|
Profile
 The
Dutch political scene is one of consensus, a long standing solution
to sharp international social divisions between Catholic and Protestants,
and an ancient need to unite against more powerful neighbours and
the against the formidable North Sea. Government for more then forty
years has been through a series of shifting coalitions and compromises,
which, for the Netherlands, seems always to be necessary. The post-war
created the general agreement that all should share in the increasing
wealth, a national benchmark goal that has led to the most extensive
welfare system in Western Europe. This system costs something near
to 7% of the GNP. Just how to adequately and fairly pay for this
is the central preoccupation of Dutch politics.
Dutch prosperity is based on efficient industry, restructured in
the 1980's, natural gas, rich and intensively farmed land, and trade,
around 60% of GDP consists of exports and imports, making the Netherlands
one of the most trade-dependent economies in Europe. Wheat Germany
has been by far the largest trade partners, a position that has
grown substantially because of Germany's unification. Chemicals,
electronics and food processing are prominent. The Netherlands is
also the headquarters of three of the world's largest multinationals,
Unilever, Philips, and Royal Dutch Shell. Much of Dutch agriculture
is still small-scale but it is also highly efficient. 60% of the
produce is exported and the country is more than self sufficient
in food.
The need to defend and reclaim land from the sea has long made the
Dutch environmentally conscious. The chemicals industry and agricultural
methods have led to serious ground pollutions. The National Environment
Pollution Plan (NEPP) on which a government fell in 1989 and which
was finally agreed in 1990, aims to reduce pollution by as much
as 75% over the next 15 years largely on a 'polluter pays' basis.
As energy is important, Holland is in the forefront of global alternative
energy research and is making technological strides in the fields
of both wind and tidal energy collection.
Dependency on trade and experience with consensus politics has made
the Dutch natural leaders in EU developments. The Netherlands is
keen on much greater political and economic integration and is likely
to continue to play an important role as conciliator in EU affairs.
|
