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[There is Hope - Zoo Brazil]
The Netherlands were a very hard place to live because half the country's area was below
sea level, therefore dikes were necessary to hold back the sea.
In 57 B.C., the Netherlands, which was inhabited by Germanic tribes, was conquered by Julius
Caesar and incorporated into the Roman Empire, and through time, passed through the Franks
and then placed under Spanish rule. After fighting alongside France in the 30
Years War against Spain and Austria, the United Provinces of the Netherlands, who had been
self-governing themselves for a few years already, were finally recognized as being
an independent state by others, and adopted a liberal constitution in 1848.
After Belgium provinces seperated, the Netherlands started growing economically.
They remained neutral in WWI, and in an attempt to keep growing as a state,
the Netherlands have put the horrors of WWII in the past and is now one of the wealthiest
countries in the world.
The Franks brought Christianity into the Netherlands when they invaded them in the 5th century,
so 31% are Roman Catholic, while Protestants are 21% of the population.
When the Ottomans settled in the ports, they brought along the Islam faith, which is why
4.4% of the population are Islamic. Other religions make up 3.6%, while 40% of
the people are now considered unaffiliated and non-religious.
Dutch makes up more than 90% of all languages in the Netherlands.
The other 10% is made up of regional languages, some of which are known as Frisian, which
makes up approximately 2.5% of all languages, and Limburgish, which makes up approximately
4.5% of all languages.
The Netherlands occupies part of the Great European Plain.
It is a predominantly flat, gently rolling region with plains and hills.
In most places, the surface consists of either glacier-deposited sand, gravel, or clay.
Or, of the silt laid down by the rivers since the last Ice Age, such as the Meuse and Waal
rivers which drain into the North Sea. Roughly half of the land lies below sea level,
and the rest rarely rises more than 300 feet above sea level.
The population pyramid for the Netherlands represents a Stage 4 country with a low birth
rate, a low death rate, a long life expectancy, and a low dependency ratio.
The Netherlands is one of the most densely populated countries in the world, with 477
people per square kilometer. The Netherlands is a Stage 4 country with
excellent healthcare, advanced infastructure, a high GNP and GDP, and the 17th largest economy
in the world.
The Dutch economy is dependent on foreign trade as it is the World's 3rd largest exporter
of agricultural products, even despite its relatively small size.
Because the North Sea borders the West Coast of the Netherlands, it provides a great resource
for fishing, therefore making fishing a very profitable industry.
Because of the state's fertile soil, agriculture is the main industry of the Netherlands.
Farmers use the latest tools for farming, and the increased use of technology helps
maximize crop yields and livestock production. The Dutch have large natural gas and oil fields
in the North Sea. The exploitation of these resources provides
a great boost in the Dutch economy.
Communication between the native Dutch youth and the main immigration groups has decreased
tremendously over the last generation, or about 25 years.
The crime rate of young Muslim men is thrice that of the native Dutch youth.
Though controversial, the president himself has asked that burqas in the Muslim population
be banned. While Muslim criminals in their home countries
are usually beaten, the Dutch prefer to drink tea rather than fight.
The role of women in the labour market will significantly increase, while the role they
place in households will significantly decrease. Due to European Secularism, the role of religious
institutions will also suffer a tremendous blow.
By 2040, the population growth is expected to stabilize at 1 million a year, in which
immigration will account for 80%. The GDP is expected to be 2.7 times larger
in 2040 than it is today.
[There is Hope - Zoo Brazil]
Isn't Kush just so happy?