Holland
Quick Facts: | Area | 41,526 sq km | | Population: | 16,067,754 (July 2002 est.) | | Capital: | Amsterdam;The Hague is the seat of government | | Language: | Dutch | | Religion: | Roman Catholic 31%, Protestant 21%,Muslim 4.4% | | Currency: | Euro | | YFU web site: | www.yfu.nl |
Introduction
The Dutch are very keen on “gezelligheid” (coziness). Their effort to achieve it can clearly be seen in the furniture, lights and small decorative objects in their homes, including lots of plants and flowers. A tidy garden with a collection of plants and flowers can also be found in front of most houses.
Short Facts Area: 41,526 km2 (14,400 sq mi), of which 27% lies below sea level. Fighting against the sea, the Dutch built several technical structures to protect their land from flooding, such as the Delta works in the South and the great “Afsluitdijk” that turned the former Zuyder Sea into the present day Ijssel Lake. One of the smallest countries in Western Europe, the Netherlands is about one-half the size of Uruguay, or similar in size to the U.S. states of Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island combined.
Climate: The climate is temperate. Winters are not too cold, the month of January has an average temperature of 1.7 0C (35*F). Summers can be hot, but the average temperature of July is 19 0C (66*F).
Population: The population of the Netherlands today is approximately 16 million and still growing, making this small country one of the most densely populated countries in the world and the most densely in Europe. The majority of the Dutch population lives in the larger cities and their suburbs in the West, named “Randstad”.
Language: Dutch is a Germanic language. Frisian is also an official language, only spoken in the province of Friesland, in the North of the country. Other countries where Dutch is spoken are Belgium, Surinam and the Dutch Antilles.
Religion: Roughly one-third of the population is Roman Catholic, one-third Protestant, mainly Calvinist, and one-third non-religious. Immigration has brought many other religions to the Netherlands, such as Islam and Buddhism. The constitution guarantees freedom of religion.
Government: The government is a constitutional monarchy with a democratic parliament. This means that the monarch reigns but does not govern. The Netherlands is a member of the United Nations, the European Community, and NATO.
History: Under Charles V (1500-1558), the region now known as the Netherlands, was united with present-day Belgium and Luxembourg, and this mass of land was titled the Low Countries. In 1568, several northern provinces rebelled against their Ruler, who was also the King of Spain, Philip II. Led by Prince William of Orange, a revolt began that started the eighty-year war, and eventually led to independence. The Independent Republic of Seven United Provinces was solidified by the peace treaty of 1648. In the seventeenth century the Golden Age for the Netherlands began, with vast expansion in trading and shipping. The Netherlands colonized large parts of Asia (such as present day Indonesia) and the Caribbean (Surinam and the Dutch Antilles). The city of Amsterdam became a distribution center for goods from this part of the world to the rest of Europe. This gave the Province of Holland the highest standard of living in the whole of Europe, a position it managed to maintain well into the eighteenth century. In 1795, the Netherlands lost republic status, when the country was invaded by the French. By the year 1810 it was annexed to France under Napoleon. After French occupation was driven out, in 1814, the Kingdom of the Netherlands was born, incorporating the areas that are now Belgium and Luxembourg. Sixteen years later, Belgium and Luxembourg became independent and the Netherlands took on the form it still holds today. The Netherlands remained neutral in the First World War, but were dragged into World War II by invasion and five-year occupation by Germany. The Netherlands had been one of the largest colonial powers until World War II, shortly after which the colony of Indonesia became independent, while Surinam and the Netherlands Antilles became equal partners with the Netherlands. In 1975, Surinam declared it’s independence and longer remained part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Economy: Industry, agriculture and trade are important sources of national income. Dutch industry mainly processes imported raw materials and foodstuffs. Leading industries include fertilizers, dairy products, vegetables and flowers. About one-third of all agricultural products are exported. Banking, business investments and tourism are other important facets of the Dutch economy.
Education: The educational system begins at the age of four, and primary education is between ages four and twelve. In secondary education, there are two options, either follow general secondary education or go straight into vocational training. There is a choice of courses lasting four, five and six years in general secondary education. The four-year course, known as UMBO (intermediate level), leads on to secondary vocational training. The five-year course, known as HAVO (higher level), paves the way for higher vocational education. The gymnasium and atheneum, both preuniversity schools and together named VWO, are the gateways to the universities. After UMBO, it is possible to move on to HAVO, after obtaining a HAVO diploma, a student can move on to VWO. Those who opt for elementary vocational training immediately after primary school generally receive training as apprentices. Once they have passed the appropriate examination, they can be admitted to a school giving secondary vocational training. English, French and German language courses are available in most secondary schools. There is a five-day school week. Approximately one-week vacations come in the autumn, at Christmas time, in early spring and at Easter. There is a six-week summer vacation.
Family life: The Dutch enjoy a closeknit family life. Dutch families are moderate in size, on average most families have two children. Children are taught to show respect for their parents, but interaction is rather informal. The Dutch tend to have very busy lives, which they try to keep well organized by planning ahead when they want to meet friends or family or do something together. It is not appreciated if such “appointments” are called of at the last minute, or if you don’t show up on the agreed time. More and more women are working outside their homes and many teenagers work evenings and weekends to earn some extra pocket money for their own expenditures. Family activities are considered important. In the weekend, some families frequently visit their grandparents, others will be active in sports activities while there will also be families where every member of the household has his or her own weekend activities.
Meals: Dairy products are a corner stone of the Dutch menu; an ever-growing variety of different types of cheese, yogurt and desserts can be found on the shelves of every grocery store. The Dutch have only one hot meal, which is usually eaten together with the whole family around six or seven p.m. Traditionally, a Dutch dinner consists of potatoes, meat and vegetables followed by a sweet dessert. Pasta and rice have also become very common and more and more international dishes are being introduced to the Dutch dinner table.
Recreation: Soccer is by far the most popular sport, with frequent coverage on TV and in the papers. Other popular sports include tennis, field hockey, swimming, cycling, ice-skating, sailing and surfing. Splendid recreational areas for lovers of water sports are found in different parts of the country. There are opportunities to explore the forests, heaths and sands of Southern and Eastern Netherlands, the hills of Limburg in the far South and the islets in thh Wadden Sea in the North. From North to South, an unspoiled sandy beach with sand dunes stretches along the North Sea Coast, offering beach recreation possibilities in summer.
YFU in the Netherlands YFU Netherlands used to be part of YFU Benelux. Since 2004 YFU Netherlands works independently. The YFU program in the Netherlands started in 1958. The first Belgian students joined the Dutch YFU program in 1971, leading to the founding of YFU Benelux in 1973. In 1985 a regional office was opened in Dutch Belgium for the promotion and registration of Dutch Belgian participants. A similar regional office for French Belgium was opened in 1994.
Exchange activities for Inbound students: Approximately one week after the students have arrived to the Netherlands there is a five days postarrival seminar, which includes basic Dutch language training. In the middle of the year there is another seminar, which lasts only one weekend and at the end of the year there is a re-entry seminar, which lasts one weekend. There will be a four or five day cultural activity during the year and various regional get-togethers.
Common Phrases | English | Dutch | | Good Morning | Goedemorgen | | How are you? | Hoe gaat het me u? | | My name is | Mijn naam is | | Good bye | Tot ziens | | Yes | Ja | | No | Nee | | Please | Alstublieft | | Thank you | Dank u |
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