A kingdom of Europe, established by Congress of Vienna, in 1815. Area,
12,648 square miles. Population, 4,225,065. Country protected by dykes from
the overflow of rivers and the inundations of the sea.
Constitution dated 1848. Law-making power resides in the States-General, a
parliament of two houses. Commercial centre, Amsterdam; pop., 350,201.
Capital, The Hague; pop., 127,931.
The soil is highly productive; fruit is grown extensively. In 1882 there
were 5,046,210 acres of cultivated garden and pasture land. Number of acres
in cereals, 1,267,399; yield of grain, 130,470,000 bu. Horses, 270,900;
cattle, 1,427,000; and sheep, 745,100.
Total exports, 1882, $313,330,000; imports, $414,330,000. Value of butter
exported to Great Britain alone, was $21,020,605. Holland's merchant
marine, 1884, consisted of 701 sailing vessels, of 251,500 tons, and 96
steamers, of 123,400 tons.
In 1884, miles of railway, 1,320. Miles of state telegraph, 2,660; miles of
wire, 9,760. Number of postoffices, 1,281.
In 1884, regular army stationed in Holland numbered 65,007 officers and
men; navy composed of 157 vessels, with 9,462 officers and men.
Constitution secures religious freedom. Number of Protestants, 2,469,814;
Roman Catholics, 1,439,137; Jews, 81,693.
Returns for 1882 gave 2,822 elementary public schools; 11,250 teachers;
1,143 private schools; total number of pupils, 557,932. There are 4
universities, 1 polytechnic school, 5 Roman Catholic, and 3 Protestant
seminaries. Total expense of schools, $5,921,515. {18}