Netherlands

(Embassy of Iceland, London, September 2003)

General information:
Name: The Netherlands. Total surface area is 37,291 sq. km. Capital: Hague, with population of 1.1 million. Total population: 16 million (2002). Currency: 1 Euro = 88,51 Icelandic krona (July 2004) Language: Dutch.

The Government:
The Netherlands has a Constitutional Monarchy with a Parliamentary Government. The Head of State: Queen Beatrix (b. 1938), is a hereditary monarch; succeeded to The Throne 1980. Parliament: The present Government, which was formed after the 22 January 2003 elections, is a coalition of the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) 44 seats, The People´s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) 28 seats and the Democrats 66 (D66) 6 seats. Other major parties are the Labour Party (PvdA) 42 seats and the Green Left 8 seats and the Socialist Party 9 seats. Other smaller parties to both the left and the right 13 seats. The parliament, the Staten Generaal, consists of two houses and elections are held every four years. The Second Chamber (the Lower House) has 150 members elected by universal suffrage of all electors over the age of 18. The First Chamber (the Upper House) has 75 members indirectly elected by the twelve Provincial Councils. It has powers to accept or reject legislation. Prime Minister: Mr Jan Peter Balkenende (CDA). Minister for Foreign Affairs: Mr Jaap de Hoop Scheffer (CDU)).

The Economy:
GDP in billion Euro: 444.1 (2002). GDP growth: 2.6 % (2002). Unemployment rate: 2.4 % (2002). Inflation rate: 3.9 % (2002).

Trade between the Netherlands and Iceland: In 2003 exports to the Netherlands amounted to ISK 20,459 million (11.2 % of Iceland´s exports), while imports from the Netherlands were ISK 13,355 million (6,2 % of Iceland´s imports).

Official vistis: Her Majesty Queen Beatrix and His Royal Highness Prince Claus came to Iceland on a State Visit on 31 June and 1 July 1994 and in Her Majesty´s entourage was also Dr P H Kooijmans, then Minister for Foreign Affairs.

Foreign Relations:
Iceland and the Netherlands have extensive bilateral and multilateral relations, through the European Economic Area (EEA), the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the United Nations and many other international organisations.
The principal International Organizations in the Netherlands of which Iceland is a member: Permanent Court of Arbitration, The Hague. Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. The Hague.

Diplomatic Relations:
The Embassy of Iceland in London is accredited to the Netherlands.
Iceland has an honorary consul in the Netherlands and the Netherlands has an honorary consul in Iceland.
The present Ambassador of Iceland to the Netherlands is Mr. Sverrir Haukur Gunnlaugsson, who presented his credentials to the Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands on 12 March 2003.