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Table of Contents
The Netherlands, a country in northwestern Europe, is known for a flat landscape of canals, tulip fields, windmills and cycling routes. Amsterdam, the capital, is home to the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum and the house where Jewish diarist Anne Frank hid during WWII. Canalside mansions and a trove of works from artists including Rembrandt and Vermeer remain from the city’s 17th-century “Golden Age.”
See the fact file below for more information on the Netherlands or alternatively, you can download our 19-page Netherlands worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.
Key Facts & Information
History of the Netherlands
- Prior to 800 BCE, the area that is now referred to as the Netherlands was shaped by the water sources nearby, including the sea and rivers.
- Indigenous hunter-gatherers and their artifacts have been linked strongly to rivers and open water, and evidence of animal husbandry and agriculture have been found in such places.
- From 800 BCE onwards, the Iron Age Celtic culture became dominant and very influential, with bronze and iron being the top trade items with nearby settlements.
- During the reign of Julius Caesar, he described two primary Celtic tribes living in the southern part of what is now the Netherlands: the Menapii and the Eburones.
- It was during the Burgundian period when the road to Netherlands nationhood began – during this time, Amsterdam grew to become an important trading port in Europe.
- In 1433, Philip the Good (Duke of Burgundy) united the areas that are now the Netherlands and Belgium together.
- After declaring independence, Holland, Zeeland, Groningen, Friesland, Utrecht, Overijssel,and Gelderland formed a confederation, with representatives from each of the seven provinces meeting at The Hague.
- During the 1830s, the colonies in the Dutch West Indies (located in the Caribbean) relied heavily on African slaves, but slavery was abolished in the Netherlands in 1863.
- During World War I, the Netherlands were neutral, but in World War II, they were invaded by Nazi Germany on May 10, 1940.
- With the Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands signed in 1954, the Netherlands began decolonizing, and eventually joined NATO, the Benelux, Euratom, and the ECC (now known as the European Union).
Geography of the Netherlands
- The Netherlands is a low-lying country, with about half of the country’s area sitting only three feet above sea level (and about one-quarter of the total area of the country is below sea level).
- Although some low hill ranges and some foothills in the southeast exist, the Netherlands is mostly flat.
- A large part of the country was formed by the estuaries of the Rhine, the Scheldt, and the rivers’ tributaries.
- In fact, the Netherlands is divided into north and south parts by the Rhine river; it is known that people speak differently depending on which side of the Rhine they live on.
- The change in geography and landscape in the Netherlands has been due in large part to natural disasters and flooding.
- Soil drainage, poorly controlled extraction, heavy farming, and other forms of human intervention have impacted the Netherlands in a negative way.
- The Netherlands is home to 20 national parks and hundreds of nature reserves, which are home to different animals in different regions of the Netherlands.
- Migrating birds pass through the Netherlands each year.
- You may see larger mammals, such as deer, foxes, and badgers, as well as boars, muskrats, and some reptiles and amphibians. River rish and lobsters have become scarce as a result of water pollution.
- A maritime climate exists in the Netherlands, which typically means warm summers, cool winters, and high humidity.
Trade in the Netherlands
- The Netherlands have a high level of economic freedom, and have relied on shipping, fishing, and banking as pillars of their economy since the 16th century.
- It is an extremely innovative and competitive country, and trades with Germany, Belgium, the U.S, the U.K, France, Italy, China, and Russia, and is one of the world’s 10 leading export countries, with the Port of Rotterdam (pictured below) being the largest port in Europe.
Culture in the Netherlands
- The Dutch are the tallest people in the world, and also have a high life expectancy.
- Although Dutch is the official language, it is estimated that nearly 90% of Dutch people can speak English, and 70% can speak German.
- The Netherlands has had many famous painters, including Rembrandt van Rijn and Vincent van Gogh, as well as famous writers and philosophers.
- The Dutch are known as an egalitarian and modern society; they are open and direct, and also very secular.
- Football is the most popular sport, with field hockey and volleyball following closely behind.
- Dutch cuisine is simple and includes lots of dairy.
- Some popular Dutch dishes include Oliebollen (a Dutch patry) and Stroopwafels.
Netherlands Worksheets
This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about Netherlands across 19 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Netherlands worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the Netherlands, a country in northwestern Europe, which is known for a flat landscape of canals, tulip fields, windmills and cycling routes. Amsterdam, the capital, is home to the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum and the house where Jewish diarist Anne Frank hid during WWII. Canalside mansions and a trove of works from artists including Rembrandt and Vermeer remain from the city’s 17th-century “Golden Age.”
Complete List Of Included Worksheets
- Netherlands Fact File.
- Climate Change.
- Netherlands Wordsearch.
- Eating in the Netherlands.
- Art Critique: Vincent van Gogh.,
- Culture Board.
- Netherlands Crossword.
- Postcard from the Netherlands.
- Opinion Paragraph.
- Cycling in the Netherlands.
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Link will appear as Netherlands Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, October 11, 2018
Use With Any Curriculum
These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.