Status: Free
Legal Environment: 2
Political Influences: 4
Economic Pressures: 6
Total Score: 12

Population: n/a
GNI/capita: n/a
Life Expectancy: 78
Religious Groups: Roman Catholic (31 percent), Protestant (21 percent), Muslim (4.4 percent), unaffiliated (43.6 percent)
Ethnic Groups: Dutch (83 percent), other [including Turks, Moroccans, Antilleans, Surinamese and Indonesians] (17 percent)
Capital: Amsterdam

The constitution provides for freedom of expression and the press. Although the relevant laws are rarely enforced, journalists can face imprisonment for insults against the monarch and the royal family. Commercial stations compete powerfully with public stations. Newspaper ownership is highly concentrated, as is that of commercial television, and many publishers also have interests in broadcasting; however, coverage remains vibrant, and there are no tabloids. In a remnant of the traditional pillar system, the state allocates public radio and television programming to political, religious, and social groups according to their membership size. Internet access is open and unrestricted.

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