Country Trading Profiles Netherlands

Political outline | Living conditions | Useful resources | Communications

Political outline

Executive Power: The chief of state is the Queen (visit the website of the royal family). Following parliamentary (lower house) elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed Prime Minister ( head of the government) by the monarch to serve a four year term. The Council of Ministers is appointed by the monarch on recommendation of the Prime Minister.
Legislative Power: A bicameral legislature. The parliament called States General consists of two chambers: First Chamber (upper house) and Second Chamber (lower house). The government has the right to dissolve the parliament, one or both the chambers.
Main political parties: - CDA (Christian Democratic Appeal) – Christian democrats,
- CU (Christian Union) - a orthodox reformed political party with more centre-left ideas,
- D66 (Democrats 66) - a progressive-liberal and radical-democratic political party,
- Green Left - an eco-socialist and anti-capitalist political party,
- PvdA (Labour Party) – a social-democratic political party,
- PVV (Party for Freedom) - a right wing party known for their hard stands on immigration
- SP (Socialistic Party) - a left wing party forms of the remainder of the communist party, extremely socialistic,
- VVD (People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy) - a centre-right, free market, liberal party.
Current political leaders: Queen: BEATRIX (since April 1980) hereditary
Prime Minister: Jan Peter BALKENENDE (since July 2002) CDA, heading a coalition government with the PvdA and CU until the next general elections in November 2010.
Next election dates: First Chamber: May 2011

Living conditions

Health and safety

Health precautions: There are no obligatory vaccinations nor any recommendations.
International hospitals: There are no international hospitals in the Netherlands.
For further information on sanitary conditions: The World Health Organization webpages devoted to the Netherlands
Dutch Ministry of Health, Sports and Welfare
The American government’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
For further information on safety conditions: US Travelling information about the Netherlands
Canadian Travel Report of the Netherlands
Netherlands Board of Tourism and Conventions
Contact your Embassy: Embassy of Greece in Netherlands
Amaliastraat 1
2514 JC The Hague
Phone: (031 70) 3638700
Fax: 3563040
gr.emb.hague@dataweb.nl

Emergency numbers

Emergency services number

112

Time difference and climate

Time and time difference: It is %T:%M %A in Amsterdam, Rotterdam (GMT+1 in winter, GMT+2 in summer)
Summer time period: Summer time from March to October

Map of the time zone

Type of climate: Mild, maritime climate. Summers are generally warm with changeable periods, but excessively hot weather is rare. Winters can be fairly cold with the possibility of some snow. Rainfall is prevalent all year.

For further information: National Agency of Meteorology

Average annual temperatures and rainfall

Useful resources

To find an accommodation: The Netherlands Reservation Center (NRC) Bed & Breakfast Service Nederland The Netherlands Reservation Center (NRC) Stichting Vrije Recreatie Stayokay Netherlands Board of Tourism & Conventions
To find an apartment: Portal with all the Rental Agencies

Perfect Housing
Housing in Holland
Woonkrant (in Dutch)
To find a job: The public employment office of the Dutch government
Digital recruitment ground for both employers and employees
A private recruitment agency
Sam Headhunting
Labor dispatch company
Labor dispatch company

Communications

Telephone codes: To make a call from the Netherlands to Greece: dial 00 (or +) 30
To make a call to in the Netherlands from Greece: dial 00 (or +) +31
Mobile telephone standards: The Netherlands has an international standard. To call without a subscription you can use pre-paid cards.
Internet suffix: .nl

COUNTRY TRADING PROFILES

General Information

Political outline

Living conditions

Health and safety

Emergency numbers

Time difference and climate

Map of the time zone

Average annual temperatures and rainfall

Useful resources

Communications