Netherlands facts

Land & people

Area: 41,526 sq km
Population (July 2007 est.): 16.57million
Capital: Amsterdam; The Hague is the seat of government
Official language: Dutch and Frisian are official languages. Other widely spoken languages include English, German and French.
Per capita GDP (2006 est.): $32,100 (about Dh117,907)

Located in Western Europe, the Netherlands is bordered by the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south and Germany to the east. It is a geographically low-lying and densely populated country.

The Netherlands is a constitutional monarchy and its administrative divisions include 12 provinces: Drenthe, Flevoland, Friesland (Fryslan), Gelderland, Groningen, Limburg, Noord-Brabant (North Brabant), Noord-Holland (North Holland), Overijssel, Utrecht, Zeeland and Zuid-Holland (South Holland). Dependent areas include Aruba and Netherlands Antilles.

The Netherlands is renowned for its windmills, cheese, clogs (wooden shoes), delftware and gouda pottery, dikes, tulips, bicycles and social tolerance. The biggest port in the world, Rotterdam, and one of Europe's biggest airports, Amsterdam Schiphol, make the country an important gateway to Europe.

Useful addresses

- Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, P.O. Box 46560, Al Masaood Tower, 6th floor, Suite 602, Hamdan Street, Abu Dhabi. Tel: 02-6321920; Fax: 02-6313158; Email: abu@minbuza.nl

- Consulate General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, P.O. Box 7726, ABN Amro Bank building, 5th Floor, Khalid Bin Waleed Street, Dubai. Tel:04-3528700; Fax: 04-3510502; Email: dba@minbuza.nl (General)

- Netherlands Board of Tourism and Conventions, Vlietweg 15, Postbus 458,The Netherlands. Tel: +31 (0)70 3705705; Fax: +31 (0)70 3201654; E-mail: info@holland.com; Website: www.nbtc.nl / www.holland.com

Passport/visa

Visitors need a valid passport and visa to enter the country, though nationals from some countries are exempted from the visa requirement. Please contact the nearest Netherlands embassy or consulate for more information on entry requirements.

Cash/credit cards

As 24-hour automated teller machines are common across the country, traveller's cheques are not essential. Cash advances are available from ATMs using a credit card. American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard, Visa and other major credit cards are widely accepted.

When to go

The Netherlands has a temperate climate with cool winters and mild summers. The warmest months of the year through most of the country are July and August, but they are also the most crowded. These are great months to walk outdoors and explore the canals or ride bikes through the narrow streets. The spring months of April and May are also ideal when the flowers blooming everywhere are spectacular. April is the season for daffodils and May for tulips.

Getting there

The national airline is KLM-Royal Dutch Airlines. Several global airlines offer flights to Amsterdam Schiphol airport, a major international air transport hub 15 kilometres southwest of the city. There is a direct rail link between the airport and Amsterdam Central Station. Eurolines buses and international trains are also popular. Highway connections to the surrounding parts of Europe are extensive, and ferries link the UK with a few ports in the Netherlands.

GETTING AROUND
Reliable transport
Domestic air travel is relatively limited. KL operates domestic flights from Amsterdam to Eindhoven and Maastricht. The highly developed rail network is efficient and cheap, and connects all towns. Both intercity and local trains run at least half-hourly on main routes.

The road system is excellent. Roads are signposted with green 'E' symbols indicating international highways, red 'A's indicating national highways, and yellow 'N's indicating smaller routes.

Long-distance coaches are also available between the cities. Train taxis (Treintaxis) are shared with others at a reduced price per person. Cycling is an ideal way to explore the country. Bicycles can be hired from all main railway stations. You can also discover Amsterdam with a Canal Bike.