Time: 2 weeks
Background:
Kingdom of the Netherlands (Dutch: Koninkrijk der Nederlanden). The Kingdom of the Netherlands consists of the Netherlands and its overseas islands - Netherlands Antilles and Aruba.
The Netherlands or Holland?
Geography and Climate
Location: North Western Europe, West and North-West coastline the North Sea, borders with Belgium from the South and Germany from the East and Northeast.
Geographic coordinates: 52 30 N, 5 45 E
Seacoast: 451 km, territorial waters: 12 nautical miles, exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm.
Land borders: 1,027 km; borders with Belgium - 450 km long, with Germany - 577 km long.
Area of the Netherlands: 41,526 sq km. A large part of the Netherlands is covered with water: 7,643 sq km, land: 33,883 sq km.
Main rivers: Maas, Rhine
Biggest lake: Ijsselmeer (artificial lake created as a result of closing of a Zuidermeer bay).
Biggest Island: Texel (Frisian Islands).
Highest point: Vaalserberg 321 m. The highest point in the whole Kingdom is overseas: Mount Scenery (862 m) on the small island of Saba, Netherlands Antilles.
Lowest point: Zuidplaspolder -6,7 m below NAP (Normal Amsterdam Level - the accepted constant sea level).
Landscape: Mostly coastal lowland and the land reclaimed from sea (polders); low and flat; about half of the surface of the Netherlands is less than 1 m above sea level, and large parts of it (ca 24%) are actually below sea level. Some hills are only in southeast of the country.
Maritime climate: The Netherlands has a mild, maritime climate, similar to England; summers are generally warm with colder, rainy periods, and excessively hot weather is rare, but this has occurred more often in the last few years. Winters can be fairly cold, windy, with rain and some snow. The possibility of extreme cold is rare. Rain occurs throughout the whole year, spring being the driest season.
Natural disasters: Sea storms and floods. Historically storms and floods were a periodical natural disaster in the Netherlands. The worst of them were in the years 1287, 1421, and 1953 - with many human victims. Today an impressive system of dikes (only so called secondary dikes are 13 000 km long) and huge pumping stations protect the Netherlands from flooding.
Provinces of the Netherlands (see separate lesson plan)
The Netherlands are traditionally divided into 12 provinces, which have their own capital, own self-rule and administration. Each of these provinces has very different sphere, different history, and different traditions. Thus, more than in any other country of Europe, richness of the Netherlands lays in its diversity.
North Holland
Utrecht
Overseas territories of the Netherlands
Ancient times
Geographically a difficult area to live, the ancient Netherlands had for its inhabitants Celtic and German tribes, one very important feature - safety. Its rivers, lakes, wetlands, and woods were impossible to cross for the invaders.
It is only in the 1st century BC, that the ancient Roman Empire conquered the southern part of these lands establishing an important military post in Nijmegen. North of the today’s Netherlands remained not conquered nor even invaded. Under the Roman administration, prosperity grew for almost three hundred years.
The Netherlands or Holland?
Talking about the Netherlands, people often incorrectly call it Holland. In fact, only the central part of the Netherlands is geographically named Holland. This part of the country consists now of two provinces Noord Holland (North Holland) and Zuid-Holland (South Holland). This is the region with important cities as Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague (Den Haag), Delft, Leiden and Haarlem.
Geography and Climate
The Netherlands is located in North Western Europe, at the West and North-West coastline the North Sea; the country borders with Belgium from the South and Germany from the East and Northeast. Through its long North Sea coast (451 km) the climate of the Netherlands is a typical mild maritime climate, wet and mild, winters are rarely strong, summer is never very hot.
Location: North Western Europe, West and North-West coastline the North Sea, borders with Belgium from the South and Germany from the East and Northeast.
Geographic coordinates: 52 30 N, 5 45 E
Seacoast: 451 km, territorial waters: 12 nautical miles, exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm.
Land borders: 1,027 km; borders with Belgium - 450 km long, with Germany - 577 km long.
Area of the Netherlands: 41,526 sq km. A large part of the Netherlands is covered with water: 7,643 sq km, land: 33,883 sq km.
Main rivers: Maas, Rhine
Biggest lake: Ijsselmeer (artificial lake created as a result of closing of a Zuidermeer bay).
Biggest Island: Texel (Frisian Islands).
Highest point: Vaalserberg 321 m. The highest point in the whole Kingdom is overseas: Mount Scenery (862 m) on the small island of Saba, Netherlands Antilles.
Lowest point: Zuidplaspolder -6,7 m below NAP (Normal Amsterdam Level - the accepted constant sea level).
Landscape: Mostly coastal lowland and the land reclaimed from sea (polders); low and flat; about half of the surface of the Netherlands is less than 1 m above sea level, and large parts of it (ca 24%) are actually below sea level. Some hills are only in southeast of the country.
Maritime climate: The Netherlands has a mild, maritime climate, similar to England; summers are generally warm with colder, rainy periods, and excessively hot weather is rare, but this has occurred more often in the last few years. Winters can be fairly cold, windy, with rain and some snow. The possibility of extreme cold is rare. Rain occurs throughout the whole year, spring being the driest season.
Natural disasters: Sea storms and floods. Historically storms and floods were a periodical natural disaster in the Netherlands. The worst of them were in the years 1287, 1421, and 1953 - with many human victims. Today an impressive system of dikes (only so called secondary dikes are 13 000 km long) and huge pumping stations protect the Netherlands from flooding.
Provinces of the Netherlands (see separate lesson plan)
North Holland
The province of North Holland is a part of the Dutch mainland with the islands of Texel and Noorderhaaks, of the Frisian archipelago. Landscape of North Holland is flat, green, with patches of blue water often torn by the wind from the North Sea. Amsterdam is the biggest town of the North Holland province, but its capital is Haarlem.
Friesland
The province of Friesland is a part of the Dutch mainland and includes additionally the West Frisian Islands (Waddeneilanden). Leeuwarden is a capital of the province. Friesland is a region where people speak Frisian language and where old traditions of life were preserved. Beautifully preserved nature has been cut by the human activity with canals. In a frosty winter when the canals freeze, a scene of 200km long national skating race leading through eleven Frisian small towns.
Groningen
Friesland
The province of Friesland is a part of the Dutch mainland and includes additionally the West Frisian Islands (Waddeneilanden). Leeuwarden is a capital of the province. Friesland is a region where people speak Frisian language and where old traditions of life were preserved. Beautifully preserved nature has been cut by the human activity with canals. In a frosty winter when the canals freeze, a scene of 200km long national skating race leading through eleven Frisian small towns.
Groningen
The province is a part of the Dutch mainland and a few small islands in the Frisian archipelago (Rottumerplaat, Rottumeroog, Zuiderstrand, and Simonszand) with the big city as its capital – Groningen. A contrast between the modern and the tradition is more visible in Groningen province, than anywhere else. Several natural parks and areas for water sports.
Drenthe
Drenthe
Drenthe is an agricultural province, which in the Middle ages has been a free republic of farmers. Today it has also impressive forests with several of them protected as natural parks. The capital of the province is Assen. A region where fifty-two mysterious Neolithic monuments called ´hunebedden´ (dolmens) can be visited all over the province. They are older than Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids.
Overijssel
Overijssel
Overijssel is a mainland province to the south of Drenthe. The provincial capital is Zwolle. Very rich in the Middle Ages, today Overijssel has interesting historical monuments to see. Many of them in the old city of Kampen located on the Ijssel river, which gave the name to the province (Overijssel translates to "on the other bank of Ijssel"). A small village of Giethorn is a quintessence of the Dutch rural life. Established in 1230, built at the side of the lake Giethoorn can be visited by boat and is a one of several tourist attractions in Overijssel.
Flevoland
Flevoland
A new province created in 1988, on the land obtained by the Dutch from the areas previously covered by water. Consists of three polders: Noord-Oost Polder is connected to the mainland; East and South Flevoland is still an island on the IJsselmeer; capital - Lelystad. Flevoland is a very flat, agricultural region of the Netherlands.
Utrecht
With an old city of Utrecht as its capital, the central mainland province of the Netherlands. Densly populated, since thousands of years vibrant with commercial activity, the province of Utrecht has many interesting historical monuments, old castles and several nature reserve parks, which attract the visitor.
South Holland
South Holland
The province of South Holland was created in 1840 by the division of the province of Holland. It includes a mainland part and the islands of Goeree-Overflakkee, Voorne-Putten, Beijerland-Hoekse Waard, Ijsselmonde. Provincial capital - The Hague (Dutch: Den Haag) is also a seat of the Dutch parliament and government an an important center of the Dutch political life since the Middle Ages. Several interesting old cities as Delft, Leiden, Gouda, and good sea resorts with sandy beaches with Scheveningen the most known.
Gelderland
Gelderland
The east central mainland province, south of Overijssel, the province of Gelderland is the least populated and the biggest of the Dutch regions. Gelderland has several a big national parks as well as some industrial areas. Its capital Arnhem is known for the WWII battle with the Nazi Germany. An interesting modern art museum - The Kröller-Müller Museum, built in the forest near Oterloo, draws thousands of cycling visitors every year.
Zeeland
Zeeland
Zeeland takes its name from the see (in English: See land) and nowhere in the Netherlands, the water is so present. Zeeland includes a mainland part and the islands of Schouwen Duiveland, Tholen, Noord-Beveland and Sint Philipsland and has centuries of tradition of the fight with the sea. Its capital - Middelburg is one of the several small cities, which witnessed many wars throughout the centuries but today has most of its important monuments rebuilt.
North Brabant
North Brabant
South central mainland province of North Brabant is a busy with activity, crowded with traffic and businesses, but also interesting for a visitor province. Its capital - ’s-Hertogenbosch (or shorter Den Bosch) is an old town with an interesting center and several historical monuments. Another big city of Eindhoven is an important industrial center with factories of Philips (electronics) and DAF (trucks). Several smaller towns are worthy a visit, because of their interesting old architecture.
Limburg
Limburg
Limburg is a southeast mainland province bordering Germany and Belgium. Its capital Maastricht is a nice city, known recently for the European Treaty signed there. Limburg is one of the most interesting regions to visit. It has a varied landscape, with woods, big rivers – Maas, beautiful natural parks, very special in the Netherlands region of hills – Heuvelland, and several interesting small towns, castles, good museums not to mention wineries.
Overseas territories of the Netherlands
Tropical islands Aruba and Netherlands Antilles are overseas dependencies (Dutch: landen en gebiedsdelen overzee) of the Netherlands, nominally the same as that of the provinces. Today, an attractive destination of people escaping to the sun from Europe and from the United States.
Population and Languages
Population and Languages
The Netherlands is the most populated country in the world with 477 people per square kilometer of the land (393 people including the internal waters). Netherlands is populated in 81% by Caucasian Dutch population of Germanic or Gallo Celtic descent. Contrary to the popular ideas, more Dutch are catholic 31% than protestant 21%.
As in many Western countries, population of the Netherlands is getting older, and the median age is now almost 40. The Dutch call it "vergrijsing" of the population (from the colour of hair grey – "getting grey"). The population in the Netherlands has slightly more women than men.
Dutch is a spoken language in the Netherlands as well as an official language of the country. However, most Dutch people speak at least one foreign language, mostly English that is taught at school during the basic education. Many Dutch people speak also German, which is in many aspects similar to Dutch language and some of them speak French. In the North of the country in Friesland, a Frisian dialect is spoken and taught at school. People from the Muslim population speak often Turkish or Arabic.
Population: 16,318,199 (July 2004 est.)
Density of population: The Netherlands is he most densely populated country in the world, 477 people per sq.km. of the land (393 per sq km including internal waters as territory).
Age structure: 0-14 years: 18.2% (male 1,501,127; female 1,436,453), 15-64 years: 67.9% (male 5,576,141; female 5,389,764), 65 years and over: 13.9% (male 929,087; female 1,317,939) (2003 est.)
Median age: total - 38.6 years, male - 37.7 years, female - 39.5 years (2002)
Population growth rate: 0.5% (2003 est.)
Birth rate: 11.31 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate: 8.66 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate: 2.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio: At birth: 1.04 male(s)/female, under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female, 15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female, 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female, total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 4.26 deaths/1,000 live births, female: 3.82 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.), male: 4.68 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.74 years, male: 75.85 years, female: 81.76 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.65 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS: adult prevalence rate: 0.2% (2001 est.), people living with HIV/AIDS: 17,000 (2001 est.), deaths: 110 (2001 est.)
Ethnic groups: Over 81,7% of the population are Dutch (Germanic and Gallo-Celtic stock), other 18,3% (of which 9% are non-western origin mainly Turks, Moroccans, Antilleans, Surinamese and Indonesians) (1999 est.)
Religions: Roman Catholic 31%, Protestant 21%, Muslim 4.4%, other 3.6%, unaffiliated 40%
Literacy: (definition: age 15 and over can read and write) 99%
Short history of Netherlands
As in many Western countries, population of the Netherlands is getting older, and the median age is now almost 40. The Dutch call it "vergrijsing" of the population (from the colour of hair grey – "getting grey"). The population in the Netherlands has slightly more women than men.
Dutch is a spoken language in the Netherlands as well as an official language of the country. However, most Dutch people speak at least one foreign language, mostly English that is taught at school during the basic education. Many Dutch people speak also German, which is in many aspects similar to Dutch language and some of them speak French. In the North of the country in Friesland, a Frisian dialect is spoken and taught at school. People from the Muslim population speak often Turkish or Arabic.
Population: 16,318,199 (July 2004 est.)
Density of population: The Netherlands is he most densely populated country in the world, 477 people per sq.km. of the land (393 per sq km including internal waters as territory).
Age structure: 0-14 years: 18.2% (male 1,501,127; female 1,436,453), 15-64 years: 67.9% (male 5,576,141; female 5,389,764), 65 years and over: 13.9% (male 929,087; female 1,317,939) (2003 est.)
Median age: total - 38.6 years, male - 37.7 years, female - 39.5 years (2002)
Population growth rate: 0.5% (2003 est.)
Birth rate: 11.31 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate: 8.66 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate: 2.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio: At birth: 1.04 male(s)/female, under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female, 15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female, 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female, total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 4.26 deaths/1,000 live births, female: 3.82 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.), male: 4.68 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.74 years, male: 75.85 years, female: 81.76 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.65 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS: adult prevalence rate: 0.2% (2001 est.), people living with HIV/AIDS: 17,000 (2001 est.), deaths: 110 (2001 est.)
Ethnic groups: Over 81,7% of the population are Dutch (Germanic and Gallo-Celtic stock), other 18,3% (of which 9% are non-western origin mainly Turks, Moroccans, Antilleans, Surinamese and Indonesians) (1999 est.)
Religions: Roman Catholic 31%, Protestant 21%, Muslim 4.4%, other 3.6%, unaffiliated 40%
Literacy: (definition: age 15 and over can read and write) 99%
Short history of Netherlands
Ancient times
Geographically a difficult area to live, the ancient Netherlands had for its inhabitants Celtic and German tribes, one very important feature - safety. Its rivers, lakes, wetlands, and woods were impossible to cross for the invaders.
It is only in the 1st century BC, that the ancient Roman Empire conquered the southern part of these lands establishing an important military post in Nijmegen. North of the today’s Netherlands remained not conquered nor even invaded. Under the Roman administration, prosperity grew for almost three hundred years.
Early Middle Ages
As the Roman state got weaker, barbaric Germanic tribes started to invade the land. Most powerful of them, the Franks invaded the territory in the 5th century and brought the Christianity with them. By 800 today’s Netherlands was a part of the powerful Franks Empire of Charlemagne. It is in Nijmegen that Charlemagne built one of his palaces. Tradition says that Nijmegen was his favorite residence, while Aachen (today in Germany) was the empire’s capital.
Economical growth in the Middle Ages
After the fall of the Charlemagne Empire (he died in 814) the Low Countries territory has been divided into several smaller states – ruled by dukes and counts. At the same time, already in the Middle Ages, a strong economical development made the Netherlands one of the richest areas in Europe. Agriculture along with crafts and commerce, rich towns and important trading links reaching as far as Asia and North Africa, transformed the Netherlands into the area where the feudal power has been limited, safety of movement and economical activity established, sustained growth possible.
Renaissance and fight for independence
The neighborhood powers – first Dukes of Burgundy and later the Habsburgs (after 1477, the marriage of Mary of Burgundy to Archduke Maximilian Habsburg) tried to dominate the Netherlands and introduce its taxation there.
In 1555, Charles of the Habsburg dynasty granted the Netherlands to his son, Philip II, king of Spain. As Philip II was, a Catholic and part of the Netherlands protestant the Dutch resisted not only the new taxation, but also the intolerance and oppressive methods of administration of the Spanish king and his governor Prince Alba. A long eighty years lasting war began. Feeling of the national identity developed in the Netherlands during this war.
In 1581, the Union of Utrecht proclaimed independence from Spain. The new nation suffered a series of reverses in the war, but finally in 1648 the Spanish recognized the sovereignty of the Republic. The Dutch Republic remained until 1794 at least nominally, under the power of the Austrian throne of Habsburg.
Despite all the war destruction and hardship, the Dutch continued expansion on the seas and discoveries of the new routes and lands. By the mid-17th century, the Republic was the biggest maritime power of Europe, and Amsterdam was the most important financial center of the continent. Naturally, wars about the domination on the seas with England and wars to resist growing power of France on the mainland followed.
18th and 19th Century
Beginning of the 18th century, with the domination of the big absolutist empires of France, Austria, Russia, and Prussia on the continent, and United Kingdom on the sea, the demise of the tiny Dutch Republic begins. An important economical factor has also been the fall of Poland, which lost Ukraine to Russia and was not able anymore to supply grain to the Netherlands.
Growth of the liberal and republican ideas all over the world and resistance to these ideas by the people who ruled the Dutch Republic, lead at the end of the 18th century to the creation of The Kingdom of the Netherlands, which after the fall of Napoleon included also the territories of the today’s Belgium and Luxemburg.
Belgium provinces revolted in 1830 and separated into the Kingdom of Belgium. Luxemburg although independent, has been united with the Netherlands by a person of a monarch. Luxemburg finally separated from The Kingdom of the Netherlands in 1890, when Dutch King William III died not leaving a male heir, which was a condition to rule the Duchy of Luxemburg.
Time of peace and prosperity
In the second half of the 19 century, through slow but constant economical growth and important constitutional reforms, the Netherlands became a liberal and modern state. During the WWI, the Netherlands remained neutral.
World War II
During World War II (1939-1945), the Netherlands was invaded and occupied by the Germans (1940). After two years of relative prosperity, when only the Jewish population has been prosecuted, the whole country began to suffer the burden of war and increasing German terror.
Dutch resistance against the attempts of the Nazi Germany to incorporate Netherlands into the Third Reich during the WWII, and the leadership of the Royal Family in the struggle with the occupants, are still alive in the Dutch people's memory.
Last decades
After the difficult years of reconstruction directly after the WWII, the Netherlands sustained in the second half of the 20th century a continuous and fast economical growth. Today the Netherlands is one of the most developed and wealthiest countries in the world.
Connection to America:
New Amsterdam as New York: An interesting episode of the Dutch and American history is an establishment in 1609 of an urban settlement called New Amsterdam on the island called today Manhattan, by an English explorer Henry Hudson, then in the service of the Dutch Far East Company. This first urban development has been later taken by the English and became New York. And although the Dutch took back the island and the city in 1673, they lost it again next year and New Amsterdam remained known as New York.
Economy
Economy
The Netherlands is one of the most developed countries of the world. It has many industries and agriculture on a very high level of productivity. The biggest world’s companies as Shell and Unilever as well as the banking giants ING Group and ABN AMRO are based in the Netherlands. GDP per head is US $42,000, which is one of the highest in the world. The Netherlands is the member of the European Union and has adopted euro as its currency.
Political system
King Willem-Alexander married in 2002 Argentinean born Maxima who as the King’s wife bears now the title of the Queen. Willem-Alexander and Maxima have three daughters – Catharina-Amalia, Alexia and Ariane.
GDP: US$350 billion
GDP per head: US$22,000
Annual growth: 2.7%
Inflation: 3.5%
Currency: Euro
Industries: electronics, chemical industry, automobile industries (trucks, cars, parts), shipping, agriculture, horticulture, service industries, banking, media.
Natural resources: natural gas and petroleum (North Sea drilling), peat, limestone, salt, sand and gravel.
Major trading partners: EU (Germany being the biggest trading partner, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, UK), USA.
Member of the European Union: from 1951, one of the founder members. Schengen agreement participant and eurozone member. In the referendum of 2005, the Dutch rejected the project of the European constitution.
Annual growth: 2.7%
Inflation: 3.5%
Currency: Euro
Industries: electronics, chemical industry, automobile industries (trucks, cars, parts), shipping, agriculture, horticulture, service industries, banking, media.
Natural resources: natural gas and petroleum (North Sea drilling), peat, limestone, salt, sand and gravel.
Major trading partners: EU (Germany being the biggest trading partner, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, UK), USA.
Member of the European Union: from 1951, one of the founder members. Schengen agreement participant and eurozone member. In the referendum of 2005, the Dutch rejected the project of the European constitution.
Political system
The Netherlands is a constitutional monarchy and a parliamentary democracy. Dutch monarch King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands serves as representative head of state and a person uniting the divided parliamentary politics. The parliament consists of two chambers. The Lower House (Tweede Kamer, or Second Chamber) is elected every four years in a direct national elections together with the provincial parliaments.
Constitutional Monarchy
Constitutional Monarchy
Since 1815 The Netherlands has been a constitutional monarchy. Historically for centuries before, it had been the proud republic, a union of provinces. Since 1848, the Netherlands is also a parliamentary democracy. Dutch monarch has no real political power, but serves as representative head of state and a symbolic person uniting the divided parliamentary politics.
The Parliament
The parliament consists of two chambers. The Lower House (Dutch: Tweede Kamer, or Second Chamber) is elected every four years in a direct national elections together with the provincial parliaments. It consists of 150 members. Only the political parties can take part in the elections. The lower chamber approves the budget and has the right of the legal initiative, the right of submitting amendments, the right to start its own inquires and the right of interpellation. The members of the provincial parliaments vote for the less important Senate (Dutch: Eerste Kamer, or First Chamber) consisting of 75 members who approve or reject all laws of the Netherlands without the right of amendment. Together, the First and Second Chamber constitute The Estates-General (Dutch: Staten Generaal, established 1593). In fact, Dutch political system gives a lot of freedom to the government, as long as it has support of the parliament.
Head of State – The King
King Willem-Alexander van Oranje-Nassau is the nominal head of state of the Netherlands. The King has several mostly representative functions. He nominates all the mayors in the Netherlands as well as the politician who forms the government after the general elections. The monarch also signs all the laws approved by the parliament.
Government
The Netherlands is usually governed by a coalition of different political parties. Prime minister is usually coming from the party, which won the most seats in the elections. Usually the King gives the leader of the party, which won the elections, or an important politician coming from this party, the task of forming the new government. The constitution does not permit to a member of the parliament to serve in the government.
The council of ministers leads the country’s policy, the minister together with junior ministers govern. The council of ministers with the King form together the Crown, an organ which nominates the members of the State Council (Dutch: Raad van State), an institution with influence on certain decisions and more important nominations.
Prime Minister
Prime Minister is the head of the government. Mark Rutte from the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy – VVD (liberals) is at present the Prime Minister of the Netherlands.
Dutch Royal Family
The Royal Family of Orange reigning now in the Netherlands, takes its roots in the 13th century, with its importance growing in the 16th century, when William I of Orange ((1533-1584), also known as "William the Silent" or "Father of the Fatherland", led the resistance against the Spanish rule. After the prolonged war, The Netherlands remained a proud of its independence republic, while the House of Orange maintained a leading role in the country political life. It is only after a disturbing period of the French Revolution and Napoleonic wars, which followed, that the constitutional monarchy was introduced in the Netherlands.
Modern tradition of the WWII and the resistance against the occupation by Nazi Germany, renewed the strong historical bond between Dutch patriotism and the Oranje Family.
Color of Orange
The name Orange takes its roots from the French Princedom of Orange, named after the town Orange in the South of France. The King’s title is a result of marriage in 1515 between Hendrik III of Nassau-Breda and Claudia of Châlon-Orange from French Burgundy. The dynasty had been established, when their son adopted the title of Orange-Nassau. Today orange is the traditional color of the Dutch monarchy, the symbol of unity and solidarity of the nation, as well as beloved color of the whole country. You may well see it observing a crowd of supporters of the Dutch football team.
House of Orange Today
King Willem-Alexander is the nominal head of state in the Netherlands. Several existing laws of the present political system in the Netherlands and the King’s role were established by the parliament.
The Parliament
The parliament consists of two chambers. The Lower House (Dutch: Tweede Kamer, or Second Chamber) is elected every four years in a direct national elections together with the provincial parliaments. It consists of 150 members. Only the political parties can take part in the elections. The lower chamber approves the budget and has the right of the legal initiative, the right of submitting amendments, the right to start its own inquires and the right of interpellation. The members of the provincial parliaments vote for the less important Senate (Dutch: Eerste Kamer, or First Chamber) consisting of 75 members who approve or reject all laws of the Netherlands without the right of amendment. Together, the First and Second Chamber constitute The Estates-General (Dutch: Staten Generaal, established 1593). In fact, Dutch political system gives a lot of freedom to the government, as long as it has support of the parliament.
Head of State – The King
King Willem-Alexander van Oranje-Nassau is the nominal head of state of the Netherlands. The King has several mostly representative functions. He nominates all the mayors in the Netherlands as well as the politician who forms the government after the general elections. The monarch also signs all the laws approved by the parliament.
Government
The Netherlands is usually governed by a coalition of different political parties. Prime minister is usually coming from the party, which won the most seats in the elections. Usually the King gives the leader of the party, which won the elections, or an important politician coming from this party, the task of forming the new government. The constitution does not permit to a member of the parliament to serve in the government.
The council of ministers leads the country’s policy, the minister together with junior ministers govern. The council of ministers with the King form together the Crown, an organ which nominates the members of the State Council (Dutch: Raad van State), an institution with influence on certain decisions and more important nominations.
Prime Minister
Prime Minister is the head of the government. Mark Rutte from the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy – VVD (liberals) is at present the Prime Minister of the Netherlands.
Dutch Royal Family
Modern tradition of the WWII and the resistance against the occupation by Nazi Germany, renewed the strong historical bond between Dutch patriotism and the Oranje Family.
Color of Orange
The name Orange takes its roots from the French Princedom of Orange, named after the town Orange in the South of France. The King’s title is a result of marriage in 1515 between Hendrik III of Nassau-Breda and Claudia of Châlon-Orange from French Burgundy. The dynasty had been established, when their son adopted the title of Orange-Nassau. Today orange is the traditional color of the Dutch monarchy, the symbol of unity and solidarity of the nation, as well as beloved color of the whole country. You may well see it observing a crowd of supporters of the Dutch football team.
House of Orange Today
King Willem-Alexander is the nominal head of state in the Netherlands. Several existing laws of the present political system in the Netherlands and the King’s role were established by the parliament.
King Willem-Alexander married in 2002 Argentinean born Maxima who as the King’s wife bears now the title of the Queen. Willem-Alexander and Maxima have three daughters – Catharina-Amalia, Alexia and Ariane.
Royal residences
The King Willem-Alexander uses two residences in The Hague - The Noordeinde Palace and Villa Eikenhorst in Wassenaar. Official residences also include Huis ten Bosch (English: House in the Woods) palace in The Hague as well as the Royal Palace on the Dam square in Amsterdam. All these palaces are owned by the Dutch State. The Noordeinde Palace in the center of town is a place where King’s offices are located, while Villa Eikenhorst in Wassenaar is his residence. The palace on the Dam square in Amsterdam has largely a ceremonial role. It is here that the King often receives the official guests. Every now and then, it is possible to visit this palace.
After her abdication on April 30, 2013, Her Royal Highness Queen Beatrix adopted the title of Princess of the Netherlands, Princess of Orange-Nassau and Princess of Lippe-Biesterfeld. Princess Beatrix took up the residence at Drakensteyn Castle in Lage Vuursche, while often staying at Huis ten Bosch in the Hague.
An interesting residence, which serves today as the museum is Het Loo Palace in Apeldoorn. It is here, that a relatively modest residence of the former Queen’s younger sister Princess Margriet and her husband, Pieter van Vollenhoven is located. The Het Loo Palace and its beautiful park are today open to the public. Princess Margriet was born during the WWII in 1943, in Canada. The Ottawa Civic Hospital where Queen Juliana gave birth was declared temporarily a Dutch territory, not to make a newborn princess a British subject. Dutch Royal Family was at the time on exile in Canada, because of the German occupation of the Netherlands.
Birthday of the King - King’s Day
Dutch people have feelings of love and admiration towards their Royals. Every year on April 27, on the day of the King‘s Willem-Alexander birthday, (in 2014 exceptionally on April 26) a festive, carnival-like King’s Day (Dutch: Koningsdag, formerly under the reign of the Queen Beatrix called Queen’s Day) is celebrated all over the country.
If the date of May 27 falls on Sunday, the King’s day is celebrated a day earlier - on Saturday 26th.
The King's Birthday began as the Queen’s Day
King Willem-Alexander was born on April 27, 1967 and today his birthday is celebrated all over the Netherlands as a festive day with a street carnival in all bigger cities. Amsterdam is the center of all King’s Day festivities with many street parties and parties on boats sailing through the canals. There is also a tradition of the flea market in the city center.
Before Willem-Alexander reign the Netherlands had decades of the female rules of Queen Wilhelmina, her daughter Queen Juliana and her daughter Queen Beatrix, the mother of the present King. The festivities began as the Queen’s Day before the World War II with the celebration of Queen Wilhelmina birthday on August 31. Since 1949, birthday of her daughter and successor on the Dutch throne Queen Juliana, has been celebrated on April 30 each year.
When Queen Beatrix succeeded Juliana in 1980, she decided to keep the Queen's Day on April 30. Her own birthday is in the middle of winter (January 31), so celebrating it outside was seen as not practical. King Willem - Alexander was born on April 27 and now this day is celebrated each year.
There is a rule that if the day of April 27 falls on the day free of work, the King's Day is celebrated on the day before.
King and Queen consort meet the people
Traditionally, on this day the King Willem-Alexander with his wife Queen Maxima of the Netherlands visit one of the cities in the country, and meet celebrating people. Television reports live on these meetings during the day.
Dressing in Orange
Celebrating Queen's Day means dressing in orange clothes (as the reigning dynasty is House of Orange and this is their color), painting faces and hair orange, drinking drinks tinted in this color (or just natural orange juice), wearing mock orange crowns, dressing as the king or the queen and making jokes at the royal family. As some of the jokes may seem to you slightly inappropriate, they express deep attachment Dutch people have to their Royal Family, which seen in the Netherlands as the symbol of national unity.
Activities:
1. Students will make notes from the background on their Netherlands Booklets.
2. Students will color in the flag of the Netherlands and label the map of the Netherlands.
3. Students will make a windmill (see below).
The King Willem-Alexander uses two residences in The Hague - The Noordeinde Palace and Villa Eikenhorst in Wassenaar. Official residences also include Huis ten Bosch (English: House in the Woods) palace in The Hague as well as the Royal Palace on the Dam square in Amsterdam. All these palaces are owned by the Dutch State. The Noordeinde Palace in the center of town is a place where King’s offices are located, while Villa Eikenhorst in Wassenaar is his residence. The palace on the Dam square in Amsterdam has largely a ceremonial role. It is here that the King often receives the official guests. Every now and then, it is possible to visit this palace.
An interesting residence, which serves today as the museum is Het Loo Palace in Apeldoorn. It is here, that a relatively modest residence of the former Queen’s younger sister Princess Margriet and her husband, Pieter van Vollenhoven is located. The Het Loo Palace and its beautiful park are today open to the public. Princess Margriet was born during the WWII in 1943, in Canada. The Ottawa Civic Hospital where Queen Juliana gave birth was declared temporarily a Dutch territory, not to make a newborn princess a British subject. Dutch Royal Family was at the time on exile in Canada, because of the German occupation of the Netherlands.
Birthday of the King - King’s Day
Dutch people have feelings of love and admiration towards their Royals. Every year on April 27, on the day of the King‘s Willem-Alexander birthday, (in 2014 exceptionally on April 26) a festive, carnival-like King’s Day (Dutch: Koningsdag, formerly under the reign of the Queen Beatrix called Queen’s Day) is celebrated all over the country.
If the date of May 27 falls on Sunday, the King’s day is celebrated a day earlier - on Saturday 26th.
The King's Birthday began as the Queen’s Day
King Willem-Alexander was born on April 27, 1967 and today his birthday is celebrated all over the Netherlands as a festive day with a street carnival in all bigger cities. Amsterdam is the center of all King’s Day festivities with many street parties and parties on boats sailing through the canals. There is also a tradition of the flea market in the city center.
Before Willem-Alexander reign the Netherlands had decades of the female rules of Queen Wilhelmina, her daughter Queen Juliana and her daughter Queen Beatrix, the mother of the present King. The festivities began as the Queen’s Day before the World War II with the celebration of Queen Wilhelmina birthday on August 31. Since 1949, birthday of her daughter and successor on the Dutch throne Queen Juliana, has been celebrated on April 30 each year.
When Queen Beatrix succeeded Juliana in 1980, she decided to keep the Queen's Day on April 30. Her own birthday is in the middle of winter (January 31), so celebrating it outside was seen as not practical. King Willem - Alexander was born on April 27 and now this day is celebrated each year.
There is a rule that if the day of April 27 falls on the day free of work, the King's Day is celebrated on the day before.
King and Queen consort meet the people
Traditionally, on this day the King Willem-Alexander with his wife Queen Maxima of the Netherlands visit one of the cities in the country, and meet celebrating people. Television reports live on these meetings during the day.
Dressing in Orange
Celebrating Queen's Day means dressing in orange clothes (as the reigning dynasty is House of Orange and this is their color), painting faces and hair orange, drinking drinks tinted in this color (or just natural orange juice), wearing mock orange crowns, dressing as the king or the queen and making jokes at the royal family. As some of the jokes may seem to you slightly inappropriate, they express deep attachment Dutch people have to their Royal Family, which seen in the Netherlands as the symbol of national unity.
Activities:
1. Students will make notes from the background on their Netherlands Booklets.
2. Students will color in the flag of the Netherlands and label the map of the Netherlands.
3. Students will make a windmill (see below).
4. Students will learn how to cross stitch (see below).
5. Students will make a deft plate (see below).
6. Students will review artwork by Van Gogh and Piet Mondrain and do a comparison and contrast activity (see below).
Windmill Toilet Paper Roll Craft
The Netherlands is the country typically associated with windmills. Most other European countries also have many historical windmills. Up until 2007, Germany produced the most wind power of any country in the world. Denmark has the highest percentage of its power provided by the wind.
Materials:
toilet paper roll or cardboard tube
something to color with if using the B&W version
scissors
glue
paper
printer
Note: You can attach the blades (sails) of the windmill using a brass tack so they actually spin.
Instructions:
Print out the template of choice.
Color (where appropriate) and cut out the template pieces.
Glue the large rectangular piece on first to cover the tube.
Glue the door onto the front of your windmill.
Glue the windows around the windmill as you see fit (you can use all three or less if you want).
Glue the sails (blades) of the windmill onto the top.
Glue the large circle and then the small circle into the center of the blades.
Windmill Toilet Paper Roll Craft
The Netherlands is the country typically associated with windmills. Most other European countries also have many historical windmills. Up until 2007, Germany produced the most wind power of any country in the world. Denmark has the highest percentage of its power provided by the wind.
Materials:
toilet paper roll or cardboard tube
something to color with if using the B&W version
scissors
glue
paper
printer
Note: You can attach the blades (sails) of the windmill using a brass tack so they actually spin.
Instructions:
Print out the template of choice.
Color (where appropriate) and cut out the template pieces.
Glue the large rectangular piece on first to cover the tube.
Glue the door onto the front of your windmill.
Glue the windows around the windmill as you see fit (you can use all three or less if you want).
Glue the sails (blades) of the windmill onto the top.
Glue the large circle and then the small circle into the center of the blades.
Cross Stitching Activity
Four beginner cross stitch patterns for children to make for Spring! The first two patterns (flower and tulip with face) work well as a bookmark on 11 or 14 count aida cloth (though those counts are a bit harder for the kids to use as the stitches are smaller). They also make nice pictures on plastic canvas or 6 count aida (terrific for beginners!).
The third and fourth patterns (Butterfly/Tulip and April Showers bring May Flowers) are quite a bit more complicated (bigger projects) though still a beginner level.
The words on these projects require backstitching. If you're just starting to learn cross stitch, you can skip the words. (For example, on the flower pattern, you can just cut the words off the pattern template before giving it to the child).
To learn more about cross stitching, check out our "How to Cross Stitch" directions.
Encourage students to fill in the white backgrounds with white cross stitch instead of leaving it unstitched. The long rows of single colored stitches are terrific practice. But it's completely up to you! It does make the project take a lot longer.
Materials:
printer
paper
embroidery floss (see the template for recommendations for the colors needed)
paper
embroidery floss (see the template for recommendations for the colors needed)
Aida cloth with a low number (6 count Aida is 6 stitches per inch while 10 count is 10 stitches per inch... The lower the number, the bigger the project ends up being and the easier it is for a beginner to complete)
OR
plastic canvas
embroidery hoop (a must! unless you're using plastic canvas).
needle (20 or 22 work well, but any that fit 3 strands of floss will do).
Instructions:
Print out the template of choice.
Fold cloth in half and then in half again to find the center.
Place hoop around cloth. Start as close to center as you can.
Cut about 18 inch pieces of floss and divide in half (so you have 3 strands of floss to work with).
Start cross stitching!
OR
plastic canvas
embroidery hoop (a must! unless you're using plastic canvas).
needle (20 or 22 work well, but any that fit 3 strands of floss will do).
Instructions:
Print out the template of choice.
Fold cloth in half and then in half again to find the center.
Place hoop around cloth. Start as close to center as you can.
Cut about 18 inch pieces of floss and divide in half (so you have 3 strands of floss to work with).
Start cross stitching!
Patterns:
Delft Pottery Activity
Everyone familiar with the Netherlands will recognize the blue and white pottery known as Delftware or Delft pottery (Delft is a city in Holland). The tin-glaze method developed in the Netherlands created an inexpensive white ceramic pottery that looked very much like the more costly porcelain favoured by nobility. It allowed "ordinary people" to own beautiful plates, vases and tiles that were similar in style to imported and expensive Chinese porcelain.All types of images are shown on the real Delft pottery but I like to encourage the children to be inspired by typical "Dutch images" like windmills or tulips when designing theirs.
Materials:
scrap paper and pencil
paper plate
blue acrylic paint
paintbrush
Instructions:
Draw a rough design on a scrap piece of paper.
You can use anything as your inspiration, but I like to consider the symbols and landscapes of the Netherlands when doing this project.
Remember you need to keep the image simple enough to paint it.
Use cobalt blue paint to paint your design on your plate.
Artist comparison activity
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