History of the Netherlands

Origin of the name Netherlands: The name "Netherlands" comes from the Dutch word "neder" and the English word "nether." Both of these words mean "lower" and were used to describe the land as being the lowlands of the region. The country is also often referred to as Holland which is the official name for two of the provinces: South Holland and North Holland.

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Origin of the name Netherlands: The name "Netherlands" comes from the Dutch word "neder" and the English word "nether." Both of these words mean "lower" and were used to describe the land as being the lowlands of the region. The country is also often referred to as Holland which is the official name for two of the provinces: South Holland and North Holland.

Read more at: http://www.ducksters.com/geography/country/netherlands.php
This text is Copyright © Ducksters. Do not use without permission.

The name Netherlands means "low countries".  Many people think the country is called Holland, but that is the name for 2 of its provinces.

Origin of the name Netherlands: The name "Netherlands" comes from the Dutch word "neder" and the English word "nether." Both of these words mean "lower" and were used to describe the land as being the lowlands of the region. The country is also often referred to as Holland which is the official name for two of the provinces: South Holland and North Holland.

Read more at: http://www.ducksters.com/geography/country/netherlands.php
This text is Copyright © Ducksters. Do not use without permission.

Origin of the name Netherlands: The name "Netherlands" comes from the Dutch word "neder" and the English word "nether." Both of these words mean "lower" and were used to describe the land as being the lowlands of the region. The country is also often referred to as Holland which is the official name for two of the provinces: South Holland and North Holland.

Read more at: http://www.ducksters.com/geography/country/netherlands.php
This text is Copyright © Ducksters. Do not use without permission.

The Netherlands are squished between Belgium and Germany, and have no mountain ranges, thus no natural borders.  This has left them open to invaders for much of their history.  They have been occupied by the Romans, Celts, Vikings, the Austrians (Hapsburg Dynasty), and the Spanish.  One of the most famous wars in their history was against the Spanish called The Eighty Years War, from the late 1500s until they finally gained their independence in 1648.

 

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During the Eighty Years War, the Dutch began large scale overseas trade, becoming dominant in the spice trade with India and Indonesia.  The Dutch started colonies in Brazil, South Africa, the West Indies, and New Amsterdam (New York).  The Dutch became quite wealthy and the period became known as the Golden Age.  At this time each city and province had its own government and own laws, being governed by regents.

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In 1808, Napoleon invaded the Netherlands and placed his brother Louis on the throne.  When Napoleon's empire fell, Louis fled, and the country gained its independence from France in 1814.  The Kingdom of the Netherlands was born, incorporating Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands, but that broke up by the end of the 1800s.  It was at this time that the Netherlands became a monarchy, as it still is today under King Willem-Alexander.

Imagecredit:http://darkroom.baltimoresun.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/AFP_Getty-167814490.jpg

The Dutch people remained neutral during WWII until they were occupied by Germany for 5 years.  The Dutch had an extensive Resistance movement against the Nazis.  Many Jewish people had fled to the Netherlands from Germany during Hitler's rise to power in the 1930s, and these were all sent to concentration camps, including Ann Frank and her family.  Of the 140,000 Dutch Jews, only 20,000 survived the war.  The Dutch lost all its colonies in the years following the war.

Imagecredit:http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x241/Alanp_photo/WWII/NetherlandsLiberationpropaganda.jpg

Before the war, The Dutch used cycle paths for transportation, but they were narrow and not in good condition.  After WWII, the Dutch rebuilt their country and became very wealthy.  By 1950, cities were overrun by cars, and buildings had to be demolished to accommodate them. Cycle paths were removed.  City squares became car parks.  In 1971, 3300 people were killed in traffic accidents, 400 of them being children.  There were mass protests by the people.

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In 1973 the oil crisis meant a shortage of gas and increase of prices, and people were encouraged to change their ways.  An extensive biking system was created.  Child deaths went down to just 14 in recent years.  Today the Netherlands boasts almost 36,000 kms of cycle paths.

Imagecredit:http://www.bikingamsterdam.com/en/blog/wp-content/uploads/amsterdam-canals.jpg

It's amazing that anyone can find their bike in the huge bike parks:

Imagecredit:http://nowastewednesdays.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/amsterdam-bicycles.jpg

Interesting Facts:
- The Dutch are on average the tallest people in the world.
- The Dutch have kept their country from being swept into the sea by building canals, dams, dikes, and pumping stations over the centuries.  Thus the saying:

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- The Dutch are amongst the most liberal people in the world with regards to marijuana, homosexuality, and prostitution.
- Famous people include VanGogh, Rembrandt, and Eddie van Halen.

Imagecredit:http://payload301.cargocollective.com/1/16/535601/8324282/van_halen_58.jpg

- The population is 16.5 million people.  The Netherlands is Europe's most densely populated country.
 - The Dutch produce billions of tulip bulbs a year.

Imagecredit:http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/content/dam/kids/photos/Countries/H-P/netherlands-tulip-fields.jpg.adapt.945.1.jpg