Top 10 Most Captivating Things About the Tulip Country - Netherlands

The population of the Netherlands was estimated at 17,093,000 in January 2017. It is the country with the highest population density in Europe if excluding city-states like Monaco or the Vatican City. From 1900 to 1950, the Dutch population nearly doubled from 5.1 to 10 million. From 1950 to 2000, the population continued to increase, reaching 15.9 million, but at a slower rate. The growth rate in 2013 was estimated at 0.44%.

The fertility rate in the Netherlands is 1.78 children per woman as estimated in 2013, higher than many other European countries but below the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman. Life expectancy at birth in the Netherlands is high, with 83.21 years for newborn girls and 78.93 for newborn boys estimated in 2013. The Netherlands has a migration rate of 1.99 migrants per 1,000 population per year.

With an average height of 184 cm for men and 170 cm for women, the Netherlands is the tallest country in the world. According to scientists, the reasons include DNA, nutrition, and their maximum welfare. Some Dutch people also believe that their height is due to the abundant fresh milk in their country.

The majority of Dutch residents belong to the Dutch ethnic group. As of 2005 estimates, the ethnic composition is 80.9% Dutch, 2.4% Indonesian, 2.4% German, 2.2% Turkish, 2.0% Surinamese, 1.9% Moroccan, 0.8% Antillean and Aruban, and 7.4% belong to other groups. There are around 150,000 to 200,000 expatriates living in the Netherlands, mostly concentrated in and around Amsterdam and The Hague, now constituting about 10% of the population of these cities.

The Netherlands is a densely populated country, with over 400 people/km², and if only land area is considered, this figure is over 500 people/km². Randstad is the largest urban agglomeration in the Netherlands, located in the western part of the country and comprising four major cities: Amsterdam in the province of North Holland, Rotterdam and The Hague in the province of South Holland, and Utrecht in the province of Utrecht. Randstad has around 7 million inhabitants and is the fifth-largest metropolitan area in Europe. According to Statistics Netherlands, in 2015, 28% of Dutch residents had disposable incomes over €40,000 (excluding spending on healthcare or education).

An interesting fact about the Netherlands is that it was the first country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage in 2001. It's not too surprising considering it's a country with innovations and laws that lead humanity, some of which could be considered pioneering. As such, the first same-sex marriages were conducted on April 1 of that year, and many same-sex couples legalized their relationships to bond with each other.

The European portion of the Netherlands lies between the latitudes of 50° and 54° N and the longitudes of 3° and 8° E. Geographically, the Netherlands is a very low and flat country, with about 26% of its area inhabited by 21% of the population lying below sea level, and only about 50% of the land being higher than 1 meter above sea level.

However, the Netherlands has hilly regions in the extreme southeast with elevations below 321 meters, and there are some low hills in the central part. Most of the areas below sea level are artificial, either resulting from peat mining causing subsidence or formed through land reclamation. Since the late 16th century, large coastal polders have been preserved through elaborate water management systems consisting of dikes, canals, and pumping stations. Nearly 17% of the country's land area has been reclaimed from the sea and lakes.

You might not know this, but this beautiful European country has over a quarter of its territory lying below sea level. Moreover, it's estimated that 50% of its area is less than 1 meter above sea level. This is something fascinating to know about the Netherlands. Fortunately, the Netherlands is not a country prone to disasters like tsunamis, so tourists can explore here with peace of mind.

Mobility on the roads of the Netherlands has been steadily increasing since the 1950s and now surpasses 200 billion kilometers traveled per year. About half of all trips in the Netherlands are made by car, 25% by bicycle, 20% by walking, and 5% by public transport. The total length of the road network is 139,295 kilometers, including 2,758 kilometers of motorways. The Netherlands has one of the densest road networks in the world, more extensive than Germany or France but less than Belgium.

About 13% of all trips are made by public transport, mostly by train. Like many other European countries, the Dutch rail network, which spans 3,013 kilometers, is quite extensive. The network is predominantly focused on passenger rail services and connects virtually all major urban areas. Rail lines operate frequently, with one or two trains per hour on minor routes, two to four trains per hour on average routes, and up to eight trains per hour on the busiest routes.

This is one of the fascinating facts about the Netherlands you should know before booking a flight here. No traffic jams, no hunting for parking spots, and no suffering from carbon emissions are the reasons behind this interesting reality.

A Dutch citizen may own 1 to 3 bicycles depending on various purposes such as commuting, going to school, or leisure. Also, don't be surprised to see bicycles in the Netherlands prioritized on the road with dedicated lanes. It would be a wonderful experience for tourists to explore here and there on bicycles like the locals.

The Netherlands has a long history of social tolerance and is now recognized as a free country, considering its drug policies and the legalization of euthanasia. In 2001, the Netherlands became the first country to legalize same-sex marriage. The Netherlands has a reputation for being a front-runner in environmental and population management.

In 2015, Amsterdam and Rotterdam ranked 4th and 5th, respectively, in the Arcadis Sustainable Cities Index. Sustainability is an important concept for the Dutch, and the government's goal is to have a sustainable, reliable, and affordable energy system by 2050, with CO2 emissions halved and 40% of electricity coming from sustainable sources.

The government is investing billions of euros in energy efficiency, sustainable energy, and CO2 reduction. The kingdom also encourages Dutch companies to build sustainable infrastructure, with financial support from the state for companies or individuals involved in making the country more sustainable.

Especially, there's a fantastic fact that there are no stray cats or dogs wandering the streets of the Netherlands (confirmed by the recent Dutch government). The reason given is that all pets are well taken care of in households here. Along with that, the Dutch government also has timely policies to prevent harm to pets, enacting strict laws against animal abuse.

About 13% of all journeys are made by public transport, mostly by train. Like many other European countries, the Netherlands railway network consists of 3,013 km and is quite dense. The network mainly focuses on passenger rail services and connects almost all major cities. Rail routes operate frequently, with one or two services per hour on smaller lines, two to four services per hour on average lines, and up to eight services per hour on the busiest routes.

As part of its commitment to environmental sustainability, the Dutch government initiated a plan to establish over 200 electric vehicle charging stations across the country by 2015. Deployment is carried out by the Swiss-based energy and automation company ABB and the Dutch startup Fastned, aiming to provide at least one station within a 50 km radius of every household in the Netherlands.

Still on the topic of environmental protection, the Dutch government has decided to ban the sale of gasoline and diesel vehicles from 2025 onwards. In addition, electric and solar-powered vehicles will be exempt from taxes, reducing their cost significantly. This is seen as a demand-stimulating policy worthy of emulation by many countries.

Cycling is a widespread mode of transportation in the Netherlands. The distance covered by bicycles is equivalent to that of trains. Dutch people are estimated to own at least 18 million bicycles, meaning there's more than one bike per person, double the number of about 9 million cars on the road.

In 2013, the European Cyclists' Federation ranked the Netherlands and Denmark as the most bike-friendly countries in Europe, but the Dutch (36%) outnumbered the Danes (23%) in terms of cycling being the most common mode of transportation on a daily basis.

The cycling infrastructure is comprehensive. Busy routes have around 35,000 km of dedicated cycling paths, naturally separated from motor traffic. Busy intersections often have traffic lights specifically for bicycles. Bike parking facilities are abundant, especially in city centers and at railway stations.

To minimize environmental emissions, electric cars are also encouraged instead of gasoline-powered ones. Therefore, the Dutch government has designed electric charging stations spaced 50 meters apart along roads for electric cars, encouraging people to use this environmentally friendly mode of transportation.

The majority of the Netherlands was originally formed by the estuaries of three major rivers in Europe: the Rhine (Rijn), the Meuse (Maas), and the Scheldt (Schelde), along with their tributaries. The southwestern part of the Netherlands remains a delta region of these three rivers, known as the Rhine-Meuse-Scheldt delta.

The Netherlands is divided into northern and southern parts by the Rhine River, with its largest tributary being the Waal, and the Meuse River. Historically, these rivers served as natural barriers between different regions, thus contributing to a cultural divide, evidenced by certain phonological differences.

Another important branch of the Rhine is the IJssel River, which drains into the IJsselmeer (formerly the Zuiderzee or 'Southern Sea'). Like the aforementioned rivers, this river serves as a linguistic boundary, with inhabitants northeast of the river speaking the Low Saxon Dutch dialect (except for the province of Friesland, which has its own language).

Giethoorn – a fairytale village in the Netherlands, where there is no smog or car honks, is an intriguing aspect of the Netherlands that tourists will find most captivating. All visitors arriving here must leave their cars outside the village, renting boats known as “Whisper boats”. These boats are characterized by noiseless engines, taking tourists on a tranquil tour around the village. Additionally, tourists can also stroll across more than 176 wooden arched bridges to explore the area.