The Dutch
Antony van Leeuwenhoek • Michiel de Ruyter • Queen Wilhelmina • Maurice of Orange • Karel Doorman • Rembrandt van Rijn • Vincent van Gogh • Aletta Jacobs • Piet Hein • Erasmus • Willem Drees • William of Orange
Total population	c. 25 million (est)
Regions with significant populations	The Netherlands:    14.182.809 (2005) United States:    5,087,191 [2] South Africa:    5,000,000 (est.) Canada:    1,000,000 (2001) Australia:    270,000 (2001) New Zealand:    50,000 (est) Germany:    114,000 (est) Belgium:    121,489 (2002) [3] Brazil:    150,000 -4,000,000(est.) Rest of World:    500,000 (est) Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1279x551, 134 KB) Top, left to right: Antonie van Leeuwenhoek Michiel de Ruyter Queen Wilhelmina Maurice of Orange Karel Doorman Rembrandt van Rijn Bottom, left to right: Vincent van Gogh Aletta Jacobs Piet Heyn Erasmus Willem Drees William the Silent Rex... Anton von Leeuwenhoek Anton van Leeuwenhoek (October 24, 1632 _ August 26, 1723) was a tradesman and scientist from Delft, in the Netherlands. ... Michiel Adriaenszoon de Ruyter, Lieutenant-Admiral of the United Provinces by Ferdinand Bol, painted 1667 Michiel Adriaenszoon de Ruyter (24 March 1607 - 29 April 1676) is one of the most famous admirals in Dutch history. ... Queen Wilhelmina Helena Pauline Orange-Nassau (August 31, 1880 - November 28, 1962) was Queen of the Netherlands from 1890 to 1948 and Queen Mother (with the title of Princess) from 1948 to 1962. ... Maurice of Nassau (in Dutch Maurits van Nassau) (14 November 1567 – 23 April 1625), Prince of Orange (1618–1625), son of William the Silent and Princess Anna of Saxony, was born at the castle of Dillenburg. ... Karel Willem Frederik Marie Doorman (April 23, 1889 – February 28, 1942) was a Schout-bij-Nacht (the Dutch equivalent of a Rear Admiral) during World War II. He was originally a naval aviator in the Royal Netherlands Navy but quickly rose through the ranks to become Schout-bij-Nacht in... Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (July 15, 1606 - October 4, 1669) is generally considered one of the greatest painters in European art history, and the most important United Provinces (Netherlands) painter of the seventeenth century. ... Vincent van Gogh is the current Good Article Collaboration of the week! Please help to improve this article to the highest of standards. ... Aletta Henriëtte Jacobs was born on February 9, 1854 in Sappemeer, as the eighth child of a Jewish doctors family. ... Piet Pieterszoon Hein (1577–1629) was a Dutch naval commander and folk hero; his descendant Piet Hein (1905–1996) was a Danish poet and scientist. ... Desiderius Erasmus in 1523 Desiderius Erasmus Roterodamus (also Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam) (October 27, probably 1466 – July 12, 1536) was a Dutch humanist and theologian. ... Prime Minister of the Netherlands Willem Drees (July 5, 1886-May 14, 1988) was a Dutch politician, prime minister of the Netherlands from 1948 until 1958, as a member of the social-democratic Dutch Labour Party (PvdA). ... William of Orange (French: Guillaume, Dutch: Willem) is the name of several historical people. ... Motto: Je Maintiendrai (Dutch: Ik zal handhaven, English: I Shall Uphold) Anthem: Wilhelmus van Nassouwe Capital Amsterdam1 Largest city Amsterdam Official language(s) Dutch2 Government Parliamentary democracy Constitutional monarchy  - Queen Beatrix  - Prime minister Jan Peter Balkenende Independence Eighty Years War   - Declared July 26, 1581   - Recognised January 30, 1648 (by Spain... Map of the dominant self-identified ethnic origins of ancestors per census division. ...
Language	Dutch
Religion	Calvinist Protestant, Roman Catholic, other forms of Christianity, Agnosticism, Atheism, other.
Related ethnic groups	Afrikaners, Flemings, Frisians.

The Dutch (Ethnonym: "Nederlanders" meaning "Lowlanders") are the dominant ethnic group^[1] of the Netherlands^[2]. They are usually seen as a Germanic people. Calvinism is a system of Christian theology and an approach to Christian life and thought within the Protestant tradition articulated by John Calvin, a Protestant Reformer in the 16th century, and subsequently by successors, associates, followers and admirers of Calvin, his interpretation of Scripture, and perspective on Christian life and... The Roman Catholic Church or Catholic Church (see Terminology below) is the Christian Church in full communion with the Bishop of Rome, currently Pope Benedict XVI. It traces its origins and sees itself as the true Church founded by Jesus of Nazareth and maintained through Apostolic Succession from the Twelve... This article is becoming very long. ... Agnosticism (from the Greek a, meaning without and gnosis, knowledge, translating to unknowable) is the philosophical view that the truth value of certain claims — particularly theological claims regarding metaphysics, afterlife or the existence of God, god(s), or deities — is unknown or (possibly) inherently unknowable. ... The 18th-century French author Baron dHolbach was one of the first self-described atheists; he did not believe in the existence of any deities. ... Afrikaners (sometimes known as Boers) are white South Africans, predominantly of Calvinist German, French Huguenot, Friesian and Walloons descent who speak Afrikaans. ... Flemings (Dutch: Vlamingen) are inhabitants of Flanders in the widest sense of the term, i. ... The Frisians are an ethnic group of northwestern Europe, inhabiting an area known as Frisia. ... An ethnonym (Gk. ... Thor, Germanic thunder god. ...

History

The Dutch are a Germanic people, and this means they descend from a mixture of Indo-Europeans (who settled the area of Denmark and Southern Sweden around 2000 BC) and the population already present in Northern Europe before their arrival. Initially all Germanic peoples formed 1 single people, but as time passed different subgroups (tribes) began to form. Of these tribes, Dutch trace much of their heritage to the Franks^[3], a Germanic people first recorded living in Pannonia^[4] (A Roman province bounded north and east by the Danube river) who later (c. 400 AD) migrated and settled around the Rhine river and its delta, the Low Countries. The Franks would eventually conquer many territories and subject many other tribes and peoples, but the ethnic Franks themselves largely remained in the areas which are now comprised of the Low Countries, the far North-West of France and the furthest tip of Western Germany. At the time of the Frankish empire the Netherlands were part of the core of the Frankish Empire and one of the few areas of the empire in which the Franks were an ethnic majority, as opposed to the regions now known as France and Germany where Gallo-Romans in the former and a large variety of subjected Germanic tribes (such as the Saxons and Bavarians) in the latter formed the majority. The term Germanic peoples may refer to: the Germanic tribes that in the first millennium were seen as a barbarian threat by the Roman Empire and its successors; the Germanic Christianity that in the second millennium came to dominate much of Northern Europe, politically organized in the Holy Roman Empire... For the language group see Indo-European languages; for other uses see Indo-European (disambiguation) Indo-Europeans are speakers of Indo-European languages. ... Motto: (Royal)  a For Sweden - With the times Anthem: Thou ancient, thou free Royal anthem: The Kings song Capital (and largest city) Stockholm none (Swedish de facto)b Government Representative parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy  - King Carl XVI Gustaf  - Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt Consolidation prehistoric  Accession to EU... (Redirected from 2000 BC) (21st century BC - 20th century BC - 19th century BC - other centuries) (3rd millennium BC - 2nd millennium BC - 1st millennium BC) Events 2064 - 1986 BC -- Twin Dynasty wars in Egypt 2000 BC -- Farmers and herders travel south from Ethiopia and settle in Kenya. ... Northern Europe is marked in dark blue Northern Europe is a name of the northern part of the European continent. ... For other uses, see Franks (disambiguation). ... Position of the Roman province of Pannonia Pannonia is an ancient country bounded north and east by the Danube, conterminous westward with Noricum and upper Italy, and southward with Dalmatia and upper Moesia. ... The Roman Empire is the name given to both the imperial domain developed by the city-state of Rome and also the corresponding phase of that civilization, characterized by an autocratic form of government. ... Length 2,888 km Elevation of the source 1,078 m Average discharge 30 km before Passau: 580 m³/s Vienna: 1,900 m³/s Budapest: 2,350 m³/s just before Delta: 6,500 m³/s Area watershed 817,000 km² Origin Black Forest (Schwarzwald-Baar, Baden- Württemberg... Events First invasion of Italy by Alaric (probable date). ... The Rhine canyon (Ruinaulta) in Graubünden in Switzerland Length 1. ... The Low Countries, the historical region of de Nederlanden, are the countries (see Country) on low-lying land around the delta of the Rhine, Scheldt, and Meuse (Maas) rivers. ... For other uses, see Franks (disambiguation). ... The Frankish Empire was the territory of the Franks, from the 5th to the 10th centuries, from 481 ruled by Clovis I of the Merovingian Dynasty, the first king of all the Franks. ... This article covers the culture of Romanized areas of Gaul. ... Map showing the Saxons homeland in traditional region bounded by the three rivers: Weser, Eider, and Elbe Src: Freemans Historical Geographys. The Saxons or Saxon people are (nowadays) part of the German people with its main areas of settlements in the German States of Schleswig-Holstein, Lower Saxony, Saxony... The Free State of Bavaria  (German: Freistaat Bayern), with an area of 70,553 km² (27,241 square miles) and 12. ...

The language of the Franks, Frankish, would eventually (c. 470 AD) evolve into Old Dutch^[5], and over time the Franks living in the Low Countries would stop identifying themselves as Franks and start calling themselves Dutch people. Old Frankish was the language of the Franks. ... Events Euric, king of the Visigoths, defeats an attempted invasion of Gaul by the Celtic magnate Riothamus. ... Old Dutch Foods is a manufacturer of potato chips and other snack foods in the American Midwest and Western Canada. ...

Due to feudalism the Dutch people were for centuries a part of large multi-ethnic empires such as the Frankish and Holy Roman Empire. The arrival of Protestantism sparked a wave of nationalism among the Dutch, who were at the time part of an almost exclusive Catholic Spanish empire, and eventually the Dutch would rebel and after 80 years of war gain their independence and founded the Dutch Republic, arguably the first nation-state of Europe. Roland pledges his fealty to Charlemagne; from a manuscript of a chanson de geste. ... Protestantism is one of three main groups currently within Christianity. ... Military flag of the Spanish Empire from the 16th century up to 1843. ... Map of Dutch Republic by Joannes Janssonius United Netherlands redirects here. ... The term nation-state, while often used interchangeably with the terms unitary state and independent state, refers properly to the parallel occurence of a state and a nation. ...

However the Dutch did not succeed in creating a country for all Dutch people. The Southern Netherlands stayed under Spanish rule and a split gradually occurred between the Dutch people there and the ones in the North. The people in the South became known as the Flemish, although the Dutch and Flemish people are still very similar, such as in appearance, language and origins they are often treated as a closely related but different ethnic group. The Southern Netherlands were a part of the Low Countries controlled by Spain (Spanish Netherlands, 1579-1713), Austria (Austrian Netherlands, 1713-1794) and France (1794-1815). ... Motto: (Latin: Further Beyond) Anthem:  1 (Spanish: Royal March) Capital (and largest city) Madrid Spanish. ... The term Flemings (Dutch: ) is currently mostly used to refer to the ethnic group native to Flanders (the northern half of Belgium, historically part of the Southern Netherlands), which in total numbers about 6 million people in Belgium (the majority of all Belgians) . The term also designates, not only the... Variation in the physical appearance of humans is believed by anthropologists to be an important factor in the development of personality and social relations in particular physical attractiveness. ... Look up origin in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

The Dutch republic was eventually overthrown by Revolutionary France and the Dutch were for a short while incorporated within the French Empire. When France was eventually defeated, the United Kingdom of the Netherlands was created, comprising of the modern Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg. However the Kingdom proved to be unworkable, aside from the different ethnic groups living within its boundaries (Walloons, Germans and the Dutch) there also were various religious and economical differences and in 1830 the Belgian revolution resulted in 2 separate countries; Belgium and the Netherlands, Luxembourg would be granted independence peacefully in 1890. The Dutch people remained neutral during the First World War and tried to do the same at the start of the Second World War but were invaded nevertheless. After a long and destructive 5-year occupation by Nazi Germany the Dutch were free once more even though the country lay in ashes. Nevertheless the Dutch rebuild their country and changed it from a largely agricultural nation into an industrialized one. Today the Dutch have one of the highest GNP per person^[6] and life expectancies.^[7] The period of the French Revolution in the history of France covers the years between 1789 and 1799, in which democrats and republicans overthrew the absolute monarchy and the Roman Catholic Church perforce underwent radical restructuring. ... The term French Empire can refer to: The First French Empire of Napoleon Bonaparte (1804 - 1814 or 1815) The Second French Empire of Napoleon III (1852 - 1870) The Second French Colonial Empire (1830 - 1960) This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise... Map of the kingdom United Kingdom of the Netherlands (1815 - 1830) (1839) (Dutch: Verenigd Koninkrijk der Nederlanden, French: Royaume-Uni des Pays-Bas and German: Vereinigte Königreich der Niederlande) were the unofficial names used to refer to a new unified European state created during the Congress of Vienna in... The term Walloons (French: Wallons, Walloon: Walons) refers, in daily speech, to French-speaking Belgians from Wallonia. ... Ypres, 1917, in the vicinity of the Battle of Passchendaele. ... Mushroom cloud from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rising 18 km into the air. ... Nazi Germany, or the Third Reich, commonly refers to Germany in the years 1933–1945, when it was under the firm control of the totalitarian and fascist ideology of the Nazi Party, with the Führer Adolf Hitler as dictator. ... Measures of national income and output are used in economics to estimate the value of goods and services produced in an economy. ...

Timeline

Ancient times

• 2000 BC, Indo-European speakers arrive at the plains of what is now southern Sweden and Denmark, they would evolve into the Germanic peoples shortly after their arrival.^[8].
• 500 BC, hypothetical end of the Proto-Germanic language.
• 600 BC - ca 300 BC, Germanic people move southward and settle in the Netherlands and Northern Germany.
• 150 BC, Germanic tribes settle in and around the border regions of the Roman Empire.
• 300 AD, start of Migration Period.
• 355–358, The Franks are granted a considerable part of Gallia Belgica and become a foederati of the Roman Empire.
• 447, start of the Frankish Merovingian dynasty. Beginning of a series of wars against the Visigoths, Saxons, and Alemanni.
• 486, the Franks control most of Gaul north of the Loire.
• 470-500, the Lex Salica is written. This Frankish law text contains the first Dutch ever to be written down: "Maltho thi afrio lito".

The Indo-European languages comprise a family of several hundred related languages and dialects [1], including most of the major languages of Europe, as well as many spoken in the Indian subcontinent (South Asia), the Iranian plateau (Southwest Asia), and Central Asia. ... Thor, Germanic thunder god. ... Map of the Pre-Roman Iron Age culture(s) associated with Proto-Germanic, c. ... Human migration denotes any movement of groups of people from one locality to another, rather than of individual wanderers. ... For other uses, see Franks (disambiguation). ... The Roman Province of Gallia Belgica in 58 BCE The Roman Province of Gallia Belgica around 120 CE Gallia Belgica was a Roman province located in what is now the southern part of the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, northeastern France, and western Germany. ... The Roman Empire is the name given to both the imperial domain developed by the city-state of Rome and also the corresponding phase of that civilization, characterized by an autocratic form of government. ... For other uses of the term Merovingian, see Merovingian (disambiguation). ... The Visigoths, originally Tervingi, or Vesi (the noble ones), one of the two main branches of the Goths (of which the Ostrogothi were the other), were one of the loosely-termed Germanic peoples that disturbed the late Roman Empire. ... Map showing the Saxons homeland in traditional region bounded by the three rivers: Weser, Eider, and Elbe Src: Freemans Historical Geographys. The Saxons or Saxon people are (nowadays) part of the German people with its main areas of settlements in the German States of Schleswig-Holstein, Lower Saxony, Saxony... The Alamanni, Allemanni or Alemanni, are a Germanic tribe, first mentioned by Dio Cassius, under the year 213. ... Map of Gaul circa 58 BC For Gaul after the Roman conquest, see Roman Gaul Gaul (Latin Gallia) was the name given, in ancient times, to the region of Western Europe comprising present-day northern Italy, France, Belgium, western Switzerland and the parts of the Netherlands and Germany on the... Loire is a département in the east-central part of France occupying the Loire Rivers upper reaches. ... The King of the Franks, in the midst of the Military Chiefs who formed his Treuste, or armed Court, dictates the Salic Law (Code of the Barbaric Laws). ...

Middle Ages

• 509, the Franks control all of Gaul but Burgundy.
• 742, Charlemagne is born in the present Low Countries.
• 751, Merovingian dynasty ends, start of the Carolingian Dynasty.
• 843, the Treaty of Verdun is signed. The Carolingian Empire, into three kingdoms is divided among the three surviving sons of Louis the Pious, Charlemagne's grandsons. The Low Countries become a part of Middle Francia, the realm of Emperor Lothair I.
• 869, the North of the Low Countries are under Viking control.
• 870, the Kingdom of Lotharingia is divided between Charles II and Louis the German.
• 962, the Holy Roman Empire is established with the coronation of Otto the Great. Most of the Dutch states/fiefs are a part of this multi-ethnic empire.
• 1300, The Dutch cities of Ghent, Bruges and Ypres are the most urbanised cities in Europe.

Coat of arms of the 2nd duchy of Burgundy and later of the French province of Burgundy Burgundy (French: Bourgogne) is a historic region of France, inhabited in turn by Pre-Indo-European people, Celts (Gauls), Romans (Gallo-Romans), and various Germanic peoples, most importantly the Burgundians and the Franks. ... A portrait of Charlemagne by Albrecht Dürer that was painted several centuries after Charlemagnes death. ... For other uses of the term Merovingian, see Merovingian (disambiguation). ... The following list of Frankish Kings is one of several Wikipedia lists of incumbents. ... Louis the Pious, contemporary depiction from 826 as a miles Christi (soldier of Christ), with a poem of Rabanus Maurus overlaid. ... Middle Francia describes the realm created for Emperor Lothair I, wedged between East Francia and West Francia. ... Lothair I Lothair I (German: Lothar, French: Lothaire, Italian: Lotario) (795 – 2 March 855), king of Italy (818 – 855) and Holy Roman Emperor (840 – 855), was the eldest son of the emperor Louis the Pious and his wife Ermengarde of Hesbaye, daughter of Ingerman, duke of Hesbaye. ... Lotharingia (yellow), as established by the Treaty of Verdun, 843, and reduced by the Treaty of Mersen, 870 Lotharingia was a short-lived kingdom in western Europe, the aggregate of territories belonging to Lothair, King of Lotharingia (reigned 855–869), who received it in 855 from his father, Lothair I... The name Charles II is used to refer to numerous persons in history: Kings Charles the Fat (also known as Charles II of France and Charles III of the Holy Roman Empire) Charles II of England Charles II of Naples Charles II of Navarre Charles II of Romania Charles II... Louis the German (also known as Louis II or Louis the Bavarian or German Ludwig der Deutsche) (804 – August 28, 876), the third son of the emperor Louis the Pious and his first wife, Ermengarde of Hesbaye, was the king of Bavaria from 817, when his father partitioned the empire... The Holy Roman Empire and from the 16th century on also The Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation was a political conglomeration of lands in Central Europe in the Middle Ages and the early modern period. ... Otto I at his victory over Berengar of Friuli Grave of Otto I in Magdeburg Otto I the Great (November 23, 912 - May 7, 973), son of Henry I the Fowler, king of the Germans, and Matilda of Ringelheim, was Duke of Saxony, King of the Germans and arguably the... Gent at Night Ghent (IPA: ; Gent in Dutch; Gand in French, formerly Gaunt in English) is a city and a municipality located in Flanders, Belgium. ... Sometimes referred to as the Venice of the North, Bruges has many waterways that run through the city. ... The Belfry of Ypres Ypres (French, generally used in English;1 Ieper official name in the local Dutch) is a municipality located in Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium, and in the Flemish province of West Flanders. ...

Early Modern period

• 1517, Lutheranism makes it way into the Low Countries, starting in the South.
• 1549, the Pragmatic Sanction of 1549, issued by Charles V, established the Low Countries as the Seventeen Provinces (or Spanish Netherlands in its broad sense) as an entity separate from the Holy Roman Empire and from France. This was the first semi-independent political entity with an ethnic Dutch majority.
• 1566, iconoclasm. A wave of destruction aimed at the Catholic Church sweeps through the Low Countries. Unofficial start of the Dutch Revolt against Habsburg Spain.
• 1568, the Battle of Oosterweel, the official start of the Dutch revolt.
• 1580, de facto independence of the Northern Low Countries. Becoming arguably he first republic and nation state of Europe. (The Dutch republic)
• 1581, de facto establishment of the Southern Netherlands.
• 1584, start of the Dutch Golden Age.
• 1585, Fall of Antwerp to the Spanish. The wealthiest Dutch city is conquered. Over half its inhabitants flee to the North further boosting the economy.
• 1630, slow development of the Dutch Empire.
• 1648, Peace of Westphalia, the end of the Eighty Years' War. The Dutch are divided in 2 separate entities. The Dutch in the South are still a part of the Spanish Empire, the ones living in the North are independent. This is the beginning of a split between the Dutch as we know them today and the Flemish, the Dutch-speaking inhabitants of modern Belgium.
• 1702, end of the Dutch Golden Age.
• 1789, start of the French Revolution.
• 1795-1806, establishment of the Batavian Republic with French assistance. End of the Dutch Republic.
• 1806, the Netherlands become part of the French Empire.
• 1813, the Dutch regain their independance.
• 1815, the United Kingdom of the Netherlands is proclaimed. All Dutch people are once again united in one political entity.
• 1830, Belgian revolution. The religious and economic differences between the North and South proved to be too great. The South of the kingdom secedes.
• 1839, the Netherlands end conflict and acknowledge the independence of Belgium.

Lutheranism is a movement within Christianity that began with the theological insights of Martin Luther in the 16th century> Luthers writings launched the Protestant Reformation of the Western church. ... The Pragmatic Sanction of 1549 was an edict, promulgated by The Emperor Charles V reorganizing the Seventeen Provinces. ... Charles V may refer to: Charles V of France, the Wise (1338–1380). ... The Seventeen Provinces were a personal union of states in the Low Countries in the 16th century, roughly covering the current Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, a good part of the North of France (Artois, Nord) and a small part of Germany. ... The Holy Roman Empire and from the 16th century on also The Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation was a political conglomeration of lands in Central Europe in the Middle Ages and the early modern period. ... Illustration of the Beeldenstorm during the Dutch reformation Iconoclasm is the destruction of religious icons and other symbols or monuments, usually for religious or political motives. ... The Eighty Years War, or Dutch Revolt from 1568 to 1648 was the secession war in which the proto-Netherlands first became an independent country. ... During the reign of Emperor Charles V (Carlos I of Spain), who ascended the thrones of the kingdoms of Spain after the death of his grandfather Ferdinand, Habsburg Spain controlled territory ranging from Philippines to the Netherlands, and was, for a time, Europes greatest power. ... Combatants Dutch rebels Spain Commanders Jan de Marnix van Aldegonde † de Beauvoir Strength Unknown Unknown Casualties 700–800 dead Unknown The Battle of Oosterweel took place on March 13, 1567, and is traditionally seen as the beginning of the Eighty Years War. ... De facto is a Latin expression that means in fact or in practice. It is commonly used as opposed to de jure (meaning by law) when referring to matters of law or governance or technique (such as standards), that are found in the common experience as created or developed without... World map showing Europe A satellite composite image of Europe Europe is one of the seven traditional continents of the Earth. ... Map of Dutch Republic by Joannes Janssonius United Netherlands redirects here. ... The Southern Netherlands were a part of the Low Countries controlled by Spain (Spanish Netherlands, 1579-1713), Austria (Austrian Netherlands, 1713-1794) and France (1794-1815). ... Rembrandt The Nightwatch (1642) The Dutch Golden Age (1584-1702) was a period in Dutch history, roughly spanning the 17th century, in which Dutch trade, science, and art were among the most acclaimed in the world. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... A map showing the territory that the Netherlands held at various points in history. ... The Ratification of the Treaty of Münster by Gerard Terborch (1648) Banquet of the Amsterdam Civic Guard in Celebration of the Peace of Münster by Bartholomeus van der Helst, 1648 The Peace of Westphalia, also known as the Treaties of Münster and Osnabrück, refers to the... Military flag of the Spanish Empire from the 16th century up to 1843. ... The term Flemings (Dutch: ) is currently mostly used to refer to the ethnic group native to Flanders (the northern half of Belgium, historically part of the Southern Netherlands), which in total numbers about 6 million people in Belgium (the majority of all Belgians) . The term also designates, not only the... The French Revolution (1789–1799) was a pivotal period in the history of French, European and Western civilization. ... From 1795 to 1806, the Batavian Republic (Bataafse Republiek in Dutch) designated the Netherlands as a republic modelled after the French Republic, to which it was a vassal state. ... The term French Empire can refer to: The First French Empire of Napoleon Bonaparte (1804 - 1814 or 1815) The Second French Empire of Napoleon III (1852 - 1870) The Second French Colonial Empire (1830 - 1960) This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise... Map of the kingdom United Kingdom of the Netherlands (1815 - 1830) (1839) (Dutch: Verenigd Koninkrijk der Nederlanden, French: Royaume-Uni des Pays-Bas and German: Vereinigte Königreich der Niederlande) were the unofficial names used to refer to a new unified European state created during the Congress of Vienna in...

Culture

Main article: Dutch culture

Dutch culture is diverse, reflecting regional differences as well as the foreign influences thanks to the merchant and exploring spirit of the Dutch. The Netherlands and Dutch people have played an important role for centuries as a cultural center, with the Dutch Golden Age regarded as the zenith. During the 20th century Dutch architects played a leading role in the development of modern architecture, Dutch painters like Rembrandt and Van Gogh are world renowned^[9]. Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... Rembrandt The Nightwatch (1642) The Dutch Golden Age (1584-1702) was a period in Dutch history, roughly spanning the 17th century, in which Dutch trade, science, and art were among the most acclaimed in the world. ... This is a list of painters who were born and/or were primarily active in the Netherlands. ... This article is about the Dutch artist. ... van gogh is a piece of shit Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890), Netherlands artist. ...

People

Self-image

The Dutch have a self-image that differs considerably from the image(s) other people have of them (see section below). The Dutch may acknowledge that they are the cleanest people on earth, are thrifty, have an excellent feel for business, are good at foreign languages and have an unequalled ability to coexist with others. They take most pride in their tolerance and flexibility, even though they will most likely not, unless pushed, say that these characteristics make them somehow superior to others. However they do have inconsistencies; for example, a secret mistrust of foreigners and a distaste of alien cuisine.^[10] It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Self-concept. ... Earth (IPA: , often referred to as the Earth, Terra, the World or Planet Earth) is the third planet in the solar system in terms of distance from the Sun, and the fifth largest. ... Wall Street, Manhattan is the location of the New York Stock Exchange and is often used as a symbol for the world of business. ... Look up Characteristic in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... A foreigner, or an alien, is a natural person who is not a citizen of the State in question. ... A cuisine (from French cuisine, meaning cooking; culinary art; kitchen; itself from Latin coquina, meaning the same; itself from the Latin verb coquere, meaning to cook) is a specific set of cooking traditions and practices, often associated with a place of origin. ...

Dutch image worldwide

Most nations regard the Dutch as being organized and efficient, rather like the Germans, although to a lesser degree. One can hardly be frightened, the stereotypical reasoning goes, by "a nation of rosy-cheeked farmers who live in windmills, wear clogs, have a garden full of tulips and sit on piles of yellow cheese". But apart from the more or less touristy image, the Dutch also have a reputation for being opinionated, stubborn and incurably mean. The Belgians even consider them to be downright devious in business affairs. Dutch frankness completely overwhelms more reticent peoples such as the Japanese who consider the Dutch to be the most arrogant of all the Europeans they do business with^[10], but at the same time are impressed by their reputation as formidable traders. "Where a Dutchman has passed, not even the grass grows anymore" a Japanese saying goes. English people survey the Dutch with guarded approval, as the closest any "continentals" will come to the sacred state of being English. It wasn't always like this. At the time of the Anglo-Dutch Wars in the 17th century these two nations were at each other’s throats. An English pamphlet raged: "A Dutchman is a Lusty, Fat, Two-legged Cheese worm. A Creature that is so addicted to eating butter, drinking fat, and sliding (skating) that all the world knows him for a slippery fellow". At this time the English language gained a whole array of new insults such as "Dutch courage" (booze-induced bravery), "Dutch comfort" ("things could be worse") and "Dutch gold" (something which is a fake).^[10] Others include: One of the most influential doctrines in history is that all humans are divided into groups called nations. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Bales of hay on a farm near Ames, Iowa A farm is the basic unit in agriculture. ... Spanish Windmills at La Mancha A windmill is an engine powered by the wind to produce energy, often contained in a large building as in traditional post mills, smock mills and tower mills. ... We are all looking fsorward to a great sseason in 2005. ... Species See text Tulip (Tulipa) is a genus of about 100 species of flowering plants in the family Liliaceae. ... Cheese is a solid food made from the milk of cows, goats, sheep, and other mammals. ... This article is about the continent. ... A fruit stand at a market. ... Look up saying in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... The English are an ethnic group or nation primarily associated with England and the English language. ... The painting Dutch attack on the Medway, June 1667 by Pieter Cornelisz van Soest, painted c. ... Outdoor ice skating in Austria Ice skating is travelling on ice with skates, narrow (and sometimes parabolic) blade-like devices moulded into special boots (or, more primitively, without boots, tied to regular footwear). ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... An insult is a statement or action which affronts or demeans someone. ... The phrase Dutch courage is a slang term for courage gained from intoxication by alcohol. ... This is a list of common American and British/Commonwealth words and phrases based on racial, ethnic, religious, regional or other stereotypes. ... Dutch Gold is a popular low-cost import lager beer in the Republic of Ireland. ...

The term Double Dutch has several different meanings. ... Dutch auction is a type of auction where the auctioneer begins with a high asking price which is lowered until some participant is willing to accept the auctioneers price, or a predetermined reserve price (the sellers minimum acceptable price) is reached. ... The diaphragm is a cervical barrier type of birth control. ... Prostitution is the sale of sexual services. ... A Dutch door is a door divided horizontally in such a fashion that the bottom half may remain shut while the top half opens. ... Branch death, or Flagging, at multiple locations in the crown of a diseased elm. ... Photo courtesy Auntie P. Metal leaf, or leafing, is a thin foil of some nearly pure metal often gold or silver, and somtimes copper. ... Dutch oven from the 1890s Note the evidence of ashes on the lid. ... A Dutch angle, Dutch tilt, oblique angle, German angle, or canted angle is a cinematic tactic often used to portray the psychological uneasiness or tension in the subject being filmed. ... Going Dutch is a slang term that means that each person eating at a restaurant or paying admission for entertainment pays for himself or herself, rather than one person paying for everyone. ... Dutch uncle is a term for a person who sternly lectures, comments or criticizes with unsparing severity and blunt frankness, to educate, encourage or admonish someone, often with benevolent intent, as though an elder relative or uncle. ... A Dutch angle, Dutch tilt, oblique angle, German angle, or canted angle is a cinematic tactic often used to portray the psychological uneasiness or tension in the subject being filmed. ... Binomial name Trifolium repens L. White Clover (Trifolium repens) is a species of clover native to Europe, North Africa, and West Asia. ... In common use the word noise means unwanted sound or noise pollution. ... Emptiness is described as an illusive and disturbing feeling of numbness, inability to feel anything emotionally, or not having any purpose. ...

Dutch views on others

The neutrality of this article is disputed. Please see the discussion on the talk page.

Despite centuries of relations between the Netherlands and the British Isles, including fighting some of the most destructive wars in their respective histories against each other, most Dutch people feel ambivalent towards the British. British people (who most Dutch people will call "English") are viewed as being a bit quaint and old fashioned, even though Anglophone television programmes and English literature in general are held in high regard. Typically Americans are thought to be principally "good" people but somewhat uneducated and badly guided by their politicians. While France and Italy are seen as beautiful countries, ideal for holidays, their inhabitants are somewhat frowned upon. The French are considered to be easily agitated, talkative and shallow as well as obstructionists, intolerant, and lack skills at negotiating.^[11] The Italians (as most, if not all, people living around the Mediterranean) have a positive image but are regarded as being too emotional. In Dutch society, extravagantly flaunting ones emotions (whether positive or negative) is seen as lack of control. Peoples and cultures who are disapproved of or looked down upon are those whose religious or political customs are seen as intolerant, such cultures with a taboo on regarding men and women as equals.^[12] Of all European nations, the Swiss generally are admired most. Their country is described as being "spotless" and the people as "keeping to themselves" a trait shared with the Dutch.^[13] Image File history File links Unbalanced_scales. ... Location of the British Isles The British Isles are a group of islands off the northwest coast of continental Europe consisting of Great Britain, Ireland, and several thousand smaller surrounding islands and islets. ... The painting Dutch attack on the Medway, June 1667 by Pieter Cornelisz van Soest, painted c. ... The English are an ethnic group or nation primarily associated with England and the English language. ... Look up Anglophone in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... The term English literature refers to literature written in the English language, including literature composed in English by writers not necessarily from England; Joseph Conrad was Polish, Robert Burns was Scottish, James Joyce was Irish, Dylan Thomas was Welsh, Edgar Allan Poe was American, Salman Rushdie is Indian, V.S... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The Mediterranean Sea is an intercontinental sea positioned between Europe to the north, Africa to the south and Asia to the east, covering an approximate area of 2. ...

Special cases are the Germans and Belgians. For many years, most recently since WWII, a strong animosity existed towards Germans. They were said to be rude, arrogant, noisy and intolerant and in fact most other antonyms of characteristics the Dutch pride themselves on. This is mostly without knowing these German people personally. For many Dutch people it was not a question of "why" they disliked Germans, they just did. According to "The Xenophobe's Guide to the Dutch", "Telling a Dutch person that their language seems very similar to German is unlikely to benefit your relationship. Remarking that the two nations are similar in many ways will probably get you thrown out of the house." Perhaps strangely, Germans are generally unaware of the fact that they are disliked by their neighbours and often think it is merely a soccer phenomenon when the anti-German feelings are most visible, as the Dutch and Germans have had fierce soccer rivalry ever since the Second World War. Although the post war rivalry on Germany's side is actually a reaction on the behaviour displayed by the Dutch^[14], Dutch antipathy towards Germans goes back to the early 15th century when Germans were seen as uneducated, grumpy peasants who served as cheap labour to the wealthier Dutch.^{[15] [16]}
German soldiers at the Battle of Stalingrad World War II was the most extensive and costly armed conflict in the history of the world, involving the great majority of the worlds nations, being fought simultaneously in several major theatres, and costing tens of millions of lives. ... The concept of Rude simply means the disrespect and failure to behave within the context of a society or a group of peoples social laws. ... José Mourinho © http://soccer-europe. ... Intolerance is the lack of ability or willingness to tolerate something. ... Dutch ( ) is a West Germanic language spoken by around 22 million people, mainly in the Netherlands and Belgium. ... (14th century - 15th century - 16th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 15th century was that century which lasted from 1401 to 1500. ...

Over the last year (2006) a remarkable shift has been observed in attitude towards Germans. Another reason may be that the newer, younger generation does not have the emotional ties to past events.^[17]

Belgians on the other hand have an entirely different image, they feature prominently in Dutch jokes in which they are often portrayed as being stupid and uneducated but this is commonly accepted to be a completely made up stereotype, originating at the time of the Belgian Revolution, in which the Flemish and Walloons seceded from the Netherlands. Generally they are admired for their educational and health system. Most if not all Dutch people consider the Belgians to be the closest related people. It should however be noted that the Dutch, when they speak of Belgians, nearly always mean the Flemish (the Dutch speaking inhabitants of Belgium) rather than the Walloons whom most hardly know.^[18] A joke is a short story or series of words spoken or communicated, ideally with the intent of being laughed at or found humorous by the listener or reader. ... Episode of the Belgian Revolution of 1830, Egide Charles Gustave Wappers (1834), in the Musée dArt Ancien, Brussels The Belgian Revolution was a conflict in the United Kingdom of the Netherlands that began with a riot in Brussels in August 1830 and eventually led to the establishment of... The word Flemish has two meanings: a linguistic one (the language of the Flemings), and a social/political one (everything that refers to Flanders or to one or more individual Flemish people or organisations). ... The term Walloons (French: Wallons, Walloon: Walons) refers, in daily speech, to French-speaking Belgians from Wallonia. ...

Contribution to humanity

Further information: List of Dutch people

Despite being relatively small in numbers, the Dutch have definitely made their mark on the world, as we know it today. Extremely few painters are so well known across the world as Van Gogh and Rembrandt. Great philosophers like Spinoza^[19], Erasmus of Rotterdam and Hugo Grotius as well as various poets and writers such as Pieter Hooft, Joost van den Vondel and Anne Frank^[19]. also made their mark on how we today view the world. The Netherlands were arguably the first nation state of the world and one of the first republics in modern Europe. During the early 17th century the economical reforms, empire and ideas made the Netherlands one of the world's richest countries and the first thoroughly capitalistic country.^[20] This is a list of Dutch people who are famous and/or have an article: // Main article: List of Dutch architects Jaap Bakema (1914-1981), architect Hendrik Petrus Berlage (1856-1934), architect Johannes van den Broek (1898-1978), architect Pierre Cuypers (1827-1921), architect Willem Marinus Dudok (1884-1974), architect... Painting by Rembrandt self-portrait Detail from Las Meninas by Diego Velazquez, in which the painter portrayed himself at work For the computer graphics program, see Corel Painter. ... van gogh is a piece of shit Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890), Netherlands artist. ... This article is about the Dutch artist. ... Baruch Spinoza Benedictus de Spinoza (November 24, 1632 - February 21, 1677), named Baruch Spinoza by his synagogue elders and known as Bento de Spinoza or Bento dEspiñoza in the community in which he grew up. ... This article deals with the Erasmus, the theologian. ... Hugo Grotius Hugo Grotius (Huig de Groot, or Hugo de Groot; Delft, 10th April 1583 - Rostock, 28th August 1645) worked as a jurist in the United Provinces (now the Netherlands) and laid the foundations for international law, based on natural law. ... Sculpture of P.C. Hooft in the castle Muiderslot Pieter Corneliszoon Hooft (* March 16, 1581 - † May 21, 1647), was a Dutch historian, poet and playwright from the period known as the Dutch Golden Age. ... Joost van den Vondel (1587-1679) was born in the Große Witschgasse in Cologne. ... Annelies Marie Anne Frank (June 12, 1929 – February/March, 1945) was a German-born stateless[1] Jewish girl who wrote a diary while in hiding with her family and four friends in Amsterdam during the German occupation of the Netherlands in World War II. Her family had moved to Amsterdam... A nation-state is a specific form of state (a political entity), which exists to provide a sovereign territory for a particular nation (a cultural entity), and which derives its legitimacy from that function. ... (16th century - 17th century - 18th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 17th century was that century which lasted from 1601-1700. ... A map showing the territory that the Netherlands held at various points in history. ... Capitalism is an economic system in which the means of production are mostly privately owned and in which prices of capital and commodities are determined in a largely free market which operates in the pursuit of profit, with investments being determined by private decision. ...

The Dutch in popular culture

Traditional costumes, clogs and windmills combined with drugs and polution. German caricature of the Dutch by Sebastian Krüger.

Dutch people generally appear in popular culture in two completely distinct ways. The traditional Dutch image (People in national dress, wearing clogs, having blond hair standing in front of wide, flat landscapes covered with tulips and windmills in the background) and the more recent, and mostly negative, image of non-religious drug addicts, who legalized prostitution, marihuana, euthanasia and gay marriage — a country where you can get away with practically everything and people living in it who just don't care. Naturally, none of these stereotypical images are correct. Dutch people only wear traditional costumes on very special occasions or to entertain tourists ^[21]. Clogs, or wooden shoes, are not worn in public life but are still widely used for gardening. The more modern negative image of the Dutch is relatively recent, starting around 1985. Although the image of Dutch people being drug addicts is a widespread stereotype, the Dutch have a very low figure of drug offences by country and in fact most drugs produced in the Netherlands are exported. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (726x802, 328 KB) Caricature of the Dutch by the German cartoonist Sebastian Krüger`, first published in Der Spiegel. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (726x802, 328 KB) Caricature of the Dutch by the German cartoonist Sebastian Krüger`, first published in Der Spiegel. ... Sebastian Krüger (born June 30, 1963 in Hamelin, Germany) is a German caricaturist. ... Popular culture, or pop culture, (literally: the culture of the people) consists of the cultural elements that prevail (at least numerically) in any given society, mainly using the more popular media, in that societys vernacular language and/or an established lingua franca. ... The word tradition, comes from the Latin word traditio which means to hand down or to hand over. ... National dress is a type of clothing which identifies with a certain nationality or culture. ... We are all looking fsorward to a great sseason in 2005. ... One of the worlds most famous blondes Marilyn Monroe, who was in fact a natural brunette Blond (feminine, blonde) is a hair colour found in certain mammals characterised by low levels of the dark pigment eumelanin and higher levels of the pale pigment phæomelanin, in common with red... Species See text Tulip (Tulipa) is a genus of about 100 species of flowering plants in the family Liliaceae. ... Spanish Windmills at La Mancha A windmill is an engine powered by the wind to produce energy, often contained in a large building as in traditional post mills, smock mills and tower mills. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article may require cleanup. ... Cannabis is a plant which is consumed by humans as a psychoactive drug. ... Euthanasia (from Greek: ευθανασία -ευ, eu, good, θανατος, thanatos, death) is the practice of terminating the life of a person or an animal because they are perceived as living an intolerable life, in a painless or minimally painful way either by lethal injection, drug overdose, or by the withdrawal of life support. ... Same-sex marriage is marriage between individuals who are of the same legal or biological sex. ... A tourist boat travels the River Seine in Paris, France Tourism can be defined as the act of travel for the purpose of recreation, and the provision of services for this act. ... The word clog, as applied to footwear, has these meanings:- A type of shoe or sandal made predominantly out of wood. ... Politics is the process by which groups make decisions. ... 1985 (MCMLXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Influence on the world

Further information: Dutch Empire

A map showing the territory that the Dutch held at various points in history. Dark green indicates colonies that either were, or originated from, land controlled by the Dutch West India Company, light green the Dutch East India Company.

Although comparatively small in numbers, the Dutch have definitely made their mark on the world, as we know it today. The Dutch were an economical and military superpower during much of the 16th and 17th century and involved in many conflicts of the time period. Such as the Anglo-Dutch Wars which, although ending in a Dutch victory, would eventually allow the Royal Navy to become the largest and most powerful navy in the world and maintain the British Empire.^[22] Dutch colonialism also still influences the lives of many today. The Dutch were one of the few Europeans to (successfully) colonize parts of Africa^[23] and their descendants, the Afrikaners, greatly influence(d) South Africa. The Dutch also controlled what is now known as Indonesia, and waged various wars against its native inhabitants in a series conflicts raging from the early 16th to the late 20th century. The area surrounding New York was a Dutch colony and in fact many street names and geographical locations still bear Dutch (though Anglicised) names^[24]. A map showing the territory that the Netherlands held at various points in history. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1357x628, 26 KB) Summary Original Image:Holland_Empire. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1357x628, 26 KB) Summary Original Image:Holland_Empire. ... Dutch West India Company (Dutch: West-Indische Compagnie or WIC) was a company of Dutch merchants. ... Dutch colonial possessions, with the Dutch East India Company possessions marked in a paler green, surrounding the Indian Ocean plus Saint Helena in the mid-Atlantic. ... Antarctica Australia Africa Asia Europe North America South America Middle East Caribbean Central Asia East Asia North Asia South Asia Southeast Asia SW. Asia China Australasia Melanesia Micronesia Polynesia Central America Latin America Northern America Americas C. Africa E. Africa N. Africa Southern Africa W. Africa C. Europe E. Europe... The painting Dutch attack on the Medway, June 1667 by Pieter Cornelisz van Soest, painted c. ... A world map showing the continent of Africa. ... Afrikaners are an ethnic group primarily associated with Southern Africa and the Afrikaans language. ... (19th century - 20th century - 21st century - more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s As a means of recording the passage of time, the 20th century was that century which lasted from 1901–2000 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar (1900–1999... To anglicise (or in North American English anglicize) is to adapt a foreign word into the English language, often modifying its form to correspond to standard English French demoiselle, meaning little lady. Another common type of anglicisation is the inclusion of a foreign article as part of a noun (eg. ...

Dutch language

Main article: Dutch language

Dutch is a West Germanic language spoken by around 22 million people, mainly in the Netherlands and Belgium which was first attested around 470 AD. Dutch is an official language of the Netherlands, Belgium, Suriname, Aruba, and the Netherlands Antilles. The Dutch, Flemish and Surinamese governments coordinate their language activities in the Nederlandse Taalunie ('Dutch Language Union'). Dutch was an official language in South Africa up until 1961, having fallen into disuse since Afrikaans became an official language in 1925. Of the inhabitants of New Zealand, 0.7% say their home language is Dutch (see article on New Zealand). The number of people coming from the Netherlands, though, is considerably higher but from the second generation on most people changed their language in favour of English. Dutch ( ) is a West Germanic language spoken by around 22 million people, mainly in the Netherlands and Belgium. ... An official language is a language that is given a privileged legal status in a state, or other legally-defined territory. ... The Nederlandse Taalunie or Dutch Language Union is an international institution for discussing issues relating to the Dutch language. ... Look up Wiktionary:Swadesh lists for Afrikaans and Dutch in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Standaardnederlands or Algemeen Beschaafd Nederlands ('Common Dutch', abbreviated to ABN) is the standard language as taught in schools and used by authorities in the Netherlands, Flanders, Suriname, Aruba and the Netherlands Antilles. The Dutch Language Union defines what is ABN and what is not, for example in terms of orthography. A standard language (also standard dialect or standardized dialect) is a particular variety of a language that has been given either legal or quasi-legal status. ...

Religion

During and after the Dutch revolt against Spain, Protestantism became the dominant religion, a notable exception being the modern provinces of North Brabant and Limburg as they remained mostly Catholic. Protestantism is one of three main groups currently within Christianity. ... North Brabant (Dutch: Noord-Brabant) is a province of the Netherlands, located in the south of the country, bordered by Belgium in the south, the Meuse River (Maas) in the north, Limburg in the east and Zeeland in the west. ... Capital Maastricht Queens Commissioner L.J.P.M. (Leon) Frissen Religion (1999) Roman Catholic 80% Protestant 3% Area  â€¢ Land  â€¢ Water   2,153 km² (9th) 56 km² Population (2005)  â€¢ Total  â€¢ Density 1,135,962 (6th) 528/km² (4th) Inclusion 1839 Anthem In t Bronsgroen Eikenhout ISO NL-LI Official website...

The Dutch population could be separated into two main religious groups: Roman Catholics and Protestant, although the Protestant religion consisted of many separate Churches such as Dutch Reformed (Calvinist), Remonstrant Church and the Christian Reformed Church. With 28 percent, the Roman Catholics are nowadays the largest religious group. The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. ... Protestantism is a general grouping of denominations within Christianity. ... The Dutch Reformed Church or Netherlands Reformed Church (in Dutch: Nederlandse Hervormde Kerk (NHK)) is a denomination of Christian Protestantism based on the teachings of John Calvin. ... In an unadorned church, the 17th century congregation stands to hear the sermon. ... Remonstrants, the name given to those Dutch Protestants who, after the death of Arminius, maintained the views associated with his name, and in 1610 presented to the states of Holland and Friesland a remonstrance in five articles formulating their points of departure from stricter Calvinism. ... The Reformed Churches in the Netherlands (Dutch: Gereformeerde Kerken in Nederland, in short Gereformeerde kerk) was the second largest protestant church in the Netherlands until it merged into the Protestant Church in the Netherlands in 2004. ...

During the late 19th and early 20th century the different religious groups were living fairly separate from each other, and from the newly rising socialist labour emancipation. They all lived and married in their own communities, had their own schools, their own shops and their own media (both newspapers and later radio stations) and political parties, among other things. This was called verzuiling. A Dutch proverb from those days reflects this separation: Two beliefs resting on the same pillow, that's where the devil sleeps in between. Pillarisation (Verzuiling in Dutch, Pilarisation in French) is a term used to describe the way the Dutch and Belgians used to deal with their multicultural (but not multiethnic) societies. ...

The entire system of pillarisation started to collapse after the Second world war, when the Dutch people were forced to work together to rebuild their country, which had suffered heavily from the war, and was left hardly any resources around mid 1945. In the early 1960s the system had gone. Nowadays a large part of the Dutch population is atheist (some 42%) or is an inactive member of a church and/or religion. As is illustrated by the Dutch weekly Sunday church attendance that has dropped to well below 10 %. 2004 figures reported by the Roman Catholic Church mention a weekly Sunday church attendance of 438,700 Roman Catholics or related to the total Dutch population, about 2 percent. There is a small Jewish community, mostly confined to the larger cities. The only religion that is rapidly growing is Islam, mostly wherever Turkish and Moroccan (the most common Muslim immigrants) communities have formed, mainly in high-Muslim areas of larger cities such as Rotterdam. Pillarisation (Verzuiling in Dutch, Pilarisation in French) is a term used to describe the way the Dutch and Belgians used to deal with their multicultural (but not multiethnic) societies. ... Mushroom cloud from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rising 18 km into the air. ... For information about the band, see Atheist (band). ... The word Jew ( Hebrew: יהודי) is used in a wide number of ways, but generally refers to a follower of the Jewish faith, a child of a Jewish mother, or someone of Jewish descent with a connection to Jewish culture or ethnicity and often a combination... Islam (Arabic:  ) is a monotheistic religion based upon the Quran, its principal scripture, whose followers, known as Muslims (مسلم), believe God (Arabic: الله ) sent through revelations to Muhammad. ... Rotterdam Location Coat of arms The coat of arms reads Sterker door strijd, i. ...

Symbols

Oranjegekte in the Netherlands

Despite the most popular "Dutch" symbols around the world being wooden shoes, tulips, cheese and windmills, they are generally not thought of as the national symbols of the Netherlands but how foreign countries and cultures view the Netherlands and the Dutch people. The Dutch themselves generally consider themselves to have a number of national symbols, including the Dutch flag and the colour orange. The red, white and blue flag is the oldest tricolour in continuous use until today. The other national symbol, orange, is the colour of the Dutch royal family, the House of Orange-Nassau. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1600x1200, 418 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Dutch people Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1600x1200, 418 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Dutch people Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to... Oranjegekte Oranjegekte (orange folly) is a phenomenon in the Netherlands that occurs during queen’s day, international football championships and sometimes at other sporting events. ... The word clog, as applied to footwear, has these meanings:- A type of shoe or sandal made predominantly out of wood. ... Species See text Tulip (Tulipa) is a genus of about 100 species of flowering plants in the family Liliaceae. ... Cheese is a solid food made from the milk of cows, goats, sheep, and other mammals. ... Spanish Windmills at La Mancha A windmill is an engine powered by the wind to produce energy, often contained in a large building as in traditional post mills, smock mills and tower mills. ... Flag ratio: 2:3 The national flag of the Netherlands, with its three equal horizontal bands coloured red (top), white and blue, was not the countrys first flag. ... The tricolour flag of France A flag is a piece of cloth, often flown from a pole or mast, generally used symbolically for signalling or identification. ... The House of Orange-Nassau (in Dutch: Van Oranje-Nassau), a branch of the House of Nassau, has played a central role in the political life of the Netherlands since William I of Orange (also known as William the Silent and Father of the Fatherland) organised the Dutch revolt against...

Sports

There are a number of sports which are most likely invented by the Dutch, which then spread worldwide, examples include ice hockey^[25] and golf.^[26]Apart from these worldwide sports there are also a number of local Dutch sports such as polsstokverspringen, kaatsen, klootschieten, kolven and korfbal. Ice hockey, known simply as hockey in areas where it is more common than field hockey, is a team sport played on ice. ... This article is about the sport. ... Fierljeppen (far-leaping) is a traditional Frisian/Dutch sport and one of the most complex athletic sports known to date. ... Impression of the game of Kaatsen Kaatsen is a traditional Dutch/Frisian sport, related to American handball and fives, that is most commonly practiced by people from the northern province of Fryslân/Friesland. ... Kloot Klootschieten (Ball shooting in English) is a sport in the Netherlands. ... Kolven is a game similar to golf. ... Korfball (in Dutch korfbal, which literally means basketball) is a team ball game. ...

The most popular sports, both for active participation and audience are Football, Cycling, Speed skating, Judo, Hockey, Physical fitness and Tennis. Look up Football in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... This road bicycle is built using lightweight, shaped aluminium tubing and carbon fiber stays and forks. ... Speed skating or speedskating is a form of skating in which the competitors attempt to travel a certain distance as quickly as possible on ice skates. ... Judo , gentle way) is a martial art, combat sport, and philosophy which originated in Japan. ... A game of field hockey in progress Field hockey is a popular sport for men and women in many countries around the world. ... Physical fitness is an attribute required for service in virtually all militaries. ... A tennis net Tennis is a game played between either two players (singles) or two teams of two players (doubles). Players use a stringed racquet to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponents court. ...

Identity

The Dutch people are historically affiliated to all Germanic peoples, such as the English, Germans, Danes, and Swedes. The feeling of affiliation is strongest among West Germanic people, the closest being the Flemish, Frisians and Afrikaners and to a lesser degree the English and Germans. Thor, Germanic thunder god. ... The English are an ethnic group or nation primarily associated with England and the English language. ... West Germanic is the largest branch of the Germanic family of languages, including such languages as English, Dutch, and German. ...

The Greater Netherlands, also called Dietsland.

The Dutch and the Flemish share the same language, the subdivisions of which have little to do with the state border established in 1648. Until 1830, the Dutch and Flemings (who live in Northern Belgium) were generally considered as one single people, and in fact some people still do. Due to historical causes, mostly rooted in the Dutch revolt the two groups slowly started to diverge. Nevertheless affiliation is still very strong with the same language and a very similar culture. Ever since the Belgian revolution (and the following discriminating laws against the Dutch speaking Belgians) there have been groups and people in the Netherlands, but especially Belgium, who have or are proposing a reunification, Vlaams Belang being one of the chief supporters to date. Such an event could happen, considering that a large portion of the Walloons, the second largest ethnic group in Belgium, also strive to a unification, be it with another country: France. Image File history File links Dietsland. ... Image File history File links Dietsland. ... Dietsland refers to the Greater Netherlands, including The Netherlands and Flanders, and sometimes (mostly in more extreme groups) French Flanders and sometimes even the Boer communities of South Africa, in other words, all areas where Dutch is spoken. ... Flanders (Dutch: Vlaanderen) has several main meanings: the social, cultural and linguistical, scientific and educational, economical and political community of the Flemings; some prefer to call this the Flemish community (others refer to this as the Flemish nation) which is, with over 6 million inhabitants, the majority of all Belgians... Episode of the Belgian Revolution of 1830, Egide Charles Gustave Wappers (1834), in the Musée dArt Ancien, Brussels The Belgian Revolution was a conflict in the United Kingdom of the Netherlands that began with a riot in Brussels in August 1830 and eventually led to the establishment of... Vlaams Belang (English: Flemish Interest) is a Belgian political party. ... The term Walloons (French: Wallons, Walloon: Walons) refers, in daily speech, to French-speaking Belgians from Wallonia. ...

The Frisian people, who speak their own language and today live mainly in Friesland (a province of the Netherlands), have had some influence on Dutch culture, especially in the northern parts of Holland proper; also named West Frisia. The Frisians are an ethnic group of northwestern Europe, inhabiting an area known as Frisia. ... Capital Leeuwarden Queens Commissioner drs. ... Holland is a region in the central-western part of the Netherlands. ...

Notes

The Roman Empire is not the Holy Roman Empire (843-1806). ... The Holy Roman Empire and from the 16th century on also The Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation was a political conglomeration of lands in Central Europe in the Middle Ages and the early modern period. ... For other uses, see Franks (disambiguation). ... The name Battle-axe people (corded ware culture) identifies widely-scattered late Neolithic sites in Europe (3rd millennium BCE). ... The word Jew ( Hebrew: יהודי) is used in a wide number of ways, but generally refers to a follower of the Jewish faith, a child of a Jewish mother, or someone of Jewish descent with a connection to Jewish culture or ethnicity and often a combination... The gulden (sometimes called guilder in English), represented by the symbol Æ’ or fl. ... Capitalism is an economic system in which the means of production are mostly privately owned and in which prices of capital and commodities are determined in a largely free market which operates in the pursuit of profit, with investments being determined by private decision. ... Amsterdam Location Flag Country Netherlands Province North Holland Population 741,329 (1 August 2006) Demonym Amsterdammer Coordinates Website www. ... The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view. ... Pamphlet from the Dutch tulipomania, printed in 1637 Anonymous 17th-century watercolor of the Semper Augustus, the most famous bulb, which sold for a record price. ... Edam-Volendam (population: 28,194 in 2004) is a municipality in the north-western Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. ... The painting Dutch attack on the Medway, June 1667 by Pieter Cornelisz van Soest, painted c. ... The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of the British armed services (and is therefore the Senior Service). ... Royal Netherlands Navy Jack The Koninklijke Marine (Royal Netherlands Navy ) is the navy of the Netherlands. ... The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of the British armed services (and is therefore the Senior Service). ... William III King of England, Scotland and Ireland William III and II (14 November 1650–8 March 1702; also known as William Henry and William of Orange) was Prince of Orange from his birth, King of England and Ireland from 13 February 1689, and King of Scotland from 11... The Glorious Revolution was the overthrow of James II of England in 1688 by a union of Parliamentarians and the Dutch stadtholder William III of Orange-Nassau (William of Orange). ... A world map showing the continent of Africa. ... Map based on Adriaen Blocks 1614 expedition to New Netherland, featuring the first use of the name. ... Ice hockey, known simply as hockey in areas where it is more common than field hockey, is a team sport played on ice. ... This article is about the sport. ... Modern leather-working tools Leather is a material created through the tanning of hides, pelts and skins of animals, primarily cows. ...

See also

• Demographics of the Netherlands
• List of Dutch people
• Dutch customs and etiquette

To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... This is a list of Dutch people who are famous and/or have an article: // Main article: List of Dutch architects Jaap Bakema (1914-1981), architect Hendrik Petrus Berlage (1856-1934), architect Johannes van den Broek (1898-1978), architect Pierre Cuypers (1827-1921), architect Willem Marinus Dudok (1884-1974), architect... The Dutch have a code of etiquette, the code that governs the expectations of social behaviour, and it is considered very important. ...

External links

• Dutch Immigrant Communities in Canada
• NLBorrels, a global network for Dutch Expatriates