Netherlands

Netherlands

NETHERLANDS - COMMUNICATION

When Dutch people meet each other for the first time, they usually don’t wait to be introduced. Instead, they extend their hand for a handshake, make eye contact, say their name, and listen for the name of the other person. However, on social occasions, people who already know each other also shake hands if they have not seen one another for a while. When good friends or relatives meet, they will often exchange three kisses on the cheeks.

NETHERLANDS - CULTURE

The Netherlands had a lot of famous and successful people. First, we mention Dutch painters who are known all over the world. Vincent Van Gogh and Rembrandt van Rijn are the most considerable. You probably know some of their artworks (Christ in the Storm on the Lake of Galilee painted by Rembrandt or Still life: Vase with Twelve Sunflowers created by Van Gogh). In the Dutch Golden age in 17th century we can find notable architects, such as Jacob van Campen. His best known works are The Royal Palace in Amsterdam and The Paleis Noordeinde.

NETHERLANDS - PROFILE

ECONOMY

Currency

As a founding member of the Euro, the Netherlands replaced (for accounting purposes) its former currency, the "Gulden" Guilder, on January 1, 1999, along with the other adopters of the single European currency. Actual Euro coins and banknotes followed on January 1, 2002. One Euro is equivalent to 2.20371 Dutch guilders.

NETHERLANDS - BASIC FACTS

The ’’’Netherlands’’’ is a part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which consists of the Netherlands, the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba in the Caribbean. The Netherlands is a parliamentary democratic constitutional monarchy, located in Western Europe. It is bordered by the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east.