Netherlands

E

Health and Welfare

The Dutch government administers one of Europe’s most comprehensive welfare states. Taxes and social security premiums together give the government command over nearly half the national income. Much of this revenue is spent on education, health, employment stimulation, and social welfare. Participation in the health insurance system is compulsory for everyone earning less than a certain wage (about 70 per cent of the population). The Dutch are also protected by unemployment benefits; sick pay; a guaranteed income for those physically unable to work; pensions for widows, orphans, and the elderly; minimum-wage regulations; and family allowances. One of the results is that the Netherlands has one of the world’s best health records. Infant mortality in 2007 was 5 deaths per 1,000 live births. Life expectancy was about 77 years for men and 82 years for women. In 1997, 15 per cent of government expenditure was allocated to health spending.

F

Defence

The military defence of the Netherlands is secured by the participation of its army, navy, and air force in NATO. In 1993 the government announced plans to cut the period of compulsory male military service from 12-15 months to 9 months, and its abolition was announced in August 1996. In 2004 the armed forces comprised some 53,130 personnel, of which 23,150 were in the army; 12,130 in the navy; and 11,050 in the air force. Women comprised 2,600 of the total.

G

International Organizations

The Netherlands has long advocated European integration and international cooperation. Consequently, in 1960 it helped establish the Benelux Economic Union, with Belgium and Luxembourg, to replace the 1948 customs union between the three states. The Netherlands was a founder member of the European Economic Community (EEC, now the European Union) in 1957, and of the other European organizations. In 1991 it played host to the finalization of the Treaty of European Union, or the Treaty of Maastricht, which aims at establishing a common internal market and monetary system. The Netherlands is also a charter member of the United Nations (UN), the Western European Union, the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the Council of Europe, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and is a major contributor to programmes furthering the economic development of poor countries.

VI

History

Historical accounts of the Netherlands date from the 1st century bc, when Roman forces led by Julius Caesar conquered most of the present area of the country. At the time the region was inhabited by Frisians, a Germanic people that lived in the north, and by other Germanic and minor Celtic peoples.

A

Roman Era

Before the conquest, the Romans had annexed lands to the south-east extending beyond the River Rhine. They penetrated the Netherlands region mainly to control the several mouths of the Rhine, which were then farther to the north than they are now. Under Roman rule, general peace and prosperity prevailed for more than 250 years. Roman traders entered the area freely, selling products from Italy and Gaul. The Romans built temples, established a number of large farms, and introduced their civilization to the region.

About ad 300 the Roman hold began to weaken, and non-indigenous German peoples pushed into the area from the east. The Frisians, in the north, held their ground, but Saxons occupied the eastern part of the region, and the Franks moved into the west and south.