Country
Countries A-Z
Netherlands
Kingdom of the Netherlands
Koninkrijk der Nederlanden
Political Status: Constitutional monarchy established 1814; under multiparty parliamentary system.
Area: 13,103 sq. mi. (33,936 sq. km.).
Population: 15,987,075 (2001C); 16,403,000 (2008E). Since 1971 population records have been maintained by means of a continuous accounting system rather than by total enumerations, the 2001 figure being derived from a January compilation of system components.
Major Urban Centers (2005E): AMSTERDAM (739,000), Rotterdam (596,000), The Hague (seat of government, 468,000), Utrecht (276,000), Eindhoven (209,000).
Official Language: Dutch.
Monetary Unit: Euro (market rate December 1, 2009: 1 euro = $1.51US).
Sovereign: Queen BEATRIX Wilhelmina Armgard; ascended the throne April 30, 1980, upon the abdication of her mother, Queen JULIANA Louise Emma Marie Wilhelmina.
Heir Apparent: WILLEM-ALEXANDER, Prince of Orange.
Prime Minister: Jan Peter BALKENENDE (Christian Democratic Appeal); sworn in as head of ...