Country Overview
The Kingdom of the Netherlands, or the Netherlands, is often called by its unofficial name, Holland. (The name Holland refers to the two most populated provinces of the Netherlands. To refer to the entire country as 'Holland', is like calling the United Kingdom, 'England'.)

The Netherlands spans 16,033 square miles and is home to 15.5 million people.

People from the Netherlands are Dutch. The official language is Dutch; however, most Dutch people speak English, and often speak French or German as well.

The chief unit of currency is the Euro, which officially replaced the Dutch Guilder on January 1, 2002.

The Netherlands is bordered by the North Sea, Belgium and Germany. The Rhine River flows into the Netherlands from Germany, and is the country's main waterway.

Over 50 of the Netherlands lies below sea level. The Dutch rely on a system of dikes, dams, lochs, and mechanical pumps to protect their country from flooding.

The Netherlands has a temperate maritime climate, with cool summers, mild winters, and humidity year-round. Drizzle is fairly common.

The Netherlands is a constitutional monarchy, led by Queen Beatrix, and the prime minister. The States General is the Netherlands' parliament. It is comprised of two Chambers. The First Chamber has 75 members who are elected to 4-year terms by provincial legislatures. The Second Chamber has 15 members who are popularly elected to terms up to 4 years.

Although the capital and largest city in the Netherlands is Amsterdam, the government's official business is conducted in The Hague. The Netherlands plays a leading role in the European Union.

Nine months of military service is mandatory for males over 18, but there is a strong movement for a volunteer army. All Dutch citizens can vote when they are 18.

The Netherlands is the most densely populated country in Europe, and is famous for its progressive policies and liberal attitudes. Nevertheless, it remains a very orderly, well-organized society.

The Netherlands is notorious for its stance on marijuana. Marijuana is not officially legal in the Netherlands, but it can be legally bought, sold, and consumed in specially licensed 'coffee shops'. Despite this freedom, only about 5% of Dutch people regularly use marijuana.

The Dutch are also famous for windmills, wooden shoes (clogs), tulips, cheese, and dikes. The artists Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Mondrian, and M.C. Escher were all Dutch. The first Pilgrims who settled in America were also Dutch.

Dutch meals are generally light, with an emphasis on dairy products. Breakfast is usually toast or bread with jam, cheese, meat, and tea or coffee. Lunch is often a traditional open-faced sandwich. Dinner is the largest meal of the day, and usually contains meat, potatoes, and fresh vegetables. Traditional snacks include frites met (french fries with mayonnaise), stroopwafels (syrup waffles) and Dutch licorice.

School
Dutch school is free and compulsory between the ages of 5 and 16. Most children attend an optional pre- school at age 4.

At age 12, students enter a type of secondary education. They may choose between a four- or five- year high school, vocational education, or a six-year pre-university program.

Vocational and high school level graduates often go on to apprenticeships. Only the top students attend a university.

Most Dutch students find the American school system much easier than their own. They also feel that Dutch students learn more about the world outside their own country than their American counterparts.

The literacy rate in the Netherlands is 99%.

Teenagers
Many teenagers participate in some form of sport, or play a musical instrument. The most popular sports are soccer, tennis, field hockey, and volleyball. Popular instruments are guitar, piano, and drums.

Styles of dress are the same for teens around the world: jeans, t-shirts, sneakers, and sweatshirts.

Teens start dating between the ages of 14-16, and often go out in groups. Going to movies or out dancing are popular activities. It is fairly common for couples to live together before or instead of getting married.

Sex, AIDS, and birth control are openly discussed among friends, on TV, with parents, and in school.

Some younger teens have curfews, but in general, older teens do not. Most Dutch teens are accustomed to staying out later than most American teens.

The drinking age in the Netherlands is 16. Most teens begin drinking before they reach 18. There are serious penalties for drinking and driving in the Netherlands.

The minimum age for a driver's license is 18. Most teens get driver's licenses, but very few own a car. Cars and gasoline are very expensive in the Netherlands, but fortunately, they are rarely a necessity.

Community
Normal business hours are 9 am to 6:30 pm. On Fridays, most shops stay open until 9 pm. Most places are closed on Sundays.
Cable television is common in the Netherlands. English language programs are available on MTV, CNN, the Discovery Channel, Eurosport, and the BBC.

Dutch teens watch an average of 1-2 hours of TV per day.

The Netherlands has an excellent public transportation system, and is very bicycle friendly. Most adults own a car, but may still use public transportation or bicycles, as they are very efficient and more environmentally sound.

Recycling is very prevalent in the Netherlands.

The Family
It is common for both parents to work outside the home.

An average Dutch family has two children. Dogs and cats are popular pets.

Teens tend to stay with their parents after high school. It is very rare for elderly parents to live with grown children.

It is not common to have a maid in the Netherlands.

Customs
Handshakes are the most common form of greeting. When answering the telephone, most people say 'hello' and then identify themselves.

The Dutch eat with both a knife and fork. The fork is held in the left hand and the knife is held in the right. Hands stay above the table, and are never placed in the lap while eating.

Rules of hygiene are the same as in the U.S. The Dutch keep very clean homes.

The Netherlands' population is 33% Catholic, 23% Protestant (Dutch Reformed), and 3% Muslim. The remaining 31% do not belong to a church. Among those who do belong to a church, church attendance is very low.

Holidays
Dutch people celebrate their Queen's Birthday on April 30th with parades, markets, and colorful costumes. On December 5th and 6th they celebrate St. Nicholas's Day. This is the day that Sinterklaas (the original Santa Claus) brings gifts to good boys and girls. This is when family members also exchange gifts. Gifts are either hidden or very cleverly wrapped and always come with a funny poem about the receiver. These are also said to come from Sinterklaas.

The Dutch celebrate Christmas on two days, December 25th and 26th. They do not exchange gifts on Christmas, it is a time for family gatherings and feasts.

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