The Netherlands has the highest population density (493 inhabitants per square km - water excluded) of any European country with over 1 million inhabitants. Worldwide, only Bangladesh and Taiwan, among major countries, have a higher density of population.
The 'Netherlands' mean "Low Country" in Dutch. About half of its surface area is less than 1 metre above sea level. Its highest point is 321 metres (1,053 ft) above sea level.
Dutch people are the tallest in the world, with an average height of 184 cm for men and 170 cm for women.
Dutch people have the lowest incidence of lactose intolerance of any country - only 1%.
History
New York City started as Dutch colony called New Amsterdam. Many places names in New York remind of the Dutch origins of the city, such as Flushing in Queens (famous for Flushing Meadows), named after Flushing in the Dutch province of Zeeland.
Gin was invented in the Netherlands under the name of Jenever. It was first sold as a medicine in the late 16th century.
The Dutch were the first Europeans to discover Australia and New Zealand in the 17th century. Australia was then named "New Holland". New Zealand was named after the province of Zeeland.Tasmania was named after Dutch explorer Abel Tasman (1603-1659).
The island country of Mauritius was named in 1598 in honour of Prince Maurice of Nassau, the Stadtholder of the Netherlands at the time.
Indonesia was a Dutch colony until 1945. Jakarta was then called "Batavia", after the Latin name for the Netherlands. Dutch language is still spoken by a minority of Indonesians.
Government & Politics
The Netherlands has two capitals : Amsterdam (the official capital by constitution since the 19th century) and The Hague (the seat of government and first capital since 1584).
Soft drugs (e.g. cannabis, "magic mushrooms") are legal in the Netherlands. Only licenced "coffee shops" are allowed to sell such drugs, although people are allowed to grow cannabis at home for their personal use.
Prostitution is legal in the Netherlands. However, prostitutes must be at least 18, and clients must be at least 16.
Abortion on demand at any point between conception and viability has been legal since 1981.
The Dutch government has legalised same-sex marriages since 2001 and euthanasia since 2002.
Culture & Sciences
The Netherlands has spawned many world-class painters, such as Rembrandt, Jan Vermeer, Jan Steen, Vincent van Gogh or Piet Mondriaan.
The microscope, the telescope, pendulum clock and the mercury thermometer are all 16th or 17th century Dutch inventions.
The Dutch company 'Philips' invented the audio tape (in 1967), the video tape (in 1972), the Compact Disk (in 1982) and the CD-ROM (in 1985).
There are 1180 windmills in the Netherlands.
Tulips were imported from the Ottoman Empire and became very popular in Holland in the early 17th century. Nowadays, the Netherlands is the world's first producer and exporter of tulips.
Keukenhof Park is the largest flower garden in the world.
Economy
Famous Dutch companies include Philips, Akzo Nobel , Royal Dutch Shell (half-British), Unilever (half-British), Heineken, IKEA (formerly Swedish) as well as the banks ING, ABN-AMRO and Fortis (Belgian-Dutch).
The KLM (Royal Dutch Airlines) is the longest running national airline in the world. It was founded in 1919.
The Netherlands has long been one of the richest countries in the world. Its GDP per capita was estimated to be the highest in the world in 1820, and the 2nd highest in Europe in 1900 (after Belgium). Nowadays, it still enjoys the 4th highest nominal GDP per capita within the European Union.
The Netherlands have the highest level of foreign direct investment per capita in the world.
Rotterdam, in South Holland, is the largest seaport in Europe. It used to be the largest port in the world by cargo tonnage, until being overtaken by Singapore in the 1990's, then Shanghai in 2003.
The highest tower in the EU is the Gerbrandy Tower in the Dutch town of IJsselstein (near Utrecht).
A few famous Dutch companies :
Royal Philips Electronics :one of the largest electronics and home appliances companies in the world.
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