FACTS

Location: Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between Belgium and Germany

Area (only Total) total: 41,526 sq km

Climate: temperate; marine; cool summers and mild winters

Terrain: mostly coastal lowland and reclaimed land (polders); some hills in southeast

Population: 16,645,313

Main Language (only first): Dutch

Government type: constitutional monarchy

Capital (Name): Amsterdam

Capital (Time Difference): UTC+1

Independence: 23 January 1579 (the northern provinces of the Low Countries conclude the Union of Utrecht breaking with Spain; on 26 July 1581 they formally declared their independence with an Act of Abjuration; however, it was not until 30 January 1648 and the Peace of Westphalia that Spain recognized this independence)

National holiday: Queen's Day (Birthday of Queen-Mother JULIANA and accession to the throne of her oldest daughter BEATRIX), 30 April (1909 and 1980)

HOLIDAYS

January 1 New Year's Day

March 21 Good Friday*

March 23 Easter Sunday

March 24 Easter Monday

April 30 Queen's Day (Koninginnedag)

May 1 Ascension

May 1 Labour Day

May 5 Liberation Day1

May 12 Whit Monday

December 25 Christmas Day

December 26 Boxing Day

1Liberation day, though celebrated every year, is a public holiday only every 5 years, occurring in 2000, then 2005 and so on.

*Shops remain open on Good Friday.

Weekend: Saturday, Sunday