A LAND OF DUPLICATES

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 100, 30 April 1938, Page 26

A LAND OF DUPLICATES

The Netherlands is a country with two names, two flags, twc capitals, and two national anthems, says the "Christian Science Monitor."

But not three names. For. one may call this land of dikes and tulip fields either "Holland" or "the Netherlands," but "Dutch" is forbidden.

This dual nomenclature has recently been explained by the HollandAmerican Chamber of Commerce. In an article in its "Trade Review," it points out that the name "Holland" is properly used only when speaking of the.provinces designated by that name —North Holland, or South Holland.

But explaining the two, capitals, Amsterdam and The Hague is not so easy. Amsterdam is the official capital, and is considered as such by the entire country. But just why that is correct does not appear to be clear except by recourse to history and tradition, which would involve deviation from the subject at hand.

"Amsterdam is by far the largest and most important city, commercially as well as from an artistic and scientific standpoint," the article points out. "The coronation of the kings takes place there. But having always taken first rank does not necessarily make it the capital. Everywhere except in the

Netherlands,, the capital is the city where the king, with appendages of court and foreign representatives, resides, and where the Government functions with its various departments, which in the Netherlands is The Hague."

For this reason it is difficult to explain to strangers why Amsterdam is also considered a capital of the Netherlands.

Duality continues as the Netherlanders divide their allegiance by singing two national anthems. "Het Wilhelmus" is the official national anthem, by Government determination, but "Wein Neerlands Bloed" continues unofficially, and retains an important place in the hearts of the countrymen. It is played principally on suitable occasions pertaining to the Army and Navy.

But that still leaves two flags to account for. Differences of opinion as to which flag is the official one have been settled, although use of the "Guezen" flag—orange, white, and blue —has not been prohibited. In February, 1937, the Queen signed a law proclaiming the colours of the Netherlands' flag to be red, white, and blue.

The only object of this decree was to end controversy, and the decision rested merely on the usage of these colours for more than 150 years.