Portal:Netherlands

Welcome to the Dutch Portal!
Welkom bij het Nederlandse Portaal!

The Netherlands is one of the four countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The Netherlands is a parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarch, located in northwestern Europe. It borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east. Since 10 October 2010, the Caribbean islands of Bonaire, Saba and Sint Eustatius are also part of the Netherlands. Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten are separate countries within the Kingdom.

In many countries, the Netherlands is often referred to by the name Holland. However widespread, this usage is incorrect in English, as Holland is a region in the central-western part of the Netherlands, consisting of two provinces.

The Netherlands is one of the most densely populated and geographically low-lying countries in the world (its name literally means "Low-lands") and is popularly famous for, among other things, its dikes, windmills, wooden shoes, tulips, bicycles and social tolerance. Its liberal policies (towards drugs and prostitution among other things) receive international attention. The country is host to the International Court of Justice. Its capital is Amsterdam, as stated by the constitution, but The Hague is the seat of government and the home of the monarch. Most embassies are located in the Hague, as well. As of the 2011 report^[update], the Netherlands ranks 3rd on the list of countries by Human Development Index.

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The Raid on the Medway was a successful Dutch attack on the largest English naval ships, laid up in the dockyards of their main naval base Chatham, that took place in June 1667 during the Second Anglo-Dutch War. The Dutch, under nominal command of Lieutenant-Admiral Michiel de Ruyter, bombarded and then captured the town of Sheerness, sailed up the River Thames to Gravesend, then up the River Medway to Chatham, where they burnt three capital ships and ten lesser naval vessels and towed away the HMS Unity and the HMS Royal Charles, pride and normal flagship of the English fleet. The raid led to a quick end to the war and a favourable peace for the Dutch. It was the worst defeat in the Royal Navy's history.

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Credit: Commons user Deepak

Keukenhof, situated in Lisse, Netherlands, also known as the Garden of Europe, is the world's largest flower garden. It is located between the towns of Hillegom and Lisse, south of Haarlem in North Holland, southwest of Amsterdam.

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Did you know...

... that Dutch malacologist Adolph Cornelis van Bruggen (pictured) is an expert in African land snails?

... the Netherlands is one of the few countries in the world where the government is not seated in the capital? The Constitution of Netherlands regards Amsterdam as the official capital, but The Hague is the seat of the Government of Netherlands.

... the Netherlands is the 15th most densely populated country in the world, with 395 inhabitants per square km (or 482/km² if only the land area is counted, 18.4% is water)?

... about 20% of the surface area of the Netherlands is located below sea level?

... Dutch company Philips invented the audio cassette, the video tape, the compact disc and the CD-ROM?

... a UNICEF report published in 2007 ranked the Netherlands as the best country for children to live in?

... prostitution is legal in the Netherlands?

... the KLM is the longest running national airline in the world?

... Rotterdam is one of the largest seaports in the world?

... 10% of the surface of the Netherlands has been taken from the sea?

... the Dutch national anthem (the Wilhelmus) is the oldest in the world?

... the Apenheul Primate Park in Apeldoorn is the first free-roaming primate park in the world?

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Eleonora "Ellen" van Dijk is a Dutch professional road and track racing cyclist. Van Dijk is a time trial specialist and became 2008 World Track Champion in the scratch race and 2012 Road World Champion in team time trial.

Van Dijk started as a speed skater and undertook cycling as part of cross-training in summer. She excelled at both, competing nationally at junior level. After becoming a national cycling champion for the fifth time in 2007, she quit speed skating and became a full-time cyclist. Along with her world title successes, Van Dijk has also twice been European track champion, twice European time trial champion and has won five world cup races. In 2012 she competed in three disciplines at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, where she helped Marianne Vos win the gold medal in the road race, finished eighth in the time trial and sixth in the team pursuit.

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