The Netherlands

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The

Netherlands A Newspaper In Education Supplement to The Washington Times


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This is the Netherlands The Netherlands is a country in Western Europe that borders Germany, Belgium, and the North Sea. It has 12 provinces, which are similar to American states in that they serve as a way to divide up the country into smaller regions. At about 16,000 square miles, the Netherlands would be one of America’s smaller 50 states. It would fall between West Virginia and Maryland in terms of size. But while West Virginia has 1.8 million people and Maryland has 5.9 million, the Netherlands has 16.8 million people! That means there are

many more people living per square mile of the Netherlands compared with both West Virginia and Maryland. In fact, the Netherlands is the most densely populated country in Europe. The country is also known as Holland and the people are called Dutch. The biggest city in the Netherlands is Amsterdam, which has more than 800,000 people. Amsterdam is also the capital of the Netherlands, even though the seat of the national government is in The Hague. Two-thirds of the Netherlands is at or below sea level, which puts the country at great risk of flooding. Because of this,

the Dutch have become world experts in building dams and finding new ways to live with water. The Netherlands is the largest of the four countries that make up the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The other three are the Caribbean island nations of Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten.

Mild weather, but prone to flooding If you look at a globe, you’ll notice that the Netherlands is closer to the North Pole than the United States. In fact, the southern most point of the Netherlands is closer to the North Pole than the northern most point of the

continental United States. The weather in the Netherlands is milder than in much of America. The Netherlands does not usually have severe storms, such as the blinding blizzards of Northeast America, the monstrous hurricanes of the East and Gulf coasts, or the destructive tornadoes of the Midwest. But with two-thirds of the country at or below sea level and with two major rivers (the Rhine and Meuze) running through it, the Netherlands is susceptible to another kind of natural disaster: flooding. The Netherlands has experienced two major floods every century in the last millennium. These floods have claimed tens of thousands of lives and forever changed the landscape. As a result, the Dutch have become experts in knowing how and where to build dams and levees to keep water out, and how and where to allow rivers to flood in towns and neighborhoods without the loss of life or causing massive amounts of damage. But the Dutch don’t keep this knowledge to themselves. They share what they have learned with countries around the world, including the United States. The Netherlands was among the first to respond to calls for help from the Gulf Coast following Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and has remained to help our American partners build a sustainable future for New Orleans. The Netherlands is also helping New York and New Jersey rebuild more water-resilient communities following the flooding and devastation that Hurricane Sandy created in 2012.

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Four countries, one Kingdom

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When people say “the Netherlands,” they are likely talking about the small country in Western Europe that borders Belgium, Germany, and the North Sea. But the Netherlands is just one of four countries that make up the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The other three countries are the Caribbean island nations of Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten, meaning the kingdom extends far beyond its European borders. To make matters more confusing, there are three other Caribbean islands (Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba) that are special municipalities of the country of the Netherlands. You might hear people refer to the Netherlands as Holland, which is understandable given that two provinces in the Netherlands have “Holland”


It’s similar to saying “Dakota” when you mean the United States of America. The Dutch probably won’t correct you, though, because the confusion is

About this supplement

was-ppc@minbuza.nl the-netherlands.org www.Facebook.com/NLintheUSA www.Twitter.com/NLintheUSA

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The Royal Netherlands Embassy 4200 Linnean Ave. NW Washington, D.C. 20008

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The partnership between the Netherlands and the United States dates back to when Henry Hudson captained the Halve Maen (Half Moon) into presentday New York Harber in 1609 for the Dutch East India Company. In the four centuries that have followed, both countries have become important economic, political, and cultural allies in a wide array of fields, including health, sciences, high-tech and creative industries, agrifood, security and justice, and much more. Our nations share important values, such as keeping an open mind, fostering innovation and entrepreneurship, and treasuring the freedom of speech and religion. We work together, and through international groups, to hold violators of international law and human rights accountable for their actions. Our partnership demands protection of and respect for justice, equality and human dignity, and advance democracy and freedom worldwide. This newspaper supplement is intended to honor this shared history and teach schoolchildren more about one of America’s longest-standing allies. As such, we have created a board game, “Canal Quest,” in the center spread. Questions for the game are on page 15. You can find the answers to the questions in the supplement. Laminate the page, cut out the cards, and play again and again. This is a publication of the Public Diplomacy, Press and Culture Department of the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Washington, D.C. Contributors include Jacquelien Nienhuis, Jeff Allanach, Emile Kossen, and Etienne Verschuren. We’d like to especially thank Gurli Feilberg for illustrating “How a Bill becomes a Law” on page 7 and “Canal Quest” on pages 8-9. You can find more of her work at www.feilberg.nl.

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in their name: Noord-Holland (North Holland) and Zuid-Holland (South Holland). But referring to the Netherlands as Holland isn’t quite right.

understandable. When Dutch people say “the Netherlands,” they too are often referring to just the country, not the kingdom. But no matter how far flung the borders of the kingdom extend, the people who live in it are all Dutch and speak Dutch. In fact, 24 million people in the world speak Dutch; 22 million people in Europe (the Netherlands and the northern part of Belgium, called Flanders), and 2 million people overseas (including the Dutch Caribbean). This is a result of colonial times in the 17th century, when the Dutch sailed the world in search of trade opportunities.

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The Netherlands: A home for thousands of years People have lived in the Netherlands for thousands of years. We know this because archaeologists have found some of the tools they used. In fact, scientists have dated some of those tools to the Neanderthals who lived 250,000 years ago. Archaeologists have also found many “hunebedden,” or ancient burial tombs, in the Netherlands. These tombs are almost 5,000 years old, and are built of large stones that weigh as much as 40 tons. During the Roman Empire (27 BC to 476 AD), Batavians and Frysians, two Germanic tribes, were among the inhabitants of the Netherlands. Around the beginning of the Common Era, the Roman Empire invaded the southern part of what is now known as the Netherlands. For about 450 years, the Rhine river was the northern border of the Roman Empire. After the Roman Empire collapsed, chaos ensued. Many Germanic tribes wanted to gain power and fought against each other. During the Middle Ages, roughly the period between 500 and 1500 AD, roads built by the Romans were neglected, farming became less efficient, and trade declined, as did society as a whole. While floods have always plagued those who lived on land known today as the Netherlands, the people started coming together in the Middle Ages to turn the tide. They worked together to build higher dikes and better windmills to pump water away from their homes and farms. They realized they needed to work with each other for their society to survive, perhaps planting the early seeds for the Dutch tradition of collaboration that remains today. Their efforts have clearly paid off. Though the Netherlands has experienced an average of two major floods every century for a thousand years, the Dutch have become known around the world for their efforts in building technologies that keep feet dry. The Dutch are also known for their techniques in finding new ways to build with nature and live with water when it makes more sense. For example, after massive river flooding in the 1990s caused the evacuation of 250,000 people and 1 million farm animals, Dutch urban planners and water experts rethought their water defenses. The government adopted a new program, Room for the River, that restored the rivers’ natural flood plains in places where it was the least harmful in order to protect areas that needed to be defended.

The Dutch Golden Age The Dutch Golden Age began at the end of the 16th century. During this period, 1588 to 1702, the Republic of the Seven

United Netherlands, also known as the Dutch Republic, became a leading country in the world. The Dutch have always sailed the seas and oceans to discover new land. At the time of the Golden Age, the Netherlands did a lot of trade in Indonesia and other countries in Southeast Asia. By selling many goods from those countries (pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, silk, cotton, porcelain, coffee, tea and sugar) in Europe, the Netherlands became a wealthy nation of 2.5 million people. This new wealth had a huge impact on society. Merchants became more powerful, and the status of those in the middle class rose. With the increase in wealth, people could afford to beautify their homes and spend money on art. This also led to scholarly pursuits, and attracted thinkers, scientists, and others seeking freedom in the Dutch Republic. The ships that sailed to the Far East belonged to the Dutch East India Company, or Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie (VOC) in Dutch. This company was set up in 1602 and existed for almost 200 years. Only members of this company were allowed to trade with countries in Southeast Asia. Life on board a VOC ship was tough. Because ships had to sail around South Africa to reach Southeast Asia, it often took months to reach the Far East. In the Golden Age, the Dutch did many great things in the fields of painting, literature and science. This is also where the famous Dutch tolerance took root. The Dutch had a great level of tolerance as long as it didn’t harm trade. This attracted people seeking religious freedom, so many people who had problems practicing their faith in their own country came to the Netherlands. The Golden Age was also the period in which the Dutch founded New Amsterdam, which is known today as New York City, in 1609. Many Dutch names in New York City come from this period. Some are a direct translation, such as Long Island and Staten Island, while others simply transformed to English, such as Brooklyn (after the Dutch city of Breukelen) and Harlem (after the city of Haarlem). Still, life was not free of conflict during the Golden Age. The Eighty Years’ War, also known

William I, Prince of Orange as the Dutch War of Independence, began in 1568 when William I (the Prince of Orange) led the revolt against the rule of Philip II of Spain. The war resulted in the independence of the Dutch Republic, also known as the Republic of the Seven United Provinces, in 1648. The Dutch Republic lasted until 1795 when French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte conquered the land, but William I, the Prince of Orange, remains in high regard. In fact, he is the reason orange represents the Netherlands today. King Willem-Alexander, the Netherlands’ current king, is a member of the House of Orange-Nassau, which traces back to William I.

The Netherlands today When Napoleon was defeated, the first Dutch constitution as an independent country was signed in 1814, and the Netherlands became the monarchy that exists today. The 100 years of relative peace that rose in Western Europe brutally ended

by the start of World War I (1914-1918), in which the Netherlands remained neutral. A generation later, during World War II (1940-1945), Germany occupied the Netherlands for five years. Three-quarters of the Jewish population of the Netherlands was deported and murdered during that period. One of the most famous people who died during this period was Anne Frank, a young girl who hid with her family in Amsterdam for two years. “The Diary of Anne Frank,” which she wrote while in hiding, is one of the most famous and thought-provoking books of the 20th century. In 1944 the south of the Netherlands was liberated by the Americans, British and Canadians. The north was controlled by the Germans until May 1945. Every year, on May 4, the Dutch remember all the people who died in the war. The following day they celebrate the liberation of the Netherlands. In the decades that followed World War II, the Netherlands became a leading country in the cooperation between countries in Europe. The Netherlands is one of the six founding members of the European Economic Community, which was later renamed the European Union, and one of the 12 founding members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The Netherlands has long been a vital trading partner for the United States, creating economic ties that remain strong. Trade between the U.S. and the Netherlands supports 685,000 jobs, or more than enough to employ every active member of the U.S. Army. American companies invest more in Dutch companies than any other country around the world. The Netherlands is also an important U.S. partner in areas of security, and has helped reduce the world’s supply of dangerous nuclear materials and created secure computer networks.


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The Dutch political system

The Second Chamber has 150 representatives elected by Dutch citizens every four years. ©Rijksoverheid majority and govern. Both houses must approve legislation for it to become law, just like in the United States. However, only the Second Chamber can write and amend laws. The First Chamber can only vote for or against proposed legislation, not write or amend it. The questions its members ask about legislation, though, can persuade members of the Second Chamber to amend proposals. Members of the Second Chamber are full-time politicians, while members of the First Chamber are part-time legislators who often hold other positions as well. Elections are called when the government loses parliament’s confidence, the governing coalition breaks down, the term of the House of Representatives expires, or when no governing coalition can be formed. The King swears in members of the cabinet.

European Union The Netherlands has been active in the European Union from the start, though at first it was called the European Coal and Steel Community. After World War II, peace and stability in Europe were top priorities. European countries decided to work together on

economic matters, on the principle that countries that depended on one another would not go to war. In 1952, the Netherlands joined Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg and West Germany in establishing the European Coal and Steel Community, which contributed to economic growth and ensured greater employment and prosperity. It has evolved through the years into the European Union, a politico-economic union of 28 European countries that has developed a single market through a standardized system of laws that apply to all member states. EU member states have their own laws and regulations. At the same time, there are many issues that transcend national borders, including law enforcement, agriculture, fisheries, transport and research. This is why the EU has been working for years to pass new laws and harmonize existing legislation. Dutch citizens vote for their representatives in the EU Parliament every five years. The parliament, the Council of the European Union, and the European Commission together are the legislative arm of the E.U.

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both of which are responsible for making laws and making sure the government works. However, the inner workings of these houses are different from in the United States. In the Netherlands, the lower house is called the Second Chamber, which consists of 150 representatives elected by Dutch citizens every four years. The 75 members of the First Chamber are elected by members of the parliaments of the 12 provinces every four years. Voters do not directly vote for them. Instead, voters elect the members of the provincial parliaments, who in turn elect First Chamber members Members of the Second Chamber are elected by party, not a geographic region within the country, such as is the case in America. The number of seats a party has in the Second Chamber is proportional to the number of votes it received in the election. If a party received 30 percent of the vote in the election, it will receive 30 percent of the 150 seats in the Second Chamber, or 45 seats. A person within a party has to receive a certain number of votes to win a seat. Given that 15 parties are represented in the Second Chamber, no single party has a majority. A coalition of parties must come together and agree on a platform to create a

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The Netherlands is the largest of four countries that make up the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The Kingdom includes the three Caribbean island nations of Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten. It is a constitutional monarchy. The government is run by a cabinet of 20 ministers and state secretaries who oversee 11 ministries, such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defense, and the Ministry of Finance. A King or Queen is the head of state Although the capital of the Netherlands is Amsterdam, the government is situated in The Hague The Prime Minister is Mark Rutte and the King is Willem-Alexander of OrangeNassau. The Prime Minister is the head of the government’s executive branch, the leader of the cabinet, and elected by the people every four years. The King is the monarch by birth and will serve as long as he wishes. Although the King or Queen is the head of state, he or she has no real political power because his or her role is defined and limited by the Dutch Constitution. The real power lies with the ministers. Just like the United States, the Netherlands has a lower and upper house,

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The Dutch Monarchy The Netherlands has been a monarchy since March 16, 1815, when William I became the first King of the Netherlands. However, members of the House of Orange-Nassau have governed the Kingdom since 1559, when William of Orange was appointed stadtholder. William of Orange is considered the Father of the Nation because he was the leader of the Dutch revolution against

Spain. The current King is WillemAlexander of Orange-Nassau, who succeeded his mother, Princess Beatrix, on April 30, 2013. The ministers, not the monarch, are responsible for the acts of the Dutch government, and are accountable to Parliament for what they say and do. The ministers, who together make up the cabinet, are responsible for making

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The Royal Family in 2012. ©RVD

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His Majesty King Willem-Alexander and Her Majesty Queen Máxima. Photo by Koos Breukel. ©RVD.

decisions to run the government. The King meets weekly with the prime minister, speaks regularly with ministers and state secretaries, signs all new Acts of Parliament and royal decrees, and ratifies (as part of the government) international treaties. At the State Opening of Parliament on the third Tuesday in September, he delivers the Speech from the Throne, in which the government announces its plans for the coming parliamentary year. The Constitution requires that the monarch appoints, dismisses and swears in all government ministers and state secretaries. In view of this constitutional role, and at the request of the House, the King can be kept apprised of all developments in the government formation process. The monarch is officially the president of the Council of State, a historical role. Apart from the official duties as head of state, the King is committed to the people of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in a binding, representative, and supportive way. The King seeks to unite people and groups, and supports individuals and organizations in their efforts to promote social cohesion. In this non-partisan role, he also gives expression to the prevailing national mood at times of celebration or mourning. The King regularly visits the provinces and pays other working visits to learn of the issues that affect people at local level. Throughout the year he travels to many locations within the Netherlands

learning about opportunities, possibilities and problems in different provinces, villages and towns. The King also represents the kingdom abroad. He makes a number of international visits, often accompanied by the Queen, and receives heads of state and government on visits to the Netherlands. The King frequently attends conferences, openings, celebrations, commemorations, and other official events. In this way, he draws attention to important social initiatives. In addition to official events, the King also makes informal working visits to learn about specific subjects or organizations. As King Willem-Alexander’s wife, Queen Máxima’s main role is to support the head of state in performing his formal duties and the other work he does in the interests of the inhabitants of the Kingdom, assisting him in his task of unifying, representing and encouraging the people. Queen Máxima holds numerous public posts, and represents the Royal House at official functions of all kinds. She plays a non-voting role of the Council of State. She occupies a number of other positions in the Netherlands and abroad. The Royal Family is popular in the Netherlands. The color orange is a source of national pride as a representation of the House of OrangeNassau. For national sporting events and on King’s Day (the national celebration of the King’s birthday on April 27),


King Willem-Alexander King Willem-Alexander was born as crown prince on April 27, 1967, in the Dutch city of Utrecht. He was the first male Dutch royal baby since the birth of Prince Alexander in 1851, and the first immediate male heir since Alexander’s death in 1884. After his military service from 19851987, Willem-Alexander studied history

at Leiden University from 1987 onwards, and received his master’s degree in 1993. King Willem-Alexander is interested in water management and sports issues. He was an honorary member of the World Commission on Water for the 21st century and patron of the Global Water Partnership, a body established by the World Bank, the UN, and the Swedish Ministry of Development.

Queen Máxima Queen Máxima was born as Máxima Zorreguieta in Buenos Aires, Argentina on May 17, 1971. She studied economics in Buenos Aires and later completed her studies

with a master’s degree in the United States. She subsequently worked for large international finance companies in Argentina, New York, and Brussels. She also worked as a teacher of English language to children and adults, and of mathematics for high school students and freshmen. She met Crown Prince WillemAlexander at the Seville Spring Fair in Spain in April 1999. On March 30, 2001, Queen Beatrix announced the engagement of Willem-Alexander and Máxima on public television. On February 2, 2002, Willem-Alexander and Máxima married in Amsterdam.

King’s Day King’s Day is a national holiday in the Netherlands celebrated on April 27, the birthday of King Willem-Alexander. It used to be celebrated on April 30, Queen Juliana’s birthday. Queen Beatrix chose April 30 to celebrate Queen’s Day in honor of her mother. When King’s Day falls on a Sunday, it is celebrated on the previous Saturday. Typical celebrations on King’s Day include flea markets and other events for children, and people celebrating on the streets while wearing orange clothes (see picture). The King and Queen each year visit a Dutch municipality on King’s Day.

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people throughout the Netherlands wear orange. Willem-Alexander and his wife Máxima have three daughters: Amalia, Alexia and Ariane. Princess Amalia is the successor to the throne.

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The government sometimes needs to pass new laws in response to societal changes or to keep the country running smoothly. Both the Dutch legislature, made up of the Second Chamber and Senate, as well as the King play a role in making laws. Here’s a short-hand version of how a bill becomes a law in the Netherlands. For a full explanation, follow this link: http://www.HouseofRepresentatives.nl/how-bill-becomes-law

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Anne Frank’s legacy inspires support for human rights

Anne Frank

February 3, 1944: “Dear Kitty, I’ve reached the point where I hardly care whether I live or die. The world will keep on turning without me, and I can’t do anything to change events anyway. I’ll just let matters take their course […] and hope that everything will be all right in the end.” So begins an entry in one of the most important books of the 20th century, “The Diary of Anne Frank.” World War II was raging in Europe. To avoid Nazi persecution, a Jewish girl named Anne Frank had to live in hiding in Amsterdam with her family. She kept a diary during that time, leaving behind one of the most powerful memoirs of the Holocaust.

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A nation working for security and human rights

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The rule of law and human rights are neither Dutch nor American values. They are universal values that form the foundation of civilized societies, ensure long-term global security, and allow social progress and economic mobility. The Netherlands is dedicated to promoting and defending these ideals. In fact, doing so is written in the Dutch constitution, which guides the government’s interactions with the community of nations. The Dutch work aggressively with the United States and through international groups to hold violators of international law and human rights accountable for their actions. Together, this partnership demands protection of and respect for justice, equality and human

Anne Frank was born in Germany in 1929, but moved with her family to the Netherlands four years later when Adolf Hitler of the Nazi party became Germany’s new leader. Hitler did not like Jewish people, and blamed them for many of the problems facing Germany. The Frank family lived a normal life in Amsterdam for six years. Anne went to school, learned Dutch, and made new friends. Life for the Franks changed when Germany invaded Poland in 1939, setting off World War II in Europe. The Germans took control over the Netherlands when Dutch forces surrendered on May 15, 1940. As the war continued, the Nazis began persecuting Jewish people. They were forced to live in Jewish-only neighborhoods and wear yellow stars on their clothing. They were not allowed to own a business, have a job, or even go to the movies. The Germans also started sending Jews to labor camps, where many of them died. One day in 1942, Anne’s older sister Margot was ordered to go to a labor camp. Otto, Anne’s father, decided it was time to flee to the United States. When that attempt failed, Anne, her parents, her sister, and four others secretly moved into the back of a large house on one of the canals in Amsterdam. Bookshelves disguised the entrance of a small hideout, generally referred to as the “secret annex.” There were three tiny rooms, a kitchen, and a bathroom. Anne lived in the annex for two years. As long as the Germans were in power, the Franks could not come out of hiding. To avoid capture, they had to be quiet. All the windows were covered with curtains. The Frank family depended on the help of a group of Dutch friends to bring them food, clothes and books. Shortly before going into hiding, Anne

Frank received a diary for her birthday. The 13-year-old loved the gift, and started writing instantly. In the annex, she wrote about life shielded from the outside world, the unfairness of her situation, and the horrendous conditions in which her family was living. She also wrote a lot about herself, and how she dreamed to become a journalist or a writer. Writing in the diary was one of the only ways Anne could express herself, and the book became her friend. She started every diary entry with “Dear Kitty,” as if Anne was in a conversation with a person. On Aug. 4, 1944, just months before the Germans were defeated, Anne Frank and the others living in the annex were arrested and deported to Auschwitz, a concentration camp. Anne later died in another camp, Bergen-Belsen, at age 15. Only Anne’s father Otto survived the camps. No one knows how the Germans found the annex. Some of the people who helped hide the Franks were caught and brought to working camps as well, but not all of them. Miep Gies, after hearing about the raid, went into the secret annex, and found Anne’s diary untouched. Miep gave it to Otto when he returned to the Netherlands. After the war, Otto published the diary, which has since been translated into 71 languages and became a bestseller. The story of a young girl losing her chance at a normal life due to the Holocaust turned Anne Frank into an important symbol for supporters of universal human rights around the world. Her bravery and legacy live on, as Dutch diplomats continue to honor her legacy by continuing to work for human rights. The house in Amsterdam where Anne and her family hid still exists. A million people visit it every year.

dignity, and advance democracy and freedom worldwide. History has demonstrated the impact of nations acting in concert to protect basic human rights. The Dutch are proud to play an important role in the global community to allow people to live free of violence, discrimination, and poverty, and enjoy political and religious freedom. The Netherlands participates in and hosts a variety of international courts and institutions, including the Permanent Court of Arbitration (est. 1899), the International Court of Justice (est. 1945), and the International Criminal Court (est. 2002).

Anne Frank house model


Stroopwafels

Dutch Delicacies

Bitterballen

A stroopwafel is a typical Dutch waffle made from two layers of baked dough with caramel in between. The Dutch eat this waffle as a snack or during a tea or coffee break. The waffle originates from Gouda, which is also the home of the famous cheese. Stroopwafels were first made in the late 18th century, and are available at any supermarket in the Netherlands and often during street markets.

This savory snack is popular in the Netherlands. Many bars and pubs have it on their menus, normally as part of a selection of food that goes well with drinks. A bitterbal is a thick mixture of beef or veal that is battered in a mixture of bread crumbs and eggs then deep fried.

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Famous Dutch people

Oliebollen On New Year’s Eve, it’s a Dutch tradition to eat oliebollen, which are deep-fried dough balls, often studded with raisins and sweetened with powdered sugar. You can only buy them around Christmas and New Year’s Eve at food stands that pop up for the season.

Hagelslag Mo Willems

Carice Van Houten

Mo Willems

two series.

Mo Willems created Knuffle Bunny, one of the main characters in a children’s picture book trilogy, as well as a series of books featuring a pigeon that wants to drive a bus, that finds a hot dog, and much more. Although born in Chicago and raised in New Orleans, Mo Willems is the son of Dutch immigrants. The Knuffle Bunny trilogy is about a young girl named Trixie and her stuffed animal she calls Knuffle Bunny. In fact, “knuffel” is another word for cuddly animal in Dutch!

Carice van Houten

Famke Janssen Famke Janssen, who was born in Amstelveen, North Holland, had her breakthrough movie role in 1995 as a villain in the James Bond movie, “GoldenEye.” She also starred in the X-Men movies as Jean Grey. She was born in the Netherlands and moved to the United States in 1984, first to work as a model and then later as an actress.

Michiel Huisman

Carice van Houten, who was born in Leiderdorp, South Holland, is best known for her role of Melisandre in “Game of Thrones.” Before that she had roles in Valkyrie, where she played the wife of Tom Cruise, and in Intruders, where she played together with Clive Owen.

Doutzen Kroes Doutzen Kroes, who was born in Eastermar, Friesland, is a world famous Victoria Secret model. She has a contract with L’Oréal, and has been on the cover of many magazines, such as Time, Vogue, Elle and Marie Claire. She has also worked for many brands, including Gucci, Tommy Hilfiger, Versace and Calvin Klein.

Afrojack, Armin van Buuren, Tiësto The Netherlands has a number of famous DJs. Tiësto was the first Dutch DJ who became famous worldwide with songs like “Adagio for Strings” and “Traffic. Armin van Buuren has been declared the number one DJ in the world five times. He’s most famous songs are “This Is What It Feels Like” and “Intense.” Afrojack became famous songs such as “Take Over Control” and “The Spark.”

Tiësto

This famous Dutch fish takes some getting used to because of its distinct flavor. The Dutch eat this fish plain, or with chopped onion and pickles. A typical way of eating herring is to lift up the fish by its tail, lean your head back with your mouth open, and take a bite. The Dutch tradition of eating herring originates from the Middle Ages, when it was preserved by pickling due to the lack of refrigeration. Nowadays, herring is still caught in the North Sea between the end of May and the beginning of July. To celebrate the herring season, many so-called herring parties are organized all over the country.

Bitterballen

Dutch Inventions Microscope A microscope is an instrument with a magnifying lens for inspecting objects that are too small to see with the naked eye. The Dutch spectacle maker Sacharias Jansen and his father Hans are thought to have invented it around 1595. However, it was the Dutch inventor Antoni van Leeuwenhoek that improved the microscope drastically half a century later. For the first time in history, viruses and bacteria were visible, and we suddenly knew why many people fell sick. Submarine People have been experimenting with submarines for hundreds of years, but Dutch inventor Cornelis Drebbel built the first successful submarine in 1620. At that time, he was working for an English company in the service of King James I of England. Pendulum Clock Dutch scientist Christiaan Huygens invented the pendulum clock in 1656, a revolutionary device that created a uniform pattern for measuring time. CD, DVD and Blu-ray The Dutch company Philips is responsible for many technological inventions, such as the compact cassette tape (1962), the compact disc (1979), the digital versatile disc (1995) and Bluray (2006). The company started as a light bulb producer, but has created many other technological products over the years. Wi-Fi Dutch engineer Vic Hayes is sometimes called the “Father of Wi-Fi” because he was the first chair of a workgroup that created a Wi-Fi standard in 1997. He and his team played an important role developing this wireless Internet connection.

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Afrojack

Haring/Herring

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Michiel Huisman, who was born in Amstelveen, North Holland, had roles in several American TV series and movies including “Game of Thrones,” “World War Z,” “Nashville,” and “Treme.” He is also a guitarist, and played a musician in the last

Stroopwafels

Depending on where you live, you might call these small piece candies either sprinkles or Jimmies, and use them as a topping for ice cream or donuts. The Dutch prefer hagelslag, which is not as sweet as American sprinkles, on buttered bread.

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Dutch Masters prospered during the Golden Age The Dutch Golden Age was a period of enormous progress for the Netherlands that started in the late 1500s. The economy flourished as the Dutch expanded overseas, leading to great advances in the arts and sciences. This was true especially in regards to painting, an artistic field in which the Dutch displayed a particularly innovative spirit. Before the Golden Age, paintings were mainly for the elite, but an increased standard of living that accompanied the economic growth created a new class of people who were interested in art. Trying to serve these people, Dutch painters tried to liberate themselves from the conservative standards that helped keep art an elitist undertaking. The “Dutch Masters” produced works that were groundbreaking, changing and redefining the art of painting. Even today, many people around the world know “The Night Watch” by Rembrandt Van Rijn (1606-1669), widely considered to be the greatest painter of the Dutch Golden Age. “The Night Watch,” painted in 1642, depicts a citizen militia marching out. In the work, Rembrandt makes smart contrasts between light and darkness. The painting is also special in that it seems to show motion in a time when portraits were static. Finally, at about 12 feet by 14 feet,

The Girl with a Pearl Earring the painting is enormous. It hangs in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, the city where he lived for most of his life. “The Milkmaid” and “The Girl with a Pearl Earring” are good examples of the pioneering style of Johannes Vermeer (1632-1675). Many of the paintings during this time showed two-dimensional, flat people, but Vermeer wanted to go into a different, innovative direction. His style, called realist, created three-dimensionality, so that portraits looked truer to life than

before. “The Milkmaid” hangs in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, while “The Girl with a Pearl Earring” is on display in the Mauritshuis Museum in The Hague. In total, Vermeer created around 45 paintings, 35 of which are still exhibited. “Malle Babbe,” (translation: Crazy Babs) a portrait of a lady believed to have suffered from a mental illness, is one of the most prominent paintings made by Frans Hals (1583-1666). Hals is well known for regularly breaking conventional standards in his search for a more vibrant atmosphere in his paintings. Hals, who lived in the prosperous city of Haarlem, was popular among the Dutch elite, explaining why many of his paintings are portraits of rich people. Hals always wanted to tell a story with his paintings by using bold colors and accentuating facial expressions. Even though humor may not be the first thing expected to show up in a painting, it’s difficult not to grin when seeing Jan Steen’s (1626-1679) most famous work, “The World Turned Upside Down.” Painted sometime around 1669, it is a daily life portrait of a messy Dutch family that does not abide by the social rules of that time: a little boy is smoking a pipe, a young woman has a man’s leg on her lap and a man is playing the violin. This was an unusual work, as paintings normally showed clean houses and orderly families that behaved appropriately. Jan Steen, born in Leiden, made it his specialty to include lighthearted elements in his works: Cheerful children feature in many of his works. Some people say that Steen made these messy paintings to make people feel better about themselves and their own families. “The Starry Night” is probably Vincent van Gogh’s (1853-1890) most famous painting. Van Gogh painted this work in 1889, and it shows the starry night over a small city with houses, a cypress tree and a church. It hangs in the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. Even though Van Gogh lived some 200 years after the Golden Age, he is generally considered one of the Dutch Masters. Van Gogh’s works are more abstract, but he still tried to place recognizable emotions into his works. His style, called post-impressionism, has had a big influence on modern art. He completed more than 1,000 drawings and 150 watercolor paintings during his lifetime. His paintings and drawings are popular all over the world, but during his lifetime Vincent van Gogh was virtually unknown. The works of the Dutch Masters may be centuries old, but their influence on

Netherlands.

Johannes Vermeer (1632-1675) Johannes Vermeer was born in Delft in the southwest of the Netherlands. He is one of the most famous painters of the Dutch Golden Age. His style was special because he tried to capture everyday life scenes in a realist way. Many of his paintings show optical illusions and three-dimensionality. Vermeer probably made around 45 paintings, 35 of which are maintained. Among them are paintings like “The Milkmaid,” which is famous for its realist and tangible style, and “The Girl with a Pearl Earring.”

Vincent van Gogh the arts is still visible. Moreover, it was the innovative spirit they embodied when they created their awe-inspiring art that continues to thrive in the Netherlands today.

Frans Hals (1583-1666) Frans Hals was born in Antwerp, Belgium, but his parents moved to Haarlem, the Netherlands to escape the Spanish invasion. Hals would live there the remainder of his life. Frans Hals is famous for his loose

Rembrandt van Rijn (1606-1669) Rembrandt van Rijn was probably the greatest painter of the Dutch Golden Age. He was the son of a miller and was born in Leiden, although he lived and worked most of his life in Amsterdam. His house in Amsterdam is now a museum. Rembrandt was, unlike many other painters and artists, famous and publicly successful during his own lifetime. One of his best known paintings is “The Night Watch,” which he painted in 1642. “The Night Watch” depicts a city guard moving out, led by Captain Frans Banning Cocq, his lieutenant, and the rest of the guard’s armed men.

Frans Hals

Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890) Vincent van Gogh was born in Zundert in the Netherlands. He lived and worked in the Netherlands, Belgium and France, and died in Auvers-sur-Oise in France. Van Gogh completed more than 1,000 drawings and 150 watercolor paintings during his lifetime. His paintings and drawings are popular all over the world, but Vincent van Gogh was not popular during his lifetime. His style is often categorized as postimpressionism. He made many beautiful paintings, such as “The Potato Eaters,” “Sunflowers,” and several self-portraits and landscapes. But “The Starry Night” is probably his most famous painting. Van Gogh painted this work in 1889, and it shows the starry night over a small city with houses, a cypress tree and a church. It hangs in the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. Most of his other paintings hang in the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, the

technique, which was called the “rough style” by his contemporaries. He produced more than 300 paintings during his lifetime. Most of them were portraits. Hals was a popular painter among rich people, who asked him to paint their portrait.

Jan Steen (1626-1679) Jan Steen was born in Leiden, and lived there his entire life. He liked to paint cheerful people, especially children, having fun. He was unique in adding humor to his paintings. He also painted portraits and historical scenes. His most famous work is probably “The World Turned Upside Down.” It hangs in the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, Austria, and it was painted sometime around 1669. It’s a daily life portrait of a messy Dutch family: a little boy is smoking a pipe, a young woman has a man’s leg on her lap and a man is playing the violin.


Franklin Delano Roosevelt

Warren G. Harding

Of the 43* people who have served as president of the United States, six were of Dutch ancestry: Martin van Buren (1782-1862), Theodore Roosevelt (18581919), Warren G. Harding (1865-1923), Franklin Delano Roosevelt (1882-1945), George H.W. Bush (1924-) and George W. Bush (1946-). Martin van Buren was born in 1782 in one of the Dutch enclaves in New York. He is the only president who did not speak English as his first language, having grown up speaking Dutch. He became the eighth president of the United States in 1837, and served until 1841. Just like van Buren, the Roosevelts belonged to a family going back to the time of New Netherland — Dutch territory from Delaware Bay to Cape Code. They were among the first of many families that settled in the United States during Dutch colonial times. Theodore Roosevelt was the 26th president of the United States, and served from 1901-1909. Franklin D. Roosevelt (Theodore’s fifth cousin) was the 32nd president, and served from 1933 until his death in 1945.

Warren G. Harding was the 29th president of the United States, and served from 1921-1923. His mother’s ancestors were part of the Van Kirk family. Both Bush presidents are descendants of the Schuyler family, which was prominent in New York and New Jersey. Other members of the Schuyler family include Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, the first secretary of the Treasury, and Philip J. Schuyler, a general in the American Revolution. The elder Bush was the 41st president of the United States, and served from 1989-1993. His son was the 43rd president, and served from 2001-2009. Even President Barack Obama, as a descendant of the Blossom family of Pilgrims, has ancestral ties to the Netherlands. The Pilgrims lived in Leiden, a city in South Holland, for a decade before crossing the Atlantic on the Mayflower. * While Barack Obama is the 44th president of the United States, only 43 people have served in office. Grover Cleveland was elected to two, nonconsecutive terms, so his presidencies are counted separately.

NETHERLANDS

U.S. presidents of Dutch ancestry

George W. Bush

Theodore Roosevelt

The role of the Dutch in the American Revolution the head of state or chief executive, was Prince William V, an in-law of England’s King George III. He led the pro-England faction within the Dutch government and blocked attempts to support an

Robinson of the Andrew Doria entered the harbor on a ship sailing under a new American flag, and Gov. de Graaf acknowledged her presence by ordering the customary 11 shots fired from the

The Dutch-American relationship blossomed during the generations that followed, as thousands of merchant ships sailed between the East Coast, the Netherlands, and the Dutch Caribbean. fort. The British were furious. Gov. de Graaf was called back home to answer for his actions, but was ultimately reinstated as governor of the island. When England found out about the secret negotiations between Dutch merchants in Amsterdam and the Colonists, the British Crown declared war, the fourth Anglo-Dutch war between the Netherlands and England in the long struggle to control sea and trade routes in the 17th and 18th centuries. The Dutch and America were both at war against Britain at the same time, and popular sentiment of the Dutch was with America from the beginning. Revolutionary War figure John Paul

| THURSDAY • MAY 21 • 2015

independent America. Meanwhile, the Dutch people, merchants in Amsterdam were working around the government, were in contact with American revolutionaries as early as 1775. The Dutch island of St. Eustatius in the Caribbean became the focal point of trade with the Colonies, particularly arms. And they were busy — 2,700 ships sailed through the island’s port in 1777 alone. Ships arrived on America’s Eastern seaboard every day, most of them carrying gunpowder and weapons. It was at here, on the island of St. Eustatius, where Gov. Johannes de Graaf on Nov. 16, 1776, ordered the first-ever salute of the American flag. Capt. Josiah

Jones even recognized the support of the Dutch people. He received shelter in the Netherlands in spite of violent protests from England, and was cheered as a hero wherever he went. In December 1779, he wrote from the Netherlands, “The Dutch people are for us and for the war.” The Netherlands also financially supported a young America. In 1782, John Adams, who later became America’s first ambassador to the Netherlands, obtained the first loan of five million guilders for Congress from three banks in Amsterdam. Those initial loans represented the Netherlands’ first investment in the world’s newest nation, a relationship that continues to play an important role today and supports 685,000 American jobs. The Netherlands remains just as invested in the U.S. today, not only through trade, but also through the exchange of knowledge, combined humanitarian efforts, and joint efforts in keeping world peace. A special thank you to George Welling of the University of Groningen in the Netherlands. His essays on the role of the Dutch in the American Revolution were crucial for the details in this story.

NEWSPAPERS IN EDUCATION

The Netherlands has been an ally and trading partner of the United States since before the colonists declared their independence from Great Britain on July 4, 1776. In fact, formal trading relations began 162 years earlier, on Oct. 11, 1614, when the Dutch legislature granted the United New Netherlands Company the exclusive right to trade with the people who lived between latitudes 40 and 45 in the New World. That area is now known as New York City. The Dutch-American relationship blossomed during the generations that followed, as thousands of merchant ships sailed between the East Coast, the Netherlands, and the Dutch Caribbean. Business was good for many years. But trade eventually felt the effects of civil unrest, which reached a boiling point between the 13 colonies and Great Britain in the second half of the 18th century. The Netherlands found itself between two competing interests. While merchants in Amsterdam wanted to keep trade flowing with the American Colonies, the Dutch government was siding with Great Britain. The Dutch stadtholder, essentially

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NETHERLANDS

| NEWSPAPERS IN EDUCATION THURSDAY • MAY 21 • 2015

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Global leaders in food and horticulture Many people picture tulips when they think of the Netherlands, but Dutch agriculture is much more diverse than just these colorful bulbs. In fact, the Netherlands is the world’s second largest exporter of agricultural products, behind only the United States, thanks to its innovative farming technologies. Between dairy, vegetables, beef, poultry, pork, flowers, and more, the Dutch agri-food industry makes up 20 percent of the Netherlands’ total export value. In recent decades, farms became larger and production became more intensive. As a result, fertilizers and manure made more impact on the countryside. Farming had to become more sustainable, so it did. Today, the Dutch agricultural sector is strongly focused on sustainability: it is a source of healthy, safe food that is produced with respect for the landscape and the environment. Horticulture, or the growing of flowers and vegetables in greenhouses, is a key part of the Dutch agri-food industry. The Dutch horticulture sector is an international market leader in flowers, plants, seeds and bulbs. It forms the heart of an international network for floriculture, bulbs, and decorative trees, as well as fruit and vegetables, which has made the Netherlands world leaders in greenhouse horticulture. Dutch greenhouse inventiveness is well known. Nowhere else in the world are plants grown on such a large scale. Dutch greenhouses cover an area of more than 60 square kilometers (nearly 40 square miles), That’s why some people call the southwestern part of Holland the “City of Glass.” The greenhouses have a relatively low impact on the environment. The focus is on concepts and technologies, such as recycling water and using LED lights, which facilitate energy-efficiency and adaptability to climate change.

Water and the Dutch: A tale of survival To tell the history of the Netherlands is to tell the story of water management. With more than two-thirds of the land at or below sea level, the Netherlands has always been prone to water problems. In fact, the country has experienced two major floods every century over the last millennium. These floods have continually encouraged the Dutch to come up with innovative ways to manage water. That started way back: Around the year 800, the first “terpen,” or man-made hills on which to retreat when floods occurred, were built. Two centuries later, the Dutch became familiar with using natural resources, such as sand, to make dikes. They also began to use windmills in a whole new way. Instead of solely grinding wheat and grain, windmills helped preserve low-lying pieces of land by pumping out excess water.

Closing off a sea For a long time, the Zuiderzee (the Southern Sea), an inlet of the North Sea, caused water-related problems in central parts of Netherlands. In the early 1900s, the Dutch had had enough. The Afsluitdijk (the closure dike) was constructed, a 20-mile dike connecting the provinces of North Holland and Friesland. This turned the Zuiderzee into a fresh water lake, now called the Ijsselmeer. Besides keeping the water from entering, the Afsluitdijk is also one of the Netherlands’ main roads. After constructing the Afsluitdijk, the Dutch could start working on another

revolutionary project. In order to create new land, a big part of the Ijsselmeer was drained, and a province called Flevoland was founded. Completion of the project took almost 75 years.

North Sea Flood of 1953 Notwithstanding these efforts to make the Netherlands a safer place, tragedy struck in 1953. The North Sea Flood of 1953, a combination of storms, high tide and low pressure, caused the water levels in the South-Western part of the country to exceed 18.4 feet above sea level. The flood and waves overwhelmed sea defenses and caused extensive flooding. The water destroyed 10,000 buildings and damaged 47,300 more. The death toll reached 1,836 people and 30,000 farm animals. Eager to avoid another devastating flood, the Dutch constructed the Delta Works, a massive chain of structures protecting the Dutch provinces of South Holland, North Brabant and Zeeland against high North Sea tides and storms. The main idea was to close off the different water openings, thereby shortening the shoreline. The Delta Works are a unique piece of civil engineering and have been called one of the seven wonders of the modern world.

What will the future bring? These days it is actually not the North Sea that is causing the biggest water challenges. Rivers, such as the Rhine and the Meuse, are posing a more potent threat. Climate change is causing mountain ice caps to melt and water

levels in the rivers to rise, increasing the chance of big floods. There’s a lot of work to do. To tackle the challenges of tomorrow, Dutch Water Boards have come up with the 2015 Delta Plan, a long-term vision that includes an investment of $26 billion over 30 years. A part of the plan is to strengthen about 1,000 miles of dikes alongside the Netherlands’ main rivers, while allowing the rivers to flood in some areas where there are no buildings. This plan will protect 16.8 million Dutch people from future flooding.

Water and the United States The Dutch haven’t kept their expertise to themselves. Hours after Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in 2005, the Dutch Royal Navy participated in search-and-rescue operations and helped pump water out from the city. Levees were inspected and repaired. American policymakers were advised on long-term sustainable planning. Due to Hurricane Sandy in 2012, the New York area experienced what grave damage floods can do. Dutch engineers helped New York recover from the hurricane and were asked to take part in work groups trying to prevent floods in the future. Meanwhile, the Dutch carry on doing what they always done. Living surrounded by water has taught them how to constantly find new ways to battle rising sea and river levels and manipulate the landscape the deal with this problem.

Photo credit: Netherlands Board of Tourism and Conventions

Maeslant Barrier


D

A) 16.8 million B) Four: The Netherland, Aruba, Curacao and St. Maarten C) Dutch East India Company (VOC) D) The Night Watch A) How much of the Netherlands is at or below sea level? B) How many members are there in the Second Chamber of Parliament? C) Name one famous invention of the Dutch. D) Name two Dutch Masters.

A

B

C

D

A

B

C

D

A) True B) Constitutional monarchy C) Nutmeg, pepper, cinnamon, cloves, silk, cotton, porcelain, coffee, tea, sugar D) Mo Willems

C

A) Name two US presidents who have Dutch roots? B) How often are there elections for Parliament? C) Why is the southwest of the Netherlands sometimes called a “City of Glass?” D) Who is Doutzen Kroes?

A

B

C

D

A

B

C

D

A) Which city was founded as New Amsterdam in 1609? B) Who swears in the members of the Cabinet? C) How much money did the Netherlands loan a young America shortly after the Revolution? D) What is the Dutch favorite fish to eat?

A

B

C

D

A) When did the Dutch Golden Age start? B) How long can the king serve? C) Name the biggest foreign investor in the Netherlands. D) Name the ice-skating race that covers 11 cities.

A

B

C

D

A) End of the 16th century B) As long as he wishes C) The United States D) Elf Steden Tocht, or the 11 Cities Tour

B

A) How have the Dutch kept water out? B) Name the political capital of the Netheralnds. C) Name two important export products from the Netherlands. D) The top three DJs in the world are Dutch. Name one.

A) Windmills and dikes B) The Hague C) Cheese, vegetables, flowers, financial services, computer technology, water technology D) Tiesto, Afrojack, Armin van Buuren

A

A) True or false: The Rhine River was the northern border of the Roman Empire. B) Is the Netherlands a republic or constitutional monarchy? C) Name two goods the Dutch traded with the East. D) Name the Dutch creator of Knuffle bunny.

A) Who did the Dutch fight during the 80-Years War? B) True or False: The Netherlands co-founded what is now the European Union? C) How many jobs are supported by the economic ties between the US and the Netherlands? D) How many colors are there in the Dutch flag?

A

B

C

D

A) Two-thirds B) 150 C) WiFi, DVDs, microscope, submarine D) Rembrandt, Vermeer, Hals, Van Gogh, Jan Steen

A) Van Buren, Bush, Roosevelt, Obama B) At least every four years C) Because of all the greenhouses. D) A Dutch top model

A) New York B) The King C) 5 million guilders D) Herring

A) Spain B) True C) 685,000 D) Three: red, white and blue

A) In what year did the Netherlands become the current kingdom? B) How many chambers make up the Dutch Parliament? C) In what year did the Netherlands and US colonists start trading with each other? D) If you stretched out all the bicycle lanes in the Netherlands, into one long lane, how long would it be?

A) Name the Dutch Jewish girl who wrote the world’s most famous diary. B) The Netherlands is divided into how many provinces? C) True or False: The Netherlands is the fourth largest exporter of agricultural procuts. D) Name the King.

A) What country borders the Netherlands to the east? B) True or False: A bill needs approval of two chambers to become law. C) How much will the 2015 Dutch Delta Plan cost? D) What is King’s Day?

B

C

D

A) 1814 B) Two C) 1614 D) More than 18,000 miles

A

A

B

C

D

A) Anne Frank B) 12 C) False. The Netherlands is the second largest. D) Willem-Alexander

D

A

B

C

D

A) Germany B) True C) $26 billion over 30 years D) A national celebration of the King’s birthday

C

| THURSDAY • MAY 21 • 2015

B

NEWSPAPERS IN EDUCATION

A) Why is the color orange so important to the Dutch? B) True or False: Every party needs a coalition to govern. C) The Dutch agri-food industry makes up what percent of the Netherlands’ total export value. D) Name the most popular sport in the Netherlands.

A

NETHERLANDS

A) How many people live in the Netherlands? B) How many countries make up the Kingdom of the Netherlands? C) Name the first Dutch international trading company. D) Name Rembrandt’s most famous work.

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A) It is the color of the House of Orange, the Royal Family. B) True C) 20 percent D) Soccer



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