The Netherlands' position at the threshold of the sea has historically been both a blessing and a curse. From its earliest settlement, inhabitants made efforts to keep their heads above water, as remains evident from the artificial mounds they constructed along the coast of Friesland. In modern times, vast public works projects have been undertaken, such as the Delta Project, built to protect the province of Zeeland after major floods in 1953. But the country has also taken advantage of its position and prospered from its overseas trade. Much of its productive farmland stands upon lands reclaimed from the seabed.
Defenceless against the onslaught of foreign powers in its nascent stages, the Netherlands was ruled by a succession of overlords. The forts of Nijmegen and Maastricht are evidence of Roman domination at the start of Christian era. During the feudal era, the Franks took over, then the Holy Roman Empire. In the Middle Ages, some measure of independence emerged under the Dukes of Burgundy, who allowed representatives of individual counties to vote in assemblies. Around this time, the region began to prosper from a thriving cloth industry.
Conflict erupted in the 16th century as Spain wielded its imperial power to suppress the rise of Protestantism in the northern provinces. Allying with the Catholic provinces to the south, Holland revolted against the authoritarian rule of Spanish King Philip II, declaring independence in 1588. A period of great economic prosperity and cultural flowering ensued in the 17th century, now recognized as Holland's Golden Age. During this period, the country became a colonial power in Asia, Africa, the Caribbean and South America; the settlement of New Amsterdam in 1625 established a beachhead in North America as well. Concurrently, shipbuilding and related industries flourished. Wars with England over control of sea trade checked Holland's ascendance, and France annexed the country in 1795. After the defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo, Prince William I of Orange became king and the 17 northern and southern provinces of the Netherlands were reunited, only to be severed again in 1830, as Belgium declared itself independent.
The 19th century saw a shift to an industrialized society. The country managed to stay out of World War I, but a few decades later succumbed to the onslaught of the Nazis, who systematically decimated Holland's Jewish population. After WWII, the Netherlands developed a progressive social welfare system and saw major migration from Morocco, Turkey and the former Dutch colonies of Surinam and the Antilles as a response to labour shortages. Anti-immigration sentiment reared its ugly head in the elections of 2010 as the middle-of-the-road Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) yielded its plurality to the right-leaning VVD, which formed a coalition government with the ultra-right PVV, led by the incendiary figure of Geert Wilders.
30% Roman Catholic, 11% Dutch Reformed Church, 6% Calvinist, 5.8% Muslim, 42% other religions or none.
Social conventions:The Dutch are a tolerant breed and there is little you can do or say to ruffle them (except perhaps to display your own intolerance of, say, ethnic minorities or alternative lifestyles). Their straightforwardness can sometimes strike foreigners as blunt, if not plain rude. Conversely, the Dutch will expect you to be direct as well: yes means yes, not 'maybe.'
It is customary to shake hands when seeing someone you know or when being introduced to someone; women and men or women and women may kiss each other on alternating cheeks three times. You may be fashionably late for social gatherings but not for business meetings. Casual wear is generally acceptable, except for business functions or at smart restaurants, bars and clubs.
Dutch is the official language. Frisian is spoken in the northern province of Friesland. English, German and French are widely spoken.
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