The Netherlands

C

Climate

The Netherlands shares the temperate maritime climate common to much of northern and western Europe. Prevailing winds from the North Sea give The Netherlands mild winters and cool summers. Cloudless days are uncommon, as is prolonged frost. Because The Netherlands has few natural barriers, such as high mountains, the climate varies little from region to region.

The average temperature range in Vlissingen in the coastal region is 1° to 5°C (34° to 41°F) in January and 14° to 21°C (57° to 69°F) in July. In De Bilt, in the densely populated central region of the country, the average range is -1° to 4°C (31° to 40°F) in January and 13° to 22°C (55° to 72°F) in July. Annual precipitation averages 690 mm (27 in) in Vlissingen and 770 mm (30 in) in De Bilt.

D

Plant and Animal Life

Humans have altered the natural landscape of The Netherlands in many ways over the centuries. Because land is scarce and fully exploited, areas of natural vegetation are not extensive. A number of national parks and nature reserves have been established to protect portions of the natural landscape.

The forests, the tall grasses of the dunes, and the heather of the heaths continue to provide habitats for roe deer, rabbits, hares, and small numbers of swine. The forests, mainly of oak, beech, ash, and pine, are carefully managed. Agricultural land, pastures in particular, provide habitats for many species of migratory birds. Recent nature development projects have increased the number of wetlands, providing habitats for a number of species including the reintroduced beaver and otter.

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E

Mineral Resources

The Netherlands was long thought to be poor in mineral resources. Peat, used as fuel, was dug in several regions, and southern Limburg Province contained coal deposits. The last coal mine closed 1976, and peat extraction stopped somewhat later. Salt is still produced.

In the 1950s and 1960s great natural-gas reserves were discovered in Groningen Province. The extraction of natural gas is still of major economic significance. The Dutch also exploit petroleum and gas reserves in the North Sea. Smaller deposits of crude petroleum and natural gas are located in the northeastern and western parts of the country.

F

Environmental Issues

The Netherlands is one of the most proactive environmental countries in Europe; it was the first to produce a national strategy for sustainable development, targeting sectors such as agriculture and transportation. This action came in response to significant pollution throughout the country, not all of its own making. One result of this strategy was a significant rise in the cost of fuel. The Netherlands has tried to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels by stimulating the use of wind and bioenergy. It does not view nuclear power as an alternative energy source.

Sixty percent of the population currently lives at or below sea level, making The Netherlands particularly vulnerable to sea-level rise induced by climate change. Consequently, the country has been at the forefront of calls for reductions in fossil fuel use and in deforestation. It contributes less than 1 percent of global greenhouse emissions. The Netherlands depends heavily on the use of fertilizer, and significant nitrate pollution has occurred in water. In addition, pigs and other animals raised on the country’s numerous farms produce huge amounts of manure and ammonium gas, polluting groundwater resources and degrading vegetation. The government requires farmers to process manure to be environmentally sound.

III

Population

The great majority of inhabitants of The Netherlands are Dutch. Most residents of Friesland Province are Frisian, a distinct cultural group with its own language. The Dutch government, fearing overpopulation, encouraged Dutch emigration after World War II (1939-1945), and some 500,000 people left. But an even larger number of people entered The Netherlands—Europeans and Asians from the former Netherlands Indies dependency (now part of Indonesia); industrial workers from Turkey, Morocco, and other Mediterranean countries; residents of Suriname, also a former Dutch dependency, and the Netherlands Antilles; and refugees from Third World countries. Consequently, the country’s population, particularly in the large cities, now includes many ethnic minorities.

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