THE PEOPLE

The Netherlands has a population of more than 15.8 million, which is growing annually at 0.5 percent.  The population is 96 percent ethnic Dutch, although there are some Indonesians and Surinamese.  Also included in the Kingdom of the Netherlands are the Caribbean Islands of Aruba and the Netherlands Antilles.  The official language is Dutch, a Germanic Language.  English, German, and French are commonly understood and spoken and are taught in secondary schools.  About 34 percent of the people are Roman Catholic.  Another 25 percent are Protestant, 3 percent Muslim, and 2 percent belong to other churches.  The Netherlands, like many European countries, is a secular society, in which the role of religion has diminished steadily for some time.

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