Netherlands trivia: 47 questions and answers

Amsterdam. Amsterdam is the capital named in the constitution, and the king is sworn in there. The parliament and the government sit in The Hague.

The Hague. The Hague is the seat of the parliament, the government and the Supreme Court, although Amsterdam is the capital.

True. True. Holland means North Holland and South Holland. The whole country is the Netherlands, although many people call it Holland.

The guilder. The guilder was the Dutch currency for centuries until the euro replaced it. Euro notes and coins arrived in 2002.

Spain. The provinces rose against King Philip II of Spain. Spain finally recognised the Dutch Republic in the Peace of Münster in 1648.

True. True. Prices for rare bulbs had soared in the 1630s, some selling for more than ten times a skilled craftsman's yearly income, before the market collapsed in February 1637.

The Dutch East India Company. The VOC, the Dutch East India Company, was one of the first companies whose shares anyone could buy. It built a trading empire across Asia.

Rotterdam. German bombers destroyed the centre of Rotterdam on 14 May 1940, and the main Dutch forces surrendered the same day.

In a secret annex behind her father's business in Amsterdam. They hid in a secret annex behind her father's business in Amsterdam, on the Prinsengracht, until they were discovered and arrested in August 1944.

True. True. The Peace of Münster, signed on 30 January 1648, ended the Eighty Years' War and recognised the independent Dutch Republic.

False. False. Belgium had been part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands since 1815, and in 1830 it broke away to become an independent kingdom.

Gouda. Stroopwafels, thin waffles filled with syrup, are said to have been first made in Gouda in the late 1700s or early 1800s.

True. True. EU rules require wild fish such as herring that will be eaten raw to be frozen first. Raw fish is still best avoided by pregnant women, and older people may prefer to skip it too.

Mustard. Bitterballen, crunchy fried balls of beef ragout, are served hot with a small bowl of mustard for dipping.

Chocolate sprinkles. Hagelslag, meaning 'hailstorm', is chocolate sprinkles. An estimated 750,000 hagelslag sandwiches are eaten every day.

Split peas. Snert is a thick soup of green split peas with pork, vegetables and smoked sausage, so thick it is almost a stew.

New Year's Eve. Oliebollen, deep-fried dough balls often with raisins, are the traditional treat for New Year's Eve.

Indonesia. The dishes of a rijsttafel are Indonesian. Serving dozens at once was a Dutch colonial custom.

Leiden. When the siege of Leiden ended in 1574, legend says the people found hutspot in the Spanish camp. Leiden still eats it every 3 October.

False. False. Gouda is a cow's milk cheese, named after the town of Gouda where it was sold.

Leiden. Leiden University was founded in 1575. Rembrandt was born in Leiden too.

Delft. Delft is known for Delft blue pottery and was the home of Johannes Vermeer.

Maastricht. The Maastricht Treaty was signed there on 7 February 1992. It created the European Union and led to the euro.

The Night Watch. The Night Watch (1642) is by Rembrandt. Girl with a Pearl Earring is by Vermeer, The Starry Night by Van Gogh and The Scream by Munch.

False. False. Despite its name, the painting is not a night scene. It shows a civic guard company setting out, lit by strong light and shadow.

Pumping water out of the polder. Pumping water out of the polder was their job: the Kinderdijk mills were built around 1740 to lift water from the low land into a higher basin and on to the river.

The Van Nelle Factory in Rotterdam. The Van Nelle Factory in Rotterdam, a modernist factory of glass and steel, has been on the World Heritage List since 2014. Keukenhof, Zaanse Schans and the Binnenhof are famous but not on the list.

False. False. Keukenhof opens to the public for only about eight weeks each spring, from about mid-March to mid-May.

So the tide and sea life can pass. After protests, the barrier was built with gates that stay open so the tide and sea life can pass, and close only when a storm threatens.

About a quarter. About 26 percent of the country, about a quarter, lies below sea level, protected by dikes, dunes and pumps.

On the Caribbean island of Saba. On the Caribbean island of Saba stands Mount Scenery, about 870 m, the highest point since Saba became part of the Netherlands in 2010. The Vaalserberg in Limburg, about 322 m, is the highest point in the European part.

Orange. Orange is the colour of the royal House of Orange, and on King's Day the whole country turns orange.

True. True. New Amsterdam was at the tip of Manhattan. The English took it in 1664 and renamed it New York.

Flevoland. Flevoland became the twelfth province in 1986. Its land was drained between 1942 and 1968.

5 December. Sinterklaas brings presents on the evening of 5 December, after arriving by steamboat from Spain in mid-November.

False. False. In the 1800s the Dutch were known for being short. Today they are among the tallest people in the world.

Cosy and sociable. Cosy and sociable is the closest translation: gezellig describes a warm, pleasant, friendly feeling, like an evening with friends. It is a favourite Dutch word.

A bicycle. A fiets is a bicycle, and the Dutch own at least 18 million of them.

False. False. 'Lekker' means tasty or nice. The word for cheese is 'kaas'.

Dank u wel. 'Dank u wel' is the polite thank you. 'Tot ziens' is goodbye, 'eet smakelijk' is enjoy your meal and 'goedemorgen' is good morning.

Just before eating. Just before eating, everyone says 'eet smakelijk', meaning 'enjoy your meal'. For a toast, say 'proost'.

True. True. The Dutch say 'alstublieft' when asking for something and also when handing something over.

112. 112 is the official emergency number for police, fire and ambulance. It is free and works from any phone. 0900-8844 is the police line for non-urgent matters.

Red. Many cycle paths are paved in red asphalt or marked with a round blue sign with a white bike. Do not walk on them.

True. True. Since 2023 all public transport accepts contactless bank cards and phones. Remember to tap out when you leave.

False. False. By law, service is included in the prices. Tipping is optional: rounding up or 5 to 10 percent for good service is common.

False. False. On buses and trams you pay by card, not cash. Carry a bank card with you.