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The paper deals with the extremely high birth rate of Roman Catholics in the Netherlands, a rate which is considerably higher than that of Catholics in other countries living under similar circumstances. The fertility of Catholics living on either side of the Dutch-Belgian and Dutch-German frontier was analysed and the same analysis was applied to Protestant frontier districts. One of the important factors making for high fertility proved to be the religious élan of the Catholics, which derived from their position as a strong minority. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a reply on the comments regarding planning in the Netherlands. Clarification of the geographical location of Amsterdam; Defense for the incorrect spellings in the article; Truth in the statement that Port of Rotterdam is much larger than Amsterdam.

The section of "Industrial Applications of Textiles" focuses on several applications of textile fibers. It is mentioned that nonwoven polyester fabric can be used for making temporary roads. Bidium is a polyester fabric, which can be used to form a road over a muddy site. It is stated that large quantities of textile fabrics are used to prevent the erosion of the beds of water channels in the Netherlands. It is mentioned that textiles can also be used for providing insulation against noise. A patent describes that bonded mineral fibres can be used for thermal insulation.

The article deals with the recent widespread increase in marriage rates in the Western world. A convenient method of studying aspects of the recent history of marriage is provided by easily available data regarding the proportion of single persons at various dates. The article uses these data to disentangle two effects in the marriage boom: the extent to which the cohorts whose marriages have formed the main contribution to the marriage boom are marrying more, i.e. whether the proportion who will ultimately remain single is likely to be lower than in previous generations, the extent to which the mean age at marriage of these generations is likely to fall below that of their predecessors. The raw material for the computations to be presented consists of the proportions single at two recent dates for each of thirteen countries used in the study. The countries included in the study are Czechoslovakia, Denmark, England and Wales, France, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand, and the U.S. The study from the proportion single shows that both reduction in the age at marriage and an increase in the proportion marrying at least once in the course of their lives is occurring in several countries.

Comments on the article entitled "Levels of Planning in the Netherlands," published in the December 1968 issue of the "Annals of the Association of American Geographers." Inaccuracies of the article; Inconsistency in the spelling of the names of places; Views on the change in Dutch economy.

Discusses the nature and extent of speech education in Netherlands. Cultural and professional approach of the universities; Absence of speech education at university level; Presence of extensive speech therapy training program and an abbreviated hearing training program; Details of the Association of Speech Therapists and Phoneticians; Information on the content and duration of various speech courses.

The article focuses on the Ambonese in the Netherlands, which is concerned with the processes whereby a group from a predominantly folk society in the tropics becomes integrated into a highly urbanized and industrialized social system. The article discusses the status-role changes that have been occurring among the Ambonese and the Dutch, related to changes in attitudes and self-images, and their association with such variables as age, sex, intermarriage, language, etc. The article points out the alterations occurring in the internal structure and external relationship of the Ambones minority. Factors that are favoring Urbanization and Integration of Ambonese in the Netherlands, are: employment and work roles, education, religion and intermarriage. Nationalism and political conflicts, community and group relations are some factors which are not favoring the integration of Ambonese. As the group becomes more and more detached from their cultural background in the inevitable passage of time it may be anticipated that they will become increasingly adjusted to the norms of western society.

Mortality from abortion is low in the Netherlands to-day, and approximately equal to mortality at delivery. Calculations suggest that about 4,000 abortions occur in Amsterdam every year, of which about 2,100 are induced. The abortion rate shows a very gradual decline after the Second World War. An investigation of the social background of women with induced abortion showed no relationship between occupational group and the incidence of abortion, but a strong negative correlation between religion and abortion. Abortion was more common among women with disturbed relationships in their own or parental families. Induced abortion usually occurred in pregnancies resulting from failure of contraception; these failures were caused not by lack of knowledge of good contraceptives, but by ineffective practice of contraception. The inability to use contraceptive methods in an effective way is related to a lack of communication between the two partners, and to a negative attitude of the women towards sex. An attempt has been made to formulate a theory of the causes of induced abortion among the women interviewed in Amsterdam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rise in fertility in the Netherlands since 1937 is examined in the light of new statistical information which has recently become available. The conclusion reached is that a continuance of the high fertility rates of the recent past is unlikely. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Planning in the Netherlands is practiced at National, Provincial, and Municipal levels. Regional approach to planning has also been given recognition at the macro- and micro-levels. Industrial stimulation to the less developed areas constitute the main content of macrolevel regional planning, whereas comprehensive approach forms the essence of microlevel regional planning. Mesolevel planning (for the metropolitan areas) has currently gained ground, but it has still to make its headway. In spite of meager natural resources, the material prosperity of the Netherlands is largely owing to its economic and physical planning endeavors at different levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on the claims of the Netherlands for economic changes along its boundary with Germany. Problems encountered in the political geography of the post-war period; Damages caused during the war by the Germans; Influence of the general political situation in Europe and the postponement of a final treaty with Germany to the frontier corrections considered by the western powers.