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[[Image:Netherlands_map.gif|right]]

[[Image:Netherlands_map.gif|right]]

The '''Netherlands''' (''Dutch: Nederland'') is a country in [[Europe]]. It is bordered by [[Belgium]] and [[Germany]], and has a total population of approximately 16 million (2007). The country is often referred to as "Holland" (Holland means forestland, and because the country actually was one big forest at first, people still use that name); now it is just the name of two highly populated regions of the country (North-Holland and South-Holland). The national football team is also known as Holland.

The '''Netherlands''' (''Dutch: Nederland'') is a country in [[Europe]]. It is bordered by [[Belgium]] and [[Germany]], and has a total population of approximately 16 million (2007). The country is often referred to as "Holland" (Holland means forestland {{fact}}, and because the country actually was one big forest at first, people still use that name); now it is just the name of two densely populated provinces of the country (North-Holland and South-Holland). The national football team is also known as Holland.

As its name implies, it is a very low-lying country. About a quarter of the land area, containing more than half of the population, is actually below sea level, and would flood if the sea were not held back by a system of dikes. The Dutch have a saying  that "God created the earth, but the Dutch made Holland".

As its name implies, it is a very low-lying country. About a quarter of the land area, containing more than half of the population, is actually below sea level, and would flood if the sea were not held back by a system of dikes. The Dutch have a saying  that "God created the earth, but the Dutch made Holland".

==Queen's Day==

==Queen's Day==

April 30th is known as Queen's Day (''Koninginnedag'') - the national holiday to mark the official birthday of the monarch. This is actually the birthday of former Queen Juliana (Queen Beatrix's mother) but has been kept as the official holiday because of the better weather (Queen Beatrix's actual birthday is 31 January). Queen's Day is the one day of the year when ordinary Netherlanders are permitted to sell goods on the streets without a licence.  Consequently the whole country is turned into a gigantic flea market (garage sale).  The primary effect of this is that people buy goods they do not want or need, solely in order to sell them the following year.  In an act of patriotism most of the populace wear orange colored clothing (the national color) to identify with the Royal House Of '''Orange'''-Nassau.

April 30th is known as Queen's Day (''Koninginnedag'') - the national holiday to mark the official birthday of the monarch. This is actually the birthday of former Queen Juliana (Queen Beatrix's mother) but has been kept as the official holiday because of the better weather (Queen Beatrix's actual birthday is 31 January). Queen's Day is the one day of the year when ordinary Netherlanders are permitted to sell goods on the streets without a license.  Consequently the whole country is turned into a gigantic flea market (garage sale).  The primary effect of this is that people buy goods they do not want or need, solely in order to sell them the following year.  In an act of patriotism most of the populace wear orange colored clothing (the national color) to identify with the Royal House Of '''Orange'''-Nassau.

Those not involved with selling their surplus belongings celebrate the national holiday at outdoors parties in the cities or with fine weather, spend the free day on a terrace of a pub, or cycle in the national ''Fietsen op Dijken '' tour around the nation's dikes.

Those not involved with selling their surplus belongings celebrate the national holiday at outdoors parties in the cities or with fine weather, spend the free day on a terrace of a pub, or cycle in the national ''Fietsen op Dijken '' tour around the nation's dikes.