General information

› The Netherlands is one of the most densely
populated countries in the world.

› The Netherlands has two capitals: Amsterdam
and The Hague.

› The Dutch flag is red, white and blue; just turn
the French one 90 degrees to the left.

› Orange is the Netherlands' national colour
because of the house of Orange, the Dutch royal
line.

› The Netherlands is the best country for children
to live (2007 Unicef report).

› The Netherlands has the highest concentration
of museums in the world. Some of the most
famous Dutch painters are Rembrandt, Vermeer,
Steen, van Gogh, Mondrian.

› Holland is a geographic part of the Netherlands
referring to the western part of the country (e.g.
Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague).

› Amsterdam has 1.281 bridges and is entirely
built on piles.

› When you arrive at Schiphol, you are already
standing four and a half meters below sea level.

› The Netherlands’ highest point is 322,7 meters
above sea level (Vaalserberg) and the lowest
6,76 meters below sea level (Prince Alexander
Polder).

› Approximately 25% of the Netherlands is below
sea level (lowest point: Zuidplaspolder - 7
meters). Note that without the existing dikes,
65% of the country would be flooded daily.

› Only some 100 years ago the central
Netherlands still had sand deserts.

› In the Netherlands there are twice as many
bikes as cars with over 15.000 km of cycle
tracks.

› Places of worship can be found all around the
country even though the Dutch are quite secular;
only 20% of them attend services on a rugular
basis.


Useful links
› Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Find here
more information about the Netherlands.
› NL Planet: English language resources for the
Netherlands and all things Dutch.