Netherlands Geography

The Netherlands is located in Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between Belgium and Germany. Its area in total is 41,532 square kilometers, 33,889 of which are land and 7,643 of which are water, and 451 of which are coastline. Its comparative area is slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey. It is located at mouths of three major European rivers: Rhine, Maas (Meuse), and Schelde.

The climate is temperate; marine; enjoying cool summers and mild winters. The terrain is mostly coastal lowland and reclaimed land (polders), with some hills in southeast. The lowst point is located in the Prins Alexanderpolder (-7 meters) and the highest point is Vaalserberg (321 meters).

The Netherlands' natural resources consist of natural gas, petroleum and arable land. According to a 1996 estimates, land utilization stood at: arable land 25%; permanent crops 3%; permanent pastures 25%; forests and woodlands 8%; and other 39%. Irrigated land covers approximately 6,000 square kilometers.

The greatest natural hazard to half of the Netherlands is the threat of flooding, which is held at bay by an extensive network of dykes and dams.

Current environmental issues are water pollution in the form of heavy metals, organic compounds, and nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates; air pollution from vehicles and refining activities and acid rain. The Netherlands is party to the following international environmental agreements: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling.