By the seventh century a Frisian Kingdom (650–734) under King Aldegisel and King Redbad emerged with Utrecht as its centre of power,[65][66] while Dorestad was a flourishing trading place. Savoury pastries also occur, with the worstenbroodje (a roll with a sausage of ground beef, literally translates into sausage bread) being the most popular. This process culminated in the rule of the House of Valois, who were the rulers of the Duchy of Burgundy. Towns grew around monasteries and castles, and a mercantile middle class began to develop in these urban areas, especially in Flanders and later also Brabant. [244] The Netherlands has nonetheless the reputation of the leader country in environmental and population management. The traditional alcoholic beverages of this region are beer (strong pale lager) and Jenever, a high proof juniper-flavored spirit, that came to be known in England as gin. Artists in this genre include Jan Smit, Frans Bauer and André Hazes. Belgium separated in 1830 from the (northern) Netherlands. The Netherlands is divided into twelve provinces, each under a King's Commissioner (Commissaris van de Koning). Only foreign shows for children are dubbed.[257]. [172], One-third of the world's exports of chilis, tomatoes and cucumbers goes through the country. During the occupation, their governments were forced into exiled in Britain. At first, the English language used (the contemporary form of) Dutch to refer to any or all speakers of West Germanic languages (e.g. This is laid down in the Algemene Wet Bijzondere Ziektekosten ("General Law on Exceptional Healthcare Costs") which first came into effect in 1968. Thus, the Low Countries consisted of fiefs whose sovereignty resided with either the Kingdom of France or the Holy Roman Empire. [173], Aside from that, a significant portion of Dutch agricultural exports consists of fresh-cut plants, flowers, and flower bulbs, with the Netherlands exporting two-thirds of the world's total. [22] It would also provide the basis for a long-term air and sea campaign against Britain. However, his successor Boniface was murdered by the Frisians in Dokkum, in 754. L'équipe des Pays-Bas de football (en néerlandais : Nederlands voetbalelftal) est constituée d'une sélection des meilleurs joueurs néerlandais sous l'égide de la Fédération royale néerlandaise de football. : La décision relative aux Pays-Bas permet la vaccination suppressive. The Romans made a distinction between the Roman provinces of downstream Germania Inferior (nowadays part of Belgium and the Netherlands) and upstream Germania Superior (nowadays part of Germany). Most of these are owned by Staatsbosbeheer, the national department for forestry and nature conservation and Natuurmonumenten (literally 'Natures monuments'), a private organisation that buys, protects and manages nature reserves. It is widely spoken on these islands. Religious identification in the Netherlands (2015)[3]. They came to be ruled by the Merovingian dynasty, under which dynasty the southern part (below the Rhine) was re-Christianised. Historically, the term Low Countries arose at the Court of the Dukes of Burgundy, who used the term les pays de par deçà ("the lands over here") for the Low Countries as opposed to les pays de par delà ("the lands over there") for the Duchy of Burgundy and the Free County of Burgundy, which were part of their realm but geographically disconnected from the Low Countries. Trains are frequent, with two trains per hour on lesser lines,[j] two to four trains per hour on average, and up to eight trains an hour on the busiest lines. The cabinet initiated an ambitious programme of reforming the welfare state, the healthcare system, and immigration policy. Children under 18 are covered for free. It is the 64th most populous country in the world. Ripuarian language, which is spoken in Kerkrade and Vaals in the form of, respectively, the Kerkrade dialect and the Vaals dialect[214][215] is not recognised as a regional language of the Netherlands. [243], As of 2018 the Netherlands had one of the highest rates of carbon dioxide emissions per capita in the European Union, above those of Germany, France and Belgium. It consists primarily of the salt waters of the Oosterschelde, but also includes mud flats, meadows, and shoals. In addition, William became hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg in exchange for his German possessions. The area known as Oberland (High country) was in this deictic context considered to begin approximately at the nearby higher located Cologne. The Netherlands was one of the founding members of the Benelux, the NATO, Euratom and the European Coal and Steel Community, which would evolve into the EEC (Common Market) and later the European Union. "[240] A well known more serious source on Dutch etiquette is "Dealing with the Dutch" by Jacob Vossestein: "Dutch egalitarianism is the idea that people are equal, especially from a moral point of view, and accordingly, causes the somewhat ambiguous stance the Dutch have towards hierarchy and status. The predominant wind direction in the European Netherlands is southwest, which causes a mild maritime climate, with moderately warm summers and cool winters, and typically high humidity. Beispiele: [1] Übersetzungen . The Eighty Years' War (1568–1648) divided the Low Countries into an independent northern Dutch Republic (or Latinised Belgica Foederata, "Federated Netherlands", the precursor state of the Netherlands) and a Spanish controlled Southern Netherlands (Latinised Belgica Regia, "Royal Netherlands", the precursor state of Belgium). [211] West Frisian has a formal status for government correspondence in that province. [19] The Port of Rotterdam is the busiest seaport in Europe, and the busiest in any country outside East Asia and Southeast Asia, behind only China and Singapore. Some scholars have speculated that even a third ethnic identity and language, neither Germanic nor Celtic, survived in the Netherlands until the Roman period, the Iron Age Nordwestblock culture,[56][57] that eventually was absorbed by the Celts to the south and the Germanic peoples from the east. [200] Over half the young people in Amsterdam and Rotterdam have a non-western background. The most famous Dutch classical composition is "Canto Ostinato" by Simeon ten Holt, a minimalistic composition for multiple instruments. Other major industries include chemicals, metallurgy, machinery, electrical goods, trade, services and tourism. The Netherlands women's field hockey team is the most successful team in World Cup history. The most important colonies were present-day Suriname and Indonesia. Approximately 4.5 million of the 16.8 million people in the Netherlands are registered to one of the 35,000 sports clubs in the country. However, King Louis Bonaparte tried to serve Dutch interests instead of his brother's, and he was forced to abdicate on 1 July 1810. Übersetzung für 'Pays-Bas' im kostenlosen Französisch-Deutsch Wörterbuch und viele weitere Deutsch-Übersetzungen. [65] Many moved on to England and came to be known as Anglo-Saxons, but those who stayed would be referred to as Frisians and their language as Frisian, named after the land that was once inhabited by Frisii. The States-Provincial are directly elected every four years as well. This architectural style is most concentrated in the provinces of Gelderland and Limburg. [69] When the kingdom of Middle Francia was partitioned in 855, the lands north of the Alps passed to Lothair II and subsequently were named Lotharingia. The Southern Dutch cuisine consists of the cuisines of the Dutch provinces of North Brabant and Limburg and the Flemish Region in Belgium. After 1830, it was deployed mainly in the Dutch colonies, as the Netherlands remained neutral in European wars (including the First World War), until the Netherlands was invaded in World War II and defeated by the Wehrmacht in May 1940. The Netherlands has 20 national parks and hundreds of other nature reserves, that include lakes, heathland, woods, dunes and other habitats. Other well-known Dutch film directors are Jan de Bont (Speed), Anton Corbijn (A Most wanted Man), Dick Maas (De Lift), Fons Rademakers (The Assault), and documentary makers Bert Haanstra and Joris Ivens. In the 4th and 5th century, Frankish tribes had entered this Roman region and came to run it increasingly independently. All children in the Netherlands usually attend elementary school from (on average) ages 4 to 12. The southern provinces of North Brabant and Limburg have historically been strongly Roman Catholic, and some residents consider the Catholic Church as a base for their cultural identity. File; File history; File usage on Commons; File usage on other wikis; Size of this preview: 419 × 600 pixels. Netherlands have participated in 1996, 2003, 2007 and 2011 ODI cricket World Cup. The Dutch East Indies, which later formed modern-day Indonesia, was one of the most valuable European colonies in the world and the most important one for the Netherlands. [159] Netherlands's economy, mainly due to the large shares of natural gas reserves, is considered to have "very high" energy intensity rating. The windmills were later used to drain lakes, creating the famous polders. Warm days—maximum temperature above 20 °C (68 °F)—are usually found in April to October, but in some parts of the country these warm days can also occur in March, or even sometimes in November or February (usually not in De Bilt, however). ", Knippenberg, Hans "The Changing Religious Landscape of Europe" edited by Knippenberg published by Het Spinhuis, Amsterdam 2005, J.M. [117] These changes have resulted in increased frequency of droughts and heatwaves. With the armed support of revolutionary France, Dutch republicans proclaimed the Batavian Republic, modelled after the French Republic and rendering the Netherlands a unitary state on 19 January 1795. The new rulers defended Dutch trading interests, which then developed rapidly. ; Fortrolighedspolitik; Om Wiktionary; Forbehold; Udviklere While the further history the Low Countries can be seen as the object of a continual struggle between these two powers, the title of Duke of Lothier was coveted in the low countries for centuries.[16]. In the European part of the kingdom two other regional languages are recognised under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. [177], As part of its commitment to environmental sustainability, the Government of the Netherlands initiated a plan to establish over 200 recharging stations for electric vehicles across the country. Only during the last three years in VWO one foreign language is mandatory. The south gained independence in 1830 as Belgium (recognised by the Northern Netherlands in 1839 as the Kingdom of the Netherlands was created by decree), while the personal union between Luxembourg and the Netherlands was severed in 1890, when William III died with no surviving male heirs. [216] The Netherlands has a tradition of learning foreign languages, formalised in Dutch education laws. The Dutch scientist Christiaan Huygens (1629–1695) discovered Saturn's moon Titan, argued that light travelled as waves, invented the pendulum clock and was the first physicist to use mathematical formulae. In Dutch, the official names for the Netherlands, the Dutch language and a Dutch citizen are Nederland, Nederlands and Nederlander. [60] Salian Franks appear in Roman texts as both allies and enemies. Dutch colonies in South America were established along the many rivers in the fertile Guyana plains, among them Colony of Surinam (now Suriname). One to three ministers are ministers without portfolio. They were inhabited by Belgic and Germanic tribes. Other important parts of the economy are international trade (Dutch colonialism started with co-operative private enterprises such as the Dutch East India Company), banking and transport. [218] In most lower level secondary school educations (vmbo), one additional modern foreign language is mandatory during the first two years.[219]. One of the more controversial international issues surrounding the Netherlands is its liberal policy towards soft drugs. Courrier des Pays-Bas. [62][63], After Roman government in the area collapsed, the Franks expanded their territories in numerous kingdoms. The United Kingdom of the Netherlands (1815–1830) temporarily united the Low Countries again, before this split into the three modern countries of the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg. : They loved each other and wanted to go to Holland. Kenau Simonsdochter Hasselaer defending the walls during the Siege of Haarlem (1572–1573), Sack of Maastricht by the Tercios de Flandes (Flemish Regiments) in 1579. Cakes, such as the Vlaai from Limburg and the Moorkop and Bossche Bol from Brabant, are typical pastries. The Netherlands has a high level of economic freedom. Almost all of the west Netherlands is composed of the Rhine-Meuse river estuary, but human intervention greatly modified the natural processes at work. The European Netherlands is divided into north and south parts by the Rhine, the Waal, its main tributary branch, and the Meuse. [21], Netherlands literally means "lower countries" in reference to its low elevation and flat topography, with only about 50% of its land exceeding 1 metre (3 ft 3 in) above sea level, and nearly 17% falling below sea level. Nearly 17% of the country's land area is reclaimed from the sea and from lakes. In contrast to many other European systems, the Dutch government is responsible for the accessibility and quality of the healthcare system in the Netherlands, but not in charge of its management. The impact of disasters was, to an extent, increased through human activity. Holland, Hainaut, Flanders, Gelre, Brabant, and Utrecht were in a state of almost continual war or in paradoxically formed personal unions. [192] Life expectancy is high in the Netherlands: 83.2 years for newborn girls and 78.9 for boys (2013 estimate). All of the regions mainly depended on trade, manufacturing and the encouragement of the free flow of goods and craftsmen. The Kingdom also encourages Dutch companies to build sustainable business/projects/facilities, with financial aids from the state to the companies or individuals who are active in making the country more sustainable.[248]. Growth slowed considerably from 2001 to 2005 with the global economic slowdown, but accelerated to 4.1% in the third quarter of 2007. The special municipalities are collectively known as the Caribbean Netherlands. The Belgian Revolution at home and the Java War in the Dutch East Indies brought the Netherlands to the brink of bankruptcy. Most of these are Indo-Surinamese. The language and culture of most of the people who lived in the County of Holland were originally Frisian. Learn how and when to remove this template message, History of urban centers in the Low Countries, Sovereign Principality of the United Netherlands, History of the Netherlands (1900–present), the Japanese occupation of the Dutch East Indies (Indonesia), colonial war against the new Republic of Indonesia, Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands, State of the Netherlands v. Urgenda Foundation, List of national parks of the Netherlands, List of extinct animals of the Netherlands, List of diplomatic missions of the Netherlands, United Nations Security Council resolutions, treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, International Institute for Management Development, below the rate of 2.1 children per woman required for natural population replacement, 12th most densely populated country in the world, European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, Hinduism-oriented new religious movements, was the first Dutchman to win a Grand Prix, Dutch settlements and trading posts in India, Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, "Helft Nederlanders is kerkelijk of religieus", "Waaruit bestaat het Koninkrijk der Nederlanden? In the Caribbean, it consists of three special municipalities: the islands of … The islands of the Caribbean Netherlands enjoy a tropical climate with warm weather all year round. Following the sack of Antwerp, delegates from Catholic Brabant, Protestant Holland and Zeeland agreed, at Ghent, to join Utrecht and William the Silent in driving out all Spanish troops and forming a new government for the Netherlands. Notable towns would arise along the Limes Germanicus: Nijmegen and Voorburg. Climate change will not only threaten the Netherlands from the sea side, but could also alter rainfall patterns and river run-off. [5] Dutch and French dialects were the main languages used in secular city life. A noted exception within the traditional Dutch alcoholic landscape, Advocaat, a rich and creamy liqueur made from eggs, sugar and brandy, is also native to this region. [148][149][150] On the Index of Economic Freedom Netherlands is the 13th most free market capitalist economy out of 157 surveyed countries. [55] A widening cultural divide grew with the Franks remaining in their original homeland in the north (i.e. He ordered a conquest of the Low Countries with the shortest possible notice, to forestall the French,and prevent Allied air power from threatening the strategic Ruhr Area[vague]. It hosts several intergovernmental organisations and international courts, many of which are centered in The Hague, which is consequently dubbed 'the world's legal capital'. The States General, the confederal government, were seated in The Hague and consisted of representatives from each of the seven provinces. On 8 December 1941, the Dutch government-in-exile in London declared war on Japan,[96] but could not prevent the Japanese occupation of the Dutch East Indies (Indonesia). The Netherlands had a 2019 Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score of 0.6/10, ranking it 169th globally out of 172 countries. The country has a tradition of pillarisation and a long record of social tolerance, having legalised abortion, prostitution and human euthanasia, along with maintaining a liberal drug policy. | Taalcanon", "Cittaslow Vaals: verrassend, veelzijdig, veelkleurig". In Q3 and Q4 2011, the Dutch economy contracted by 0.4% and 0.7%, respectively, because of European Debt Crisis, while in Q4 the Eurozone economy shrunk by 0.3%. The Dutch are proud of their cultural heritage, rich history in art and involvement in international affairs. In early modern Europe it had the wealthiest trading city (Amsterdam) and the first full-time stock exchange. It led to the German occupation of the two countries. The Netherlands' turbulent history and shifts of power resulted in exceptionally many and widely varying names in different languages. [137] The Dutch Ministry of Defence employs more than 70,000 personnel, including over 20,000 civilians and over 50,000 military personnel. During the Middle Ages, the Low Countries were divided in numerous semi-independent principalities.[1][2]. The Caribbean Netherlands has a total area of 328 km2 (127 sq mi)[100] It lies between latitudes 50° and 54° N, and longitudes 3° and 8° E. The Netherlands is geographically very low relative to sea level and is considered a flat country, with about 26% of its area[101] and 21% of its population[102] located below sea level, and only about 50% of its land exceeding one metre above sea level. Being referenced by a member of the first echelon is mandatory for access to the second and third echelon. [192], The fertility rate in the Netherlands is 1.78 children per woman (2018 estimate),[192] which is high compared with many other European countries, but below the rate of 2.1 children per woman required for natural population replacement, it remains considerably below the high of 5.39 children born per woman in 1879. [133] The creation of water boards actually pre-dates that of the nation itself, the first appearing in 1196. Tekst er tilgængelig under Creative Commons Kreditering-Del på samme vilkår-licensen; yderligere betingelser kan være gældende.Se vores vilkår for anvendelse for flere oplysninger. Of all the people questioned, 24% saw themselves as atheist, an increase of 11% compared to the previous study done in 2006. Hopp til navigering Hopp til søk. After the ice age ended, the moraine remained in the form a long hill-line. One of the foundations of its wealth was the colonial trade. World War II started in this region, when Adolf Hitler's gaze turned his strategy west toward France. Amsterdam distributed grain to the major cities of Belgium, Northern France and England. Since the 1990s the Dutch army has been involved in the Bosnian War and the Kosovo War, it held a province in Iraq after the defeat of Saddam Hussein, and it was engaged in Afghanistan. [236] The health care system is in comparison to other Western countries quite effective but not the most cost-effective. [121] In 1871, the last old original natural woods were cut down, and most woods today are planted monocultures of trees like Scots pine and trees that are not native to the Netherlands. It is used synonymous with the more neutral and geopolitical term Benelux. The fleets of the County of Holland defeated the fleets of the Hanseatic League several times. Since World War II, the Netherlands has become a member of a large number of international organisations, most prominently the UN, NATO and the EU. In Indonesian (a former colony) the country is called Belanda, a name derived from 'Holland'. After the northern Seven United Provinces of the seventeen declared their independence from Habsburg Spain in 1581, the ten provinces of the Southern Netherlands remained occupied by the Army of Flanders under Spanish service and are therefore sometimes called the Spanish Netherlands. The population of the Netherlands was predominantly Christian until the late 20th century, divided into a number of denominations. This is especially true close to the Dutch coastline, where the difference in temperature between summer and winter, as well as between day and night is noticeably smaller than it is in the southeast of the country. The cost of damage repairs, structural improvements to buildings, and compensation for home value decreases has been estimated at 6.5 billion euros. Around 1100 AD, farmers from Flanders and Utrecht began draining and cultivating uninhabited swampy land in the western Netherlands, making the emergence of the County of Holland as the centre of power possible. The Low Countries were an easy route around the imposing French Maginot Line. During this expansion, Franks migrating to the south eventually adopted the Vulgar Latin of the local population. Various architectural styles can be distinguished in the Netherlands. The Low Countries were part of the Roman provinces of Gallia Belgica and Germania Inferior. 1 French. Since the 1990s, Dutch electronic dance music (EDM) gained widespread popularity in the world in many forms, from trance, techno and gabber to hardstyle. The plural Nederlanden was used in many different connotations in the past,[47] but since 1815 it has been used only in first Verenigd Koninkrijk der Nederlanden (United Kingdom of the Netherlands") and since the separation from Belgium in 1830 as Koninkrijk der Nederlanden ("Kingdom of the Netherlands"), referring originally to the Netherlands proper plus its colonies,[citation needed] and now to the Netherlands proper plus Curaçao, Aruba and Sint Maarten. The Dutch settlement in North America began with the founding of New Amsterdam on the southern part of Manhattan in 1614. The sausage contains a lot of fat and is very juicy. In Europe, it consists of 12 provincesthat border Germanyto the east, Belgiumto the south, and the North Seato the northwest, with maritime bordersin the North Sea with those countries and the United Kingdom. The Netherlands decided not to sign the UN treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. The Netherlands abolished slavery in its colonies in 1863. Federations for sports were established (such as the speed skating federation in 1882), rules were unified and sports clubs came into existence. [36] Under Habsburg rule, Les pays de par deçà developed in pays d'embas ("lands down-here"),[37] a deictic expression in relation to other Habsburg possessions like Hungary and Austria. [175] Like in many other European countries, the Dutch rail network of 3,013 km route is also rather dense. [55] A second grouping, the Weser-Rhine Germanic (or Istvaeones), extended along the middle Rhine and Weser and inhabited the Low Countries south of the great rivers. Pays Bas oder Pays-Bas steht für: die französische Bezeichnung der Niederlande; Pays Bas (Agadez), Stadtviertel von Agadez in Niger; Pays Bas (Niamey), Stadtviertel von Niamey in Niger; Dies ist eine Begriffsklärungsseite zur Unterscheidung mehrerer mit demselben Wort bezeichneter Begriffe. Without many refinements, it is best described as rustic, though many holidays are still celebrated with special foods. Actual euro coins and banknotes followed on 1 January 2002. Much of Descartes' major work was done in the Netherlands, where he studied at Leiden University — as did geologist James Hutton, British Prime Minister John Stuart, U.S. President John Quincy Adams, Physics Nobel Prize laureate Hendrik Lorentz and Enrico Fermi. [250][251] These DJs also contribute to the world's mainstream pop music, as they frequently collaborate and produce for high-profile international artists. Yiddish and the Romani language were recognised in 1996 as non-territorial languages. According to the HCP (Health Consumer Powerhouse), the Netherlands has 'a chaos system', meaning patients have a great degree of freedom from where to buy their health insurance, to where they get their healthcare service. The Leeward Antilles are warmer and drier than the Windward islands. Denne side blev senest redigeret den 1. maj 2017 kl. The subsequent phase was that of cremating the dead and placing their ashes in urns which were then buried in fields, following the customs of the Urnfield culture (1200–800 BC). [261] Ryan ten Doeschate is the only Dutch player to have played in the IPL on the team Kolkata Knight Riders. Not only is the rising sea a problem, but erratic weather patterns may cause the rivers to overflow. According to a 2005 estimate, the population was 80.9% Dutch, 2.4% Indonesian, 2.4% German, 2.2% Turkish, 2.0% Surinamese, 1.9% Moroccan, 0.8% Antillean and Aruban, and 7.4% others. the Vulgate (Bible not in Greek or Hebrew, but Latin; the folks' language) in meaning vulgar, though not in a pejorative sense). The provinces are also home to hard textured rye bread, pastries and cookies, the latter heavily spiced with ginger or succade or containing small bits of meat. [164], From a biological resource perspective, the Netherlands has a low endowment: the Netherlands’ biocapacity adds up to only 0.8 global hectares in 2016, 0.2 of which are dedicated to agriculture. Beer, like wine in French cuisine, is also used in cooking; often in stews. At first part of Gallia Belgica, the area south of the Limes became part of the Roman province of Germania Inferior. [20] Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is the busiest airport in the Netherlands, and the third busiest in Europe. Referendums were held on each island to determine their future status. [199] On 21 November 2016, there were 3.8 million residents in the Netherlands with at least one foreign-born parent ("migration background"). The HAVO has 5 grades and allows for admission to the HBO. The Dutch never recovered from the defeat and no longer posed a large colonial threat to Bengal Subah.[268][269]. In the 1960s and 1970s the lyrics were mostly in English, and some tracks were instrumental. Land drainage had caused the peat of the former wetlands to reduce to a level that was too low for drainage to be maintained. The modern Netherlands formed as a result of the interplay of the four main rivers (Rhine, Meuse, Schelde and IJssel) and the influence of the North Sea. Artists with North African, Caribbean or Middle Eastern origins have strongly influenced this genre. Willem de Kooning was born and trained in Rotterdam, although he is considered to have reached acclaim as an American artist. The VWO (comprising atheneum and gymnasium) has 6 grades and prepares for studying at a research university. Audio (Jersey) Proper noun . Ton Koopman is a Dutch conductor, organist and harpsichordist. Guilds and councils governed most of the cities along with a figurehead ruler; interaction with their ruler was regulated by a strict set of rules describing what the latter could and could not expect. [207], The official language is Dutch, which is spoken by the vast majority of the inhabitants. The sparsely populated region of Drenthe was part of the republic too, although it was not considered one of the provinces. Healthcare in the Netherlands is covered by two statutory forms of insurance: While Dutch residents are automatically insured by the government for AWBZ, everyone has to take out their own basic healthcare insurance (basisverzekering), except those under 18 who are automatically covered under their parents' premium. In the Middle Ages Hieronymus Bosch, Petrus Christus and Pieter Bruegel the Elder were leading Dutch pioneers. – in Europe (green & dark grey)– in the European Union (green), The Netherlands (Dutch: Nederland [ˈneːdərlɑnt] (listen)), informally Holland,[13] is a country primarily located in Western Europe and partly in the Caribbean, forming the largest constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. A politically neutral Delta Commission has formulated an action plan to cope with a sea level rise of 1.10 metres (3.6 ft) and a simultaneous land height decline of 10 centimetres (3.9 in). In addition, there are about 45,000 Jews in the Netherlands. Depending on the personalities and relationships of the King and the ministers, the monarch might have influence beyond the power granted by the Constitution of the Netherlands. Each of the provinces had its own laws, customs and political practices. Both houses send members to the Benelux Parliament, a consultative council.