Netherlands - Hà Lan

Netherlands is a small country in the low-lying Mekong Delta in the northwest Europe. With more than 16.7 million people in an area nearly twice the size of New Jersey, it's a populous country that's famous for its painters, windmills, and tulips. Much of the country consists of land known to be flat, many times formed through land reclamation. The Netherlands is one of the most densely populated countries in the world. The Netherlands has about 27% of its area and 60% of its population located in the area below sea level. The country's liberal policies are often referred to abroad. The country is home to the International Court of Justice. Amsterdam is the officially recognized capital in the constitution. Den Haag (also known as La Haye in French) is the administrative capital (place of government meetings), the residence of the Queen, and the headquarters of many embassies, of the International Court of Justice. .

The Netherlands was also one of the first countries in the world to allow open drug use; Recognizing prostitution as a legal profession, the prostitution district, also known as the Red Light district in Amsterdam, is also a destination in most tours. The Netherlands also pioneered the recognition of same-sex marriage.

overview

The Netherlands is located in the lowlands, has an area of ​​41,543 km², a population of 16.7 million people (2011). The Netherlands is famous for its system of dykes and reclamation works, windmills and tulips.

History

This area was settled by the Arawak and Carib tribes before the arrival of the Spaniards in the 16th century.

Two explorers Alonso de Ojeda and Amerigo Vespucci discovered the island of Curaao in 1499. The Dutch invaded Curaçao island and the two islands of Aruba and Bonaire in 1634, Peter Stuyvesant became the first Governor General in Curaçao.

After the division of the Frankish Kingdom, the Netherlands belonged to the Eastern Frankish Kingdom (Regnum Teutinicae) and then to the German national Holy Roman Empire. During the reign of Emperor Karl V, who was also King of Spain, the country was divided into 17 provinces and also included much of present-day Belgium. After the declaration of independence of the seven northern provinces (the Union of Utrecht) on January 23, 1579 and the subsequent 80-year war against the Spanish Habsburgs, formal independence from Spain It is recorded in the Peace of Münster, which was part of the Peace of Westphalia on 15 May 1648, which resulted in the separation from the German Empire during the Middle Ages, simultaneously with Switzerland. This date is considered to be the birth of the Netherlands.

In what followed, the Netherlands, as the United Netherlands (Republiek der Zeven Verenigde Nederlanden - Republic of the Seven Provinces of the United Netherlands), grew to become one of the greatest economic and maritime powers. of the 17th century. During that time many colonies and trading sites were established all over the world. Nieuw Amsterdam (New Amsterdam) was founded, the city that was later renamed New York. In Asia The Dutch established the colony of Nederlands-Indië, present-day Indonesia, which was independent in December 1949. In the northeast region South America (Suriname) and the Caribbean also formed Dutch colonies (Aruba, Curaçao, Bonaire, Saba, Sint Eustatius and Saint Martin); These islands are autonomous parts of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Therefore, the kingdom of the Netherlands includes officially 3 parts: the Netherlands, Aruba and the Dutch Antilles.

In 1796, with French support, the Republic of Batavia (Bataafse Republiek) was founded, known by the Germanic tribe as the Bataver, first settling in the area between the Rhein and Maas rivers. In 1806 Napoleon established the Kingdom of Holland from this Republic.

After being annexed by France under Napoleon I, the kingdom of Nederlande was established, including present-day Belgium. The first king was Wilhelm I from the Oranje-Nassau line. Belgium and with Belgium, the Lower Flanders Franken gained independence after the Belgian Revolution of 1830, but it was not until 1839 recognized by Wilhelm I.

The King of the Netherlands is also the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, where the Salica Act (Lex Salica) does not allow a female head of state. When Wilhelm III died leaving only one daughter (queen Wilhelmina), the Luxembourg throne passed to another line of succession in the Nassau family and Wilhelm's cousin Adolf von Nassau succeeded there.

The Netherlands was officially neutral during World War I and was able to successfully stay out of the war. But the Dutch mobilized their entire army until the war ended and in addition had to deal with the influx of refugees from Germany-occupied Belgium.

During World War II the Dutch government also tried not to join the war; Other warnings are not to be believed. But Hitler ordered the invasion of the Netherlands, in order to be able to annex France from the north around the Maginot defense line. After 3 days of fighting, the German army forced the Dutch to surrender on the night of May 14, 1940 with the bombing of Rotterdam. The city center was mostly destroyed by bombs and subsequent fires. This was the first large-scale bombing of World War II. The country was occupied by German troops from May 1940 until May 1945. Many Dutch cooperated with the occupying regime and many also absorbed the idea of ​​a Great German Empire or Great Empire. German, among them the German-speaking Dutch. The persecution of Jews in the Netherlands was particularly intense: no other country in the Europe there were so many Jewish people sent to concentration camps. To date, the role of the Dutch administrative authorities and of the Dutch train company has not been fully clarified. Symbolizing the wanted Jews is the case of Anne Frank. But most of the people had to endure the occupation. The southern part of the Netherlands was liberated by advancing Allied troops in the second half of 1944; part of the North until the war ended.

The Netherlands is a founding member of the Benelux Economic Union (Low Coutries) and also a co-founder of NATO and the Economic Community. Europe (and thus also the country that co-founded the Alliance Europe).

In the 1980s, liberal regulations on minority affairs and the use of "soft" drugs were introduced. Prior to these legal changes were many serious conflicts with foreigners, which forced the Dutch government to act. The previous Dutch regulations were quite different from those that were considered exemplary.

During the 1990s, especially the massacre at Srebrenica had great political impact and forced the resignation of the government in 1994. The Netherlands Antilles became an autonomous region in 1954, the island of Aruba separated from the group. the island in 1986. In 1994, the inhabitants of this group of islands voted to maintain union with the Netherlands.

In recent times, the Dutch model of generous multicultural politics has undergone many challenges. The problems of this political line were especially evident in the murder of populist Pim Fortuin, who had left a deep scratch on the Dutch image. In addition, liberal politics facilitated the migration of Muslim extremists and so-called hate-mongers to the Netherlands: on 2 November 2004 director Theo van Gogh was killed. The consequences of this were numerous attacks on mosques and hostile statements against the Muslim population. Since then, most people have demanded a zero-tolerance policy against violent immigrants and a change in immigration laws that are perceived as too liberal. And since then many politicians have had to be protected by the police because they continue to be threatened by Muslims.

Geography

About half of the Netherlands is less than 1 meter above sea level, some areas even below sea level. The highest point of the Netherlands, Vaalserberg is located in the southeast, 322.50 m higher than Amsterdam, where it is also the corner of the three countries, bordering Germany and Belgium.

Parts of the Netherlands, such as nearly the entire province of Flevoland, were created by land encroachment. About a fifth (18.41%) of the area is water, of which the largest part is the IJsselmeer, formerly a bay of the North Sea, which was blocked by a 29 km long dam in 1932 to reclaim land. . The most important rivers of the Netherlands are the Rhein, the Waal and the Maas.

The main wind direction in the Netherlands is southwest-southwest, resulting in a temperate oceanic climate with cool summers and mild winters. The Netherlands is bordered to the west and north by the North Sea, to the east by Germany and to the south by Belgium.

Climate

Politic

Since the end of the French occupation in 1815, the Netherlands has had a parliamentary monarchy, headed by the Dutch royal Oranien-Nassau. The Netherlands is considered as one of the freest countries in the world (in terms of press, prostitution, drug use ..) stemming from its emphasis on individualism and human rights.

The Queen/King is both head of state and part of the government alongside the Prime Minister and Ministers. The Queen/King is responsible for giving annual speeches, opening parliament and approving the government's annual plan on the third Tuesday of September. The queen/king has an important role in forming a new government after the election of parliament. The current king of the Netherlands is Willem-Alexander.

Economy

Culture and cuisine

Region

The Netherlands is a constitutional monarchy, administratively divided into 12 provinces ( province). Although the Netherlands is a small country, these provinces are relatively diverse and have many cultural and linguistic differences. They can be divided into four areas:

This article describes a part Europe of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. NS Caribbean Island Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba is a fully integrated "special city" in the Netherlands proper. Besides the Dutch proper, Aruba, Curacao and Sint Maarten are constituent countries within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

City

• Amsterdam - impressive architecture, beautiful canals ( grachten), museums and liberal attitudes
• Delft - historic untouched town with world famous blue and white ceramics
• Groningen - student city with a relaxed atmosphere and nightlife until the sun wakes up
• Den Haag or The Hague - the judicial capital of the world, seat of government and royal families
• Leiden - student city with the country's oldest university and three national museums
• Maastricht - medieval city with different cultures, styles and architecture of the South
• Nijmegen - the country's oldest city, famous for its rallies, leftist politics and large student population
• Rotterdam - modern architecture, good nightlife, vibrant art and the largest port of Europe
• Utrecht - historic center, antique shop and Rietveld Schröder House-

Other destinations

This is an interesting destination outside of the big cities.

• Efteling - popular amusement park with elements like fairy tales and dwarves
• Hoge Veluwe . National Park - largest national park with Heathlands, dunes and forest
• Keukenhof - more than 800,000 visitors see large flower fields every spring
• Kinderdijk - windmills for the typical Dutch landscape in all its glory
• Schokland - old island evacuated in 1859, a well-preserved ghost village still
• South Limburg - hilly green landscapes, picturesque villages, castles and orchards
• Texel - the largest island suitable for biking, birdwatching, walking, swimming and horseback riding
• Zaanse Schans - open air museum with Dutch windmill and Zaan house
• Zaantreek-Waterland - typical Dutch and encroaching village with clogs, wooden houses and windmills

Arrive

Visa

The Netherlands is a member of the Schengen Agreement. There is no border control between countries that have signed and implemented international treaties - Union Europe (except for Bulgaria, Cyprus, Ireland, Romania and the United Kingdom), Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Likewise, visas issued to any Schengen member are valid in all other countries that have signed and implemented the treaty. But beware: not all EU members have signed the Schengen agreement, and not all Schengen members are part of the Union. Europe. This means that there may be a customs check site but no immigration check (traveling within the Schengen area but to/from a non-EU country) or you may have to go through immigration immigration but not customs (traveling within the EU but to/from a non-Schengen country).

Airports in Europe thus divided into "Schengen" and "non-Schengen" areas, which in effect act as "domestic" and "international" parts elsewhere. If you are flying from outside Europe If you become a Schengen country and so on, you will clear immigration and customs in the first country and then proceed to your destination with no further checks. Travel between a Schengen member and a non-Schengen country will result in normal border checks. Note that regardless of whether you are traveling within the Schengen area or not, many airlines will insist on seeing your ID card or passport.

Citizens of the EU and EFTA (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland) countries only need a valid national identity card or passport for entry - otherwise they will need a long-stay visa. any.

People from non-EU/EFTA countries will usually need a passport to enter a Schengen country and most will need a visa.

Only nationals of the following non-EU/EFTA countries do not require a visa to enter the Schengen area: Albania*, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Bosnia and Herzegovina*, Brazil , Brunei, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, Japan, Macedonia*, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro*, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Saint Kitts and Nevis, San Marino, Serbia * / **, Seychelles, Singapore, Korea, Taiwan *** (Republic of China), United States, Uruguay, Vatican City, Venezuela, additional British National Officers (in abroad), Hong Kong or Macao. Visa-free non-EU/EFTA visitors may not be able to stay more than 90 days in a 180-day period in the Schengen area in total, not being able to work during the break (although a Some Schengen countries do not allow certain nationalities to work - see below). People count the days from when you enter any country in the Schengen area and do not reset it by leaving a particular Schengen country for a Schengen country, or vice versa. However, New Zealand citizens can stay longer than 90 days if they only visit special Schengen countries.

By air

Schilpol International Airport is the largest airport in the Netherlands and one of the busiest Europe.Schiphol . Airport[1], near Amsterdam, is a center of Europe, and after the airport in London, Paris and the airport Frankfurt - Europe's largest airport. By far it is the largest international airport in the Netherlands, and an attraction, it is located at 4 meters below mean sea level. Travelers can easily fly from most parts of the world and then connect with the largest Dutch airline KLM [2].

Some airlines also fly to the Netherlands. Jet2.com [3], Easyjet [4], Transavia [5] and other low cost firm serves Schiphol, providing a fairly economical way to city-hop to Amsterdam from other points in Europe. Especially flying to/from the British Isles and Mediterranean countries can be relatively cheap. It is important that you book as early as possible, as prices tend to be higher near departure time.

From Schiphol there are excellent rail connections: Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht and many other cities have a direct train service. International high-speed trains depart to Antwerp, Brussels and Paris. The train station at Schiphol is underground, under the main airport hall. Train is the fastest and cheapest way to get around in Netherlands.

Taxis are expensive: legal taxis have blue number plates, others need to be avoided. Illegal taxi services are regularly provided outside the airport, but will charge a large amount for even short tripsSome hotels in Amsterdam, and around the airport, there is a shuttle bus service.

The other international airport is Eindhoven Airport,Maastricht / Aachen Airport ',Rotterdam The Hague Airport ', and Groningen Eelde . Airport '. These smaller airports mainly serve low-cost airlines. Eindhoven and Maastricht Airports / Aachen Airports mainly used by Ryanair [6], while Rotterdam airport is frequented by Transavia [7], KLM's low-cost subsidiary for travelers. The CityJet operator makes an expensive commuting trip to the city of London. A direct connection bus, either going to the local station and then taking the train is the best way to get to Amsterdam or any other town. There is a direct bus service between Eindhoven Airport and Amsterdam Central Station.

It is also possible to reach the Netherlands via airports located in the surrounding countries. The most used airport is Dusseldorf International Airport'[8] and Brussels Airport '[9]. Low-cost European airlines (Ryanair and Air Berlin [10]) also uses the airports of Münster-Osnabrück and Weeze/Niederrhein which are near or right at the Dutch/German border. From these two airports there are regular flights to major European destinations.

By train

High-speed trains are possibly the most comfortable means of transport between major European cities. While some low-cost airlines offer cheaper deals, keep in mind that international highways connect the city center, rather than the airport, which is usually located outside the city. In addition, trains do not require arrival an hour before departure and can be part of the holiday experience.

Keep in mind that the cheapest tickets usually sell out early, and reservations can often be 3 (normal) to 6 (City Night Line) months in advance. Reservations can be made through NS HiSpeed (Dutch Railway) or its counterpart virtue and Belgium.

From France, Belgium and England

High speed train Thalys[11], connecting the Netherlands with France and Belgium, are a bit pricey, but if you book back in advance or if you're under 26 or over 60, you can get cheap tickets. It's also faster, usually cheaper, and more convenient than flying. Direct trains depart from Amsterdam, Schiphol Airport and Rotterdam.

Maastricht can also be reached by the incoming Thalys Liège, Aachen. Change trains at Liège-Guillemins for direct trains to Maastricht. See more details [12].

Since December 9, 2012, new ship, Fyra connection speed Antwerp and Brussels with Rotterdam, Schiphol . Airport and Amsterdam. However, as of 17 May 2013, all Fyra train services have been suspended until further notice due to technical problems. An alternative is available by taking the train from Antwerp Go to Roosendaal and change to IC Rotterdam and Amsterdam.' '

London's St Pancras station is connected to the Netherlands by Eurostar High-speed trains via Brussels Midi/Zuid/South station. Use one of the connections mentioned above.

• To avoid paying for an international train ticket on the route between Amsterdam and Antwerp, you can get out in one of the border stations Essen (Belgium) and Roosendaal (Netherlands) and walk to the other on foot. You can follow the main road between the two and will need to walk about 10 kilometers in one, although the terrain is particularly uninhabited and open.

From Germany, Switzerland, Denmark...

High speed train ICE[13] run from Basel via Frankfurt Amsterdam, via Cologne, Dusseldorf, Arnhem, and Utrecht.

Intercity trains run from Berlin and Hanover via Osnabruck to Amsterdam and Hengelo, Deventer, Apeldoorn, Amersfoort and Hilversum.City night trains and Euronight trains offer direct overnight connections from cities like Munich, Zurich, Copenhagen, Innsbruck, Warsaw and Prague.

There are also several regional trains from and to Germany:

• From Groningen and Leer trains run every two hours [14].
• There is a train between Enschede and Munster every hour, still between Enschede and Dortmund every hour /en/index.shtml.
• Trains run for hours between Venlo and Hamm, through the Monchengladbach and Dusseldorf [15].
• Trains run every hour from Heerlen and Aachen and more Eschweiler / Stolberg (Rheinland)shtml.
• Trains run every hour from Hengelo and Bad Bentheim [16]. One notable exception is that for this particular training, it is not valid to purchase a train ticket and an OV chip card!

By car

By bus

By boat

Go

Language

The national language in the Netherlands is Dutch. Dutch, especially as a spoken language, is partially understandable to other German speakers (especially Germanic and Frisian), and you may have some understanding of Dutch. this if you speak slowly.

Besides Dutch, several other languages ​​are spoken in the Netherlands, in the eastern provinces of Groningen, Overijsel, Drenthe and the Gelderandans speak a dialect variant of Lower Saxon (Grunnegs or Tweants for example). In the province of Limburg the majority speak Limburgish, a language unique to Europe because of the use of low pitches and long tones to distinguish words (e.g. 'Veer' with a high tone means 'them'. me", while the same word with a low tone means 'four').

Frisian, along with Dutch, is an official language in the province of Friesland. Frisian is the closest living language to English. Other forms of Frisian are also spoken by small minorities in Germany. When traveling through Friesland you see many road signs in two languages ​​(similar to Wales and South Tyrol). This is also the case in southern Limburg. Everyone speaks Dutch, but the Frisians are so protective of minority languages ​​that if you order a beer in this language the next beer you order may be free. On the German border, German is widely spoken. However, outside of the eastern provinces, a good number of people (especially among the younger generation) can also speak German. French is understood by some people, especially older generations. Immigrant languages ​​are prominent in the metropolitan area, they include Turkish, Arabic, Sranan-Tongo (Surinam) and Papiamento (Netherlands Antilles).

"They all speak English there" is pretty accurate for the Netherlands. Being taught English and other European languages ​​as a foreign language from an early age (mostly Germany in second, French in third and even Spanish in fourth) makes some The Dutch are the most fluent multilingual people on the continent. As all the immigrants in the Netherlands can even find someone who speaks Arabic or Turkish, especially in big cities like Amsterdam and Utrecht. In secondary schools, Russian, Ancient Greek and Latin are taught. Visitors to the big cities will manage without learning a word of Dutch.

Foreign TV shows and movies are almost always shown in their original languages ​​with subtitles. The children-only program is dub dutch.

Shopping

Expense

Food

Drinks

Accommodation

Learn

Do

Safe

Medical

To respect

Contact

This tutorial is just an outline, so it needs more information. Have the courage to modify and develop it !