Netherlands(capital Amsterdam, Hague world court)
History
-was under the rule of Spain
-Netherlands was the name adopted when they were fighting for independence against Spain
-Independence was recognized and ended the 30 yrs war in 1648 after an 70-80 year war against Spain
-Spain fought the war killing as many people as possible figuring this may scare the Dutch survivors in
becoming catholic
-to avoid war many migrated to America=pilgrims
-no natural resources so became big on creating empires in the new world, west indies, borgies, south
America, Dutch east indies
- For a long time this was the only western country that the Japanese would trade with=the Netherlands
is a very tolerant and accepting society
-in the early 1900’s the Dutch fought battles with the Indies and lost the east indies, giving them up to
the Indonesian people
Geography
-premier fishermen, big merchant carriers, world most efficient, vast canals and waterways(Rhine and
Meuse), hansiatic league
-known as diamond cutters
-biggest economic boost is tulip bulbs
-drugs and prostitution legal, very open society and friendly
-good photographers, instrument builders
-called first middle class society in world
-80% of population lives below sea level
-good nutrients in soil if you break up the clay
-due to being below sea level the Dutch have become very innovative and good at pumping water out
-focusing on industrial/urban development
-Calvinist: not big on human image=painters, most fine painters per capita
-west coast climate, cool summers, mild winters, 28” of rain evenly distributed
-3/4 land farmed, very scientific, yields high but does not support self
-tons of coops
-Dairy products: sold to other countries
-eggs, pig, beef, lambs, rye, oats, potato farms
-Truck farms to support urban areas with produce
-Fishing was once important, some shell fish
-Export coke, oil and gas from North Sea fields
-big in petrol, chemicals, drugs, beer, textiles, electronics, pewter
-Steel and Iron mills
-people are North Germanic w/Celtic mix
-good communication systems
-got into banking
-some Frisian language
Government
-Constitutional Monarchy
-2 House Legislature
-multiparty system
