the right to dissolve parliament, and commands the country's armed forces.
Legislative power is exercised by the monarch and parliament - the bicameral Estates General. In the provinces - provincial states, headed by commissioners.

The capital of the country is Amsterdam, the seat of parliament and government is the city of The Hague. The day of the royal family is April 30 - the birthday of Beatrix's mother, Queen Juliana. 2

1.3. Story

The name Netherlands is translated as low-lying land. It first appeared in the XIV-XV centuries. to designate the lands near the North Sea, today part of: Holland, Belgium and Northern France, in the lower reaches of the rivers Rhine, Meuse and Scheldt. Holland (formerly one of the counties that occupied part of the modern territory of the Netherlands) - means "wooded country", from the ancient Frisian holt ("tree") and land ("country, land"). 3

The territory of the Netherlands was inhabited already in the Neolithic period. In the second half of the 1st millennium BC. e. mainly Celtic tribes lived here, driven out by the Germans by the beginning of our era (Batavs, Frisians, Hamavs, Kanninefats).

In the 1st century BC e. part of the territory of the Netherlands was conquered by the Romans, which accelerated the cultural development of local tribes.

In III-IV AD. e. Franks (in the south) and Saxons (in the east) settled in the Netherlands, the north was occupied by the Frisians. With the formation of the Frankish state (5th century), the territory of the Netherlands became part of it. Among the tribes inhabiting the territory of the Netherlands, feudal orders and Christianity were forcibly planted.

Under the Treaty of Verdun (843), the territory of the Netherlands became part of the possessions of Lothair I, under the Treaty of Mersen (870), it became part of the East Frankish kingdom. 4

In the X-XI centuries. on the territory of the Netherlands, a number of feudal estates were formed (the counties of Holland, Geldernidr.), formally connected by vassal relations with the "Holy Roman Empire".

From the 12th century urban development begins. In the economy, along with handicraft production in the XIII - XIV centuries. the importance of fishing and shipping is growing. Already by the XIII century. a system of dams and dams is being created, which made it possible to develop the low-lying areas of the country that were swamped or flooded during floods (the name of the country in literal translation from Dutch means “lower land”).

The main economic rivals of this period were the Bishopric of Utrecht and the counties of Holland and Geldern. In the end, Geldern won the upper hand.

In the second half of the XIII century. begins the process of centralization of the country. The importance of Holland is growing (especially under Floris V, ruled 1256-1296) and the Counts of the Gennegau Avenach dynasty (1299-1354). Holland and Gennegau unite, West Frisia (1287) and most of Zeeland (1323) join. The Avenes competed with the counts of Flanders Dampiers - the allies of France, and focused on an alliance with England. This involved Holland in the Hundred Years' War (1337-1453). 5

In the 14th century, in the conditions of aggravated social tension in Holland, Zeeland, Geldern, a regularly operating estate representation arose - the states.

In 1433, weakened by internal strife, Holland, and then a number of other feudal principalities of the Netherlands, were captured by the Dukes of Burgundy and became part of their state. With its collapse, the Netherlands became subject to the Habsburgs (1482), who completed in the 16th century, under Charles V, the annexation of those areas that had previously remained independent (Utrecht, Geldernidr.).

In 1548, the Habsburgs included all the annexed territories in a complex of lands of 17 provinces, called the Netherlands.

In 1556, after the division of the empire of Charles V, the Netherlands came under the rule of Spain.

In 1566, the bourgeois revolution that began was closely intertwined with the war of liberation against Spanish domination and took place under the banner of Calvinism (named after Calvin, one of the leaders of the Reformation).

In 1572-1575. As a result of the uprising, the Spaniards were expelled from the territory of the Netherlands.

In 1579, the political union of the northern provinces - the Union of Utrecht - laid the legal basis for the existence of an independent republic in the north of the Netherlands. In the south, the anti-Spanish movement was defeated.

In 1609, the protracted struggle for independence ended with the so-called. The twelve-year truce, by which Spain was forced, was to recognize the independence of the republic. The Netherlands became the first country where a victorious bourgeois revolution took place and where the first bourgeois republic in history arose. 6

In the 17th century the rapid economic development of the country and the growth of trade leads to the fact that navigation and shipbuilding are of great importance. Merchant fleet of the United provinces in the middle of the XVII century. almost twice the fleets of England and France combined and played a paramount role in the trade of the XVII century. The Netherlands, pushing the Portuguese and Spaniards, are deploying colonial expansion in Southeast Asia (the Malay Archipelago, Malacca, Ceylon, Guiana, the Lesser Antilles, etc.).

In 1602, the East India Company was founded, which played a huge role in the exploitation of the colonies and the trade in goods delivered from there.

In 1621, the West India Company was founded. Amsterdam becomes the most important economic center of the country (trade and stock exchanges existed here, and a deposit bank was founded in 1609. 7

The supreme power in the Republic belonged to the States General (in which delegates from the states of 7 provinces sat) and the Council of State. Along with these republican institutions, such a relic of the feudal monarchy as the position of a provincial stathouder (governor) was preserved. The statholders of most of the provinces were the princes of the House of Orange, and they were entrusted with the command of the army.

In 1621, the war with Spain resumed, which was layered on the all-European Thirty Years' War (1618-1648).

In 1648, the independence of the Republic of the United Provinces was finally recognized by the Peace of Westphalia.

In 1650, the party of the big Dutch bourgeoisie, headed by Jan de Witt, managed to completely seize power in the country and abolish the position of stathouder.

In the 1650s England begins wars with the Netherlands for colonial, commercial and maritime dominance. The result of these wars was the weakening of the military and political power of the Netherlands, limiting their commercial and colonial expansion. This was also facilitated by the wars with France at the end of the 17th century, in which the Netherlands acted in coalitions with other European powers. eight

In 1672, in the midst of military failures and popular uprisings, the Orangemen restored the power of the stadtholder. Stathauder William III of Orange, who became King of England in 1689 and thus brought about the Anglo-Dutch Union (1689-1702), pursued a pro-English policy. Despite the fact that after his death the position of statholder was again abolished by the Estates General, in the 18th century. there has been a decline in the development of trade and industry in the Netherlands.

In the XVIII century. in the face of military defeats (1747-1748 - the war of the Austrian inheritance, 1780-1784 - a new war with Great Britain), the position of the stadtholder was restored (1747). They became William V (1766-1795). After Wilhelm V dragged the Netherlands into the First Anti-French Coalition in 1793, revolutionary France declared war on the Netherlands. The entry of French troops into the Netherlands in 1795 put an end to the Republic of the United Provinces. nine

In 1795-1813, during the period of French domination, the Batavian Republic, dependent on France, was first organized, and then (1806, after the proclamation of the French empire), the Kingdom of Holland was created, headed by Napoleon I's brother Louis Bonaparte. During these years, bourgeois reforms were carried out: the abolition of almost all feudal rights and obligations, the elimination of the guild system, the centralization of administration, the introduction of a unified tax system, a secular school, civil and criminal codes.

In 1814-1815, after the expulsion of the French. The Congress of Vienna forcibly united the Netherlands and Belgium into a single Kingdom of the Netherlands.

In 1830, Belgium seceded from the Netherlands as a result of a revolution.

In 1831-1833. in the war against Belgium, the Netherlands unsuccessfully tried to restore the previous position. Relations with independent Belgium were settled only in 1839.

In 1824, the Netherlands Trading Company was established, which received the exclusive right to export colonial goods (coffee, sugar, indigo, spices) from Indonesia.

In 1839 the first railway was built.

In 1848, a new constitution was adopted, which established the responsibility of the government to the States General, introduced direct elections to the lower house and the election of members of the upper house by the provincial states. At this time, the rapid growth of the industry continues.

In the 1860-80s. the state takes over the construction of railways, the Amsterdam-North Sea canal is being built, and the New Waterway Rotterdam-North Sea is being opened. Rotterdam is turning into the most important transit port, the sea gate for Germany.

In the 1870s - early XX century. as a result of the industrial revolution, the most important industries - shipbuilding, textile and food - are being modernized. Monopolies appear: the "Royal Oil Company for the exploitation of oil sources in the Netherlands India", which merged in 1907 with the English oil company "Shell" into the international concern "Royal Dutch-Shell"; firm "Philips" (production of electric lamps, etc.). Agriculture begins to focus on exports, a dairy and dairy industry is being created. During this time, exports increase by 14 times, imports by 9 times, and transit by 13 times. The length of the railways increased 3 times, foreign investments in the economy, for example, in 1907 reached a gigantic amount of three billion guilders. ten

In 1887, a new constitution was adopted, which liberalized the property electoral qualification.

At the beginning of the XX century. the first trade unions and associations of workers arise, fighting for their economic rights.

In the First World War, the Netherlands remained neutral, preferring to carry out industrial supplies to the warring countries. However, in 1916-1919. as a result of the blockade and hostilities, maritime traffic ceased, ties with Indonesia were interrupted, the cost of living in the Netherlands almost doubled, and cards were introduced for basic necessities. This period was marked by strikes of miners, textile workers, dock workers, sailors. In July 1917 Potato riot broke out in Amsterdam.

In the post-war period, in the conditions of a stabilized economic situation, new industries emerged (production of radio equipment, oil refining, etc.), the General Union for the Production of Artificial Silk (1927), the Anglo-Dutch margarine concern Unilever were formed, work began on draining the Zuider -See (1920). eleven

In the 1930s Against the backdrop of the global economic crisis, which also hit the Netherlands, exports and imports decreased by 2 times, the guilder was devalued by 20%.

With the outbreak of World War II, the government of the Netherlands declared neutrality, but on May 10, 1940, Nazi Germany attacked the Netherlands and on May 14 the country was forced to capitulate. Queen Wilhelmina and the government emigrated to Britain. In the occupied Netherlands, a Nazi government was introduced, headed by the Reichskommissar A. Seyss-Inquart.

In 1945, the Allied forces liberate the Netherlands.

In 1948, the unification of the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg into the Benelux customs union, which began in 1944, was completed.

After World War II, the collapse of the Dutch colonial empire began. In August 1945, Indonesia declared its independence. The Netherlands, with the support of the United States and England, tried to restore their dominance, but failed. In 1947, under the Lingajad Agreement, the Netherlands recognized the government of the Indonesian Republic. Created by the decision of the "Round Table" conference in 1949, the Netherlands-Indonesian Union was dissolved by Indonesia in 1954. By 1974, Surinam (Netherlands Guiana) and the Netherlands Antilles remained in the colonial possessions of the Netherlands. 12

In the postwar years, the Netherlands quickly reach the previous level of production, foreign trade is reoriented to Western European countries. The government pursues a protectionist policy towards the largest monopolies, encouraging their development: Unilever, Philips, Royal Dutch-Shell.

In 1949 the Netherlands joins NATO. Foreign military bases appear on the territory of the country.

In 1954 the Netherlands join NATO.

In 1958, the economic union of the Benelux countries was created.

In 1975, Netherlands Guinea became an independent state - the Republic of Suriname.

In 1980, after the abdication of Juliana, her daughter Beatrice became Queen of the Netherlands. fourteen

1.4. People.

About 15.5 million people live in the Netherlands. 80% of the population is concentrated in cities, most in the Randstad industrial area, which includes Amsterdam, Haarlem, Leiden, The Hague, Delft, Rotterdam and Utrecht. The population density in the Netherlands is one of the highest in Europe: it reaches 463 people per 1 sq. km. km. Ethnic groups: in addition to the Dutch, 600 thousand Frisians, 150 thousand Surinamese, 220 thousand Turks, 165 thousand Moroccans, 20 thousand Belgians, about 50 thousand British and Germans. The official language is Dutch (Dutch). fifteen

1.5. Religion and languages

Main religions: Catholicism, Protestantism.

The royal family and about 20% of the population of the Netherlands identify themselves as Protestants (Calvinists). More than 25% of the population, mostly living in the southeastern provinces of the Netherlands, belong to the Roman Catholic Church.

Religious differences have a spatial and geographical expression: in the south of the country mainly Catholics live, and in the southwest and northeast - Protestants. Officially, freedom of conscience was proclaimed in 1795, but in fact the Dutch Reformed Church remained an important political force throughout the 19th century. Religious strife still affects political parties, schools, trade unions, employers' unions and newspapers. Radio and television stations, sports associations and recreation clubs are organized on an ideological or religious basis. In the 20th century the number of mixed marriages between people of different faiths, contrary to expectations, has not increased, but decreased, and even acquaintances and spending time together often depend on religious beliefs.
A separate group is that part of the population that stands apart from religious associations (especially those who share socialist or liberal views). sixteen

The official language is Dutch, but approximately 90% of the population speaks Papiamento, a dialect that is a mixture of Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch and English. More often referred to as Dutch, and historically - Flemish. It belongs to the Germanic language group. In the northern province of Friesland, the Frisian language is also widespread, very similar to Dutch. Spanish and English are widely used, especially in Willemstad.

In addition, in Holland, English, French and German are well understood. English is known to literally the entire population of the country.

1 Maksakovskiy V.P. Geographical picture of the world. - Yaroslavl: - 1995.

2 The whole world: countries, flags, coats of arms. - Minsk: Harvest, 1999.

3 Busygin A. V., "Netherlands", Thought, Moscow 1988.

4 Brief geographical guide "Countries and peoples". M.: - 1992

6 Scientific - popular geographic and ethnographic publication "Countries and peoples", M .: - 1992.

7 Maksakovskiy V.P. Geographical picture of the world. - Yaroslavl: - 1995.

8 Scientific - popular geographic and ethnographic publication "Countries and peoples", M .: - 1992.

9 Busygin A. V., "Netherlands", Thought, Moscow 1988.

10 Brief geographical guide "Countries and peoples", M .: - 1992

11 Great Soviet Encyclopedia.

12 Small Atlas of the World 1997

13 Busygin A.V. The conquering sea: about the Dutch and Holland. - M: Thought, 1990.

14 Great Soviet Encyclopedia.

15 The whole world: countries, flags, emblems. - Minsk: Harvest, 1999.

16 Brief geographical guide "Countries and peoples". M.: - 1992

2. Natural resources.

2.1 Nature and environment in the Netherlands.

The interest of the population of the Netherlands in nature and the environment began to manifest itself in the seventies. Environmental awareness received a strong impetus after the publication of the report of the Club of Rome under the heading "The Limits to Growth". It, in particular, predicted the depletion of oil and gas resources. This report has had a big impact on how we handle our energy needs today, how we treat the balance between human activity and the environment.

In a country as densely populated as the Netherlands, it is very important to protect special natural areas. Therefore, the state buys and manages especially valuable natural areas. In addition, it provides financial assistance to private entities for the acquisition and management of such zones. More and more farmers, individually and in groups, conclude agreements with the state. They assume responsibility for the protection of nature on their own land or on land administered by a nature protection organization. In 1990, by adopting an environmental management plan from the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature Management and Food Control, the state demonstrated its determination to return nature in the Netherlands to its rightful place. Of great importance here is the Basic Ecological Structure, a network of interconnected natural zones. This network of natural zones should provide guarantees for the existence of plants and animals in the future. The goal for 2018 is to achieve a total natural area of ​​700,000 hectares (NB: the total area of ​​the Netherlands is 41,528 km2). one

There are currently 19 diverse national parks in the Netherlands, from the water-rich Biesbosch to the sand dunes in the dunes of Loon and Drunen (Loonse en Drunense duinen). A special place among the national parks is occupied by one of the West Frisian Islands, Schiermonnikoog. The oldest national parks are Hoge Veluwe and Veluwezoom. 2

Due to the increase in population density, strong industrialization, the growth in the number of cars and the intensification of agriculture, including horticulture, environmental problems are more acute in the Netherlands than in other European countries. Most of these problems are solved by technical means, the use of which is at a higher level than the European Union (EU) average. Thanks to the environmental protection policy, the burden on the environment is either reduced (in terms of air, water and soil pollution) or stabilized (in terms of greenhouse effect and noise levels). Increasingly, we have to state that environmental pollution is not a problem of only one country. Large European rivers carry pollutants from other European countries in their waters, and air pollution does not stop at state borders. Certain problems associated with clean air even have a worldwide scope, such as ozone depletion and the greenhouse effect. Therefore, pan-European policy is playing an increasingly important role in solving large-scale environmental problems.

2.2. Climate.

The climate in the Netherlands is temperate maritime, with pleasant summers and mild winters. Guests of this country need to be aware of the possibility of short-term precipitation and do not forget to take an umbrella and a raincoat with you. Sometimes winter can bring you dry cold and sunshine, but such weather always alternates with rainy and foggy periods. In summer, sunny weather is not guaranteed, but it can be hot. The temperature depends on the location above sea level. 3

2.3. Relief.

Currently, more than half of the country's territory (33.9 thousand square kilometers) is located below sea level, including almost all western lands - from the province of Zeeland in the southwest to the province of Groningen in the northeast. The Dutch began to conquer most of them from the sea as early as the 13th century. and managed to turn into productive arable land. Areas of swamps and shallow waters were fenced off with dams, water was pumped out first with the help of windmills, and later with steam and electric pumps. The levels of the country's major rivers in their lower reaches are often located above the surrounding interfluves, composed of loose sediments, and coastal ramparts, which are strengthened by dams, are natural protection against floods. From a bird's eye view, the drained areas, called polders, are a complex mosaic with numerous ditches and channels dividing the fields and providing runoff. 4

Since 1927, a major hydrotechnical project began in the Netherlands to drain the Zuider Zee. By 1932, the construction of the main dam, 29 km long, was completed, which crossed this bay in the section between the provinces of North Holland and Friesland. In the next five years, above this dam, a freshwater lake IJsselmeer was formed, which was planned to be drained. First of all, the Wieringermeer polder was created in the northwest, then the Urkerland in the northeast. In the same way, the territories of East and South Flevoland were drained. In the late 1980s, the drainage of Markervärd was completed. After the completion of the project, over 60% of the original area of ​​the IJsselmeer will be reclaimed from the sea. 5

Another project called "Delta", completed in 1986, was intended mainly to protect the outer parts of the Rhine and Meuse delta with numerous islands from floods. This project gained particular importance after the catastrophe of 1953, when coastal dikes were destroyed during a storm in the North Sea and most of the delta lowlands were flooded. In the course of the project, all branches of the delta were blocked by dams that connected the islands. The only exception was the branch of the Eastern Scheldt, along which the sea route to the port of Antwerp (Belgium) passes. Currently, the Netherlands is considering a project to build dams between the West Frisian Islands, which border the northern coast of the country. At the same time, the shallow Wadden Sea (Wadden Sea), which stretches between these islands and the mainland, will also be drained. 6

In the 1990s, the strategy of hydrotechnical and land reclamation work, which had a thousand-year history, changed significantly. Now it is planned to turn about 240 thousand hectares, or about 1/10 of all agricultural land in the country, into forests, meadows and lakes in order to protect the environment. 7

A significant part of the territory of the Netherlands is located above sea level. These are sandy coastal dunes, flat and slightly hilly plains mainly in the east and south of the country, as well as a chalk plateau dissected by deep river valleys in the extreme southeast. Here is the highest point in the country, Mount Walserberg (321 m above sea level).

2.4. Vegetable world.

Fertile silty soils of marshes (polders) are developed in the coastal zone, and alluvial-meadow soils along the river valleys. More than 70% of the country is occupied by cultural landscapes (settlements, sown meadows, arable land, etc.). The abundance of berry bushes and flowering plants is characteristic. Oak-birch forests grow on sandy hills, alternating with moorlands and swamps. On the wastelands there are thickets of shrubs (gorse, juniper, broom).

Forests (of oak, beech, ash with an admixture of yew) are represented by separate groves and cover (together with planted forests and roadside forest belts) no more than 7% of the Netherlands. In sandy areas, heathers with shrubs are common, on the dunes - pine forests and thickets of sea buckthorn, along the banks of the branches of large rivers - willows. The Netherlands is called the "glass garden of Europe": more than 800 species of tulips, asters, hyacinths are grown in greenhouses here. eight

2.5. Animal world.

The fauna of the Netherlands is poor. Wild rabbits, squirrels, hare, marten, polecat, roe deer are widespread. There are about 180 species of birds in the country. In the delta of the Rhine and Meuse there are protected areas for the mass wintering of waterfowl (geese, geese, gulls, waders, etc.). The North Sea is rich in fish (herring, mackerel, cod). There are 8 reserves in the country. nine

2.6. National parks and reserves in Aruba (Netherlands).

Even on the map you can see that Aruba is a tiny island. But, nevertheless, here, on this piece of land, almost 20% of the territory is given over to a nature protection zone. The real gem of the island is the Arikok National Park, which occupies a huge area by local standards on the northern, windward coast, around the mountains of Arikok and Hamanota. A huge range of natural and historical attractions can be found in the park - Arawak petroglyphs in Fontaine Cave, Dutch colonial settlements in Masiduri, an old plantation building in Prince Valley and the ruins of gold mines in Miralamar. Along the slopes of Hamanota and Arikok stretches a whole network of beautiful hiking trails, going right through thickets of unusual plants, like quihi and divi-divi trees, and beautiful landscapes. The park is perhaps the most diverse animal community on the island. ten

The caves of Guadirikiri and the "Tunnel of Love" are hidden on the very outskirts of the Arikok park. The cave complex of Guadirikiri is famous for its two underground halls, where the sun's rays break through the holes in the roof, creating a completely surreal play of light and shadow. Stretching for more than 30 meters, the winding tunnels are home to several thousand completely harmless bats and, as legend has it, were once pirate secret bases. Khuliba Cave is also known as the "Tunnel of Love", getting its name from the shape of the entrance tunnel, which indeed resembles a stylized silhouette of a heart in cross section. eleven

1 Maksakovskiy V.P. Geographical picture of the world.. - Yaroslavl: - 1995.

2 V. A. Kvartalnov

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General information about Great Britain, historical stages of its formation and development, features of relief, climate and ecology, cultural traditions. Historical and cultural prerequisites for the development of tourism in the country, the nature of its internal and external varieties.

History and development of the basic rules of the game of volleyball.

History and first speed skating competitions.

Information about the history of Great Britain, its current political and geographical position. Customs regulations, visa information and state currency. Economic conditions for the development of tourism in modern England, its infrastructure and transport composition.

History of the Caribbean region, basic information about the islands, their geographical position. Characteristics of climatic conditions, currency, visa, customs control. Description of the tourist beaches of the Caribbean Sea: Aruba, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Cuba and others.

Study of the most developed branches of transport in the Netherlands. Water, road, rail, air, public transport. Formation of routes for tourist flows using various modes of transport available in the Netherlands.

Characteristics of the Netherlands, stages of their historical development. The geographical position of the Netherlands, especially their climate. Tourist points, opportunities for the hospitality and entertainment industry. Development of a tourist route in the Netherlands.

5th World Chess Champion (1935-1937), International Grandmaster (1950), International Arbiter (1951). FIDE President (1970-1978). Chess Writer. Doctor of Mathematics; teacher of mathematics, mechanics and astronomy

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Natural resources

In the north-east of the Netherlands, at this time, subsidence below sea level reached its greatest extent, and thick sedimentary strata accumulated there, with which deposits of rock salt are associated. Accumulations of natural gas in the same part of the country, apparently, are associated with coals and bituminous shales of carboniferous marine deltaic fractions, from there the gas penetrated into the overlying strata and was stopped by their salt roof. This barrier has ensured the safety of large accumulations of natural gas. There are relatively few oil deposits.

Almost all of the natural resources of the Netherlands are used in industry. Salt, limestone, peat, and sand are mined in small quantities. Gas production began in 1950. Its total reserves exceed 2,100 billion cubic meters; 70 billion cubic meters are produced annually, half of which is exported to France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, and Belgium. Until 1950, more than 12 million tons of coal were mined in the Netherlands annually, but after 25 years all mines in the country were closed.

Economy of the Netherlands

To better understand the economy of this country, I propose to consider the advantages and disadvantages.

Benefits: Highly skilled and multilingual workforce. Excellent infrastructure. Equal relations between employees and employers. Expensive social system with high taxes and social insurance payments. A third of government revenue goes to social benefits. High payroll costs. Low inflation - as of April 2014, it amounted to 2.4%. The unemployment rate as of August 2015 is 8.1%.

Weaknesses: Aging population. About 50% of the resources are owned by transnational corporations such as Philips and Shell. economy geographical netherlands natural

The Netherlands has a modern highly developed post-industrial economy. The most important industries of the country:

• Mechanical engineering
• · Electronics
• · Petrochemistry
• Aircraft industry
• shipbuilding
• · Ferrous metallurgy
• · Textile industry
• · Furniture industry
• Pulp and paper industry
• · Beer production
• · Manufacture of wearing apparel.

Heavy industry - oil refining, chemical production, ferrous metallurgy and engineering are concentrated in coastal areas. There are wind farms on the sea coast. The production of chocolate, cigars, gin, and beer is also developed. A well-known industry, despite its modest scale, is diamond processing in Amsterdam.

The Netherlands is home to the headquarters and production facilities of such transnational and European companies as Royal Dutch/Shell, Unilever, Royal Philips Electronics.

The Dutch banking system is represented by such banks as ABN AMRO, ING Groep N.V. and Rabobank.

In 2002, the Netherlands introduced the common European currency, the euro, replacing the guilder with it.

Main imports: oil, automobiles, iron and steel, clothing, non-ferrous metals, food products, various transport equipment.

Main export items: chemical products, meat, greenhouse vegetables, flowers, natural gas, metal products.

The main trading partners of the country in terms of exports: Germany (25%), Belgium (12.4%), Great Britain (10.1%), France (9.9%), Italy (6%), USA (4.3%) ; import: Germany (17.9%), Belgium (9.9%), USA (7.9%), China (7.4%), UK (6.4%), France (4%) -- 2004.

Natural gas plays an important role in the mining industry. Pipelines distribute gas from Groningen throughout the country and for export. In terms of the reserves of this mineral, the Netherlands ranks first in Western Europe. Until 1975, coal was mined in the province of Limburg. Salt mines operated in the cities of Hangelo and Delfzijl with a production volume of 4 million tons per year. Natural gas reserves are estimated at 17 billion m 3 according to UN data for 2014. Oil is being produced on the Dutch part of the continental shelf.

The flat relief creates favorable conditions for the development of a road network, but a large number of rivers and canals creates certain difficulties and risks in road construction.

• · The total length of the railway network is 2,753 kilometers (of which 68% are electrified - 1,897 kilometers).
• · The total length of highways is 111,891 km.
• · The total length of navigable rivers and canals is 5052 km.

Ocean shipping also plays an important role in the country's economy. Rotterdam is one of the largest seaports in the world in terms of cargo turnover. The Netherlands processes a significant part of European cargo flows.

KLM operates many international routes. The government is constantly fighting traffic jams. This makes traveling around the Netherlands faster and more comfortable. In 2010, there were 640 deaths due to road traffic accidents, which is 11% less than in 2009. By 2020, the government plans to take the necessary measures to reduce the number of deaths on the roads to 500.

Agriculture in the Netherlands is a highly intensive and significant sector of the economy, although in 2005 only about 1.0% of the country's population was employed in it. In 2005, agricultural exports exceeded 17 billion euros (more than 6% of the country's merchandise exports), about 80% of exports are consumed by the EU countries (Germany - 25%, Great Britain - 12%). The structure of agricultural exports is dominated by vegetables and flowers (12 billion euros) and dairy products (5 billion euros).

Agricultural land occupies about 65% of the country's territory. About 27% of agricultural land is arable, 32% is pasture and 9% is forested. The share of pastures is continuously falling, from 1995 to 2015 these lands decreased by 8.5%, which is mainly due to the expansion of housing construction.

The soil in the Netherlands is carefully looked after, in addition, in 2010, the country ranked first in the world in terms of the amount of mineral fertilizers applied per 1 hectare. The area of ​​land irrigated for agricultural needs is 5,650 km2 as of 2013.

Floriculture predominates in some parts of the country. Potatoes, sugar beets and cereals are also grown. An important export item is high-quality greenhouse and canned vegetables.

The Netherlands ranks fifth in Europe in butter production and fourth in cheese production. Pasture animal husbandry is the most widespread, more than 4.5 million head of cattle graze on napolders.

In terms of area allocated for greenhouses, the Netherlands ranks first in the world. From 1994 to 2005, the area of ​​greenhouses increased from 13,000 to 15,000 hectares, and the greenhouses are usually heated with local natural gas. 60% of the protected ground is reserved for floriculture.

Geography of Holland

The Netherlands are located on the coast and the adjacent West Frisian Islands of the North Sea, that is, in the most densely populated, industrially developed part of Western Europe, where the European and intercontinental highways intersect.
The borders of the country were established at the Congress of Vienna in 1815. and during the Belgian revolution of 1830-1831, and remain unchanged until now.

In terms of area, the Netherlands (except for micro-states) is surpassed only by Albania, Belgium and Luxembourg. The length from West to East is approximately 200, and from North to South 300 kilometers. It is noteworthy that the area of ​​the Netherlands is not a constant value. Its wetlands are constantly drained and new lands are reclaimed from the sea. In 1950, the territory of the country occupied 32.4 thousand, in 1980 - 37.5 thousand, and in 1987 - 41.2 thousand square kilometers.

Area: 41,526 sq. km

land: 33,889 sq. km
water: 7.637 sq. km

Most of the Netherlands is flat, and therefore, the Dutch call any upland a mountain. For several centuries, many lands have been reclaimed from the sea, and now these places are protected by dams. More than half of the country lies below sea level, and only in the southeastern province of Limburg can you see the hills. On land, Holland borders Belgium and Germany, and its coast is washed by the North Sea. The main river artery is the Rhine, which originates in the mountains of Germany and Switzerland.

One of the most significant natural disasters in the history of the Netherlands occurred in 1953, when a severe storm at sea destroyed and broke through the protective dams in the province of Zeeland. The floods killed 1,835 people. In order to prevent such a tragedy from happening again, it was decided to implement the Delta project, the essence of which was to enclose the southwestern river deltas with a network of protective dams and a colossal protective fence against storm surge. Its height is 3.2 km. In 1995, the largest evacuation of the country's population since the disaster in Zeeland was carried out. The fact is that in that year a large amount of precipitation fell in France and Belgium, which led to the flooding of the Meuse and Vaal rivers. About 240 thousand people were evacuated to Gelderland (the region around Nijmegen).

There are no protected areas in the Netherlands - it is the most densely populated country in Europe. But at the same time it seems that life here is the most organized life in the world. The Western urban area, which includes Amsterdam, The Hague and Rotterdam, is the most densely populated metropolitan area in the world. Cities are located literally one after another. They are connected to each other by motorways and bike paths. Between the cities are neat fields and pleasing to the eye wooded areas that act as the role of boundary lines. In some places in the cities, through the noise of city life, you can hear the chirping of birds.

The Netherlands has a temperate maritime climate with cold winters and mild summers. In spring and autumn, the area is often covered with mud, and it seems that such impenetrable dullness has always been and will be here forever. However, thanks to the flat terrain, the weather here changes with every breath of wind.

In the process of human development of the territory of Holland, many species of wild animals were forced out of their habitats. However, there are many birds in the country, especially waterfowl. Many rare animal species are protected in national parks and reserves.

Preserved mainly are those species of wild animals that live in damp meadows, in reservoirs and canals. The expansion of reclamation worsened the habitat conditions of birds, and relatively large colonies still survived only in some coastal areas. There are about 180 species of birds in Holland. And during winter flights, thousands of waterfowl enter the Netherlands. In the north of the country, on the shallows of the Wadden Sea, which separates the West Frisian Islands from the mainland, white-fronted geese, short-billed bean goose, barnacle goose, a lot of gulls and waders winter. In addition, the southernmost eider population lives here. The abundance of lapwings and bartails is typical for marches. On the coast itself, large curlews, herbalists, and turukhtans are common.

God made the earth for everyone except us,” says a Dutch proverb. And the Roman Pliny the Elder said about the Dutch: “You don’t know whether the earth serves as their dwelling place or water.” In fact, the land here is unsteady, unreliable.
If you look from above, you will see squares of fields cut into channels. On the canals - windmills. But they are not for grinding flour. These are water mills. They pump out water when they step on the land of the sea. They protect the land, reclaimed from the sea with great difficulty, protect from its deceit.
Holland is a ship that fights an endless storm. And the sea attacks him.
Constant struggle with the elements. Channels. Shafts. Dams. Pile houses. It's all contained in the word "Holland" ...
The Netherlands ... I wonder why the country is called THAT? Nieder - below, Land - country ... The country located BOTTOM, i.e. in the lowland. Down country...
And the second name - Holland - translated into Russian means "Country by the restless (stormy) sea" or "hollow land".
If you look at the map, Holland is actually located below sea level. Here is the lowest piece of land in Europe.
This tiny country (only 14 million people live in it - this is less than two Moscow!) with an area of ​​​​41.2 square meters. km - or rather, its fertile soil - was literally created by the people themselves.
In the 5th - 6th centuries, the Frisians - the ancestors of the current Dutch - built the first polders here - plots of land reclaimed from the sea, surrounded by barriers and drained with the help of ditches that divert water. This means that the Dutch have been arguing with nature for more than a thousand years.
At the beginning of the 20th century, a certain Cornelius Lely, an ordinary Dutch employee, proposed a plan: to block the Zuider Zee and pump out water with pumps. This two-meter giant with the fantasy of a child dreamed of creating a "promised land" from his unsteady country.
Oddly enough, this seemingly crazy idea was not rejected, and in 1918 the grandiose project began to be implemented. Its author did not live only three years before the full realization of his dream. The dam was opened in 1932. And the polder was named after him. The Zuider Zee is no longer on modern maps.
When you fly to Amsterdam in May, Schiphol Airport, which lies 16 meters below sea level, you see a lot of multi-colored rugs, as if spread around the city. You won't see this anywhere else! These are the polders where tulips, tulips and many more tulips of imaginable and unimaginable colors bloom.
The technique for constructing polders is simple, but takes a lot of time.
First, dredgers erect a shaft on a drained place (for example, a lake).
For one or two years, pumps pump out water from the formed space.
Finally (with the industriousness of the Dutch, perhaps only the Japanese with their artificial islands can be compared) the bottom is exposed. But it is still a quagmire, a swamp, a swamp ...
With the tenacity of ants, these workers build trenches and divert water. Another two or three (!) years - and the bottom hardens. But this is not enough! It turns out that the resulting soil needs to be washed, salt removed, loosened, fertilized ...
In short, after just a dozen years, you can sow. What? For example, tulips.
By the way, they bloom in Holland not only in May, no, all year round. Greenhouses built for flowers turn polders into glass cities.
Holland is said to be like a shallow plate in which tulips, tulips and tulips float. And M. Dodge, the author of the famous “Silver Skates”, a favorite childhood book of many generations in many countries, wrote about Holland like this: “It is such a flat country that all objects are clearly visible even from afar, and a chicken can be seen as well as a windmill a mill, and ships in Holland are tied to the doorposts - just as in other countries horses are tied, and all goods are loaded on them from the windows of the upper floor. In this country people live like beavers, and it may happen that one day, when the tide reaches its highest point, Holland will be carried into the ocean ... "
How to protect these fragile man-made land from the tides destroying it? And most importantly, how to warn people about them?
The Dutch have come up with this. Light floats float here and there on the water. Each of them is connected to an air mill. As soon as the water rises above the norm, the mill will spin, give a signal to all pumping stations, and pumping of water will begin.
However, now there is probably something much more electronic and computerized. Nevertheless, it was here, in this tiny country, that such “automatic” water level watchmen began to be widely used - the first in the history of technology (or one of the first).
The Dutch are generally unusually industrious and resourceful. This is what geography teaches them.
According to legend, in the old Amsterdam prison, nicknamed the "scrapper", the criminals were not allowed to sit back, forcing them to scrape the bark from the logs. And those who shied away from work were sent to a punishment cell, where a pipe was laid, and water flowed continuously through it. And there was a pump. So even an inveterate lazy person could not sit in the punishment cell for at least an hour without work: the water rose higher and higher, and the prisoner, in order not to choke, had to continuously pump it out with a pump. Such is the way of cultivating industriousness in the given conditions of life.
The Dutch generally have to pump out water all their lives, which seeps from the ground or pours from the sky. Otherwise, she simply has nowhere to drain.
And if more water is pumped out, then more land is drained.
That's why the Dutch are constantly building and strengthening dams and dikes. To save a life.

Like many other nations, the Dutch nation makes up the bulk of the population of the Netherlands. The formation of the Dutch nation was associated with the development and establishment of capitalist relations in the country, when a common territory, economic life, and culture began to take shape. But the main stage was the victory of the Dutch bourgeois revolution and the formation of the sovereign state of the Republic of the United Provinces.
The Netherlands is also home to Germans, Jews, Indonesians and Surinamese. The official language is Dutch (Dutch). It belongs to the family of Germanic languages ​​and has similarities with the Low German dialects, developed in the Middle Ages on the basis of the Low Frankish dialects with the participation of Frisian and Saxon.
However, only one nationality can be distinguished as an independent ethnic group - the Frisians living in the northern coastal regions of the Netherlands.
Against the general background of the countries of Western Europe, the Netherlands stood out with a rapid increase in population. For the period 1930-1995. the population of the country has tripled, while, for example, in neighboring Belgium - by 70%. In the mid-1960s the Netherlands had a population of just over 12 million, and it was predicted that by the end of this century the population would reach 20 million.
Considering the factors of vital movement of the population, it should be noted that mortality in the Netherlands over the past decade has been kept at a low level - about 8%, and a sharp decrease in child mortality is essential. Here the achievements of the Netherlands in the field of health and social security have affected. The birth rate was high for a long time, but from the middle of this century it began to decline (in%): 1900 - 31.6; 1930 - 23.1; 1939 - 20.6; 1950 - 22.7; 1965 - 20.8; 1979 - 17.2; 1990 - 12.7. During the Second World War, and especially immediately after its end, the birth rate increased in Holland.
The proportion of young people in the total population is relatively small, while the proportion of older people is quite high. For every 100 people aged 20 to 64 in 1930 there were 11.5 people over 65, in 1989 - 11.9 (forecast for 2010-15). The aging of the nation is largely due to the increase in life expectancy.
For men currently born, life expectancy is defined as 73 years, and for women, 79 years. In 1986-1990. The largest population growth (4.8%) was observed in the east of the Netherlands, while in the rest of the country it ranged from 1.8% (west) to 2.5% (south).
In terms of population density, the Netherlands firmly holds first place in Europe and second place in the world, second only to Bangladesh. The largest clusters of population in other parts of the country are associated with the urban agglomerations of North Brabant, Twente and the southern part of Limburg. Only 12% of the country's population lives in the north of Holland, 45% in the south and east.
Despite a long history of urban development, the Netherlands was dominated by a rural population in the first half of the 20th century. Subsequently, with the growth of industry, the situation began to change. In 1950, urban communities accounted for 60% of the total population (by that time reaching 10 million people), and half of the population of the Netherlands lived in the six largest cities.
The urban population as a whole is growing faster than the rural population, although natural growth is higher in rural areas. The population of cities is increasing due to the migration of the rural population. Thus, the shortage of labor in the cities, associated with the emergence of new and expansion of old enterprises, is being filled. An important incentive for migration is the better working conditions and the level of service in cities. Against the general background of migration flows, the most significant was the migration from the southwestern regions to Rotterdam and from the north to Amsterdam.

Natural resources of Holland and their use.

In the geology of the country, the paleogeography of the Zechstein (analogous to the Kazanian stage of Upper Perm) deserves special attention. In the north-east of the Netherlands, at this time, subsidence reached its greatest extent, and thick sedimentary strata accumulated there, with which deposits of rock salt are associated. Accumulations of natural gas in the same part of the country, apparently, are associated with coals and bituminous shales of carboniferous marine deltaic fractions, from there the gas penetrated into the overlying strata and was stopped by their salt roof. This barrier has ensured the safety of large accumulations of natural gas. There are relatively few oil deposits.
In the Quaternary period, the formation of the giant Rhine delta took place against the backdrop of a gradual decrease in the level of the ocean. During the glaciation, cover sands and permafrost soils were formed. During the Middle Pleistocene, a large part of the Netherlands was directly affected by the ice sheet.
Almost all of the natural resources of the Netherlands are used in industry. Salt, limestone, peat, and sand are mined in small quantities. Gas production began in 1950. Its total reserves exceed 2,100 billion cubic meters; 70 billion cubic meters are produced annually, half of which is exported to France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, and Belgium. Until 1950, more than 12 million tons of coal were mined in the Netherlands annually, but after 25 years all mines in the country were closed.

Geography of the main industrial complexes and branches.

Modern Netherlands is an industrial country with intensive agriculture and a developed system of foreign economic relations.
In the industry of the Netherlands, specialization is clearly expressed in the production of competitive high-quality products of a rather limited range. The leading role is played by specialized concerns, oriented in their activities to the world market. At their disposal are large enterprises that determine the industrial profile of the country. In recent years, there has been a sharp increase in the concentration
The Netherlands entered the path of development of capitalism early. The victory of the bourgeois revolution of 1566-1609. served as an incentive for the rapid spread of capitalist relations, the growth of cities, the flourishing of trade and shipping. The Netherlands took a leading place in world trade and began to perform intermediary functions.
The favorable geographical position of the Netherlands at the crossroads of important maritime and continental trade routes largely predetermined the role of this country. Many branches of the country's economy were based on the processing of cheap colonial raw materials.
In a short time, the Netherlands has turned from an industrial-agrarian country into an industrial one with a highly developed service sector. Such branches as ferrous metallurgy, mechanical engineering, oil refining, and chemical industries, which supply a large number of export products, have rapidly moved forward. Of the old industries, only the food industry has retained its position, using the vast resources of the country's agriculture. Industries oriented towards colonial markets (for example, the textile industry) gradually lost their importance.
With the discovery of rich gas fields, the Netherlands has moved to one of the prominent places in the world in terms of energy resources. This served as an important factor in economic development, weakening the country's dependence on imported fuel.