The Netherlands (Dutch: Nederland (IPA: ˈne:dərlɑnt)) is the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (Dutch: Koninkrijk der Nederlanden), which is formed by the Netherlands, the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba. The Netherlands is a constitutional monarchy, located in northwestern Europe. It borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east. The current borders were formed in 1839.

The Netherlands is often referred to by the name Holland. This is, however, misguided, since the provinces of North and South Holland in the western Netherlands are only two of the country's twelve provinces. (For more on this and other naming issues see below under 'naming conventions'.)

The Netherlands is a densely populated and geographically low-lying country (its name literally means "low countries" or "low lands") and is popularly known for its windmills, clogs (wooden shoes), dikes, tulips, bicycles, and social tolerance. Its liberal policies receive international attention, such as those concerning drugs, prostitution, same-sex marriage, abortion and euthanasia. The country is host to the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court at The Hague.

More on [ Netherlands ]

BBC News | Europe | World Edition

Missing Semtex 'left unguarded'
Sat, 19 Jul 2008 22:24:25 -0000
A lapse in security is blamed for the theft of 28kg (61lb) of plastic explosive and detonators from a site in France.
UK 'must check' US torture denial
Sat, 19 Jul 2008 23:01:29 -0000
The British government should no longer rely on US assurances it does not use torture, a parliamentary report says.
Spain-Africa link decision 'near'
Sat, 19 Jul 2008 04:39:37 -0000
Spain says a study is nearly complete to determine whether an undersea tunnel can be built linking the country to Morocco.

NYT > Europe

U.S. Is Present, but Iran Nuclear Talks End in Stalemate
Sun, 20 Jul 2008 00:29:34 -0000
International talks included one of the most important diplomatic encounters between Iran and the United States since 1979, but they ended in deadlock.
Trying to Build a Greener Britain, Home by Home
Sat, 19 Jul 2008 23:48:42 -0000
Through a host of small efforts, residents of Hove, Britain, have turned their neighborhood into a prototype of a green village.
Russians Get New, Fond Glimpse of the Last Czar
Sat, 19 Jul 2008 18:58:31 -0000
The exhibition’s popularity underscores a nationwide renewal of interest, and even affection, for the imperial family.

L.A. Times - Europe

From one desperation to another for Iraqi refugees
Sun, 20 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700
Iraqi refugees hoping for new lives in Europe are fueling a wave of illegal immigration. Smugglers are standing ready to exploit them. In the depths of despair, Suzan doused herself and her 14-year-old daughter with gasoline and prepared to set them both on fire.
Russia faces an aging defense industry
Sun, 20 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700
A plane, hailed as having the latest in aircraft technology, is only an upgrade on a 20-year model. It symbolizes a sector that needs an overhaul. At a once-secret airfield outside Moscow, test pilot Sergei Bogdan proudly introduces reporters to what was billed as the latest in Russian military aircraft technology, the Su-35 fighter jet.
Pierre Audi is definitely the right hire
Sun, 20 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700
His appointment as head of the Netherlands Opera shocked the opera world. Twenty years later, it's proved to be a smart move. He's also brought the Holland Festival to prominence. IN 1988, the Netherlands Opera appointed as its new head a 30-year-old Lebanese-born theater director with no background or experience in traditional opera. His passions were avant-garde music, theater and visual art. The opera world was aghast. One prominent New York opera administrator I spoke with at the time said that Pierre Audi would be lucky to last three years and that the Netherlands Opera would be lucky to survive him. Not that anyone outside Holland was likely to notice or care, so provincial was the company.

UN News Centre - Europe

Proposed EU policy on illegal immigrants alarms UN rights experts
Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0500
Ten independent United Nations human rights experts have expressed their deep concern at a proposed European Union policy that seeks to harmonize standards and procedures for returning "irregularly staying third-country nationals," and which includes what they deem as provisions for "excessive" detention.
EU needs to remain accessible for asylum-seekers - UN refugee chief
Thu, 17 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0500
While welcoming efforts to build a unified asylum procedure, the top United Nations refugee official has urged the European Union to ensure the rights of those seeking international protection in its member countries.
UN mission has to adjust to ‘profoundly new reality' in Kosovo, says Ban
Thu, 17 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0500
In light of developments since Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia in February, the United Nations mission there is unable to perform its usual functions and must adjust to the new reality on the ground, says Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

Europe - International Herald Tribune

Scotland's hunger for independence proves annoying in England
By SARAH LYALL Sat, 19 Jul 2008 22:39:28 -0000
With relations at their uneasiest point in decades, there is even talk that unless the balance of power can somehow be renegotiated, the union is in danger of unraveling.
Brown makes unannounced Iraq trip
By SABRINA TAVERNISE AND CAMPBELL ROBERTSON Sat, 19 Jul 2008 22:39:28 -0000
Prime Minister Gordon Brown of Britain made an unannounced visit to Iraq on Saturday and held talks with Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki.
A Muslim woman too orthodox for France
By KATRIN BENNHOLD Sat, 19 Jul 2008 22:39:28 -0000
A recent case has sharpened the focus on the delicate balance between the tradition of Republican secularism and the freedom of religion guaranteed under the French Constitution - and how that balance might be shifting.
Pope apologizes for sex abuse by Australian clergy
By TIM JOHNSTON Sat, 19 Jul 2008 22:39:28 -0000
Pope Benedict XVI publicly apologized Saturday for the sexual abuse of children by clerics in Australia and called for the perpetrators to be "brought to justice."
U.S. attends Iran-EU talks
Sat, 19 Jul 2008 22:39:28 -0000
Iran and the European Union's chief negotiators agreed on Saturday to resume talks on suspending uranium enrichment in two weeks, after Tehran ruled out freezing its program in talks that included the United States for the first time.
Anglican bishops try to prevent schism
Sat, 19 Jul 2008 22:39:28 -0000
The world's Anglican bishops turned Saturday to the enormous task at the heart of their once-a-decade summit: trying to keep the Anglican family from breaking apart over the Bible and homosexuality.

Subscribe to Europe RSS feed