The Netherlands is a state consisting of both the main territory, which is located in Western Europe, as well as the islands of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba in the Caribbean. They are also called the Caribbean Netherlands. From Western Europe, the country is washed by the North Sea and borders on Belgium and Germany. Together with the islands of Aruba, Curacao and Sint Maarten, which have a special status (self-governing state formation), the Netherlands is part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, relations between members of the kingdom are regulated by the Charter of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Officially and according to the constitution, the capital of the state is Amsterdam, but the actual capital is The Hague, where the government, parliament and the royal residence are located. Large cities such as Rotterdam, Utrecht and Eindhoven The Hague, Amsterdam, and Rotterdam make up the Randstad agglomeration, where about 7.5 million people live.
The climate is generally temperate, maritime, characterized by cool summers and mild winters. The average summer temperature often does not rise above 20°C, the temperature in January reaches +4°C. The country has very high humidity, frequent rains and constant wind. In winter, when anticyclones come, the temperature drops below 0°C, and then snow falls, and channels and lakes are covered with ice.
The population as of March 2022 was 17,626,900. The Netherlands is home to two indigenous groups, the Dutch and the Frisians, as well as a large number of immigrants, 25.3% of the total population. In the largest cities, such as Amsterdam, The Hague, Rotterdam and Utrecht, the number of immigrants is greater than in smaller cities.
The official language is Dutch, but everyone is fluent in English, and because of the close territories, many speak both French and German.
The Netherlands is a country with free morals, a rich history, medieval flavor, a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy, a prestigious jurisdiction on favorable terms, a quality education, and good medicine. With bright and interesting festivals, with sea air and swimming season, with windmills and fields of tulips, with a stable banking system and low inflation, with the very fair International Court of Justice - all this makes this small country so wonderful and attractive in every way. .
If you are sensitive to individual freedom and consider yourself more of a perfectionist in matters of political correctness, then the Netherlands is on the list of progressive countries in such matters. You will love this country for the fact that human weaknesses are tolerated here, that where some actions are condemned, here is civil freedom, here they truly appreciate the cultural past of their country, and in general people in the country are good-natured and benevolent.
