Discovering The Netherlands

People and Culture For the majority of the history of The Netherlands, the culture has been shaped by intellectual and popular currents in Europe, both religious and secular. The Netherlands is a modern society, mixing lifestyles and regional identities. The Dutch have a strong family life. Weekends are typically spent among family and old friends, enjoying sports and other activities. Additional social activities are generally scheduled during the week. The Dutch believe that their own open, democratic society has strong bonds with the English-speaking democracies, they are very aware that their small nation exists in an international context and are generally hospitable and friendly toward expatriates. Demographics The Netherlands lies in the West of Europe and is not among the most populated countries in the world, with a population of about 17 million habitants. The country has a population density of 409 per square kilometer.

Language The people in The Netherlands speak Dutch, which is spoken by the vast majority of the inhabitants. Nearly 85% of the Dutch population speaks English as a second language. Other popular European language is German with 65% of the inhabitants reported speaking in daily conversations.

Religion The majority of the Dutch people belong to Christian religious groups, of which, about half are Protestant and the other half are Catholic. Although religious diversity remains, there has been a decline of religious adherence, making Netherlands mostly a secular country.

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Discovering The Netherlands