Kingdom of the Netherlands Dutch : Koninkrijk der Nederlanden; The Kingdom of the Netherlands), the capital of the Netherlands Amsterdam . locate Europe The northwest. It borders Germany to the east and Germany to the south Belgium To the west and north Beihai . It has an area of 41,528 square kilometers and a coastline of 1,075 kilometers. 24% of the area is below sea level, and one-third of the area is only one meter above sea level. It is a Marine temperate broadleaf forest climate. It consists of 12 mainland provinces and 6 overseas territories. As of December 2023, the population of the Netherlands is 17.94 million, 76.8% are of Dutch origin. The official language is Dutch, while Dutch, English, Spanish and Papiamento are spoken in the overseas territories. ^[10]

In 1463, the Netherlands officially became a country, and until the 16th century, the Netherlands was a country for a long time Feudal separation Status. In 1568, a revolt broke out Spain The war of domination. In 1581, the seven northern provinces became the Dutch Republic. In 1648," The Peace of Westphalia After the signing, Spain officially recognized the independence of the Netherlands. The 17th century was a maritime colonial power, economy, culture, art, technology and other aspects are very developed, known as the "golden age" of the Netherlands. After the 18th century, the Dutch colonial system gradually collapsed, and the national power gradually declined. In 1795, the French army invaded. It was separated from France in 1814 and formed the Kingdom of Holland in 1815. The Constitution was formally established in 1848 Constitutional monarchy .

The Netherlands is a developed country, known as the "gateway to European trade", is an export-oriented economy, its electronics, chemical industry, water conservancy, shipbuilding and food processing and other fields advanced technology, financial services and insurance developed; With convenient land, sea and air transportation, it is an important transportation hub on the European continent. Agriculture is highly intensive, and the export of agricultural products ranks first in the world. The Netherlands or European Union , OECD , North Atlantic Treaty Organization One of the founding countries and important member states of the United States. In 2022, the Netherlands has a GDP of 942.881 billion euros and a per capita GDP of 53,000 euros. ^[11]

Foreign cooperation

Russia and Holland have been in love for more than 300 years 2021-09-27 09:36

Despite the hostile environment between Russia and the West over Crimea, Dutch trade with Russia increased by more than 19 percent in 2018, reaching $42.7 billion. In the same period, the value of Russian exports to the Netherlands increased by 57 percent to $43.47 billion. In addition, the Netherlands has long been Russia's second largest oil market. ... details

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Chinese name: Kingdom of the Netherlands
Foreign name: The Kingdom of the Netherlands
Abbreviated form: Netherlands
continent: Europe
capital: Amsterdam
Major city: Rotterdam , The Hague , Utrecht , Eindhoven , Tilburg Etc.
National Day: April 27th
National song: " Wilhelson "
Country code: NLD
Official language: Dutch
currency: Euro
Time zone: UTC+1
Political system: A parliamentary constitutional monarchy
National leader: Willem-Alexander (King) , Mark Rutte (Prime Minister)
Population number: 17.92 million ^[10] (Statistics Netherlands, October 2023)
Population density: 429.5 people/km2 ^[5] (March 2023)

Major nationality: Netherlander , The Frisian
Major religion: Catholicism , Protestantism
Land area: 41528 km²
Water area ratio: 18.41%
Total GDP: 942.881 billion euros ^[10] (2022)
Per capita GDP: €53,000 ^[10] (2022)
International telephone area code: 31
International domain name abbreviation: .nl
Road access: Drive on the right
Seat of government: The Hague
The national flower: tulip
National bird: spoonbill
Kunishi: Diamond
Largest city: Amsterdam
reputation: Land of windmills
Leading institution: University of Groningen , University of the Hague Etc.
Geographical highest point: The Valsberg Hill (321 m above sea level)

catalogue

Historical evolution

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Found a state

Roman times , Rhine The area on the south bank was first part of the" Belgium Gaul The province was later classified as the "Germanic Province". The northern part of the area is inhabited by many Germanic tribes, the southern part is inhabited by Gauls, and these Gaul During the immigration period it also integrated many Germanic tribes, among them the Sarien Franks From here it migrated to Gaul and in the fifth century established a powerful The Merovingians And later developed into Empire of Charlemagne .

Middle Ages Period, yes Holy Roman Empire Of the territory. By the early 16th century, because of complex royal marriages, they were in the Holy Roman Empire The House of Habsburg Under the unity.

In 1463, the Netherlands officially became a country. Before the 16th century, the Netherlands was under feudal control for a long time. At the beginning of the 16th century, the Netherlands came under Spanish rule.

In 1556, Emperor Carl V (reigned 1519-56) abdicated and divided Spain and the lowlands (known as the Northern Provinces) among his sons Philip the Second He gave the rest of Austria and the Habsburg Empire to his younger brother Ferdinand the First . In this way, the Northern province belonged to the Kingdom of Spain.

In 1568, he rebelled against the centralization of the Spanish king and against Protestantism Calvinism The persecution that broke out lasted 80 years in the Northern provinces against the Spanish Eighty years' War .

In 1579, seven of the northern provinces (Holland, Belgium and Luxembourg The Union of Utrecht was formed to oppose Spanish rule. This is considered the beginning of modern Holland.

On July 26, 1581, representatives from the rebellious cities of the Netherlands solemnly declared in The Hague that the Spanish king's sovereignty over the provinces of the Netherlands was abolished, and the Union formally declared independence and established the Dutch Republic (officially known as the United Republic of the Netherlands). The war continued until 1648, when King Philip IV of Spain signed the Treaty of Munster, recognizing the Seven Lowlands Seven provinces United Republic of the Netherlands .

In 1588, seven provinces joined together and proclaimed the Dutch Republic. This is a country unprecedented in human history. Many historians say it was the first country in the world to "give full political rights to the merchant class."

Seek hegemony

After gaining independence from Spain, the Netherlands developed into a maritime and trading power in the 17th century, with very developed economy, culture, art, science and technology. The number of merchant ships in the Netherlands exceeds the total number of merchant ships in all European countries, and is praised as" Sea coachman ". The Dutch established colonies and trading posts all over the world. This period is known in the Netherlands as the "Golden Age".

In 1602, under the leadership of the Grand Chancellor of the Republic, Auden Barnvelt, the Dutch United East India Company was founded.

After the Peace of Westphalia was signed in 1648, Spain officially recognized Dutch independence. The Netherlands had reached the height of its commercial prosperity, becoming a 17th century maritime colonial power and the largest colonial power in the world after Spain.

By the middle of the 17th century, the global commercial supremacy of the Dutch Federal Republic was firmly established. At this point, Dutch East India Company It has 15,000 branches and accounts for half of the world's total trade volume. Hanging Holland tricolour More than 10,000 merchant ships sailed on the five oceans of the world: of the 20,000 ships in the world at that time, the Netherlands had 15,000. More ships than England, France, and Germany combined.

In September 1688, a large fleet came from Port of Amsterdam Pulling up anchors and setting sail, these ships carried the high Consul of Holland William III And 20,000 Dutch soldiers. William III was invited by the British Parliament to protect the "religious liberty and property" of British citizens.

decline

In the late 17th century, the Netherlands fought wars with Britain and France, and was defeated by the British at sea. Anglo-dutch War On land, the Netherlands was defeated by France ( Franco-dutch War ).

In 1795, the French army invaded the Netherlands and the Dutch Republic was destroyed and established First French Republic Puppet government The Republic of Batavia .

After the 18th century, the Dutch colonial system gradually disintegrated.

In 1806, Napoleon Younger brother Louis Bonaparte As king, Holland was made a kingdom.

In 1810, the Netherlands was annexed to France. In 1814, the Netherlands separated from France, and in 1815, the Kingdom of Holland was formed.

In 1848, the Dutch Constitution formally established a constitutional monarchy.

World War I During this period, the Netherlands remained neutral. World War II Initially, the Netherlands declared neutrality. ^[10]

In May 1940, when the Netherlands was invaded by the German Army, the royal family and members of the Cabinet fled to Britain and established a government-in-exile. Decline down.

After World War II

The Netherlands regained its independence in 1945 and abandoned its policy of neutrality after the war North Atlantic Treaty Organization and European Economic Community And later European Union .

On 15 December 1954, the Netherlands adopted the Constitution of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (HetStatuut), which gave the former colonies and possessions of the Netherlands the same status within the Kingdom as the Netherlands itself. Since then, the Kingdom of the Netherlands has exclusively referred to the kingdom consisting of the mainland Netherlands and its former colonies, while "Holland" has exclusively referred to the Netherlands in continental Europe. At present, the Kingdom of the Netherlands consists of three parts, namely the Netherlands in continental Europe, The Netherlands Antilles and Aruba .

Geographical environment

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Regional location

The Netherlands is located in northwest Europe. It borders Germany to the east, Belgium to the south, the North Sea to the west and north, and is located between 3°21' to 7°13' east and 50°45' to 53°52' north. It has an area of 41,528 square kilometers and a coastline of 1,075 kilometers. ^[10]

Netherlands

landform

Topographic map of the Netherlands

Low level is the most prominent feature of the Dutch terrain. The Dutch name "The Netherlands" originally meant "the Low Countries." 24% of the area is below sea level, and one-third of the area is only one meter above sea level. Since the 13th century, the reclamation of the sea has increased the land area by about 6,000 square kilometers. The highest point in the Netherlands is in the southeastern corner of the southern province of Limburg The Valsberg Hill (Vaalserberg), 321 m above sea level. The lowest point in the Netherlands is Rotterdam Nearby, it is 6.7 meters below sea level. ^[10]

climate

The Netherlands is located between 51° and 54° north latitude, affected by the Atlantic current is a Marine temperate broadleaf forest climate. The average temperature in coastal areas is 16℃ in summer and 3℃ in winter. Inland areas 17℃ in summer, 2℃ in winter. The average annual precipitation is 797 mm. ^[10]

hydrology

Rivers in the Netherlands, mainly Rhine, Maas River. It's on the northwest coast Ethel Lake .

Natural resources

The Netherlands is poor in natural resources, with few other than natural gas and a small amount of oil. Oil was discovered in the North Sea at the end of 2012. As of 2019, the Netherlands has 298 billion cubic meters of natural gas reserves and 2.86 million cubic meters of oil reserves. The Groningen gas field is located in the northern Netherlands and is one of the largest onshore gas fields in Europe. The amount of natural gas extracted in the Netherlands has been declining year by year, with production reaching 22.7 billion cubic meters in 2020. The Dutch government stopped gas production from the Groningen field in mid-2022. ^[11]

Administrative division

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Zoning details

Subdivisions of the Netherlands

The Netherlands is divided into 12 provinces with 380 municipalities. The overseas territory consists of the three overseas administrative regions of SAN Astatius, Saba, and Bonnard, and the three autonomous states of Aruba, Curacao, and Saint Martin of the Netherlands. ^[10]

The Netherlands has two "capitals" : Amsterdam and The Hague. Amsterdam is the constitutional capital, while the government, the Royal Palace and most national embassies in the Netherlands are located in the Hague, so it is the de facto administrative capital. ^[11]

Subdivisions of the Netherlands
province	Provincial capital
Nord-holland Province (NoordHolland)	Harlem (Haarlem)
South Holland (ZuidHolland)	The Hague (DenHaag)
Utrecht Province (Utrecht)	City of Utrecht
Zeeland (Zeeland)	City of Middelburg
North Brabang Province (Noord-Brabant)	DenBosch City
Province of Groningen (Groningen)	Groningen (Groningen)
Friesland Province (Friesland)	City of Leeuwarden
Gelderland Province	City of Arnhem
Province of Overijssel	Svaro City (Zwolle)
Limburg Province (Limburg)	The city of Maastricht (Maastricht)
Drenthe Province (Drenthe)	Assen City
Province of Flevoland	Lelystad
Overseas administrative region	Saint Astasius, Saba, Bonnard
Overseas self-governing state	Aruba, Curacao, Saint Martin, Netherlands

Major city

Amsterdam (Amsterdam)

Views of Amsterdam

Amsterdam is the legal capital of the Netherlands, located in the province of North Holland in the west of the Netherlands, is an "underwater city" 1 to 5 meters below sea level, bordering on Lake Ethel, and connected to the North Sea by the North Sea Canal in the west. ^[12] Amsterdam has a total area of 219 square kilometers, It has a population of 920,000. ^[17] Amsterdam, as the capital of the Netherlands, has only symbolic significance. By law, the enthronement of the Dutch monarch and other important ceremonies take place in Amsterdam, but the Dutch Parliament, the Prime minister's office, central ministries, foreign embassies in the Netherlands, and international organizations in the Netherlands are all based in The Hague. ^[14]

Views of Amsterdam

Amsterdam has a long history and is the largest city and second largest port in the Netherlands. ^[11] It is the economic, financial and industrial center of the Netherlands. Major industries include financial and business services, creative economy, high-tech materials and manufacturing, and information technology. Amsterdam leads the world in the number of business service companies and cultural and creative enterprises. In recent years, the city of Amsterdam has vigorously attracted various enterprises to settle down, and many foreign enterprises have set up headquarters or representative offices in the city. The Zeidas Business District is home to the top five Dutch law firms and a number of internationally renowned consulting firms. The Amsterdam Stock Exchange, located in the city centre, is the oldest stock exchange in the world and one of the largest in Europe. ^[14]

Amsterdam is a national center of education and technology, with the University of Amsterdam and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam as its main universities. The population is highly educated and English is the second common language after Dutch. Amsterdam is a famous historical and cultural city. The city's more than 50 museums and ancient canals attract tourists from all over the world every year. ^[14] The city of Amsterdam is criss-crossed by canals, with a total length of more than 100 kilometers and 165 canals dividing the city into more than 90 islands, connected by 1,500 traditional arch Bridges and modern opening and closing Bridges, and 16 sluice gates to regulate the water level, known as the "Northern Venice". ^[12]

On October 29, 1994, Beijing and Amsterdam officially established sister city relations. ^[14]

Rotterdam

Views of Rotterdam

Rotterdam is the second largest city in the Netherlands, located in the southwest of the Netherlands on the Rhine River, Maas The "Golden Delta" formed by the Makelet River is 25.7 km from the entrance of the North Sea. With an area of 329 square kilometers and a population of 650,700 (2019), The New Maas River It runs through Rotterdam, splitting the city in two, with the commercial center on the north bank and the factories and residential areas on the south bank. The Port of Rotterdam is the largest seaport in the Netherlands, and is the cargo distribution center of Western Europe and European Union countries, known as the "gateway to Europe".

Views of Rotterdam

Rotterdam is also highly industrial. The machinery industry is mainly based on shipbuilding, dredging equipment and oil well drilling platforms, including VEROINE shipyard, the largest shipyard in the Netherlands, and the construction and transportation industries are also quite developed. The food and grain processing industries are also large. Rotterdam has a wide range of schools, including the nationally renowned Erasmus University. ^[13]

On November 23, 1979, the city of Rotterdam and Shanghai became sister cities. ^[13]

The Hague

Views of The Hague

The Hague is the de facto administrative capital of the Netherlands, the seat of the central government, and the King lives and works in the Hague. Most government agencies, foreign embassies and international organizations are also here. The Hague is the third largest city in the Netherlands with an area of 98 square kilometers, The population is 560,000. ^[17]

"The Hague" means "the Count's forest." In 1248, Count Wilhelm II of the Netherlands built a castle here. Due to historical reasons and the consideration of balancing the forces of the North and the South, after the overthrow of Napoleon, the Netherlands decided to make Amsterdam the capital and the Hague the seat of the Dutch central government. The Hague is a famous cultural center in the Netherlands, with academic institutions such as the International Law School and the Royal Academy of Plastic Arts. Also a tourist destination, nearby Scheveningen is famous for its beach baths. The Peace Palace in the city is International Court of Justice in The Hague And the Permanent Court of Arbitration. ^[12]

National symbol

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Country name

The Netherlands Dutch Nederland, literally meaning "lowland", i.e Low countries Meaning.

Since the 15th century, the name Netherlands has been used as the country's name. But unlike in England or France, the name does not originate from a national name, but from a place name. Strictly speaking, the Netherlands is the name of a region in the Netherlands, that is Nord-holland Province with South Holland A combination of two places. During the United Republic of Seven Provinces, the Netherlands was metonymic to refer to the Netherlands as a whole. Another common common name, calling them Dutch, is used to refer to the main ethnic group in the Netherlands, i.e Netherlander (Nederlanders). The word is of English origin, derived from the word Deutsch, and originally from Latin: Theodiscus, meaning tribal, or people.

flag

Flag of the Netherlands

Flag of the Netherlands Rectangular in shape, the ratio of length to width is 3:2. From top to bottom, it is connected by three parallel and equal horizontal rectangles, red, white and blue. Blue represents the country facing the sea and symbolizes the people blessedness ; White symbolizes freedom, equality and democracy. It also represents the simple character of the people; Red represents the victory of the revolution.

National emblem

Arms of the Netherlands It was an open red canopy with a message embedded in the lower part of the prince's French pledge: "Je Maintiendrai!" Two straddling golden lions with their tails raised and a blue coat of arms protected by a red tongue. The top of the coat of arms is William I The crown used in the seal; In the center of the shield is a golden lion with a crown on its head. The right forearm wields a scabbard sword, and the left forearm wields a bunch of golden arrows. The sword symbolizes the power of the king, and the arrowhead symbolizes the provinces. In January 2020, the logo with capital letters NL and the Netherlands in the shape of a tulip was adopted, replacing the old logo with only Holland. ^[1]

Arms of the Netherlands

National anthem

The national anthem of the Netherlands is" Wilhelson This is also the first song in the world National anthem .

Wilhelmand

Original text	Chinese
Wilhelmus van Nassouwe ben ik, van Duitsen bloed, den vaderland getrouwe blijf ik tot in den dood. Een Prinse van Oranje ben ik, vrij, onverveerd, den Koning van Hispanje heb ik altijd geëerd.	I, William of Nassau; Teutonic blood flows. Be loyal to the motherland; Keep this faith until death. I, the Prince of Orange Free and fearless; The King of Spain, I will always respect.

The national flower

The national flower of the Netherlands tulip . The history of tulips in Holland begins with a horticulturist named Clusius. The 16th century, in Vienna Clucius, gardener at the Royal Garden, By every means possible The Austrian ambassador who went to Turkey got the beautiful tulips from Asia and brought them to the Netherlands, so that the flowers quickly spread throughout the Netherlands and once set off the tulip craze.

tulip

National bird

The Dutch national bird spoonbill . The spoonbill got its name from its resemblance to the pipa. It is distributed from southern Europe to Asia, with a few in Africa. But the breeding grounds in Europe are limited to the Netherlands and Spain.

spoonbill

population

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As of October 2023, the total population of the Netherlands is 17.92 million, of which 76.8 percent are Dutch, with Turkey, Morocco, Germany, Suriname and other large ethnic minorities. The population of the Netherlands is mainly distributed in large and medium-sized cities such as Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague and the surrounding areas.

According to the Central Statistics Office of the Netherlands, the total Chinese population in the Netherlands is about 104,799 in 2020, accounting for about 0.6% of the total Dutch population. There is no large concentration of Chinese in the Netherlands, and most of the cities in the Netherlands are inhabited by Chinese. ^[11]

political

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regime

Dutch for Constitutional monarchy The head of state of the Netherlands is the King, which is hereditary. ^[11]

constitution

The Constitution of the Netherlands was promulgated on 29 March 1814 and amended in 1848. The Netherlands is a constitutional monarchy, with legislative power vested in the King and Parliament, and executive power vested in the king and cabinet. The Privy Council is the highest consultative body of state, the president is the King himself, and the other members are appointed by the King. ^[10]

congress

It consists of one house and two houses. Members of both houses serve four-year terms, but are not reelected in the same year.

One chamber (the Senate) has no legislative power, but has the power to approve or reject bills. 75 members are indirectly elected by the provincial Council. The Upper House was elected on May 30, 2023 and sworn in on June 13, 2023. Jan Anthonie Bruijn (FDP) was re-elected as Speaker.

The main responsibility of the Second House of Representatives is to legislate and supervise the administration of the Cabinet. Legislative power is reflected in the ability of the Second Chamber to introduce bills, approve or reject Cabinet proposals, and amend bills. The power of supervision is reflected in the power of budget approval, independent investigation and inquiry. The 150 members are elected by direct universal suffrage through proportional representation. The Second Chamber was elected on 22 November 2023 and sworn in on 6 December 2023. The current Speaker is Martin Bosma (Liberal Party).

judiciary

There are 11 district courts, 4 courts of appeal and 1 Supreme Court. In addition, there are several special courts, such as military courts and administrative tribunals. Judges at all levels of the court are law graduates of higher education institutions and are appointed by the King for life (in practice until the age of 70).

The district Court is the court of first instance, responsible for hearing general civil, criminal and administrative litigation, the Court of Appeal is responsible for hearing appeals, protest cases, the Supreme Court is the highest judicial body, does not obey the judgment of the court of appeal, the final trial of the case, the decision of the lower court has veto power. The final appeal of the Supreme Court is not through re-determination of legal facts, but by reviewing whether the appellate court applied the law correctly in the decision process. The Supreme Court only hears civil cases, criminal cases and tax-related cases, while the other highest judicial organs are the Administrative Court of the Privy Council (which hears cases brought by individuals such as citizens and asylum applicants against general administrative acts of the government), the Administrative Court of Appeal for Trade and Industry (which hears administrative cases in the economic and social field) and the Central Court of Appeal (which hears cases involving civil servants and social security).

government

The Government of the Netherlands is the highest executive branch of the Netherlands, and the head of government is the Prime Minister. Dutch governments are usually led by the winning party in parliamentary elections and serve a four-year term. Ministers and Secretaries of State are responsible for the day-to-day affairs of government. The current cabinet, which was formed in January 2022, consists of the FDP, the 66th Democratic Party, the Christian Democratic Union and the Christian Union. VVD leader Mark Rutte was re-elected prime minister, the cabinet also includes three deputy prime ministers, 16 ministers and nine secretaries of state. On 7 July 2023, Prime Minister Rutte announced the collective resignation of the coalition government and called an early general election for 22 November. The current government will continue to serve as a caretaker government until a new one is formed.

The main government of the Netherlands is: Ministry of General Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Interior and Kingdom Relations, Ministry of Justice and Security, Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Infrastructure and Water, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment, Ministry of Public Health, Welfare and Sport. ^[11]

Political party

The Dutch political parties practice a leadership responsibility system, and the party president is responsible for daily party affairs. The main political parties are:

(1) Freedom Party (Partij voor Vrijheid, PVV) : In 2004, Geert Wilders broke away from the Liberal Democratic Party and formed a one-man political faction called "Group Wilders". In February 2006, the Liberal Party was officially registered. The 2023 election is headed by President Geert Wilders.

(2) Coalition of the Left Green Party and the Labour Party: The Left Green Party (GroenLinks, GL) was founded in 1990 by four small left parties and now has a membership of about 34,000 members, with the president, KatinkaEikelenboom (female). The Labour Party (Partij van de Arbeid, PvdA) was founded in 1946 and now has about 40,000 members, with its president Esther MirjamSent (female). In 2023, the two parties formed a coalition of the Left Green Party and the Labor Party (" Green Labor Alliance ") to contest the general election, under the leadership of Frans Timmermans.

(3) People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie, VVD) : The "Liberal Democratic Party", founded in 1948, has about 24,000 members. Leader Dilan ilgoz-Zegerius (female), President Eric Wetzels.

(4) Nieuw Sociaal Contract (NSC) : Founded in 2023. Leader Pieter Omtzigt, Chairman Bert van Boggelen.

(5) Democraten 66 (D66) : formed in 1966 by a split of leftists from the Labour and Liberal Parties. It now has about 30,000 party members. Leader Rob Jetten, Chairman Victor Everhardt.

(6) BoerBurgerBeweging (BBB) : Founded in 2019, it has about 11,000 members. It is led by Caroline van der Plas (female) and Erik Stegink (president).

(7) Christian Democratic Union (Christen-Democratisch Appel, CDA) was formed in 1980 by a merger of three parties: the historically Catholic People's Party, the Christian Historical Union and the Anti-Revolutionary Party. It now has about 32,000 party members. Leader Henri Bontenbal, acting chairman Mark Buck.

dignitaries

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte

Willem-Alexander : The King. He was born on April 27, 1967. He studied at Leiden University in 1987 and received a master's degree in history in 1993. He became the seventh monarch of the Kingdom of the Netherlands on 30 April 2013.

Mark Rutte : Prime Minister of the Cabinet. Leader of the Liberal Democratic Party. Born February 14, 1967. He graduated from Leiden University with a degree in history. He has worked for Unilever Group for a long time, and has served as State Secretary of the Dutch Ministry of Social Undertakings and Employment, State Secretary of the Ministry of UNESCO, and Chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party group in the Second House of Parliament. He became Prime Minister in October 2010. He was re-elected in 2012, 2017 and 2022. ^[10]

economy

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summarize

Developed capitalist countries. In an export-oriented economy, 80% of raw materials are imported and more than 60% of products are exported. 80% of foreign trade takes place within the EU. Exports of goods and services accounted for 32.6% of GDP. Advanced technology in electronics, chemical industry, water conservancy, shipbuilding and food processing, and advanced financial services and insurance; Land, sea and air transportation is very convenient, is an important transportation hub on the European continent; Agriculture is highly intensive, and the export of agricultural products ranks first in the world. In 2022, the per capita GDP of the Netherlands is 53,000 euros. The Dutch central bank expects growth of 0.1 percent and inflation of 4.1 percent in 2023.

agriculture

Netherlands Agriculture is highly intensive and mechanized, ranking the world's second largest exporter of agricultural products. In 2022, agricultural exports totaled 122.3 billion euros, a year-on-year increase of 17.2%. The level of dairy production is among the highest in the world, with an annual milk output of nearly 15 million tons, accounting for about 10% of the EU. Flower production and export ranks first in the world. ^[10]

Dutch horticulture and planting industry to flower horticulture as the leader, the vast majority of products for export. With the flower auction market as the center and the first-class sea, land and air logistics system as the link, the Dutch flower gardening industry has closely linked the planting enterprises and the consumer market, creating a miracle in the world of flower trading. Animal husbandry in the Netherlands has a high degree of specialization and scale, accounting for more than 40% of agricultural output value. There are many varieties of vegetables and fruits in the Netherlands, and the output is high. Among them, tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, bell peppers, mushrooms, cabbage and so on in addition to meet the domestic market demand, but also a large number of exports. The Netherlands produces mainly apples and pears, but also strawberries, grapes, cherries, plums and so on. ^[10]

industry

Netherlands Industrial development, the main industrial sectors are food processing, petrochemical, metallurgy, machinery manufacturing, electronics, steel, shipbuilding, printing, diamond processing and so on. It is one of the major shipbuilding countries in the world. Rotterdam is the largest refining center in Europe. Since the 1980s, the Dutch government has actively encouraged the development of new industries, with special emphasis on the development of high-tech industries such as space, microelectronics and life sciences. ^[10] Food processing, chemical industry and machine building are the three pillars of Dutch industry. Most of the Netherlands' industrial manufactured goods are exported, and its petroleum products, chemical products, electronic products, textile machinery, food processing machinery, port equipment, transportation machinery, dredgers, greenhouse equipment, etc., have strong competitiveness in the international market. ^[11]

The food and beverage industry

The food and beverage industry is the largest manufacturing sector in the Netherlands, with the number of companies engaged in the food industry increasing by 5% to 5,965 in 2019, of which 855 were beverage companies. The Netherlands is the world's largest producer of milk and dairy products, with 13.96 million tons of milk supply in 2020, nearly half of which is made into cheese, and the rest used to produce various dairy products, including butter, milk powder and industrial ingredients, with 952,000 tons of cheese production and 131,000 tons of butter production in 2020.

Dutch food processing enterprises are mainly Unilever (Unilever) (In November 2020, Unilever was officially registered as a purely British company from its dual headquarters in London and Rotterdam, with its headquarters in London. But while Rotterdam no longer has its corporate headquarters, the food and beverage division will remain there), Bols, Wessanen, VION and CSM, among others. ^[11]

Chemical industry

The chemical industry is the second largest manufacturing sector in the Netherlands and is a global leader in the basic chemical industry, food ingredients, coatings and high-performance materials. The main products include petrochemical products, synthetic rubber, melamine and polyester fibers.

The distribution of chemical industry in the Netherlands presents regional clusters. Geographically, the western cluster, centered in Rotterdam, produces basic and refined chemicals and has significant resources in industrial biotechnology; The northern cluster, close to the seaport of Groningen, focuses on industrial biotechnology and high-performance materials; Located halfway between Germany and Belgium, the Southern Cluster focuses on the production of high-performance materials and specialty chemicals, and Chemelot is the main hub for high-performance materials companies and institutions.

Shell, Akzo Nobel and DSM are among the world's 12 largest multinational chemical companies. In addition to petrochemicals (Shell) and bulk chemicals (DSM, Shell and Akzo Nobel), they also produce fine chemicals and specialty chemicals, including a variety of polymers, synthetic rubber, melamine, plastic consumer goods, polyester fibers, ethylene rubber, etc. The pharmaceutical industry is an important branch of the Dutch chemical industry, with major companies including Gasters-Brocades, Avebe and Purac, mainly producing special products such as antibiotics and vaccines. ^[11]

Electrical and electronic industries

The electrical and electronics industry is the third largest manufacturing sector in the Netherlands, Philips The company is one of the world's leading multinational companies in the electronics industry, headquartered in Amsterdam, The company is a leader in the fields of diagnostic imaging, image-guided therapy, patient monitoring, health information and consumer health and home care electronics The company is a leader in the fields of diagnostic imaging, image-guided therapy, patient monitoring, health information and consumer health and home care electronics.

The Dutch company ASML is the world's largest Photoetching machine Equipment leader, the market share of the global lithography equipment more than 80%, headquartered in the Netherlands Eindhoven . NXP is the fifth largest semiconductor company in the world, with the largest market share in intelligent identification, automotive electronics, general-purpose microcontrollers, communications processors and radio frequency power transistors. ^[11]

Machinery manufacturing and transportation equipment industry

The machine building industry is the fourth largest sector in the Dutch manufacturing industry, DAF trucks have an important position in the European market for medium and heavy trucks, and the German automotive industry makes extensive use of parts produced in the Netherlands. Fokker (Fokker) is the world's leading aerospace technology company, dedicated to aviation architecture, electrical systems, landing gear and aircraft lifetime service support business, has produced "Fokker 100" and other regional aircraft.

The Netherlands is also a major shipbuilding country in the world, mainly building special ships such as tugboats, fishing boats, dredgers, gas tank ships, speedboats and refrigerated ships. In addition, the Netherlands has advanced technology and a high degree of automation in the production of port equipment such as port cranes, loading and unloading equipment, dock transport vehicles, gangways, lifts, weighing machines and storage and transportation equipment. ^[11]

Service industry

The service industry is the pillar industry of the national economy, mainly concentrated in logistics, banking, insurance, tourism and law and other industries.

Finance and finance

The fiscal deficit in 2022 is 0.1 percent of GDP, below the 3 percent red line set by the EU, and the government debt is 50 percent of GDP, below the EU's 60 percent warning line.

currency

The Dutch local currency is Euro . Since 1 January 2002, euro notes and coins have been in general circulation, and the guilder has been officially withdrawn from circulation since July of that year. The euro is freely convertible. Since local banks in the Netherlands have not yet launched RMB business, RMB and Euro cannot be settled directly in local banks in the Netherlands, but can be settled directly in the Amsterdam branch of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China and Rotterdam Branch, Bank of China Rotterdam branch, and China Construction Bank Amsterdam branch. ^[11]

bank

The Dutch banking system is well established and highly concentrated. The Central Bank (DeNederlandsche Bank or DNB in Dutch) is the national policy bank whose main functions are to maintain the financial stability of the country, including the legal formulation and implementation of the single monetary policy, the operation of the payment system, and the supervision and regulation of financial institutions and sectors. The main commercial banks are ING, RABO BANK and ABN-AMRO, which control about 75% of all lending in the Netherlands. Foreign banks mainly include Bank ofAmerica, Barclays Capital, BNP Paribase.a., Citibank International, CreditSuisse, Deutsche Bank AG and HSBC Bank, among others.

ING is a comprehensive financial group formed in 1991 by the merger of the Dutch National Life Insurance Company and the Dutch Post Bank Group. With more than 54,000 employees, ING provides banking, insurance and asset management services to 34.4 million customers in more than 40 countries. In July 2013, the insurance business was divested from ING Group.

The RABO BANK Group grew out of the merger of several rural credit unions. The bank is an international financial services organization operating on the principle of cooperation. Its main businesses are: retail banking, wholesale banking, asset management, leasing and real estate services. Rabobank employs nearly 52,000 people, has 106 outlets in the Netherlands and operates in 40 countries.

ABN-AMRO is one of the largest multinational financial institutions in the Netherlands. The Dutch government holds all ordinary shares of ABN Amro and a majority of preferred investment shares, with a total holding of 97.8%. Abn Amro has around 300 outlets in the Netherlands and branches in 23 countries and territories, with a total of 22,000 employees. ^[11]

Chinese bank

Bank of China has branches in Rotterdam, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China in Amsterdam and Rotterdam, and China Construction Bank in Amsterdam. Bank of Beijing also has a representative office in Amsterdam. Branches of Bank of China, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China and China Construction Bank in the Netherlands take full advantage of the Netherlands' distinctive tax structure and sound financial system to provide financial services to corporate and individual customers from China and the Netherlands. The main service targets include Chinese "going global" enterprises, Dutch trade enterprises in China, Chinese embassy and consulates in the Netherlands, and Chinese students and overseas Chinese in the Netherlands. The main business includes corporate deposits, trade finance, foreign exchange funds, corporate loans, personal deposits, personal exchange, etc. ^[11]

Insurance industry

The Dutch insurance market is one of the most open in the world with its relaxed regulatory policies and broad distribution channels. At the same time, its market is very saturated and competitive, there are a large number of insurance companies and insurance varieties, and price wars between various companies and varieties are common. In the Netherlands, third party liability insurance and medical insurance for vehicles are compulsory. ^[11]

Securities market

The Amsterdam Stock Exchange was founded in 1602 as the world's first stock exchange. It merged with the Brussels bourse and the Paris bourse in 2000 to form Euronext, which acquired the Lisbon bourse and the London International Financial Futures Exchange in 2002. In 2006, Euronext merged with the New York Stock Exchange to form NYSEEuronext.

NYSE Euronext is the first exchange group to offer global, cross-border and cross-market listing opportunities, allowing listed companies to fund and trade in both US dollars and euros to investors across multiple time zones on the US and European continents. The group has become the largest and most liquid exchange group in the world, with an average daily trading volume of almost €100 billion.

The NYSE Euronext Europe platform provides a single pan-European market for customers around the world to trade securities market products, including stocks, bonds, funds, share warrants and more. The NYSE Euronext market and the Growth Enterprise Market adopt the same borderless structure and operation mode, serving all listed companies, with strong financial transparency, its trading platform is fully integrated, customers only need to access at one end to trade products in any jurisdiction, and all listed stocks are traded through a unified electronic platform, subject to unified market rules. The NYSE Euronext Europe platform has more than 1,400 listed companies from more than 30 countries and regions. Nyse Euronext Amsterdam is part of the NYSE Euronext Europe platform. ^[11]

Foreign exchange control

The foreign exchange management measures of the Netherlands are very loose, and the profits, capital, loan interest and other legal income of foreign-funded enterprises are not subject to any restrictions, and foreign investors can choose any currency as a payment method. Foreign investors may open other foreign exchange accounts with ABN Amro, which are not subject to foreign exchange control. In practice, Dutch commercial banks decide whether to open a foreign exchange account for a foreign company based on costs and risks. Under normal circumstances, foreign enterprises will not have too much difficulty in opening a US dollar account, but the processing fees, exchange fees, remittance fees are relatively high, and the rates of various banks are also different. You do not need a special permit to trade in foreign exchange in connection with import and export business in the Netherlands. Although there are usually no restrictions on foreign exchange transfers in and out of the country, banks take full account of anti-money laundering and other factors in practice, for example, the import and export of large funds without trade transactions will be strictly scrutinized. Foreign companies do not pay any withholding tax when returning profits to the parent company, but dividends paid to the foreign parent company are usually subject to a 15% withholding tax on dividends (sometimes lower or zero if the Netherlands and the country have a bilateral tax agreement or can comply with EU rules).

According to Dutch customs regulations, foreigners carrying more than 10,000 euros (including 10,000 euros) in cash entering and leaving the Dutch border need to declare. Dutch law also obliges companies to provide the Dutch Central bank with a report on foreign capital transactions required for the compilation of balance of payments statistics to help the government formulate financial and monetary policy. ^[11]

Credit card use

Having a foreign currency credit card can bring a lot of convenience to the life and work of Chinese people in the Netherlands, such as booking hotels, air tickets, etc. Credit cards are usually required, and most merchants except supermarkets and some small shops accept credit cards for settlement. Foreign currency credit cards issued by major banks in the world are generally available in the Netherlands, among which VISA and MASTER cards are the most used. However, debit cards are more common than credit cards in the Netherlands. ^[11]

foreign trade

Foreign trade plays an important role in the economy. The total value of trade in goods in 2022 is 1,408.4 billion euros, of which 677 billion euros are imported and 7,314 euros are exported. Imports are mainly industrial raw materials, crude oil, semi-manufactured products and machinery; Exports are mainly food, machinery, chemicals, petroleum products, electronic products, ships and agricultural products. ^[10]

The main partners of the Netherlands trade in goods are concentrated in Europe, including Germany, Belgium, the United Kingdom, France, and China and the United States. The main export commodities of the Netherlands are mechanical transportation equipment, chemical products, food and live animals. Major imports include machinery and transportation equipment, chemical products, fossil fuels, lubricants, etc.

The main partners of the Netherlands trade in services are the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Ireland, Belgium and France. The main categories of services imported to the Netherlands are other business services, patents and royalties, transport services, etc. The main categories of service exports are basically the same as imports. ^[11]

Outward investment

The Netherlands is one of the world's major foreign investment countries, about half of which flows to EU member states, and the United States and Japan are the focus of its investment outside the EU. In recent years, the Netherlands has increased its investment in Eastern Europe and Southeast Asia. ^[10]

Foreign investment

By 2021, more than 15,000 foreign companies have invested and operated in the Netherlands. More than half of the Fortune 500 companies in the world have invested in various operations in the Netherlands, such as European headquarters, distribution centers, call centers, shared service centers, marketing and sales offices, research and development centers, and production and assembly plants. ^[11] Foreign direct investment in the Netherlands mainly comes from the United States, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany and other countries. The main fields are concentrated in information, chemical, medical equipment, electronic communication and so on. ^[10]

Foreign aid

Since the 1980s, the proportion of official foreign aid in the GDP of the Netherlands has remained at about 0.8%, ranking first among developed countries. As a result of the European debt crisis, this ratio fell to 0.7% in 2011 and 2012, and to 0.4% in 2014. In 2015, the budget reinvested in development aid, with an emergency aid budget of nearly 600 million euros, ranking among the top ten in the world. In 2016, the ratio was 0.69%, and in 2017, it contracted again to 0.56%. In 2020, the foreign aid budget is about 3 billion euros. The current Dutch Government's development assistance is focused on the West Africa/Sahel, Horn of Africa, Middle East and North Africa regions. The 2023 foreign aid budget exceeds 2.7 billion euros. ^[10]

culture

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EDITOR

Language

The official language of the Netherlands is Dutch. Frisian is spoken in the province of Friesland in the Netherlands. Dutch people have a high level of foreign languages, especially English language ability, which is among the best in non-English speaking countries. More than 1,100 undergraduate and postgraduate courses are offered in English, ranking first among universities in non-English-speaking countries. The average highly educated Dutch person can speak two or three foreign languages. ^[11]

religion

The Dutch Constitution provides for freedom of religion. According to Statistics Netherlands, as of 2021, 19.8% of native Dutch residents are Catholic and 14.4% are Protestant. ^[10]

custom

The Netherlands is known for its tolerant and open society. The image of the Netherlands is often associated with trade, tulips, windmills, wooden shoes, cheese and white and blue glazed porcelain. In recent years, the Netherlands has attracted attention for its open-door policies on narcotics, the sex trade, same-sex marriage and euthanasia. The Dutch taboo 13th and Friday. In mutual communication, it is taboo to take photos of others, and it is taboo to ask others about religious beliefs, wages, marriage and tobacco status.

The Dutch have a strong sense of time and pay attention to punctuality. When doing business in the Netherlands, it is appropriate to wear a suit and make an appointment in advance for meetings. If a Dutch person invites you to his home, most people just buy you a few drinks and then a meal in a restaurant. Don't forget to bring your host a bouquet of flowers when you go.

When communicating with Dutch people, popular topics of conversation include politics, travel and sports. The Dutch are sensitive to topics such as Nazis and Japanese occupation of Asian countries, so it is not appropriate to bring up Nazis and other matters in conversation; Dutch intellectuals know a little about traditional Chinese culture, and they might as well talk about Chinese Confucius and Mencius philosophy. The Dutch are famous for their furniture and interior decoration, so they love to be complimented on their furniture, artwork, carpets and home furnishings. In addition, when climbing stairs, men are in front and women are behind.

The Netherlands is known as the "land of flowers", among which the most numerous and most famous flowers are tulips. The tulip is the symbol of the Netherlands, so it is known as the "national flower". The Dutch are famous for their love of flowers and good at growing flowers, known as the "European garden" reputation. The Netherlands is a country lacking mountains and forests, so the Dutch usually have a special feeling for mountains and forests. For centuries, they have been in the habit of planting flowers, trees and grass, almost every family in front of the house to plant some flowers and grass, embellish the environment. The Chinese pay attention to bonsai, and the Dutch love "window scenery", they often on the windowsill window, display or hang a variety of strange flowers and herbs, and with the curtain on both sides of the fun, its own scene.

The Dutch generally pay more attention to the cleanliness and tidiness of the house, and are accustomed to cleaning up the house every morning. June, July and August are the Dutch holiday season. ^[11]

literature

Dutch folk literature was born in the 13th century. The south, which was then centered on Flanders, was affected by France The influence of culture and the awakening of the citizen class led to the emergence of such literary works as the Legend of Knight, the Fox of Lenna and other animal stories and religious poems.

In the Middle Ages, Dutch literature was part of a broad tradition of Western European literature, including epics about chivalry such as Floris ende Blancefloer and Karel ende Elegast, as well as fables, Examples include Van den Vos Reynaerde (The Story of the Fox) and Elckerlyk (the Common Man). In the 16th century, humanistic literature appeared, and the main representative figure in Holland was Erasmus, whose work Ode to the Fool satirized the church and society, and was later translated into many languages. Spinoza's philosophical story is one of the finest works of 17th century literature. Dutch literature flourished during this period, producing great writers such as Vondel, Hooft, Huygens, and Bredero. The Bible was also translated into Dutch at that time. The book Statenbijbel, published in 1637 (by license), is considered a milestone in the evolution of the Dutch language. Multatuli was an influential writer in the 19th century, and his novel Max Havelaar made a significant impact on Dutch literature East Indies The government of Indonesia (today's Indonesia) sued.

Post-world War II literature has long been dominated by three outstanding novelists: Willem Frederik Hermans, Harry Mulisch, and Gerard Reve. Other notable contemporary writers include Hella Haasse, Cees Nooteboom, A.F.T. van der Heijden, Marcel Moring, Adriaan van Dis, and Thomas Roosenboom and the younger generation of writers Arnon Grunberg. ^[2]

diet

The Dutch mix of carrots, potatoes and Onions to cook the dish called "national dish", every year on October 3, every family to eat this "national dish". The Dutch breakfast is mostly cold food, usually bread, butter, cheese, ham, sausage and jam. The Dutch don't like tea very much. Milk is an indispensable beverage in their daily life, and drinking milk is like drinking tea in China. The Dutch have special rules about pouring coffee, which can only be poured to 2/3 of the cup, and filling the cup is considered a faux pas. There are more Chinese restaurants in the Netherlands than any other country in Europe. The Dutch are used to Western food, but are also interested in Chinese food; During holidays, many Dutch people like to taste Chinese dishes in Chinese restaurants. ^[11]

MUSICIANS

For classical music, the Netherlands has a large number of orchestras, distributed throughout the Netherlands. The most famous of these is the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam, which often performs abroad, and the famous small orchestras are the 18th Century Wind Orchestra, the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, and the Schronberg Orchestra of Amsterdam. The Dutch Opera presents about 10 plays a year, mainly in Achterdam. Modern opera plays an important part in the repertory, and there are a number of opera troupes outside the capital, Amsterdam.

The Dutch Music Festival takes place in Amsterdam for one month every June. Another important festival is the Early Dutch Festival in Utrecht, which features medieval and Baroque music by prominent musicians and ensembles from the Netherlands and abroad.

Major cities have internationally renowned music centers, such as the Beem Music Room in Amsterdam. Beihai Jazz Festival Held annually in The Hague, it is the largest and best known jazz festival in Europe. Saxophonist Dolfo and the popular band Urban Dance have played to sold-out crowds at home and abroad. From the beginning of the year to the end of the year there are large pop concerts, the most famous of which are: The Advent Pop Concert, the Park Pop Concert and the Dinamo open-air Pop Concert.

Festivals

National holidays in the Netherlands are: New Year's Day (January 1), Good Friday (the Friday before Easter), Easter (the first Sunday after the full moon of the vernal equinox), the Second Day of Resurrection (the second day after Easter), King's Day (April 27), National Liberation Day (May 5), Ascension Day (the 39th day after Easter), Pentecost (the 49th day after Easter), and the Day of the Fall (Pentecost) The day after), Christmas Day (December 25), and the day after Christmas (December 26). ^[12]

Major festivals in the Netherlands
date	Chinese name	Local name	annotation
First day of January	New Year	Nieuwjaarsdag	New Year's Day
March/April	Easter	Pasen	Two days off for Easter
Last day of April	Queen's Day	Koninginnedag	Queen's Day is the birthday of the Queen. Queen's Day is the birthday of the late Queen Juliana and marks the abdication of the late Queen and her eldest daughter Beatrix
On May 4th	Memorial day	Dodenherdenking	Commemorating the dead of World War II.
The fifth day of May	Liberation Day	Bevrijdingsdag	Celebrating liberation from German occupation in World War II.
The 40th day after Easter	Ascension Day	Hemelvaartsdag
The seventh week after Easter	Pentecost	Pinksteren	Two days off
The fifth day of December	Saint Nicholas eve	Sinterklaas	Sinterklaas brings presents to children.
The 25th day of December, the 26th day of December	Christmas	Kerstmis	Two days off

Military affairs

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EDITOR

It was a neutral country before World War II, after which it joined NATO and based its defense policy on NATO's collective defense policy. The king is the supreme commander of the national armed forces, and the actual command is in the hands of the cabinet. The Defence Council is the highest security decision-making body in the Netherlands, chaired by the Prime Minister. The current Minister of Defense, KajsaOllongren (female). The ratio of defense expenditure to GDP in 2022 is 1.47%. ^[10]

traffic

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EDITOR

highroad

The Dutch government attaches great importance to investment in transport infrastructure. The Dutch road network is developed, and Germany, Belgium, France, Luxembourg and other countries are connected by highways, people and goods in the border free flow. According to Eurostat data, by the end of 2019, the total mileage of various types of roads in the Netherlands was 137,600 kilometers, of which the total mileage of expressways was 2,790 kilometers, accounting for 2% of the total mileage of various types of roads. Dutch road density ranks second in the world, road quality ranks first in the European Union and fifth in the world. According to Statistics Netherlands, in 2019, the total volume of road freight transport in the Netherlands was 766 million tons. All roads in the Netherlands are free of charge, except for a small fee when using the Dordse Kil tunnel and the Westerschelde tunnel. ^[11]

Dutch road conditions are better, traffic signs are more clear, driving is very convenient, but pay attention to comply with the local traffic rules, avoid speeding, running red lights and drunk driving, usually drive out should try to avoid 8 to 9 in the morning, 5 to 6 in the afternoon rush hour. To drive a motor vehicle in the Netherlands, you must be at least 18 years of age and hold a valid driving license. Holders of a valid Chinese driving license (it is recommended to have the English translation notarized) can use their own driving license for 185 days from the date of arrival in the Netherlands, after which they must replace or re-apply for a Dutch driving license. ^[12]

railway

The Dutch railway system is connected with neighboring countries such as Germany, Belgium and France, and has achieved better connectivity. According to Eurostat data, as of 2018, the total length of railway in the Netherlands is 3,220 km, including 2,275 km of electrified railway, more than 60% of which are double tracks. The Netherlands has three important European rail freight corridors: Rotterdam-Gena, Rotterdam-Lyon, and Rotterdam-Poland/Czech Republic. In order to speed up the development of rail freight and strengthen the connection and interaction between rail transport and sea transport, at the beginning of 2007, the Netherlands invested $6 billion and opened the "Betuwe" rapid direct rail freight special line with a speed of 160 kilometers per hour, connecting the Port of Rotterdam and the inland areas of Europe, with a designed traffic capacity of up to 480 trains per day. There is also a special freight rail link between Ternezen and Belgium. In 2019, the total volume of rail freight in the Netherlands was 42.57 million tonnes.

In terms of passenger transport, the Dutch railway passenger transport system is relatively developed, and trains are passed between major cities, which is one of the main means of transport for Dutch residents. Major cities in the Netherlands, such as Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, etc., have subways, and public transportation such as trams in urban areas is also very convenient. The Netherlands has high-speed trains running at speeds of 300 km/h between Belgium and France, and is connected to other European railway passenger networks via Belgium and Germany. According to Eurostat, 389 million passenger trips were made on Dutch railways in 2019. The main high-speed rail line in the Netherlands is the Hogesnelheidslijn (HSL), which began construction in 2000 and began passenger service in 2009. There are two high-speed lines: the Zuid line from Amsterdam to Rotterdam and the Hanzelijn line from Lelystad to Zwolle. The HSL-Oost high-speed line under construction is planned to enter Germany from Amsterdam via Utrecht and Arnhem. The Netherlands also plans to upgrade several lines to enable trains to run at speeds of 160 km/h or 200 km/h, with upgrades to the operational routes between Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Breda starting gradually in December 2020. ^[11]

Air freight

Amsterdam Schiphol International Airport has been one of the four major aviation hubs in Europe for many years, and has established direct flights to 332 airports in nearly 100 countries. Rotterdam, Eindhoven, Maastricht, Lelistad and other cities have four central government managed airports, mainly to fly to and from European countries; There are two dual-use airports in Den Helder and Eindhoven; There are also 12 small civilian airports administered by provincial governments.

In 2020, the national air cargo volume of the Netherlands was 1.577 million tons, down 6.18% from the previous year. Affected by the COVID-19 epidemic, the national air passenger traffic has decreased significantly, with 23.6 million passengers in 2020, down 70.96% year-on-year. Among them, Amsterdam Schiphol International Airport transported passengers from 71.68 million in 2019 to 20.88 million in 2020, and cargo throughput dropped to 1.44 million tons, ranking third in Europe. ^[11]

Water transport

The Dutch waterways are very convenient. The territory of the river, the waterway extends in all directions. The Rhine, which flows through the south and into the North Sea, is one of the world's busiest rivers for shipping, and Rotterdam, at its mouth, is the world's top port, with a throughput ranking first in the world for 42 consecutive years. The capital city of Amsterdam is known as the "Venice of the North", with more than 100 kilometers of canals, more than 90 islands and 1,500 Bridges. In addition to Amsterdam and Rotterdam, many other cities in the Netherlands have well-preserved ancient canals, and most of the canals have cruise companies operating canal Tours. Visitors can quickly and easily consult or check in for a cruise through visitor centers throughout the country (VVV for short in Dutch, marked with three V's arranged in an inverted triangle). ^[12]

Sea transport

The Netherlands has a well-developed maritime industry and is one of the most important maritime centers in Europe. In addition to the port of Rotterdam, the largest in Europe, it also has ports such as the Port of Amsterdam and the Port of Zeeland, and has realized efficient and convenient connectivity with the ports of neighboring countries. According to Eurostat, the Netherlands carried 608 million tonnes of freight and 1.98 million passengers by sea in 2019.

The Port of Rotterdam is the most important port in the Netherlands and even in Europe, and has ranked first in the world in terms of throughput for 43 years since 1961. In 2020, the port of Rotterdam's throughput reached 436.8 million tons, down 6.9% from the previous year, ranking 11th in the world and first in Europe. The port area is about 127 square kilometers, the total length of the dock is 42 kilometers, the deepest draft can reach 24 meters, is more than 500 routes of the ship port or port of call, to more than 1000 ports around the world, the cargo volume accounts for nearly 80% of the Netherlands. The Port of Rotterdam has perfect infrastructure and is the largest distribution center for bulk cargo, crude oil and containers in Western Europe. The port has the world's most advanced ECT container terminal (i.e. unmanned loading and unloading terminal), where 70% of deep-water containers entering the port of Rotterdam are loaded and discharged, and the terminal handles approximately 14 million TEUs per year. ^[11]

Transport by river

The Netherlands has one of the densest inland shipping networks in Europe. According to Eurostat data, at the end of 2018, the total length of inland shipping in the Netherlands (including natural rivers and artificial canals) was 6,297 km, of which 47% of the waterways have the capacity to carry 1,000-ton ships. According to the Central Statistics Office of the Netherlands, in 2019, 16.7% of international freight and 17.3% of domestic freight in the Netherlands were carried out by inland shipping. In 2019, the total volume of inland waterway freight in the Netherlands was 316 million tons, an increase of 0.95%. Among them, the total volume of international freight was 196 million tons, and the total volume of domestic freight was 120 million tons, accounting for 62% and 38% respectively.

society

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EDITOR

Science and technology

The level of scientific research in the Netherlands ranks among the top in the world, and more than a dozen Nobel Prize winners have been awarded so far. Among developed countries, the Netherlands is the only country that has signed a scientific and technological strategic alliance agreement with China and has carried out long-term and equal cooperation in the field of scientific research.

The Netherlands has developed science and technology and has a relatively complete scientific research system. The Dutch Ministry of Education and Science divides the scientific research system into three levels, including the funding support agency, the funding allocation agency, and the funding use and implementation agency. The Netherlands classifies the service support system (libraries, popular science activities and scientific and technological advice) as the implementing agency for the use of funds (Level III). The Netherlands shines in the field of science and technology mainly in agriculture, water conservancy, food, chemicals, electronics and materials research. The Dutch government's assessment report on the level of Dutch science and technology shows that the Netherlands is at the forefront of the world in many research fields and leads the world trend; The yield of scientific papers in the Netherlands is higher than the European average; The Netherlands also leads the world in patent applications per researcher; The most frequently patented areas in the Netherlands are electronics and food; The highest level of research in the Netherlands is in chemicals, electronic machinery, petroleum and food; Most scientific and technological papers are produced from universities, which reflects the important position of Dutch universities as major new knowledge providers. The main partner country of the Netherlands in science and technology cooperation is the United States, followed by the EU countries, and China is an emerging market country with more bilateral science and technology cooperation with the Netherlands. ^[11]

education

12 years (5-16 years old) full-time compulsory education. Primary and secondary schools are divided into public and private schools. Higher education in the Netherlands is divided into universities and higher vocational education. There are 13 public research universities in the Netherlands, including 9 comprehensive universities and 4 technical universities. Famous institutions of higher learning include Leiden University, Utrecht University, University of Amsterdam, Vrije University of Amsterdam, University of Groningen, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Delft University of Technology and Wageningen Agricultural University. The level of higher education is among the highest in the world, with 11 research universities in The Times Higher Education Top 200 world famous Universities in 2023.

Founded in 1575, Leiden University is one of the oldest universities in Europe, with rigorous academic research and a world-renowned comprehensive academic level. The first human anatomy class was opened here, the most famous Chinese academy and Chinese library in continental Europe, the birth of the world's first low-temperature physics laboratory and the first electrocardiograph, Einstein once served as a visiting professor here for 26 years. Queen Beatrix, King Willem-Alexander and Prime Minister Rutte all graduated from this school. There are about 31,000 students, including more than 3,000 foreign students and 7,100 faculty and staff.

Delft University of Technology was originally a technical branch of the "Royal Academy" established in 1842, and officially achieved university status in 1905, one of the world's top technical universities. It is the oldest, largest and most professional university of science and technology in the Netherlands, covering almost all engineering science fields, especially aeronautical engineering, electronic engineering, hydraulic engineering and other disciplines with a leading position and excellent reputation in the world. IDEA alliance is formed with Imperial College London, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich and German Polytechnic University Aachen. There are about 27,000 students, including 6400 foreign students and more than 6300 faculty and staff.

Founded in 1876 as the National Agricultural University of the Netherlands, Wageningen University is a renowned institution of higher learning for the study of life sciences, and in recent decades has developed into an international scientific research institution dedicated to providing adequate and high-quality food crops to the world. Leading in agricultural practical education, it is one of the best research universities in Europe in the field of agriculture and life sciences, ranked second in the world for research institutions in agricultural disciplines and first in the world for research institutions in environmental sciences and ecology. There are about 14,000 students, including nearly 3,200 foreign students and more than 5,600 faculty and staff.

The overall level of Dutch universities is high, especially the 13 research universities, which have a certain influence in Europe and even the world. In the recent international university rankings, the Netherlands usually has about 10 of the top 100 universities in Europe. The international level of Dutch universities is among the top in the world, and the proportion of foreign students accounts for about 9% of the total student body. In Dutch universities and research institutions, the proportion of people who hold key positions in international professional societies and international magazines and international conferences is relatively high, and there are masters and works in some professional fields. These conditions make Dutch universities and education have special status and influence. As a result, more influential international conferences and academic events are held in the Netherlands each year.

There are many different sources of funding for school education in the Netherlands, the main source being government funding. Formal education (basic education) is funded by the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture, while courses in agriculture are funded by the Ministry of Agriculture. Government funding comes mainly from taxes, with only a small part coming from tuition fees and tuition fees. Some private schools also accept sponsorship from parents. Certain types of adult education, as part of basic education, are also partially funded by the Ministry of Welfare and Health, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Ministry of Employment and Social Affairs. ^[11]

hygiene

Health care in the Netherlands is of a high standard and the health insurance system covers all citizens. The Netherlands has consistently ranked in the top three of the European Consumer Health Index since its publication in 2005. The Netherlands has a well-established health care network, with a dense distribution of health centers and hospitals providing primary diagnosis and specialized care, making it easy to seek medical care in the Netherlands. In addition, the Dutch first aid system is well developed, as long as you dial 112, you can get emergency services quickly. Seeing a doctor in the Netherlands is relatively expensive, so it is recommended to take out a health insurance policy. In the Netherlands, medicines must be bought at a pharmacy and prescription drugs must be prescribed by a doctor. It is very convenient to buy medicine in the Netherlands. In some large cities, pharmacies are open 24 hours a day on alternating nights and weekends, and the dates of duty can be checked in pharmacies and local newspapers. ^[11]

If you are visiting the Netherlands for a short period of time or to visit relatives or friends, you must provide a medical insurance policy when submitting visa application materials to the Dutch Embassy or Consulate in China. Go through the insurance procedures in advance to receive compensation and pay medical expenses in the event of an accident. If you study, work or live in the Netherlands for more than three months, you must also purchase the appropriate medical insurance. When traveling, you can carry anti-inflammatories, cold medicines, fever-reducing medicines, anti-motion sickness medicines, stomach medicines, band-aids and other medicines in case of urgent need. However, it is not recommended to bring Chinese patent medicines, as they may contain prohibited ingredients specified by Dutch customs. ^[12]

medium

Netherlands Publication began in 1618. At present, there are nearly 90 daily newspapers (including 9 national daily newspapers), and about 4,000 comprehensive and professional journals. The main newspapers are "Volkszeitung", "New Rotterdam Handelsblatt", "Loyalist", "Financial Journal", "Telegraph", and weekly "Elsheville", "Free Holland", "HP Times", "Green Amsterdammer" and so on.

Netherlands News Agency: semi-official news agency.

There are 6 national radio stations, 13 regional radio stations and almost all municipalities have their own radio stations. In recent years, commercial TV stations have developed rapidly. ^[11]

Public security

There are no rebel groups in the Netherlands. Local residents can legally own guns, but they must have a permit. Generally speaking, the Netherlands is one of the best social security countries in Europe. A large number of foreign immigrants poured into the Netherlands, resulting in some large cities in the Netherlands (such as Amsterdam, Rotterdam, etc.) social security is not as good as before. Some large cities in the Netherlands (such as Amsterdam, Rotterdam, etc.) also have some social security problems. There have been incidents of Chinese citizens being stolen, robbed or cheated at airports, railway stations, trains, hotels and tourist attractions. In recent years, there have been a number of cases in The Hague, Amsterdam, Rotterdam and other cities in which Chinese citizens have been smashed and robbed of rented vehicles, or passengers have been robbed of their bags or cheated by fake police, resulting in the loss of passports and other identity documents or major property losses, and great inconvenience to their journeys. However, as long as active prevention, usually raise vigilance, is completely can avoid being stolen, robbed and other incidents.

There have been no serious terrorist attacks in the Netherlands. The most recent terrorist attack was the Utrecht shooting in March 2019. The National Counter-Terrorism Coordination Bureau (NCTV) lists radical jihadists, Salafi Muslims and members of the far right as the biggest threat to national security. There have been no terrorist attacks or kidnappings directly targeting Chinese companies or citizens. ^[11-12]

disaster

Due to the high latitude of the North Atlantic Current, the frequency of natural disasters in the Netherlands is relatively low. On the other hand, due to the low topography of the country, a quarter of the land is below sea level, and in recent years, the global greenhouse effect has caused sea level rise, flooding disaster is the biggest danger in the Netherlands. However, the Dutch have accumulated rich experience in the long-term struggle with floods, invested heavily in the construction of the world's most advanced sea dam system, and built multiple prevention systems for the whole society.

Affected by geographical location and other factors, the Netherlands has more rain and greater wind throughout the year, especially in autumn and winter, and often extreme weather such as storms and snow. It is recommended to choose spring and summer and other seasons to travel to the Netherlands, bring your own raincoat or umbrella with good wind performance, in case of extreme wind weather, pay close attention to the local weather forecast and road, traffic, travel reminder, avoid going to the water, high altitude and other dangerous areas to ensure personal safety.

The Netherlands is not located in an earthquake zone, and because of its special geological structure, earthquakes are rare in the territory. However, due to the long-term and large-scale exploitation of natural gas in the North Sea coast for more than half a century, the natural pressure of land in the northern Netherlands, especially in Groningen province, has decreased, and small earthquakes have occurred frequently in recent years. Although the magnitude of the earthquake was between 2 and 4, no serious casualties were caused, but there were many damaged houses and roads, and residents were also affected psychologically. ^[12]

communication

The Netherlands has a more advanced Internet infrastructure, and the Amsterdam Internet Exchange (AMS_IX) is the largest facility of its kind in Europe. According to the report, the Netherlands ranks first in broadband usage among all European countries, and the Dutch have the most Internet access in Western Europe. Thanks to the early adoption of the Internet, the widespread use of electronic data interchange (EDI), and its position as a major transmission centre, Dutch companies have a head start over the rest of Europe when it comes to business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce.

Major telecom operators in the Netherlands include KPN, VODAFONE, T-Mobile, ORANGE, etc., providing fixed line, mobile phone, network installation and other services. Postal services in the Netherlands are mainly operated by Post NL. Companies in the express business include TNT, DHL, Fedex and UPS, among others. ^[11]

electricity

According to Statistics Netherlands, net electricity generation in the Netherlands reached 118.919 billion KWH in 2020, 1.3 billion KWH more than in 2019 and the highest level in history. Renewable energy generation increased by 9.2 billion KWH, while coal generation fell by 9.7 billion KWH (from 19.2 billion KWH in 2019 to 9.5 billion KWH in 2020). In 2020, the national electricity consumption of the Netherlands will be 111,207 million KWH. In 2020, electricity exports reached 22.4 billion KWH, the highest since 1976. Electricity imports were 19.8 billion KWH, 600 million KWH less than in 2019; Net exports of 2.7 billion KWH.

The Netherlands is interconnected with the power grids of Germany, Norway, Belgium, Luxembourg, France and other countries. Germany is one of the largest suppliers of electricity to the Netherlands, followed by Norway, Belgium and Denmark. Electricity imports from Germany fell from 12.2 billion KWH in 2019 to 8.7 billion KWH in 2020. At the same time, Dutch electricity exports to Germany increased from 4.39 billion KWH to 8.67 billion KWH, an increase of 97.5%. The electricity supply in the Netherlands is stable and can meet the basic needs of industrial and agricultural production, and Chinese enterprises do not need to provide their own power generation equipment when investing in plants. ^[11]

payroll

The Dutch government adjusts the minimum wage twice a year, on 1 January and 1 July. According to the Central Statistical Office of the Netherlands, from January 1, 2021, the legal minimum wage for full-time employees aged 21 and above will be €1,684.8 per month, €388.8 per week and €77.76 per day. In 2021, the average annual salary of Dutch enterprise managers is about 79,000 euros (excluding bonus), and the average monthly salary is 6,560 euros. Depending on the working years and positions, the salary range ranges from 2,260 euros to 10,700 euros/month. The average annual salary of industrial workers is about 40,600 euros (excluding bonuses), and the average monthly salary is 3,380 euros, depending on the length of work and the position, the salary range ranges from 1,350 to 8,250 euros/month. ^[11]

Social security

The Netherlands has a very sound social security system, and provides two types of necessary social insurance: one is the national insurance project (volksverzekeringen), covering all resident individuals, and the Social insurance bank (Verzekeringsbank, or SVB) is responsible for supervising the implementation of the national insurance project. The National Security Project consists of four aspects: Dutch pension system (Algemene Ouderdomswet, AOW), child benefit (Algemene Kinderbijslagwet, AKW), survivor benefit (Algemene nabestaan denwet, AKW) Anw) and long-term care (Wet langdurige zorg, Wlz). The rates for 2021 are: State pension -17.9%, survivor benefit -0.6%, long-term care -9.65%. As of July 2021, single pensioners entitled to the full state pension will receive a total of €1,226.6, while married or cohabiting couples will receive €838.55.

The second is the employee insurance program (werknemersverzekeringen), which applies only to employees. The body responsible for employee insurance is the Institute of Employee Insurance (UWV), which, on behalf of the Dutch Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment, oversees the implementation of employee insurance programmes and provides Labour market and data services. The Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment sets the contribution rate for employees' insurance twice a year (1 January and 1 July). This ratio is updated in real time on the UVW website (www.uwv.nl). Employee insurance covers three aspects: Unemployment insurance (Werkloosheidswe, WW), sickness insurance (Ziektewet, ZW) and disability insurance (Wet werk en inkomen naar arbeidsvermogen, WIA or Wet op de arbeidsongeschikth-eidsverzekering (WAO).

All employees are required to participate in an employee insurance program. Employees are financially secure whether they are sick, chronically unable to work, or unemployed. The funding for this part of social security is shared between employers and employees, with employers paying the majority. In addition, about 90% of employers also contribute to the employee's occupational pension insurance, but it is not mandatory, depending on the contract between the two employers. This kind of pension insurance and the commercial pension insurance contributed by individuals are useful supplements to the national pension system. ^[11]

diplomacy

broadcast

EDITOR

Foreign policy

The Netherlands is European Union and North Atlantic Treaty Organization Founding member. National security, economic interests, democracy and human rights are the three pillars of our foreign policy. Regards the United States as a traditional ally, actively participates in the affairs of the European Union, attaches importance to the role of international organizations such as the United Nations, actively participates in multilateral affairs, and is elected as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council in 2018. We will actively expand relations with emerging markets. Support trade and investment liberalization.

The Netherlands actively participates in multilateral cooperation. The Netherlands is a member of the United Nations and its professional organizations, including the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, UNESCO, the International Labour Organization, the World Health Organization, the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Children's Fund, the United Nations Population Fund, the United Nations Environment Programme and others. In addition, the Netherlands is a member of the International Criminal Court, the International Court of Justice, the World Trade Organization, the International Atomic Energy Agency, and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. In terms of regional organizations, the Netherlands is a founding member and an important member of the European Union, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The Netherlands is also a member of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). ^[11]

External relations

Relations with China

Political relationship

In 1662, Zheng Chenggong recaptured Taiwan from Dutch colonists. China and the Netherlands established diplomatic relations at the charge d 'affaires level in November 1954. In 1989, the Netherlands, together with the European Community, imposed "sanctions" on China, which greatly affected bilateral relations. After October 1990, Sino-Dutch relations gradually improved. In April 1997, Sino-Dutch relations were again affected by human rights issues. At the end of 1997, the Netherlands changed its position on human rights issues related to China and China-Netherlands relations resumed. ^[9]

Economic and trade relations

The Netherlands is China's second largest trading partner in the EU. In 2022, bilateral trade between China and the Netherlands reached US $130.2 billion, up 12 percent year-on-year. Among them, China's exports were US $117.7 billion, up 15.1% year on year, while imports were US $12.5 billion, down 10.6% year on year. In 2023, the bilateral trade volume between China and the Netherlands was US $117.09 billion, down 9.8% year on year. Among them, China's export value was US $100.19 billion, down 14.6% year on year, and its import value was US $16.9 billion, up 35.1% year on year.

Central Bank news on June 5, 2019: RMB qualified foreign institutional investors (RQFII) pilot area expanded to the Netherlands. ^[4]

Exchanges and cooperation in various fields

China and the Netherlands signed a cultural cooperation agreement (1980), and the two sides have active cultural exchanges. In 2005 and 2009, China successfully held the Amsterdam China Festival and the Chinese Film Exhibition in the Netherlands. Official cooperation projects such as "Happy Chinese New Year" and "Sino-Dutch Museum and Art Gallery Management Workshop" have been held for many years. The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam and other famous art troupes have performed in China many times. The Hague Chinese Cultural Center was officially inaugurated in November 2016. The Dutch side held the exhibition Rembrandt and His Time in China in 2017. In June 2018, the two sides signed the "Memorandum of Understanding on Cultural Cooperation for 2018-2021" in The Hague. In November 2021, the Netherlands published the first Dutch full translation of A Dream of Red Mansions 120 times.

At present, there are nearly 10,000 Chinese students in the Netherlands. More than 20 Dutch institutions of higher learning have established long-term inter-university exchange relations with their Chinese counterparts. China has two Confucius Institutes and 11 Confucius classrooms at the University of Groningen and the Southern University of Applied Science and Technology. Three universities in China, including Beijing Foreign Studies University, offer undergraduate courses in Dutch.

In 1999, China and the Netherlands signed an intergovernmental agreement on science and technology cooperation. In 2001, the science and technology departments of the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding on scientific cooperation and exchange, which was renewed in 2011. In 2014, Dutch scientist Professor Lungers won the China International Science and Technology Cooperation Award for his outstanding contributions to the research and prevention of geological disasters in China. In 2020, Richard Gordon Strom, a senior researcher at the Netherlands Radio Astronomy Observatory, won the China International Science and Technology Cooperation Award. In May 2023, China and the Netherlands held a consultation meeting on science and technology cooperation in Beijing. In September, the first China-Netherlands Joint Committee on Science and Technology Cooperation was held in the Netherlands, at which the two sides signed a memorandum of understanding on science and technology innovation cooperation.

In October 2015, during the visit of King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands to China, the two sides signed a Memorandum of Understanding on jointly promoting cooperation in the protection of Giant pandas. In April 2017, giant pandas "Wu Wen" and "Xing Ya" arrived in the Netherlands and met the public in May of the same year. Through friendly negotiations between the two sides, Fan Xing returned to China at the end of September 2023.

Sub-national exchanges: China and the Netherlands enjoy frequent and close sub-national exchanges. Up to now, the two countries have established 31 pairs of sister provinces and cities. ^[8]

Mutual claim situation

The Netherlands has consulates General in Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chongqing and Hong Kong. China has a Consulate-General in Curacao Willemstad, an overseas autonomous state of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. ^[8] The diplomatic relations between China and the Netherlands in modern times were finally restored in 1997. ^[3]

travel

During the period from December 1, 2023 to November 30, 2024, Dutch ordinary passport holders can enter China without a visa for business, tourism, visiting friends and relatives and transit for no more than 15 days. ^[16]

Relations with the United States

Politically, the Netherlands advocates an equal partnership with the United States, and militarily relies on the nuclear umbrella of the United States, emphasizing that the presence of the United States in Europe is an important guarantee of European stability. Economically, the United States is the largest trading partner of the Netherlands outside the European Union. In 2003, the trade volume between the two countries reached 31.7 billion US dollars, accounting for 7.35% of the total foreign trade of the Netherlands. The two sides are each other's major investors. The Netherlands and the United States refused to ratify the treaty. Kyoto Protocol He was dissatisfied with the establishment of the International Criminal Court, but actively supported the position of the United States on the Iraq issue, and later backed down under the pressure of domestic anti-war forces, and did not send troops to participate. There are frequent high-level visits between the two countries. In November 1995, Queen Beatrix and Prince Claus paid a private visit to the United States and met with President Clinton. It was commemorated in May 1997 Marshall Plan 59th anniversary, President of the United States Clinton And European heads of state and government. In April 1999, after the NATO summit in Washington, Prime Minister Kirk met informally with other European and American leaders to discuss the "Third Way" issue. After 9/11, Dutch leaders issued a statement condemning the terrorist attacks on the United States and supporting American actions against terrorism. In February and April 2003, Foreign Secretary Jaap de Hoop Scheffer visited the United States twice. In May of the same year, Crown Prince Alexander and his wife visited the United States. In September of the same year, Prime Minister Balkenend visited the United States.

Relations with European countries

In the first half of 1997, when the Netherlands assumed the presidency of the European Union, Prime Minister Kirk and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Van Mierlo visited Germany, France, Britain, Italy, Spain, Portugal and other EU countries, promoting the signing of the amendment of the "European Union". The Maastricht Treaty The European Union's" Treaty of Amsterdam ". In 1998, the Netherlands became one of the first members of the euro. Chancellor of Germany, 1999 Schroeder Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari, NATO Secretary-General Solana and Robertson visited the Netherlands one after another. Dutch queen Beatrix Prime Minister Kirk, Foreign Minister Van Aarsen and other countries visited Germany, France and Spain respectively. President of the European Commission, 2000 Prodi French President Jacques Chirac visited the Netherlands successively.

In October 2000, Prime Minister Kirk visited Turkey.

In August 2002, Prime Minister Balkenend visited on his first overseas trip Belgium , Luxembourg And the European Union headquarters. In October, Prime Minister Balkenend visited Germany. In 2003, the Netherlands assumed the chairmanship of the OSCE for a period of one year and allocated 13 million euros to establish three key objectives of combating terrorism, combating illicit trafficking, strengthening the work of the OSCE teams in relevant countries and playing a role in resolving regional conflicts. In the second half of 2004, the Netherlands once again assumed the presidency of the European Union.

In March 1997, Prime Minister Kocher and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Van Mierlo visited Russia, and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Van Mierlo visited Albania. In July of that year, Queen Beatrix visited Poland; In September of the same year, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Van Mierlo visited Russia. Prime Minister of Russia, 1997 Chernomyrdin (October) Visit the Netherlands. In March 1998, Romania President Constantinescu visited the Netherlands and Prime Minister Kocher visited Bosnia and Herzegovina ; Oct. Bulgaria President Stojanov visits the Netherlands. In May 1999, Prime Minister Kirk and Dutch Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Boschope visited Poland to discuss with Polish officials the preparations for Poland's accession to the European Union. In August of the same year, Dutch Secretary of State for Defense Van Hove visited Bosnia. South-eastern Europe Conference held in Sarajevo ( Balkan At the Stability Pact summit, Prime Minister Kocher announced that from the next financial year, the Netherlands would provide 500 million guilders per year in aid to the countries of South-eastern Europe covered by the pact. The Netherlands also took an active part in the US-led NATO air campaign against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. In November 2000, Albanian Prime Minister Mita visited the Netherlands. In May and June of the same year, Prime Minister Cork visited Hungary and Romania respectively. In 2001, Prime Minister Kirk paid visits to Russia (January) and Bulgaria (April). Queen Beatrix visited Russia (June) and Romania (November). The Hungarian Prime Minister visited the Netherlands in May. In June 2002, Caretaker Prime Minister Kirk visited Bosnia. In December, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev visited the Netherlands. In October 2003, Prime Minister Balkenende visited Poland, which was about to join the European Union Hungary .

Relations with the Russian state

On September 13, 2022, the Russian Association of Travel Agents said that nine EU countries have stopped accepting documents for Russians to issue tourist visas, including Netherlands ^[6] .

Relations with Nicaragua

On September 30, 2022 local time, Nicaragua Severing diplomatic relations with the Netherlands. The Nicaraguan government made the decision because the "interventionist and neocolonialist" European country "has offended and has been offending Nicaraguan families." ^[7]

Relations with Ukraine

On March 1, 2024, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a security cooperation agreement between the two countries with visiting Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte in Kharkiv, eastern Ukraine. The agreement is valid for 10 years. ^[18]

Relations with other countries

In February 1999, Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands and Prime Minister Kirk went to Jordan to attend the funeral of King Hussein. In March of the same year, President of South Africa Mandela He visited the Netherlands to support a trade deal between the EU and South Africa. In August of the same year, the delegation of the Dutch Parliament and Minister of Development Cooperation Helferkens visited Africa, and Foreign Minister Van Aarsen made shuttle visits to the Middle East, meeting with the leaders of Israel, Pakistan, Oman, Syria and Turkey respectively. In September of the same year, Minister of Development Cooperation Helferkens visited Mali and held talks with visiting US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. In October of the same year, Foreign Minister Van Aarsen and Crown Prince Alexander traveled to Tanzania to attend Nyerere's funeral. In October and November of the same year, the Dutch Foreign Trade Minister Iboma visited Cuba; In November of the same year, Defence Minister Dekhraf visited Israel. In October 2000, Brazilian President Cardoso visited the Netherlands. Crown Prince Wilhelm Alexander of the Netherlands visits Morocco. In February 2001, Prime Minister Kirk visited Eritrea , Ethiopia , S.Africa . In April 2002, to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the exchange between the Netherlands and Canada, Crown Prince Alexander and his wife visited Ghana This is the couple's first official trip abroad. In September of the same year, Dutch Prime Minister Peter Balkenende attended the Summit on Sustainable Development in South Africa. In August 2003, Foreign Secretary Jaap de Hoop Scheffer visited Great Lakes region .

travel

broadcast

EDITOR

Main attraction

Scenic spot	introduce	picture
Royal Palace of Amsterdam	Royal Palace of Amsterdam (Dutch: Koninklijk Paleis Amsterdam or Paleis op de Dam) is located in Amsterdam and is one of the four royal palaces of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, used by Queen Beatrix by Act of Parliament. Built in the 17th century as Amsterdam's city hall during the Dutch Golden Age, the Royal Palace of Amsterdam was inaugurated on July 20, 1655, and later became Louis Bonaparte's Royal Dutch Palace. It is located on the west side of Dam Square in central Amsterdam, opposite the War Memorial and next to the Nieuwe Kerk (New Church). The stone foundation of the royal palace is supported by 13,659 wooden piles buried 14 to 16 meters underground, and the foundation is built with stones on the wooden piles, and then the building is built on the foundation, so it is called the eighth architectural wonder of the world "the palace on the wooden piles." ^[15]	Royal Palace of Amsterdam
Dutch windmill	The Netherlands is known as the "land of windmills" and windmills are found all over the Netherlands. The Netherlands is situated in the prevailing westerlies of the Earth, with strong westerly winds throughout the year. At the same time, it is close to the Atlantic Ocean, but also a typical maritime climate country, land and sea wind for a long time. This gives the Netherlands, which lacks hydraulic and power resources, a generous compensation for the use of wind power. In 1229, the Dutch invented the world's first windmill to power humans. For a long time, people used primitive methods of milling grain, first by manual manual operation, then by horse-drawn treadmills and water wheels propelled by water power, and then by windmills operated by wind. Because Holland is flat and windy, windmills soon became popular. The rapid increase in demand has led to the transformation of windmill technology. ^[15] Dutch windmills, the largest of which are several stories high, have wings up to 20 meters long. Some windmills are made of large pieces of oak. At the end of the 18th century, there were about twelve thousand windmills in the Netherlands. These windmills were used for grinding grain, coarse salt, tobacco, oil, rolling wool, felt, paper, and draining swamps of water. It is these windmills that continuously absorb and drain water, ensuring that two-thirds of the country's land is protected from the threat of subsidence and man-made fish and turtles. Since the 20th century, due to the development of steam engines, internal combustion engines, and turbines, the ancient windmills that rely on wind power have once become dull and almost forgotten. However, because the windmill is the use of natural wind, there is no pollution, exhaustion, so it has not only been used by the Dutch people, but also become a new energy, deeply attracted people. There are about two thousand windmills of various kinds in the Netherlands. The Dutch are fond of their windmills, which are often praised in folk songs and proverbs. The windmill buildings are always as beautifully dressed as possible. Every grand festival, the windmill is wrapped in garlands, hung with national flags and cardboard sun and stars. ^[15]	Dutch windmill (2 photos)
Van Gogh Museum	Van Gogh was born on March 30, 1853, in the Dutch countryside of Zundert to a Protestant clergyman's family, and was a Dutch post-Impressionist painter. The Van Gogh Museum, built in 1973, houses 200 of the most precious paintings from Van Gogh's golden age, about a quarter of the entire work. Best known for the book Fifteen sunflowers ", as well as "Self-Portrait" and "Self-Portrait". The wheat fields where crows fly "," People who eat potatoes "And other important collections. In addition to more than 200 paintings and drawings on display, the collection also includes 750 letters by Van Gogh. ^[15]	Van Gogh Museum
Rijksmuseum	The Rijksmuseum Amsterdam, an elegant building in a green garden, is the largest museum in the Netherlands, which opened in 1885 and is famous for its collection of works from the Dutch "Golden Age". On the first floor, there is an impressive display of traditional crafts such as porcelain, glass and silverware. The most important collection in the Rijksmuseum is The Night Watch by the Dutch painter Rembrandt, which is displayed in a separate room and is sure to be impressive after viewing. The central gallery of paintings on the second floor, the "Gallery of Honor", in addition to Rembrandt, there are several famous Dutch golden Age painters, such as Vermeer, Genstine and Frans Hals, are also displayed here. The Rijksmuseum is regarded as a landmark of Amsterdam and is famous for its exhibits by Rembrandt The Night Watch , The Jewish Bride , "The Inspector of the Industry and Commerce Association", "Self-portrait"; Vermeer The Cook , Little Street ; Hals "Marriage Portrait", "Happy Drinkers"; St. Nicholas' Day by Stie; A Winter Scene by Avicamp; The Ultraman dollhouse. ^[15]	Rijksmuseum
Canals of Amsterdam	Canals of Amsterdam It is a 75-kilometer canal network with more than 160 canals and 1,281 Bridges linking more than 100 islands. The city of Amsterdam is centered around the central train station and is spread out through the arc of the Herengracht Canal, the Keizersgracht Canal, the Prinsengracht Canal and the outermost Singel Canal. Its main attractions are concentrated in a belt of canals with a radius of about 1.5 km. The best way to experience Amsterdam's aquatic charm is by taking a canal cruise. Through the glass roof and glass Windows, you can admire the rows of 17th-century gabled buildings along the banks. They are colorful, varied in shape, gorgeous and full of history. ^[15]	Canals of Amsterdam
Amsterdam Central Railway Station	The Amsterdam Central Station is built on three artificial islands, supported by 8,687 columns, and is similar in shape to the Lex Museum - because both buildings were designed by church architect Petrus Kuber. This large building made of red brick and stone, from the foundation to the completion of the shared eight years. On October 15, 1889, the station was officially opened, and its architecture is in the Dutch Neo-Gothic style. Amsterdam Central Station is the heart of the city, with more than 1,400 trains arriving and departing every day. From here, one can take the Thalys to Paris in five hours, or take the EC Intercity express to Cologne. Amsterdam's main train station is also a great place to meet friends and shop, sleep, share a cigarette with a few people, or just walk around aimlessly. Walk through the station concourse to the other side and see the Bay of Ai; Standing on the station square, which is the starting point of the tram, the City Tram 20 and the City Tour, you can better appreciate the station's majestic front facade. The designer gives the symbol of the nautical weather vane on the front of the station, which is to commemorate the glorious history of the city. ^[15]	Amsterdam Central Railway Station
Keukenhof Tulip Park	The variety, quantity, quality and arrangement of tulips in Keukenhof are among the best in the world. The park is surrounded by fields of flowers, tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, and various types of bulb flowers make up a colorful picture. There are more than 6 million flowers in the garden, and there are many rare and rare varieties. The opening time is 8 weeks a year, and the specific opening time is determined by the florists according to the temperature and flowering period of the year, usually from late March to mid-May, and many related activities are arranged, including workshops on gardening and flower arrangement, exhibitions on various themes, and so on. ^[15]	Keukenhof Tulip Park

World heritage site

The Netherlands acceded to the Convention on the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage on 26 August 1992. By the end of 2020, the Netherlands has 10 World Heritage sites, including 9 World cultural Heritage sites and 1 World Natural Heritage Site.

Netherlands World Heritage List
name	type	Selection time
In and around Skholand	World cultural heritage	The year 1995
Amsterdam's Line of defense	World cultural heritage	The year 1996
Willemstad Historic District, inner city and harbour	World cultural heritage	1997 (in the territorial Netherlands Antilles)
Children's Dike - Elshout Windmill cluster	World cultural heritage	The year 1997
Woda steam pumping station	World cultural heritage	The year 1998
Beamstel Polder Field	World cultural heritage	The year 1999
The Schroeder House in Rittfeld	World cultural heritage	The year 2000
Wadden Sea	World natural Heritage	2009 (Expanded in 2014, shared with Germany and Denmark)
The circular area of Amsterdam's 17th century canal on the inside of the Singel Canal	World cultural heritage	The year 2010
The Van Naille factory	World cultural heritage	The year 2010

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