POPULATION
The Netherlands, the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, has a population of about 17.5 million, one of the highest population densities in Europe. The population is concentrated in the Randstad, the western urban area that includes Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, and Utrecht, while the rest of the country remains predominantly rural.
CAPITAL
The capital is Amsterdam, built on a network of canals that was established in the 13th century along the Amstel River. Home to the royal palace, the national museums, and a historic center designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is famous for its semicircular canals, houseboats, the Rijksmuseum, and the Anne Frank House.
CLIMATE
A temperate oceanic climate, windy and humid, with the possibility of rain in any season.
• Summer (June–August): mild temperatures, averaging between 16 and 22 degrees, with long, sunny days.
• Winter (December–February): cold and damp, with temperatures between 0 and 6 degrees, short days, and occasional snowfall.
• Spring and Fall: In the spring, between March and May, the tulip fields are in bloom and temperatures range from 9 to 17 degrees; fall is mild and rainy.
CURRENCY
The official currency isthe euro (EUR).
Convert Euros to Swiss Francs.
SPOKEN LANGUAGES
• Dutch: the official language, spoken by the entire population.
• English: virtually universal, including in tourism and daily life.
• French and German: spoken by a portion of the population, particularly in the tourism and business sectors.
RELIGION
Society today is largely secular. The two main religious denominations are the Catholic Church, which is the majority faith in the south, and the Reformed Protestant Church, which has traditionally been widespread in the north, along with small Muslim and Jewish communities.
ART
The Netherlands made one of the greatest artistic contributions to Europe during the Golden Age and beyond.
• Architecture: from the 17th-century canals to the Cube Houses in Rotterdam and contemporary projects in the Randstad.
• Painting: Rembrandt, Vermeer, Frans Hals, and Van Gogh, on display at the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam.
• Crafts: blue-and-white Delft pottery, Gouda, Edam, and Alkmaar cheeses, tulips, and floriculture.
• Design: a modern tradition—from graphic design to interior design—that is recognized internationally.
CULTURE
A pragmatic culture and openness to the world, a legacy of its commercial and maritime history.
• Cycling: The bicycle is a symbol of the country, which has more bicycles than people and an extensive network of bike paths.
• Holidays: Koningsdag on April 27, King’s Day in orange, and Sinterklaas in December.
• Traditions: cheese markets, windmills, and fishermen’s houses with historical costumes in Volendam and Marken.
• Society: tolerance, equality, and the culture of the house by the canal, with little flowers in the windows.
FOOD
Simple, rustic cuisine based on cheeses, fried foods, and fish.
Traditional dishes:
• Stroopwafel: a thin, two-layered wafer with caramel in the middle, served warm at markets.
• Haring: marinated herring, eaten raw with onion at street food trucks.
• Bitterballen: fried meatballs made with a smooth meat sauce, served with mustard as a table snack.
• Stamppot: mashed potatoes and vegetables, a traditional family winter dish.
Beverages: Trappist beers and local lagers such as Heineken and Grolsch, along with jenever, the Dutch spirit from which gin is derived.
Dutch cuisine is simple and hearty, and today it is enriched by an international flair in the major cities.