Netherlands
The Netherlands is officially a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The country is in North-West Europe and also has three islands in the Caribbean. The Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders with Belgium, Germany and the United Kingdom.
The country capital is Amsterdam and the seat of Muggle government is The Hague. The Netherlands in its entirety is often referred to as "Holland", although North and South Holland are actually only two of its provinces.
The Netherlands is a geographically low-lying country, with about 20% of its area and 21% of its population located below sea level, and 50% of its land lying less than one metre above sea level. Most of the country is very flat, with the exception of foothills in the far southeast and several low hill ranges in the central parts.
Language
The official language is Dutch, which is spoken by the vast majority of the inhabitants. Another official language is Frisian, which is spoken in the northern province of Friesland, called Fryslân in that language. [1]
There is a tradition of learning foreign languages in the Netherlands: about 70% of the total Muggle population have good knowledge of conversational English, 55– 59% of German, and 19% of French. It is quite probable this tradition extends to the Magical population.
Magical Culture
Witches and wizards from the Netherlands quite often attend Beauxbatons for their education.
Drammes Apotheke operate a number of apothecaries in the country.
There is a Museum of Magical Arts in Amsterdam which hosted an exhibition of famous Dutch architect Maarten Bergen in summer of 2012.
Ministry of Magic
The Ministry in the Netherlands shares resources with Belgium and Luxembourg. This includes an international floo between the three countries, which suits them far better for their local traffic and sharing resources, being smaller countries.
The building has at least one elevator, and also contains meeting rooms:
Johann opened the door, and led them into the room beyond, a smart board room with an oval table to seat twelve. On their left and right as they stepped through were three windows which must be bewitched, given there were two rooms either side of this in the corridor, and on the far wall, another door beneath a six foot square oil painting of a wizard carrying a globe, with a boat in the background sailing back and forth, who set it down to scrutinize Johann and Petra's entry. ... Stealing a hesitant glance at the grandfather clock ticking resolutely in a corner.[2]
At Absit Omen
Sophie Villiers family history is based in the Netherlands. On a trip to the Netherlands to study runes, Aileen Reid met Arvid Winter.
Jacoba Schlagenweit likes to pass through there for shopping, after living in the country. [3]
Johann Storm and Petra Pendrick-Talonen travelled to country on March 9th 2009 to meet with famous architect Maarten Bergen to help finalise a house purchase.[4]
Characters Born in The Netherlands
- Rocio Adair
- Maarten Bergen, NPC, and family
- Analiza Snark
- Aurelia Snark
- Freddie Turpin
