Background Stats: compare key data on Belgium & Netherlands

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STAT	Belgium	Netherlands
Daylight Savings Time end date	01:00 UTC on last Sunday October	01:00 UTC on last Sunday October
Daylight Savings Time start date	01:00 UTC on last Sunday March	01:00 UTC on last Sunday March
Full name	Kingdom of Belgium	The Kingdom of the Netherlands
Independence day date	July 21	May 5
Land border length	1,385 km Ranked 109th. 35% more than Netherlands	1,027 km Ranked 119th.
National anthems	The Braban\u00e7onne	Wilhelmus ( William )
National identity card	The card is first issued at age 12, compulsory by 15. Since the beginning of 2005 the eID ( e lectronic ID entity-card) has been issued to Belgian citizens who apply for a new identity card. Apart from being a form of identification, the card also is used for authentication purposes. Future usages include using the eID as a library card, keycard for restricted areas or chatrooms and the digital signing of documents. It is expected that in 2009 all Belgians will have an eID card. The identity cards for Belgians living abroad are not electronic cards like those issued in Belgium. They are, however, equally valid and are accepted and used in the same way as the electronic identity card.	Although it is not compulsory to carry a proof of identity at all times, since 1 January 2005 it is compulsory to show identification, when an authorized officer asks for it, from the age of 14. An authorized officer can only do so under certain circumstances. Such circumstances include suspicious behaviour, committing any offense, or if a person is interviewed as a witness of a crime. Identity checks at events where the public order may be in danger are also allowed. Otherwise random identity checks by the police are not allowed in principle but can happen in certain areas such as a train station or doubtful areas i.e. redlight district, and a fine for not showing proof of identity may be successfully challenged in such cases. The fine for not being able to show proof of identity when legally required is \u20ac 60.- (16 and over) or \u20ac 30.- (14 or 15). Proof of identity is also required when opening a bank account and when entering an employment contract.
Neighboring countries and territories	France Germany (L) Luxembourg (L) Netherlands United Kingdom (M)	Belgium Germany Saint Kitts and Nevis (M) United Kingdom (M) Venezuela (M) Anguilla ( United Kingdom ) (M) Saint Barthelemy ( France ) (M) Saint Martin ( France ) (M) United States Virgin Islands ( United States ) (M)
Overview	<p>For such a small country, Belgium has been a major European battleground over the centuries. </p> <p>Occupied by Germany during World Wars I and II, it has experienced an economic boom in the last 50 years to become a model Western European liberal democracy. </p> <p>However, there has also been a growing divide between the mainly Dutch-speaking north and the mainly French-speaking south, with some even speculating that the country could break up. </p><br> <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17205436">Full Article</a>	<p>The Netherlands&#039; name reflects its low-lying topography, with more than a quarter of its total area under sea level.</p> <p>Now a constitutional monarchy, the country began its independent life as a republic in the 16th century, when the foundations were laid for it to become one of the world&#039;s foremost maritime trading nations. </p> <p>Although traditionally among the keener advocates of the European Union, Dutch voters echoed those in France by spurning the proposed EU constitution in a 2005 referendum. </p><br> <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17740800">Full Article</a>

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