the netherlands

Country Name The netherlands

Year Founded 1579

Population 16,715,999 (July 2009 est.)

Primary Language Dutch (official), Frisian (official)

Ethnic Make-up
Dutch 80.7%, EU 5%, Indonesian 2.4%, Turkish 2.2%, Surinamese 2%, Moroccan 2%, Netherlands Antilles & Aruba 0.8%, other 4.8% (2008 est.)

Political System constitutional monarchy

Year Entered the European Union 1999

Type of Economy free market capitalist

Currency euro

Current Exchange rate for American Currency 1 Euro = 1.3517 U.S. dollars

GDP $909.5 billion (2008 est.)

Percentage of Trade within the European Union Germany 24.4%, Belgium 13.6%, UK 9.1%, France 8.5%, Italy 5.1%, US 4.3% (2007)

Unemployment Rate 2.9%

Chief Exports machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, fuels, foodstuffs, clothing

Key Imports machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, fuels, foodstuffs, clothing

Major Religions Roman Catholic 30%, Dutch Reformed 11%, Calvinist 6%, other Protestant 3%, Muslim 5.8%, other 2.2%, none 42% (2006)

Surrounding Countries Germany Belgium

Literacy Rate 99%

One Interesting Fact dutch people are the tallest with an average height of 184cm for men and 170cm for women