Holland geography. Natural conditions and resources. Animal world of the Netherlands

Netherlands(Kingdom of the Netherlands) is a state located in Western Europe. The Netherlands is a member of the European Union and is part of the Schengen area. The Hague International Military Tribunal (in The Hague) is located in the Netherlands, the main role of which is to ensure the inevitability of punishment for modern war criminals. The Netherlands is the first country in the world where a bourgeois revolution took place and a parliament began to function.

The Netherlands is often called Holland, although this is fundamentally wrong. Holland is just a part of the Netherlands and there are already two Hollands - North and South Holland, these are two provinces.

The Netherlands is one of the three Benelux countries. It is an economic union of three states: the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg. all three countries have the same legislation and taxes.

The Netherlands is the only country in Europe where prostitution and the use of soft drugs are allowed. Prostitution is allowed only in one quarter of Amsterdam - the Red Light District. Marijuana can only be smoked in coffeeshops, and even then not in all. In all other places, prostitution and marijuana smoking are punishable by law. The Queen of the Netherlands plays a symbolic role, although all the Dutch love her very much, and the country's leadership takes her opinion into account.

The Netherlands is also the lowest country in Europe, more than two thirds of the Netherlands is below sea level and protected from the sea by dikes. The country is in first place in the world in terms of land area reclaimed from the sea. This is the only country that has almost doubled its territory artificially, moving the coastline of the sea farther and farther.

The Netherlands is the country with the most fresh water reserves in Europe. In terms of the amount of rain and fog, the country is second only to Great Britain and Ireland.

The capital of the Netherlands is the city of Amsterdam. This is the most Big city in the Netherlands. Other big cities– Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht, Groningen, Tilburg. There are no cities with a population of more than one million people in the country. The population of the country is almost seventeen million people. The Netherlands is the most populous country in Europe. The country is located in the same time zone. The difference with universal time is one hour.

The capital of the Netherlands - Amsterdam - is considered the "big brother" of the Russian St. Petersburg. It was here that Peter the Great came to study shipbuilding, it was the Amsterdam canals that served as an example of how St. Petersburg should have been designed.

The Netherlands borders on land with Germany and Belgium, by sea - with Great Britain, Norway and Denmark. The Netherlands is washed by only one sea - the North - and has direct access to Atlantic Ocean. The Netherlands is a small country, stretching from north to south for 250 km, from west to east for 180 km. The country is located in the temperate climate zone.

There are very few forests in the Netherlands, about 3% of the territory. The rest of the area is occupied by water meadows and sand dunes on the coast.

The Netherlands is one of the few countries in Europe where there are no mountain ranges.

Three large rivers flow in the Netherlands - the Scheldt, the Rhine and the Meuse. All of them are navigable and flow into the North Sea. Most large lake Netherlands - IJselmeer. It was formed after filling the dam (artificially). Other large natural lakes are Grevelingen, Emmer, Ketelmer.

Administratively, the Netherlands is divided into 12 provinces: Gelderland, Groningen, Drenthe, Zeeland, Limburg, Overijssel, North Brabant, North Holland, Utrecht, Flevoland, Friesland, South Holland. In addition to the provinces, the Netherlands has overseas possessions, and all of them are located in the Caribbean Sea: Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, Saba, the Netherlands Antilles.

Map

Roads

The Netherlands has an excellent network of road and railways. The Dutch autobahns are considered one of the best in the world, and trains run to almost all cities in the country.

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport ranks fourth in Europe in terms of passenger traffic. Schiphol is also used for transit transfers to aircraft flying to cities in North and South America.

Story

The Netherlands has a rich and unique history:

a) prehistoric Netherlands (428 thousand years BC - 1000 BC) - the settlement of the territory by tribes of Neanderthals and Batavians;

b) the appearance of Celtic tribes - the ancestors of the modern Dutch - starting from 1000 BC;

c) the appearance of ancient Germanic tribes - from 300 BC;

d) the entry of the territory of modern Netherlands into the Holy Roman Empire ( ancient rome) - from the beginning of our era;

e) the period of the great migration of peoples, the invasion of the Goths and the Huns, the collapse of Ancient Rome - from 400;

f) the territory of the Netherlands as part of Frankish kingdom- from 500 to 843;

g) the Netherlands as part of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation - since 843;

h) the Netherlands as part of France (the Burgundian Netherlands) - since 1384;

i) the first unification of the Dutch lands, as well as the territories of modern Belgium and Luxembourg (“Seventeen Provinces”) - since 1482;

j) The Netherlands under the rule of Habsburg Spain, loss of independence - since 1556;

k) the Dutch-Spanish ("Eighty Years") War, the victory of the Dutch revolution, the overthrow of the Spanish oppression, the restoration of state independence - from 1568 to 1648;

m) The Netherlands during the Golden Age, the heyday of the country - from 1648 to 1672;

m) The Netherlands during the Batavian Revolution (1795), loss of part of the territories;

o) the Netherlands was under the rule of Napoleonic France, French occupation (the so-called Batavian Republic) - from 1795 to 1806;

o) The Netherlands during the First French Empire - as part of France) 1806 - 1810):

p) restoration of independence, establishment of a monarchy, the Netherlands and Belgium as part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (1815 - 1830);

(c) the secession of Belgium and its declaration of independence, the territory of the Netherlands within its present borders, since 1830;

r) the Netherlands during the First World War (1914-1918);

s) the Netherlands between the two wars (1918 - 1939);

f) the Netherlands during the Nazi occupation (1940-1945);

x) The Netherlands after the Second World War (since 1945).

Minerals

The country is rich in strategic minerals - oil, coal and natural gas. Oil shale, peat and kaolin are mined from other minerals. There are no gold and silver mines in the Netherlands.

The Netherlands ranks first in the world in the export of flowers, and, in particular, tulips, which is why the country is sometimes called the “land of tulips”.

Climate

The climate of the Netherlands is temperate. Winters are mild and mostly snowless. Sometimes there are several frosty days a year. Summer is warm but not hot with frequent rains. As in Norway, in the Netherlands the weather can turn bad in a few minutes, this should be taken into account when planning a trip to this country.

The location of the Netherlands in temperate latitudes on the Atlantic lowlands of Europe determines the climatic features of the country. Due to its small size and the absence of significant elevations, climatic differences are weakly expressed. All year round, but especially in winter, cyclones sweep over the country from the Atlantic. The sky is often overcast, overcast, rapidly changing weather with thick fogs is typical. On average, there are only 35 clear days per year.

Due to the predominance of westerly winds blowing from the North Sea, the weather in the Netherlands is usually mild in winter and cool in summer. The average January temperature is 2°C. In winter, there are short periods with negative temperatures, alternating with thaws. Snowfall is very rare, and even in winter precipitation falls as rain. Severe frosts occur in exceptional cases; only with the invasion of cold air from the east is ice formed on the lake. IJsselmeer and the lower Rhine. But if a safe ice cover does form, the Dutch are happy to go ice skating along the canals. The average July temperature is +16-17 C. In summer periods of cool weather alternate with hot days.

The average annual rainfall is 650-750 mm, their maximum amount falls on August-October.

The climatic conditions of the Netherlands favor the growth of fodder grasses, as well as grain, industrial and fruit crops, which give high yields. Due to the long frost-free period, vegetables can be grown outdoors from early spring to late autumn.

The modern landscape of the Netherlands has evolved for more than one century, in the process of its formation important role played features geological structure. The country lies within the North Sea Lowland, which also includes parts of Belgium, northern France, northwestern Germany, western Denmark, and eastern England. These areas are experiencing a subsidence that reaches its maximum in the Netherlands. This explains the predominance of low altitudes in most of the country and the susceptibility to floods. In addition, during the last continental glaciation in the northeast and in the central part of the Netherlands, sand and pebble strata accumulated, and low pressure moraine ridges formed in the marginal zone of the ice sheet.

Outside the region of glaciation in the south of the Netherlands, the fast-moving rivers Rhine and Meuse have deposited thick sand strata. At times, when the sea level dropped, these rivers developed deeper channels; at the same time, river terraces and low interfluves, characteristic of the southern provinces, were formed. At the end of the ice age, sand dunes formed on the coast of the country, and behind them - vast shallow lagoons, which were gradually filled with alluvial and marine sediments; swamps subsequently arose there.

Rivers, especially the Rhine (one of largest rivers Western Europe) are the main routes to inland countries and regions. Waterways pass through the country to the Ruhr - one of the largest industrial and coal-mining regions of Western Europe, to the deep regions of France, Belgium, Switzerland. Among all ports in the Netherlands, Rotterdam is issued. This is a large and well-equipped port - one of the best ports in the world, a gateway to Europe.

Among minerals is natural gas (explored reserves of 2 billion m3, 1st place in Western Europe). Oil is being produced on the Dutch part of the continental shelf. Eat coal, clay.

The soil and vegetation cover of the Netherlands, despite the small size of the country, is quite diverse. In the north and east, soddy-pale-podzolic soils developed on sandy deposits under heaths and oak forests are widespread. These soils are characterized by a humus horizon up to 20 cm thick with a humus content of more than 5%. In many localities, the accumulation of humus has been artificially stimulated, and the natural soils there are actually buried under a dark-colored layer - a mixture of manure, turf, forest floor and sand. These soils occupy one of the first places in Europe in terms of their arable properties.

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Oil discovered in the Schonebeek area in the northeast of the country in 1963, as well as in the area between Rotterdam and The Hague.

Natural gas is the country's most important energy source. In 1959, a gas field of the same name was discovered near Slochteren in the province of Groningen (Northern coast). This deposit, which is confined to the Groningen arch, is unique, it is estimated as the third largest in the world. Productive Lower Permian sandstones (Slokhtern Member) up to 240 m deep. 2800-2975 m, covered with salt-bearing stratum top. perm. The deposits are bedded, tectonically shielded in places. The initial producing reserves are 1.87 billion m. The gas contains 14% nitrogen, 1% carbon dioxide.

Other natural gas deposits have been discovered at the bottom of the North Sea. In 1996, the total natural gas reserves in the Netherlands were estimated at 1.8 trillion. cube m., in 1998-99 (see table) remained at the same level.

Sources

The Netherlands is a Western European state located in the western part of the Central European Plain. From the north and west, the territory of the country is washed by the North Sea, polders and dunes prevail in these areas. Geographical coordinates: 51° - 53°N 4° - 7° E The uniqueness of the Netherlands lies in the fact that a fairly large part of the territory was obtained by draining, about half of the territory on which 60% of the population lives lies below sea level, and another 1/3 has a height of up to 1 m. ”, which is explained by the location of the country in the flat lowlands of river deltas.

The Netherlands is a mono-ethnic country, St. 96% - peoples related by origin: Dutch, Flemings and Frisians; 3.5% of the population are foreigners, mostly refugees from Muslim countries. The Flemings live in the south of the country, the Frisians in the north. The official language is Dutch. In the province of Friesland, the Frisian language also has official rights. Believers - Catholics (40%), Protestants (34%). The Netherlands ranks first in terms of population density in Europe - 388.9 people. per 1 sq. km (in the provinces of North Holland and South Holland 800-950 people per 1 sq. km).

Relief of the Netherlands

The country can be conditionally divided into two parts. To the north and west are low-lying lands, most of which lie in the delta of the Rhine, Meuse and Scheldt. A belt of sand dunes up to 405 km wide and up to 60 m high stretches along the seashore, which, together with a system of dams, dams and locks, protects low-lying fertile lands (“marches”) from flooding.

The southern and eastern parts of the country lie above sea level, the hilly landscape prevails in the east, and the southern region is occupied by sandy-clay plains, turning into hilly-forest landscapes of the foothills of the Ardennes. In the southernmost (province of Limburg) the terrain rises to 150-320 meters, there is also the most high point countries - Vaalserberg hill (Vaalserberg) 321 m. To the southeast of the IJsselmeer, a moraine relief has been preserved - ridges up to 106 m high.

Geological structure and minerals of the Netherlands

In the north of the Netherlands, modern and Pleistocene sandy-clay marine and river sediments predominate. From the east there are glacial and fluvioglacial deposits. River deltas are composed of alluvial deposits, and the lands of the southern province of Limburg consist mainly of limestone, marl and chalk of the late Mesozoic, Paleogene and Neogene. From the Rhine Slate Mountains through the area of the former Zuider Zee to northwest direction there is the Central Netherlands shaft of sedimentary rocks, in other places the strata lie calmly.

There are large reserves of natural gas and oil, the deposits of which are located in areas of relative depressions to the west and east of the IJsselmeer (Slochteren), as well as on the shelf of the North Sea. There are also reserves of hard and brown coal (in the south of the province of Limburg), peat, table salt and kaolin.

Hydrography of the Netherlands

On the territory of the Netherlands there are mouths of major European rivers: the Rhine, Meuse and Scheldt, which form a large delta. The rivers are full-flowing all year round, their channels are straightened and connected by canals, and the flow is regulated. The sediment causes the river beds to slowly rise above the lowlands surrounding them, which is why many rivers are surrounded by protective ramparts.

The branches and estuaries of rivers, as well as lakes, are connected by numerous channels, including:

Corbulo Canal
Ghent-Ternusen Canal
Canal Amsterdam-Rhine
Nordze Canal
Yuliana channel

Between the West Frisian Islands and the mainland of the Netherlands lies the southern part of the Wadden Sea. Dollar Bay is located in the north of the country.

In 1282, a catastrophic flood created the Zuiderzee, which, after the construction of the Afsluitdijk dam, became the IJsselmeer freshwater lake. Vast areas are freed from excess ground and surface water with the help of numerous channels and pumping out water with pumps (earlier windmills were used for this purpose). Thus, during the Zuiderzee project, the southeastern part of the IJsselmeer was drained and turned into polders, on which the province of Flevoland was formed. On the eastern and southern sides of the polders, a strait was left, which is a series of interconnected lakes.

Between 1963 and 1975, the Houtribdijk dam was built, separating Lake Markermeer from the IJsselmeer. Lake Grevelingen is located in the southwestern part of the country. In the province of Friesland there is a group of lakes lying below sea level. It includes lakes Flussen, Slaughter-Mer, Tjoke-Mer, Sneaker-Mer and a number of others. In the north of the country there is Lake Lauverssee, which used to be also a sea bay.

Climate of the Netherlands

The average annual rainfall is 650-750 mm, their maximum amount falls on August-October. The climatic conditions of the Netherlands favor the growth of fodder grasses, as well as grain, industrial and fruit crops, which give high yields. Due to the long frost-free period, vegetables can be grown outdoors from early spring to late autumn.

Soils and flora of the Netherlands

The polders, almost completely used for agricultural needs, are composed mainly of clay and peat. Heathlands (short grasses with shrubs) and pine-oak-beech forests have been preserved here. The plateaus of southern Limburg are covered with loess of eolian origin.

The humid climate and flat low-lying terrain of the Netherlands contributed to the formation of marshes here, which have undergone significant reclamation. Bog peat is often covered with mineral soil raised from ditches either during their periodic cleaning or during deep plowing. The soils of the river valleys along the Rhine and the Meuse, as well as the soils of the marches, are very peculiar.

Forests cover 7.6% of the country's territory, mostly in the form of groves. Presented oak, beech, hornbeam, ash.

Animal world of the Netherlands

In the process of human development of the territory of the Netherlands, many species of wild animals were forced out of their habitats. However, there are many birds in the country, especially waterfowl. Many rare animal species are protected in national parks and reserves.

Preserved mainly are those species of wild animals that live in damp meadows, in reservoirs and canals. The expansion of reclamation worsened the habitat conditions of birds, and relatively large colonies still survived only in some coastal areas. There are about 180 species of birds in the Netherlands. And during winter flights, thousands of waterfowl enter the Netherlands. In the north of the country, on the shallows of the Wadden Sea, which separates the West Frisian Islands from the mainland, white-fronted geese, short-billed bean goose, barnacle goose, a lot of gulls and waders winter. In addition, the southernmost eider population lives here. The abundance of lapwings and bartails is typical for marches. On the coast itself, large curlews, herbalists, and turukhtans are common.

Environmental protection in the Netherlands

Conscious attitude of the population of the Netherlands to environment became part of the lifestyle of every citizen of this country after the publication of the report of the Club of Rome "The Limits to Growth". It predicted the depletion of oil and gas resources. That is why the Netherlands is very responsible for the country's energy consumption, as well as maintaining a balance between human activity and the environment.

In a country as densely populated as the Netherlands, it is very important to protect special natural areas. Therefore, the state buys and manages especially valuable natural areas. In addition, it practices the financing of private institutions for the acquisition and management of such zones. In the Netherlands, such a phenomenon as the conclusion of direct contracts between farmers and the state has become widespread. According to the agreement, farmers assume obligations to protect nature on their own land or on land administered by a nature protection organization. By adopting a nature management plan in 1990, the state demonstrated its intention to return nature in the Netherlands to the place it should be. Great importance at the same time, it has a Basic Ecological Structure, a network of natural zones connected to one another. This network of natural zones should ensure the existence of plants and animals in the future. The goal for 2018 is to achieve a total area of natural zones of 700,000 hectares.

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AUTONOMOUS NON-PROFIT EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF HIGHER EDUCATION OF THE CENTROSOYUZ OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

"RUSSIAN UNIVERSITY OF COOPERATION"

KRASNODAR COOPERATIVE INSTITUTE (BRANCH)

ABSTRACT

on the topic: "Kingdom of the Netherlands, basic information"

Prepared by: Samovik Anastasia

Plan

1. Economic- geographical position

2. natural conditions and resources

3. Characteristics of the population

4. Characteristics of the economy

5. Historical features and attractions

1. Economic-geographical position

Holland is a small country. Almost all of it can be seen from the window of an airplane. In terms of area, it is smaller than the Moscow region. The Kingdom of the Netherlands covers an area of 41.5 thousand square meters. km, 40% of which is below sea level. The state consists of the Western European part and the territory of the Antilles Bonaire, Saba and Sint Eustatius. In Western Europe, the territory is washed by the North Sea (the length of the coastline is 451 km) and borders on Germany (577 km) and Belgium (450 km). Together with the islands of Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten, which have a special status, the Netherlands constitutes the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Relations between the members of the kingdom are regulated by the Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands, adopted in 1954.

The Netherlands is often referred to as "Holland", which is officially incorrect. South and North Holland are only 2 of the 12 provinces of the Netherlands. Historically, these were the two most developed provinces and the most famous outside of the Netherlands, so in many languages the whole country was often called Holland. In Russian, this name became widespread after the visit of Peter I and his retinue to the Netherlands. The interests of distinguished guests, for obvious reasons, concerned only the most technically developed part of the country - Holland, they only visited it; talking at home about the visit, very often its purpose was called that way, without mentioning the name of the state as a whole.

In terms of area, the Netherlands (except for micro-states) is surpassed only by Albania, Belgium and Luxembourg. The length from West to East is approximately 200, and from North to South 300 kilometers. It is noteworthy that the area of the Netherlands is not a constant value. Its wetlands are constantly drained and new lands are reclaimed from the sea. In 1950, the territory of the country occupied 32.4 thousand, in 1980 - 37.5 thousand, at the moment - 41.5 thousand square kilometers. And in such a small area, 16.35 million people live (2010).

The name "Netherlands" in translation means "lower lands", but it is literally wrong to translate it, because, for historical reasons, this term is commonly used to refer to an area roughly corresponding to today's Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg (Benelux). At the end of the Middle Ages, the area, which was located in the lower reaches of the rivers Rhine, Meuse, Scheldt, along the coast of the North Sea, began to be called the "Maritime Lowlands" or "Lowlands".

The official capital of the state, according to the constitution of the Netherlands, is Amsterdam, where the monarch takes an oath of allegiance to the Constitution. However, the actual capital is The Hague, where the parliament and government are located, as well as most of the embassies. foreign countries. Other important cities are Rotterdam, the largest port in the country and one of the largest ports in the world, Utrecht, the center of the country's railway system, and Eindhoven, the center of electronics and high technology. The Hague, Amsterdam, Utrecht and Rotterdam make up the Randstad agglomeration with approximately 7.5 million inhabitants.

Holland is a unique country. Man, through great efforts, conquered from the sea, step by step, most of the land, and they continue to conquer it, creating the so-called polders - drained land. The polder is made very difficult and long. An embankment fences off part of the sea, lake or swamp. Then salt water is pumped out and the top layer of soil is removed. Instead, new land is brought in.

The Netherlands are located on the coast and the adjacent West Frisian Islands of the North Sea, that is, in the most densely populated, industrially developed part of Western Europe, where the European and intercontinental highways intersect.

2. Natural conditions and resources

The main resources of the Netherlands are natural gas, oil, salt, sand, gravel, agricultural land.

Rotterdam has the largest port in Europe, with the Meuse and Rhine rivers providing excellent access to the hinterland, reaching upstream to Basel, Switzerland, and into France. The port's main activities are the petrochemical industries and general cargo handling and transshipment. The harbor functions as an important transit point for bulk materials both between the European continent and abroad. From Rotterdam, goods are transported by ship, river barge, train or road.

The highly mechanized agricultural sector employs 4% of the labor force but provides large surpluses for the food processing industry and for exports. The Dutch rank third worldwide in agricultural export value, behind the United States and France, with exports earning $55 billion annually. A significant part of Dutch agricultural exports are derived from fresh cut plants, flowers, and bulbs, with the Netherlands exporting two-thirds of the world's total. The Netherlands also exports a quarter of the world's tomatoes, and one third of the world's exports of chili peppers and cucumbers.

The Dutch economy is directed to the foreign market. The share of exports in the Dutch economy is 51% and is the largest among European countries. Most exporters work in wholesale trade, industry and transport. The main specialization of Dutch exporters is raw materials and high-intensity products (chemistry, food industry, Agriculture and petroleum products).

economic geographic netherlands natural

3. Characteristics of the population

The population as of March 2012 is 16,733,727 people. In the list of countries by the number of inhabitants, the Netherlands ranks 60th. Compared to other European countries, the population of the Netherlands has grown very rapidly over the past century and a half: 3 million inhabitants in 1850, 5 million in 1900 and 16 million in 2000. For comparison: the population of Belgium in the same period increased only about twice: from 4.5 million inhabitants in 1850 to 10 million in 2000.

With a territory of 41,530 km², according to 2011 data, the Netherlands has a population density of 405.7 people per km². Thus, the Netherlands is the 15th most densely populated state in the world. In terms of territory and population, the kingdom can be compared with the Moscow region, including Moscow. Largely due to this, the Netherlands is one of the countries with the most developed transport and information infrastructure. The Internet is used by 14.872 million people or 89.1% of the country's population - the 27th indicator in the world. In the Netherlands in 2002-2003 there was St. 10 million stationary and 12.5 million mobile phones. The country has St. 250 radio stations and 21 television stations (plus 26 repeaters)

There are two indigenous groups in the Netherlands, the Dutch and the Frisians, and big number immigrants. The ethnic composition of the population is as follows: 80.7% Dutch, 2.4% Germans, 2.4% Indonesians, 2.2% Turks, 2% Surinamese, 2% Moroccans, 1.5% Indians, 0.8% Antilians and Arubans , and 6.0% others ethnic groups. The composition of the population by religion is as follows: 33% Protestants, 31.27% Catholics, 6% Muslims, 0.6% Hindus, 0.5% Buddhists, 2.2% profess other religions. The population of the Netherlands is the highest in the world: average height, adult men - 1.83 meters, adult women - 1.70 meters.

The lifestyle of the population is characterized by a high tolerance for unusual behavior, which is often condemned even in neighboring European countries. Prostitution was fully legalized in 2000. The Dutch drug policy is distinguished by its pragmatism: despite the illegality of soft drugs, the sale and consumption of marijuana and hashish in specially designated places is not prosecuted. Abortions are possible during the first 24 weeks of pregnancy. Euthanasia was legalized in 2002, but requires strict medical supervision.

The number of educated people aged 15 to 65 is 10,994,000 in 2011. In the Netherlands, compulsory free education for children and adolescents under the age of 16. elementary school children from 5 (and at the request of parents from 4) to 12 years old visit. It has a great variety curricula. IN high school, which is mandatory for every child between the ages of 12 and 16, more uniformity in educational process. Higher education can be taken at a college (hogescholen), university, or the Open University (evening or distance learning). There are 13 universities in the country (the oldest university in the Netherlands is Leiden, founded in 1575) and the Open University for adults. Higher education is usually designed for a six-year course of study.

4. Farm characteristics

The largest group in the structure of production in the Netherlands is formed by enterprises producing food products, drinks and tobacco products, they account for more than 28% of the total industrial turnover of the country, 22% of the turnover is provided by chemical and petrochemical companies. The share of electrotechnical enterprises is 10%. Approximately 6% each falls on metallurgy, metalworking, on the branches of transport engineering (production of aircraft, cars, ships) and on the printing industry. A relatively small contribution to the total industrial turnover is made by enterprises producing Construction Materials, rubber products, paper and cardboard, furniture, tools, textiles, clothing and footwear. The share of high-tech industries is 12.3% of the total industrial production (for comparison: the same figure on average in the EU is 11.7%, in the USA - 10.5%, in Japan - 13.4%).

In the Netherlands, considerable attention is paid to the implementation of scientific achievements in industrial practice. Relatively recently, the government adopted a special program for the development of biotechnology. It provides incentives research work in the field of biotechnology at universities, state support for the innovative activity of enterprises operating in this field and the construction of biotechnological communications networks. Public allocations are also allocated to finance the development of priority areas such as health and information Technology, development of new structural materials.

The basic branch of the Dutch economy is energy. The country has highly developed energy-intensive industries in industry, as well as in agriculture (greenhouse complexes). The power industry in the Netherlands, along with the production of electricity, specializes in the extraction of oil and natural gas, the processing of crude oil and the production of liquefied gas.

The Netherlands annually produces over 80 billion cubic meters. m of natural gas, more than half of which is exported. For many years, gas exports carried out under government control remain one of the main sources of funds for the state treasury - they provide 20% of all budget receipts. Significant energy reserves in the form of natural gas reserves, which the Netherlands has, remain an important factor in ensuring the stability of the national economy.

Agriculture in the Netherlands is a highly intensive and significant sector of the economy, although in 2005 it employed only about 1.0% of the country's population and produced no more than 1.6% of GDP. In 2005, agricultural exports exceeded 17 billion euros (more than 6% of the country's merchandise exports), about 80% of exports are consumed by the EU countries (Germany - 25%, Great Britain - 12%). The structure of agricultural exports is dominated by vegetables and flowers (12 billion euros) and dairy products (5 billion euros).

Floriculture

Tulips have a special place in Holland. From the end of March to the end of May, the most fantastic flower exhibition takes place in the Könenhof park. Plantations of bulbous flowers stretch along the entire Dutch coast from Katwijk to Den Helder. In April and May, the entire area is covered with a multi-colored carpet covering an area of more than 17,500 hectares.

The Netherlands is the world's largest cheese exporter and is primarily famous for its Gouda and Edam cheeses. Both varieties are made from cow's milk. The only difference is in the recipe. For Edam cheese, the milk must be half-skimmed. For Gaudsky, whole milk is used. You will recognize the Edam cheese by its round shape, while the Gouda cheese is flatter and looks like a wheel. The cheese market in Alkmaar is one of the most famous. It is held every Friday morning from April to October.

Clompens

Klompins were originally in the Netherlands the traditional footwear of commoners. Only the rich could afford shoes. To date, the country produces more than 3.7 million pairs of klompins per year. They are no longer worn in cities, but people who work on the land still use them. Klompins are warmer and drier than rubber boots. Previously, klompen were part of the traditional folk costume.

mills

Entire collections of windmills can be seen in Dutch villages and cities. Windmill was invented in the middle of the 16th century, which could pump water for more than high level. This event was a breakthrough in the struggle of man with the elements.

Fishing

Fishing continues to play an important role in the Dutch economy, although not as much as before. In the early 1990s, there were approximately 1,100 fishing vessels with a total carrying capacity of 177,000 tons. More than 320,000 tons are caught annually, including 90,000 tons of mackerel (mackerel) and about the same amount of haringa (herring).

The Dutch maritime fishery is subdivided by product and type of fishing vessel into:

* trawl fishing for herring, mackerel, cod, etc. in the central and northern parts of the North Sea and around the British Isles and Ireland;

* catching flounders (kosorot, sea flounder) with large tenders mainly in the central and southern parts of the North Sea;

* catching shrimp with small tenders along the Danish, German and Dutch coasts;

* the extraction of shellfish (mussels, oysters) by special vessels in the Wadden Sea and Ostershelde.

IN last years due to the large increase in the fishing capacity of many states, there has been a significant reduction in the production of certain varieties of fish, including herring, which is traditionally an important food product for the Dutch. It turned out to be necessary within the framework of the EU to conclude an agreement on the permissible size of fishing. In addition to marine and coastal fishing, inland fishing is carried out in the Netherlands (mainly on Lake IJsselmeer).

5. historicalfeatures and attractions

Leidseplein

Amsterdam's nightlife is centered here on the picturesque Leidseplein. There are many clubs, theaters, cinemas, shops and art cafes. Until the morning, street actors and musicians perform right in the open air.

Van Gogh Museum

The largest collection of Van Gogh's works is collected in the Museum of Amsterdam, built by a famous Dutch architect in the 20s of the last century. The building displays more than 200 paintings and drawings, as well as letters from that famous correspondence between the artist and his brother.

Rembrandt Museum

At present, the atmosphere of those times has been restored in the Rembrandt House-Museum: the kitchen, living rooms and the artist’s studio, and in addition to the works of Rembrandt himself, his collection is represented by paintings by his students and teacher Peter Lastman, and one of the halls is dedicated to the engraving technique.

National Maritime Museum in Amsterdam

In the exposition of the Netherlands Maritime Museum you can see: wooden models ships, paintings and drawings, parts of ship equipment and many documents. A replica of an East India Company ship is moored next to the museum building.

Rijksmuseum

The main purpose of visiting the Rijksmuseum is, of course, seeing paintings by famous artists such as Frans Hals, Jan Steen, Vermeer and Rembrandt. The culmination of the tour will be a visit to the "Gallery of Fame", where, in the silent surroundings of hundreds of tourists' eyes, Rembrandt's bewitching painting "Night Watch" rises above the frailty of the world.

Street red-light district

Red Light Street, in fact, not a street at all, but a whole area, which the townspeople themselves affectionately call De Valletes ("walls") - once there were city fortifications. Prostitutes chose this place back in the 14th century: it is located in the very center, and not far from the port.

Hermitage in Amsterdam

In 2004, Crown Prince Willem-Alexander and Hermitage Director Mikhail Piotrovsky opened a branch of the State Hermitage Museum. The exposition of the museum is located on 4000 square meters of exhibition space.

Amstelkring

In the center of the Red Light District, in the former home of the townsman Jan Hartmann, a Catholic church has been preserved, nicknamed the Church of Our Beloved Lord in the Attic (Ons "Lieve Heer op Solder). The organ and interior have been carefully restored; on the lower floors there are paintings of the 17th-18th centuries and church utensils.

Amsterdam Arena

The center of football life in Holland is the Amsterdam Arena. PSV fans, for example, can argue with this statement, but you can’t argue against history. The best club in the country - the century-old Ajax - received a new home in 1996. The most interesting football matches of the domestic championship are held here.

Anne Frank House

Anne Frank is a Jewish girl who died in the Belsen camp shortly before the end of the war, who kept a diary describing life in the shelter during the Nazi occupation of Amsterdam. In 1957, the foundation named after her opened a memorial museum in the same house where the Frank family hid from the Germans for two years.

Zoo in Amsterdam

The oldest Dutch zoo ArtisRoyalZoo, founded in 1838, is located in the east of Amsterdam. The zoo has collected more than 6 thousand species of animals from all over the world. Huge aquariums, a planetarium, a botanical garden, a geological museum and many other things can be found on the territory of the zoo.

Historical Museum Amsterdam

The museum dedicated to the history of Amsterdam is a whole architectural complex with old courtyards and modern outbuildings. The exposition includes ancient paintings, photographs, objects of urban life.

Canals of Amsterdam

One of the distinguishing features of Amsterdam is its canals, which form four concentric semicircles encircling the Old City. For them, as well as for more than 1500 bridges and about 90 islands of Amsterdam and got its nickname "Venice of the North".

Van Loon Museum

The exposition of the Van Loon Museum is a collection of family portraits, a collection of Oriental and Dutch porcelain, as well as restored residential interiors with unique furniture from the 18th century.

Canal Museum Amsterdam

The museum is dedicated to the Canal Ring of Amsterdam. Interactive excursions are held here, where tourists are told the most interesting facts and events related to the 400-year history of the city's canals.

Madame Tussauds in Amsterdam

Madame Tussauds Amsterdam became the first branch of the world-famous London wax museum. The official opening of the museum in Amsterdam took place in 1971, and already in 1991 the museum moved to its current home on Dam Square - in the very heart of the city.

Dam Square

Dam Square is the central square of Amsterdam and one of the most famous and important places in the city. Dam Square got its name from a dam built on the Amstel River in the 13th century, and was formed from two squares - Middeldam and Platse.

Stedelek Museum

The Dutch Stedelek Museum presents all the famous trends in contemporary art. Here you can see paintings by such masters as Picasso, Cezanne, Matisse, Judd, De Kouning and Kounellis.

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