Author: Bert van Essen

A lot of people use the following word to describe the Dutch climate: boring! Over the course of a year, the Netherlands will see a few gloriously fresh winter weeks and balmy summer days… but not very many. For the most part, Dutch weather is mild, damp and windy. This can be difficult to get used to for expats who have moved here from more extreme climes. On this page we will go over a few key features of the Dutch climate. You can learn how the Dutch have taken measures to control their wet weather, and how you yourself can learn to love the Netherlands’ grey days.

Thanks to its location, right on the North Sea, the Netherlands has a temperate maritime climate:

• This means that residents of the Netherlands experience relatively mild winters and summers
• Rain falls all year round in Holland!
• Many Dutch people believe that this also means it rains a lot here, but statistics say differently
• Some sort of precipitation, such as rain, snow or hail, is only happening approximately 7% of the time in NL
• Yearly, this means that there is around 700–800 mm, which translates as 100 minutes of precipitation a day
• So, in reality it just feels as if it is always raining in Holland, because barely a day goes by when the meteorologists can guarantee that it won’t rain

Surviving the Winter Blues in NL

This damp weather might sound very depressing to expats who are accustomed to a lot of sunshine. Here are some steps you can take, to deal with the Dutch Climate:

1. Try to accept the Dutch climate as it is, especially in the winter. Constantly wishing for better weather will only get you down. You cannot will the skies to brighten!
2. If you can’t stand the idea of a summer without guaranteed sun, maybe this is the ideal time to take a holiday and get your fix of Vitamin D
3. Get ‘gezelligheid’ in the winter. There is no exact English translation of this Dutch word. The closest is ‘cozy’. The Christmas season means lights, candles, warm jumpers and hot chocolate! Embrace this, and let it brighten your spirits
4. What about January, February and March, when the festivities are over? This is when the winter blues can really set in. If you are not off skiing, this is a good time to light up that sitting room fire and settle down with a good book. Try to think of it as a time for hibernating before the Spring
5. Endeavor to see the cold weather as an opportunity to get together with friends. Eat some good hearty Dutch meals and enjoy talking, in the warm, on the dark chilly nights
6. Spend a lot of time by the window, and enjoy the famous Dutch light
7. One thing you can thank the Dutch climate for is a great appreciation for good weather when it does come about! Bathe in that sun, when it finally shows its face

The Dutch climate does more than just make its residents feel blue. Along with the Netherlands’ location and low flat land, it poses a real risk of flooding.

The Dutch Delta Works

The most famous measures against flooding in the Netherlands are the Dutch Delta Works: 

• They are considered to be a direct response to ‘The Storm of 1953’
• Plans for their construction had, however, been on the table for a while
• They were created to protect the provinces of Zeeland, Zuid-Holland and Noord-Brabant
• Construction started towards the end of the 1960s and was completed in 1986
• Approximately 2.5 billion euros was spent on the project
• They are supposed to reduce the chances of a flood recurring, to just once in every 4,000 years
• The American Society of Civil Engineers have declared these works one of the seven wonders of the modern world

The Dutch Dikes

The Netherlands is as famous for its dikes as it is for it’s climate. Their relocation is another, large-scale measure against flooding in Holland:

• It is intended to broaden the Waal River, which lies North of Nijmegen city center, and the Hollandse Ijsselkering
• It is also designed to protect the lowest part of the Netherlands, which is located 6.76 m below NAP
• On average, water levels cause the two, 480-ton, valves to be lowered into the river three times a year

The Netherlands has one of the strongest economies in the world. For such a small country this is quite a feat. There are many factors that contribute to making the Dutch economy thrive. It has a wide variety of economic sectors that contribute to its strength and global reputation. They range from natural gas, to restaurants, to tulips.  You can read about them on this page. Plus, you can learn how this little country draws in so many skilled expats, like you!   

The Dutch economy is small, but powerful:

• The Netherlands is a country that exports one of the worlds largest volumes of goods. Globally, it is in the top 10 for this category
• Holland also ranks in the world’s top twenty for GNP
• This is very impressive given that, in terms of square kilometers, it is one of the smallest countries in the world! It only has a population of 17.9 million
• Having said this, in terms of population density, it is on a par with countries like India and Japan

How does this little country manage to remain so dominant on the global economic stage?

Transportion Infrastructure in NL

The Netherlands has an advanced transportation infrastructure. This is part of the reason it is such a big economic player:

• The port of Rotterdam is the largest European seaport in the world, in terms of container activity
• Schiphol Airport is the third largest airport in Europe
• The country has an advanced telecom infrastructure
• It has an extensive, high-speed railway network

NL is the Gateway to Europe

The points listed above contribute to why the Netherlands is thought of, and often described as, ‘the gateway to Europe’. There are other reasons too:

• Traditionally, other countries are eager to invest in the Netherlands
• The huge investments that have been made in the Dutch economy and Dutch companies, over several years, are evidence of this
• This willingness to invest is largely due to the country’s stable and flexible work environment
• The ‘Poldermodel’ has a lot to do with this
• Holland’s central geographic location and its well-educated multilingual work force have helped as well

The Dutch ‘Randstad’

The Randstad is the area of the Netherlands that stretches over Amsterdam, The Hague, Rotterdam and Utrecht. This is how it contributes to the strength of the Dutch economy:

• After Paris, London and Milan, the Randstad is the largest economic urban area in the EU, in terms of gross domestic product
• This is largely due to the strong financial and commercial services it has
• Such services happen to be some of the key motors of Dutch economy

Why Expats are Drawn to NL

Individuals who travel through the Netherlands are often enticed to relocate and find a job there. Perhaps this happened to you!

• They are impressed and inspired by the opportunities the country offers its workers
• This became more common after the frontiers within the European Union opened
• The Dutch government has also introduced a number of tax measures, aimed at making the Netherlands more attractive for non-Dutch nationals to come and work here
• The government recognizes the value of having top-notch specialists in the country, who can contribute to the knowledge pool and economy of the Netherlands
• Employers and employees now have to navigate their way through far less bureaucratic red tape than they used to, in order to obtain the necessary papers to come here

Machinery and transportation equipment are some of the most important trade commodities for the Netherlands. They are closely followed by chemical and mineral products. Here is a list of other dominant sectors of the Dutch economy:

1. Services: This is the Netherlands’ most dominant sector. It accounts for approximately two thirds of both the country’s GNP and its work force
2. Mineral extraction: The production of natural gas is an especially large sector in Holland
3. The restaurant sector
4. Trade
5. Repair services
6. Healthcare and related services 
7. Agriculture and food: this sector generates approximately 10% of the country’s GNP. 75% of agricultural produce is exported from the Netherlands
8. Chemicals: The Dutch economy benefits greatly from the fact that the world’s largest chemical companies are based in Holland
9. High-tech goods: The Netherlands is one of Europe’s largest supplier. They are aimed at both the industrial and the consumer market

Oil and Gas in NL

• As we mentioned earlier, the Netherlands is Europe’s second largest producer of natural gas. It has large reserves in the north of the country
• Rotterdam imports and refines huge amounts of crude oil too
• The oil is shipped to the rest of Western Europe
• Thanks to these offshore installations and refineries, the Netherlands has many activities in the oil and gas industries
• It has strong research and development technology
• A specialized construction industry is another thing the country is proud of

Welfare in NL

• The Netherlands a wealthy country
• It has a high per capita GDP
• Social security measures boost this

Dutch residents are, therefore, guaranteed a minimum income, health care and education

Many elements of Dutch history remain present and palpable in modern-day Holland. The roots of the contemporary Dutch Royal Family go back to the 16^th century. Contemporary Dutch values originate from Calvinist influences of the past. Even the Dutch political system stems from old ideals. Understanding the history of the Netherlands shines a light on the Dutch culture of today, and helps us to understand why NL is such an orderly country. We will take you through a very brief history of Holland on this page.

The Netherlands is made up of provinces. Many of them originate from Countships and Duchies that existed in the Middle Ages. Here’s the story:

• King Philip II of Spain inherited all of these Countships and Duchies in the second half of the 16th century
• To his dissatisfaction, however, he did not have total power over them
• Both cities and rural districts had certain rights and privileges that the King could not overrule
• Prominent local families recommended carefully selected Dutchmen, from their own localities, to regulate the provinces
• Philip was obligated to appoint these individuals as governors
• Philip II wished to take away the privileges of the Dutch localities
• He was a modern ruler, who believed in having a kingdom that was ruled by a single, powerful and central authority
• His philosophy was rooted in the ethical and ideological principles of the Roman Catholic Church

The Republic of the Seven United Netherlands

The uprising against Philip II resulted in a new historical era for the Netherlands:

• The Republic of the Seven United Netherlands was created
• Under the republic, local autonomy was restored within the Countships 
• The republic was a union of states, a little like the European Union
• Independent states worked closely together, without ever having to relinquish their sovereignty
• This system meant that no one state could ever muster enough power to hold a position of dominance over the entire republic
• Accordingly, if one state ever tried to exercise control over another, or made too much of a show of wealth and power, it would only succeeded in creating enemies
• To achieve a politically high-ranking position within the republic, a state had to gain esteem and influence; using power and force did not work
• Stadtholders were, however, always recruited from the House of William of Orange
• For a state to get anything done in the old Republic, it had to form a coalition with some fellow states
• The state would also have to ensure that they did nothing to inadvertently offend their opponents

The Netherlands is no longer a union of states. Instead, it is a democratic state whose unity is symbolized by the King. Willem-Alexander is the current reigning monarch of the Netherlands. He is a descendant of William of Orange’s older brother, Jan.

Calvinism in NL

The way in which the Netherlands was governed under the republic was strongly Calvinist in nature. Although the republic is long gone, and nowadays Dutch society is strongly secularized, Calvinist philosophies remain a great influence on the Netherlands today. Some key characteristics of Calvinism are:

• Respect for others
• Having a modest lifestyle
• Being always willing to listen
• Having the capacity to restrain oneself

Contemporary Calvinism in NL

Here is how Calvinism can be seen in contemporary Dutch society:

• The Dutch maintain a strong Protestant work ethic
• They practice moderation in all aspects of life
• Decisions are typically reached by a consensus
• Individualism is also resisted, in some ways
• The Netherlands is a country in which ostentatiousness and boastfulness are akin to sinfulness
• Equally, orderliness and cleanliness are next to godliness
• Showing off your wealth is vulgar
• Secretiveness is looked upon with suspicion. This is part of the reason why Dutch curtains are kept open after dark
• It demonstrates a lack of ostentatiousness, it proves to onlookers that your home is orderly and that you have no secrets to hide

What is the Poldermodel?

• A piece of land that is completely surrounded by a dike is called a ‘polder’ in Dutch. The dike is intended to protect the land against high waters
• You can find them in all shapes and sizes in the Netherlands
• The largest is the ‘Flevoland‘. It is so big that it has actually become the Netherlands’ youngest province. It is 48,000 hectares in size
• Managing such a large polder requires close and expert cooperation between its users.  A dike is only as strong as its weakest point, so the smallest mistake can result in disaster!
• The organization that has to go into managing the dikes has bled into other elements of Dutch culture
• The Dutch believe in making detailed agreements, to which everyone must strictly adhere
• They maintain that everyone is responsible for ‘their part of the dike’
• In 1997, the British invented a new word to describe this all-encompassing Dutch behavior and philosophy: the ‘poldermodel’

In which areas of Dutch culture is the poldermodel most evident?

• The downward adjustment of wage demands
• Tolerance of drugs
• Legalization of prostitution

Criticism of the Poldermodel in NL

Throughout the recent history of the Netherlands, the poldermodel has not always been popular. In the early years of the 21st century, the Dutch themselves started to have doubts about it:

• A man called Pim Fortuyn, suddenly appeared in the political arena, and became very popular
• He was shot and killed on May 6, 2002, before he his political career had truly got underway
• Fortuyn and his followers believed that the poldermodel, with all its consulting and searching for consensus, only distracted people from the real problems in society
• He alleged that it was preventing the Netherlands from making important decisions that were long overdue
• The economic recession, the increase of unemployment and the reduction in income of the average Dutch citizen further ignited Fortuyn’s criticisms of the poldermodel
• Cabinets which formed after his death were strongly influenced by his philosophy
• However, overcoming the nature of the Dutch public, in favor of a new approach, has proven to be harder than initially anticipated
• More than 10 years after these new ideas came about, the Dutch appear to have re-embraced the traditional poldermodel!

In the Netherlands, political power is divided between several different authorities. The central Dutch government is the key player in the running of the Netherlands. However, municipalities, water boards and even King Willem Alexander himself have a part to play in Dutch politics. We will give you a concise rundown of how the Dutch Political system works on this page. Read on to find out how you, as an expat, can vote or stand for election, in order to have your say too!

The Netherlands is actually run by four authoritative bodies. The central Dutch government takes care of matters of national interest. We will go into this in more detail later. Holland also has the following governing establishments:

1. A Provincial Government

The provincial government deals with:

• Social work
• Cultural affairs
• Environmental management
• Spatial planning
• Energy
• Sports

2. Municipal Governments 

Municipal governments occupy themselves with:

• Traffic
• Housing
• Social services
• Health care
• Sports
• Culture
• The water supply
• Public schooling
• Recreation

3. Water Boards

Water boards manage:

• Water levels
• Sewage treatment
• Water barriers
• Waterways
• Water quality

A Monarchical Government

The central Dutch government is the major political institution in the Netherlands. It is a ‘monarchical’ government, which means that:

• It is not made up of only ministers and state secretaries
• The reigning Dutch monarch, King Willem-Alexander, is part of the government too
• Therefore, the Dutch government can also be described as a ‘constitutional monarchy’, with a parliamentary system
• This means that the constitution determines how political power should be divided between the monarch and the other governmental institutions in the Netherlands

Here are some example of how power is distributed:

• Dutch Parliament holds certain rights, which allow them to check the power of the government
• Ministers are accountable to Parliament
• The King is not accountable to Parliament. However, he has no political responsibility

The King and Dutch Politics

• The Dutch King is in a strange political position
• Since 1848 the ministers, rather than the King, have been responsible for acts of Parliament in the Netherlands
• Ministers are responsible for everything he does or says
• He, the Queen and their princesses cannot make any public statements without first consulting the Prime Minister

The Dutch Political Cabinet

The Dutch Cabinet’s responsibilities are:

• Preparing and implementing legislation
• Overseeing local governments
• Carrying out day-to-day government business
• Maintaining international relations

The Dutch Parliament

Dutch Parliament is called the ‘Staten Generaal‘.  Because The Netherlands has a ‘representative democracy’ it is made up of two chambers:

1. The Upper House: ‘Eerste Kamer‘

• The Upper House is made up of 75 members
• They are elected by the members of the provincial councils

2. The Lower House: ‘Tweede Kamer‘ 

• 150 members make up this House
• They are elected directly by the people

The two Houses of Parliament have been given four rights. They each have the right:

• Of inquiry
• Of interpellation
• To set a budget
• To put questions before the ministers and state secretaries

The Rights of the Lower House in NL

The Lower House has been given two further rights:

1. Of amendment
2. To propose legislation

There are 10 long and well-established political parties in the Netherlands. Traditionally, the three most dominant are:

1. The PvdA: The Dutch Labor Party

This social democratic party has its roots in the trade union movement

2. The CDA: The Christian Democrats

A merger of three confessional parties. The CDA bases its ideas on religious principles

3. The VVD: The Dutch Liberals

In the 21st century, Dutch voters have become more diverse. This is partly due to the rise of populist politicians. However, the current parliament is more right-wing than the previous one.

Smaller Political Parties in NL

There are also several smaller parties in the Netherlands. Their popularity waxes and wanes in accordance with the political climate in the country, at any given time. Some examples of smaller parties are:

• The D66: A progressive liberal party
• GroenLinks
• SGP and ChristenUnie: These are findamentalist Protestant parties
• PvdD: The Party for Animals

Because there are so many political parties in the Netherlands, there are numerous coalition possibilities. How is a coalition formed after election?

• Several months generally pass after the elections, during which extensive deliberations take place
• Eventually, a cabinet is formed
• The cabinet should have a program to which most members of Parliament can give their approval
• In the meantime, the Prime Minister tends to the resignation of the former cabinet
• The King ‘answers’ this action, by requesting that the old cabinet stay on until there is a new one in place
• After the cabinet’s resignation, the incumbent ministers continue to run the country until the new cabinet is formed
• Decisions that might lead to extensive discussions in Parliament are delayed until the new cabinet is in power

Voting for EU Citizens in NL

If you are an EU citizen:

• You are allowed to vote in municipal elections, under the same conditions as Dutch nationals
• This means that you must be at least 18 years of age on the day of the election
• You must also be a resident of a particular municipality on the day the candidates are nominated

You are also allowed to vote in elections for the European Parliament provided that you:

• Do not vote in the same election in your home country
• Are 18 years of age or older
• Are not disqualified from voting in the Netherlands or your home country

Voting for Non-EU Nationals in NL

If you are a non-EU national, you:

• May vote under the same conditions
• Must have also been a legal resident of the Netherlands for a continuous period of at least five years

Voting for the Waterboards in NL

For any expat to vote for the Waterboards, he or she must be:

• Living in a ‘watership’
• At least 18 years of age
• Have Dutch or EU nationality
• Or if he or she is of another nationality, he or she must be a legal resident of the Netherlands