Netherlands

The Dutch United Provinces declared their independence from Spain in 1579; during the 17th century, they became a leading seafaring and commercial power, with settlements and colonies around the world. After a 20-year French occupation, a Kingdom of the Netherlands was formed in 1815. In 1830 Belgium seceded and formed a separate kingdom. The Netherlands remained neutral in World War I, but suffered invasion and occupation by Germany in World War II. A modern, industrialized nation, the Netherlands is also a large exporter of agricultural products. The country was a founding member of NATO and the EEC (now the EU), and participated in the introduction of the euro in 1999.

Economical characteristics

 * Currency: Euro (ISO code: EUR)
 * Central bank discount rate: 3% (3 May 2009)
 * Commercial banks lending rate: 10.01% (31 December 2009)
 * is part of the Eurozone 

Notable events:

 * Banking crisis: 1819-1829, 1897, 1914, 1921, 1939, 2008
 * Public default: 1802-1814 (external and domestic)

Links

 * Netherlands on Wikipedia
 * Central bank of Netherlands
 * BBC country profile
 * Lessons in Liberty: The Dutch Republic, 1579-1750 by Robert A. Peterson, July 1987
 * The Pilgrims in Holland by Robert A. Peterson, November 1988
 * Let's Go Dutch by Stanley Goldfarb, August 2009 (about the approach to health-care reform)
 * Recession means new reality for Netherlands, stalwart economy of euro zone, PRI.org, May 2012
 * How New Cannabis Prohibition Laws Created Crime in Holland (video)