The Netherlands Introduction
The Netherlands blends some of the most liberal attitudes to be found in Europe today with an orderly, structured society. Dutch people are very friendly and speak excellent English because it is taught in state schools. But be forewarned, the Dutch can be blunt and do not mince words when it comes to expressing themselves. The saying “honesty is the best policy” must have originated in the Netherlands, so be prepared.
About twice the size of the state of New Jersey, the Netherlands continues to grow through reclaimed land from the sea, using a system of canals and pumps. The Netherlands also includes three special island municipalities in the Caribbean: Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba. The broader entity, known as the Kingdom of the Netherlands, also includes the constituent Caribbean island countries of Aruba, Curacao and Sint Maarten, all former colonies.
The Netherlands is often referred to as Holland, although North and South Holland are only two of the twelve provinces that make up the country. The nearly 17 million people who live in the Netherlands are called Dutch and the official language of the country is Dutch.
In the Netherlands, people live in close proximity. Nearly 500 residents share each square kilometer of land in the country. Amsterdam is the capital city of the Netherlands and has a population of over 2 million people within its metropolitan area. The Hague is the seat of government for the country and is the third-largest city with a metropolitan population over 1 million people.