Netherlands
World Cup hopefuls stay focused before showdown
Mar 22, 2013 00:01 EDT
With just over a year to go until the World Cup, some of Europe's leading nations are hoping to take a major step towards sealing their places in the finals in Brazil in a busy week of qualifying.
Serena eases through Miami opener
Mar 21, 2013 22:59 EDT
Serena Williams got her quest for a record sixth Miami WTA title off to a brisk start on Thursday with a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Italian Flavia Pennetta.
ICC team in Kigali to transfer DR Congo rebel boss
Mar 21, 2013 17:31 EDT
Experts from the International Criminal Court have arrived in Kigali to help transfer Democratic Republic of Congo warlord Bosco Ntaganda to the Netherlands to face trial, a US official said.
Serena quick out of blocks in Miami
Mar 21, 2013 17:03 EDT
Serena Williams got her quest for a record sixth WTA title on the hardcourts of Miami off to a brisk start on Thursday with a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Italian Flavia Pennetta.
Jailed Kurdish rebel leader calls ceasefire with Turkey
Mar 21, 2013 16:18 EDT
Jailed Kurdish rebel chief Abdullah Ocalan called Thursday for a new ceasefire, telling his fighters to lay down their arms and withdraw from Turkish soil, raising hopes for an end to a three-decade conflict that has cost tens of thousands of lives.
Li makes winning return to WTA tour
Mar 21, 2013 15:01 EDT
China's Li Na made a winning return to WTA action on Thursday, beating Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands 6-3, 6-1 in her second-round opener at the Miami WTA and ATP Masters hardcourt tournament.
Jailed Kurdish rebel leader calls for ceasefire
Mar 21, 2013 14:27 EDT
Jailed Kurdish rebel chief Abdullah Ocalan called Thursday for a new ceasefire, telling his fighters to lay down their arms and withdraw from Turkish soil, raising hopes for an end to a three-decade conflict that has cost tens of thousands of lives.
Thai students set for mass tablet computer handout
Mar 21, 2013 12:08 EDT
Thailand plans to distribute about 1.7 million tablet computers to students and teachers this year in the world's largest handout of the devices for education, officials said Thursday.
Sea Shepherd sues Japan whaler in Netherlands for 'piracy'
Mar 21, 2013 10:03 EDT
Environmental group Sea Shepherd has filed a suit against the crew of Japanese whaling ship Nisshin Maru alleging piracy and attempted manslaughter after they clashed in the Antarctic Ocean in February, their lawyers said on Thursday.
Buffon relishes Brazil test
Mar 21, 2013 03:19 EDT
Italy will have one eye on the Confederations Cup this June when the Azzurri take on Brazil in a friendly Thursday, says Juventus and Italy keeper Gianluigi Buffon.
Legend Gregan expects Olympics sevens upset
Mar 21, 2013 03:12 EDT
Wallabies legend George Gregan has tipped an unlikely rugby nation, possibly China, to cause an upset at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro when the sevens format debuts at the Games.
Buffon relishes Brazil test
Mar 20, 2013 21:37 EDT
Italy will have one eye on the Confederations Cup this June when the Azzurri take on Brazil in a friendly Thursday, says Juventus and Italy keeper Gianluigi Buffon.
Cyprus bank closure crippling business
Mar 20, 2013 12:43 EDT
Cyprus closed its banks this week to avert a run on savings and secure a bailout for its near-bankrupt economy, but the move has dealt another blow to companies already hit by the global financial crisis.
Balkan game fails to live up to the past
Mar 20, 2013 07:28 EDT
Football was a vehicle for national pride in the former Yugoslavia, enjoying support from the political elite and state policies designed to create competitive teams and world-class players.
WBC title puts Dominican shame to rest
Mar 20, 2013 06:17 EDT
The Dominican Republic ended a string of disappointing international results by capping an amazing undefeated run to beat Puerto Rico to the World Baseball Classic title.
US expects Rwanda to let DR Congo warlord leave
Mar 19, 2013 15:02 EDT
Washington is working to send a DR Congo warlord holed up in the US embassy in Rwanda to the International Criminal Court and expects he will be given safe passage, a US official said Tuesday.
Global patent filings rose 6.6% in 2012: WIPO
Mar 19, 2013 13:26 EDT
International patent filings increased by 6.6 percent in 2012 from the previous year, with China, Japan and South Korea posting double-digit growth, the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) said Tuesday.
European recycling jumps 50% but still lags target
Mar 19, 2013 10:39 EDT
Recycling of household waste rose by 50 percent in Europe over a decade but some countries are dragging their feet for meeting a target set for 2020, the European Environment Agency (EAA) said in a report issued on Tuesday.
Cyprus bailout 'in danger' as small savers spared
Mar 19, 2013 08:41 EDT
Cyprus on Tuesday dropped a controversial levy on bank savings below 20,000 euros, sparking a warning by the central bank governor that the crucial eurozone bailout deal was now in danger of collapse.
Europe triples recycling but still lags target
Mar 19, 2013 07:41 EDT
Recycling of household waste has tripled in Europe over the past decade but some countries are dragging their feet for meeting a target set for 2020, the European Environment Agency (EAA) said in a report issued on Tuesday.
Facts from the Wikipedia page:
| Kingdom of the Netherlands
Koninkrijk der Nederlanden
| ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||||
| Motto: "Je maintiendrai" (French) "I shall endure"[2] | ||||||
| Anthem: "Het Wilhelmus" | ||||||
 Location of Netherlands (dark green)
– on the European continent (light green & dark grey) | ||||||
| Capital (and largest city) | Amsterdam[3] 52°19′N 05°33′E / 52.317°N 5.55°E | |||||
| Official languages | Dutch[4] | |||||
| Ethnic groups | 80.9% Ethnic Dutch 19.1% various others | |||||
| Demonym | Dutch | |||||
| Government | Parliamentary democracy and Constitutional monarchy | |||||
| - | Monarch | HM Queen Beatrix | ||||
| - | Prime Minister | Jan Peter Balkenende (CDA) | ||||
| Independence | through the Eighty Years' War from the Spanish Empire | |||||
| - | Declared | 26 July 1581 | ||||
| - | Recognized | 30 January 1648[5] | ||||
| EU accession | 25 March 1957 | |||||
| Area | ||||||
| - | Total | 41,526 km2 (135th) 16,033 sq mi | ||||
| - | Water (%) | 18.41 | ||||
| Population | ||||||
| - | 2009 estimate | 16,558,674 (61st) | ||||
| - | Density | 396/km2 (24th) 1,025/sq mi | ||||
| GDP (PPP) | 2008 estimate | |||||
| - | Total | $677.490 billion[1] (20th) | ||||
| - | Per capita | $40,558[1] (9th) | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | 2008 estimate | |||||
| - | Total | $876.970 billion[1] (16th) | ||||
| - | Per capita | $52,499[1] (9th) | ||||
| HDI (2007) | ▲ 0.964[2] (very high) (6th) | |||||
| Currency | Euro (€)[6] (EUR) | |||||
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | |||||
| - | Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | ||||
| Internet TLD | .nl[7] | |||||
| Calling code | 31 | |||||
| 1 | ^ The literal translation of the motto is "I will maintain," the latter word meaning "to stand firm." | |||||
| 2 | ^ While Amsterdam is the constitutional capital, The Hague is the seat of the government. | |||||
| 3 | ^ West Frisian is an official language in the Province of Friesland. Dutch Low Saxon and Limburgish are officially recognised as regional languages. | |||||
| 4 | ^ Peace of Westphalia | |||||
| 5 | ^ Before 2002: Dutch guilder. | |||||
| 6 | ^ The .eu domain is also used, as it is shared with other European Union member states. | |||||
 An anachronous map of the Dutch colonial Empire. Light green: territories administered by or originating from territories administered by the Dutch East India Company; dark green the Dutch West India Company.
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