There are three state universities in Holland, namely, Leiden (1575), Groningen (1585) and Utrecht (1634). The ancient athenaeums of Franeker (1585) and Harderwyk (1603) were closed in 1811, but that of Amsterdam was converted into a municipal university in 1877. In each of these universities there are five faculties, namely, law, theology, medicine, science and mathematics, and literature and philosophy, the courses for which are respectively four, five, eight, and six or seven years for the two last named. The fees amount to 200 florins (£16, 13s. 4d.) per annum and are payable for four years. Two kinds of degrees are conferred, namely, the ordinary (candidaats) and the “doctor’s” degrees. Pupils from the higher-burgher schools are only eligible for the first. There is also a free (Calvinistic) university at Amsterdam founded in 1880 and enjoying, since 1905, the right of conferring degrees. It has, however, no faculties of law or science. The state polytechnic school at Delft (1864) for the study of engineering in all its branches, architecture and naval construction, has a nominal course of four years, and confers the degree of “engineer.” The fees are the same as those of the universities, and as at the universities there are bursaries. A national institution at Leiden for the study of languages, geography and ethnology of the Dutch Indies has given place to communal institutions of the same nature at Delft and at Leiden, founded in 1864 and 1877. The centre of Dutch university life, which is non-residential, is the students’ corps, at the head of which is a “senate,” elected annually from among the students of four years’ standing. Membership of the corps is gained after a somewhat trying novitiate, but is the only passport to the various social and sports societies.

All teachers in the Netherlands must qualify for their profession by examination. Under the act of 1898 they are trained either in the state training-colleges, or in state-aided municipal, and private denominational colleges; or else by means of state or private state-aided courses of instruction. The age of admission to this class of training is from 14 to 18, and the course is for four years. In the last year practice in teaching is obtained at the primary “practice” school attached to each college, and students are also taught to make models explanatory of the various subjects of instruction after the manner of the Swedish Sloyd (Slöjd) system. Assistant-teachers wishing to qualify as head-teachers must have had two years’ practical experience. Pupil-teachers can only give instruction under the supervision of a certificated teacher. The minimum salary of teachers is determined by law. The teaching, which follows the so-called “Heuristic” method, and the equipment of schools of every description, are admirable.

Finance.—The following statement shows the revenue and expenditure of the kingdom for the years 1889, 1900-1901 and 1905:—

Revenue.

Source. 1889. 1901. 1905.
£ £ £
Excise 3,678,075 4,042,500 4,514,998
Direct taxation 2,300,865 2,900,175 3,135,665
Indirect taxation 2,004,745 1,805,583 1,946,666
Post Office 539,405 865,750 1,103,333
Government telegraphs 106,970 187,375 211,333
Export and Import duties 440,247 801,500 930,912
State domains 213,186 147,000 139,000
Pilot dues 106,079 191,667 200,000
State lotteries 54,609 54,250 52,666
Game and Fisheries 11,660 11,000 11,750
Railways .. 361,512 349,011
Part paid by East Indies on account of
  interest and redemption of public debt .. .. 321,916
Netherland Bank contribution .. .. 160,500
  Total* 9,475,337 11,394,220 14,017,079
* Including various miscellaneous items not specified in detail.

Expenditure.

Object. 1889. 1901. 1905.
£ £ £
National Debt 2,727,591 2,906,214 2,899,770
Department of War 1,708,698 1,893,036 2,474,011
Department of Waterstaat 1,790,291 2,448,339 2,869,951
Department of Finance 1,537,404 2,092,343 2,297,180
Department of Marine 1,038,536 1,388,141 1,396,137
Department of Interior 815,188 1,330,563 1,613,134
Department of Justice 426,343 529,159 592,073
Department of Colonies 93,829 109,768 251,150
Dept. of Foreign Affairs 57,312 71,101 82,403
Royal Household 54,166 66,667 66,666
Superior Authorities of the State 52,476 56,792 58,251
Unforeseen Expenditure 1,745 4,166 4,166
  Total* 10,393,579 12,896,289 14,907,781
* Including, besides the ordinary budget, the outlays in payment of
  annuities, in funding and discharging debt, in railway extension, &c.

The total debt in 1905 amounted to £96,764,266, the annual interest amounted to £3,396,590. During the years 1850-1905, £27,416,651 has been devoted to the redemption of the public debt. The total wealth of the kingdom is estimated at 900 millions sterling. The various provinces and communes have separate budgets. The following table gives a statement of the provincial and communal finances:—

Revenue.

1889.1900.1905.
£££
Provincial722,583445,333718,199
Communal6,132,0009,311,66612,750,083