The Dutch United Provinces declared their independence from Spain in 1579; during the 17th century, they became a leading seafaring and commercial power, with settlements and colonies around the world. After a 20-year French occupation, a Kingdom of the Netherlands was formed in 1815. In 1830, Belgium seceded and formed a separate kingdom. The Netherlands remained neutral in World War I, but suffered German invasion and occupation in World War II. A modern, industrialized nation, the Netherlands is also a large exporter of agricultural products. The country was a founding member of NATO and the EEC (now the EU) and participated in the introduction of the euro in 1999. In October 2010, the former Netherlands Antilles was dissolved and the three smallest islands - Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba - became special municipalities in the Netherlands administrative structure. The larger islands of Sint Maarten and Curacao joined the Netherlands and Aruba as constituent countries forming the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
The Kingdom of the Netherlands is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy.
Source: CIA World Factbook
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Displaying 91 - 93 of 93Act No. 292 of 1996 amending the Soil Protection Act and the Environment Protection Act (correction of certain imperfections).
The amendments of the Soil Protection concern Provincial Orders in relation to soil protection surveys, ascertainment of serious pollution, financial matters, hearing of the Technical Commission on Soil Protection on draft Ministerial Orders, and competencies of Municipalities and Polder Boards. Amendments of the Environment Protection Act concern only references made to (amendments of) the Soil Protection Act.
Decree No. 39 of 1995 concerning the discharge of water for purposes of soil protection.
"Discharge" is defined in article 2 as the bringing into the soil of liquids for as a permanent solution. The Decree does not apply to discharge of surface water, rain or drinking water, or groundwater, to which no pollutant are added and is not heated, and to irrigation for agricultural purposes (art. 2). Chapter II places limits on smaller discharge of household waste water. Chapter III places limits on larger discharge of household waste water. Permit, for Chapter IV, provides for the discharge of cooling water and other liquids.
Act No. 504 of 1995 to amend the Land Lease Act.
This Act amends provisions of the principal Act with the scope of bringing about improvement of the offer of arable land including land suitable for fast growing timber forestry. Provisions deal with revision of lease rates, alienation of land within 10 years after acquisition with preferential rights by former leaseholders, public lease, special short-term lease contracts, protection of leaseholders against strict terms imposed by landlords and other connected matters. (5 articles)