The Netherlands

C

Cultural Institutions

The Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam has an international reputation, and another major Dutch symphony orchestra is in Rotterdam. The main libraries of The Netherlands are those of the State University of Leiden and the University of Amsterdam and the Royal Library in The Hague. In addition, the country has many public libraries. Of the country’s numerous museums the most famous are those displaying the work of Dutch painters. These include the Rijksmuseum, the Rembrandt-Huis Museum, the Van Gogh Museum, and the Stedelijk Museum, all in Amsterdam; the Royal Picture Gallery (Mauritshuis), in The Hague; the Boymans-van Beuningen Museum, Kunsthal, and Netherlands Architecture Institute, all in Rotterdam; and the Kröller-Müller National Museum, in Hoge Veluwe National Park in Otterlo.

V

Economy

The Netherlands is a small country with few natural resources. Yet, the Dutch people have made The Netherlands one of the world’s wealthiest nations. Foreign trade is the mainstay of the Dutch economy. Because of its location on the North Sea and because it is drained by some of Europe’s largest rivers, The Netherlands is in an excellent position to carry goods to and from the interior of Europe. Earnings from the export of finished goods account for more than two-fifths of national income.

Despite the absence of natural resources, the Dutch have many highly developed industries, including the manufacture of precision machinery and electronic goods, the production of chemicals, and the refining of oil. Dutch farmers have overcome poor soils and unfavorable weather by concentrating on the most profitable crops, including livestock breeding, dairy farming, and the growth of flowers and vegetables.

A

National Output

In 2005 the gross domestic product (GDP) of The Netherlands was measured at $624.2 billion. In the period 2005, the country’s GDP in real currency grew at an average yearly rate of 1.1 percent. Some 24 percent of the GDP is produced by manufacturing, construction, and energy-related activities; agriculture and fishing contribute 2 percent; and the service sector, which includes trade and financial activities, accounts for 73.6 percent.

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B

Labor

Of the 8.6 million employed workers, 73 percent work in trade and services; 20 percent are employed in industry, including manufacturing and mining; and 3 percent work in agriculture, forestry, and fishing. Approximately one-third of Dutch workers belong to labor organizations, the largest of which are the Netherlands Trade Union Confederation and the Christian National Federation of Trade Unions in the Netherlands. The government systematically enters into negotiations between employers and unions in order to secure collective bargaining agreements that are consistent with its economic plans.

C

Agriculture

Despite the small size and dense population of The Netherlands, agriculture is highly productive and a major source of exports. Cultivated fields cover 27 percent of the land. Most farms are small—less than 10 hectares (25 acres)—but every hectare is utilized to the utmost. The Dutch rely heavily on machinery and fertilizers, allowing Dutch farms to achieve some of the highest yields per hectare in the world. Most Dutch farmers are members of cooperatives through which they purchase equipment and supplies. Dutch farmers also market much of their produce through cooperatives.

The Netherlands’ leading agricultural activity is dairy farming. The principal dairy regions are in central and northern Holland. Two famous cheese-market cities are Gouda and Edam, for which cheeses are respectively named.

Crop production includes cereals, principally wheat; roots and tubers such as potatoes and sugar beets; vegetables; fruits; and flowers. The Netherlands became famous for its tulip breeders in the 18th century, and flowers and bulbs remain important exports. The center of flower production is located between Haarlem and Leiden. Poultry is raised throughout The Netherlands, especially in areas with poor, sandy soils. Beef and pork are important agricultural exports.