Lindenholt

Kingdom of Lindenholt Koninkrijk Lindenholt (Dutch)
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: Luctor et Emergo (Latin: I struggle and arise)
Anthem: Waar Sonne en Kreugel Vloeien
Location of Lindenholt within Ventismar indicated with dark green, members of the VU are light green. Location of Lindenholt within Ventismar indicated with dark green, members of the VU are light green.
Capital	Artwingen
Official languages	Dutch
Recognised regional languages	Frisian
Ethnic groups (2017)	89.4% Lindian 10.6% Others
Demonym(s)	Lindian
Government	Parliamentary constitutional monarchy
• King	Maximilian IV
• Prime minister	Jasper Tulpen
Legislature	States General
Established  Lindian Republic
• Treaty of Artwingen	11 October 1599
• Constitutional monarchy	7 March 1793
Area
• Total	483,372 km2 (186,631 sq mi)
• Water (%)	17.6%
Population
• 2017 estimate	73,453,603 (14th)
• Density	152/km2 (393.7/sq mi)
GDP (PPP)	2017 estimate
• Total	$3,381,524,762,869.50
• Per capita	$46,036.20
HDI (2015)	0.949 very high (6th)
Currency	Aurei (AUR)
Time zone	UTC+0 (Central Ventismarien Time CVT)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+1 (Observed)
	Maximilian Islands do not follow DST
Date format	dd-mm-yyyy
Driving side	the right
Calling code	+024
ISO 3166 code	LIN
Internet TLD	.lin

The Kingdom of Lindenholt, commonly referred to as just Lindenholt (pronounced /lɪndɜːnhɒlt/), is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy located in Western Ventismar. It is a medium-sized country with a population of around 73 million people, most of which live in the country's thirteen provinces in Ventismar. Around a hundred thousand Lindians live on the Maximilian Islands off the coast of Corentia, giving Lindenholt a maritime border with Ispanza and Sunrisia. Lindenholt proper borders Ripuaria to the east and to the north, separated by the Amica Channel, lies Capsland, which is connected to Lindenholt through the Guildelew Tunnel.

The country's capital and largest city is Artwingen, with the second largest city being Stokfort. The third largest city, Dorningen, hosts the world's largest sea port. This port, along with the Sonnae-Kreugel river system is the lifeline of Western Ventismar, as goods flow from and to the hinterland via Dorningen.

Lindenholt has had a long history of trade, with the Guldebond and Zilverbond starting a trade network in the 13th century, to traders laying the foundations of international trade in the Arnholm Sea trade and merchants sailing the world's oceans during the 17th and 18th centuries. Lindenholt also has a history of tolerance, and has even fought a war to practice their Calvinist religion freely during the reformation period. This war resulted in the unification of Lindenholt in 1599. Today this tolerance is reflected in Lindenholt's fully legalised prostitution, abortion, euthanasia, same sex marriage, its liberal drug policy and extensive civil rights and liberties.

Lindenholt is one of the founding members of the United Sunalayan Assembly. It is also a founding member of the Ventismar Union, and its currency the Aurei.

Lindenholt has a free market economy, and ranks in the top ten GDP per capitas in the world. It is one of the 10 largest economies in Sunalaya, and is ranked 4th in the human development index with a very high standard of living.

Etymology

The area that is modern-day eastern Lindenholt was known in Latin as Tilia Silvestris. This name, coined by the Romaleans referred to an area in North Western Ventismar that compromised Western Ripuaria and Eastern Lindenholt. This area was inhabited by Celtic tribes that predominantly lived in forests that are recorded in history to be rich in linden trees.

The Latin name for the area was used during the early middle ages exclusively to refer to Germanic language speaking areas west of French speaking Ripuaria. By this time most of the linden forests had been cut down to make way for pastures and farmland. Regardless of the change in landscape, the area still retained its old name.

The name Lindenholt would not appear in literature until 1234, when Guldebond traders would introduce themselves as hailing from the "linden forest" (linden holt in Old Dutch). This is a direct translation of the Latin Tilia Silvestris.

Demographics

Population pyramid of Lindenholt, 2017.

According to Linfo's 2017 census, Lindenholt has a population of 73,453,603, of those 33,610,652 people live in the country's thirty largest cities. Lindenholt's population density is around 152 people per square kilometre, although this figure is an average for the entire country. In reality the eastern part of Lindenholt is much more densely populated than the west, which is largely rural.

In 1900 the country had a population of around 34 million people. Over the past 100 years the population had almost doubled, as in 2000 Lindenholt reached a population of almost 70 million. In 2015 Linfo registered a birth rate of 13 births per 1000 inhabitants. Coupled with a positive migration rate, Lindenholt's population has an annual growth rate of 0.6%.

According to Linfo there are 7,811,114 people in Lindenholt of whom at least one parent was not born in Lindenholt. According to estimates of the Lindian LGBTQ movement, there are around 3.8 million self-proclaimed members of the LGBTQ community.

Language

Lindenholt's national language is Dutch. Schools nationwide teach the language and use it for instructions. Standard Dutch is predominantly spoken in urbanised areas of the country. Informal communication in rural areas is usually conducted in what is collectively referred to as plat (lit. "flat"), which are local dialects. Despite the vast majority of rural inhabitants being proficient in Standard Dutch the day to day language in the countryside is plat.

In the province of Frêsland the Frisian language has a special status. Along with standard Dutch, all government services and school instructions are offered in Frisian as well. Additionally schools in the province are required to teach the Frisian language together with Dutch.

Around 96% of the Lindian population is at least fluent in the Dutch language. With the remaining 4% consisting mostly out of foreigners.

Linfo conducted a survey in 2012, finding that around 38% of Lindians above the age of 18 were conversationally proficient in French and around 85% were sufficient in English. This high English proficiency can be attributed to the Lindian education system teaching English as a second language from primary school through the end of secondary education, combined with high every day exposure to the English language.

Religion

Religion in Lindenholt
Religion			Percentage
Irreligion			56.1%
Christianity			34.4%
Islam			5.5%
Judaism			1.0%
Other or Unknown			3.0%

Religion in Lindian culture is often regarded as a private matter. Those who adhere to a religion often only practice it at home, or a place of worship. Lindenholt is a secular state, with strong influences from laïcité. While the Lindian constitution guarantees freedom of religion, institutions funded or operated by the state act with a strict neutral religious character. Government employees are not allowed to display or otherwise disclose their religious affiliation. A similar situation exists in publicly funded education, where students and teachers may not visibly display their religious affiliation through wearing religious symbols such as necklaces with a cross, headscarves or a kippa.

Irreligiousness, atheism and agnosticism are on the rise in Lindenholt, and form the largest religious group with nearly 56% of the population declaring themselves as one of the three aforementioned groups. Historically, up until the 1960's, the vast majority of Lindians were either Catholic or Calvinist. Traditionally, the Kreugel, Sonnae and Waads rivers formed a rough border between the Calvinist north and Catholic south, although pockets of both denominations can be found far from the "border". Large cities are usually a roughly equal mix between Catholics and Calvinists as during the industrial revolution people migrated from throughout the country to cities. Similarly, provinces wholly or at least partially reclaimed from the sea are also roughly equally mixed. Here the government made an active effort to populate these newly created lands as diversely as possible.

Starting during the industrialisation period, the urbanisation of Lindenholt led to cities with mixed religious and political backgrounds. Generally, the main zuilen (lit. "pillars") of Lindian society were recognised to be the socialists, liberals, Catholics and Calvinists. Each pillar created their own social institutions such as schools, universities, news papers, radio and television channels, political parties, stores, sport and hobby clubs, and trade unions. Despite often living in mixed neighbourhoods, members of each pillar made use of their own pillar's social institutions. Marriages outside of one's own pillar were taboo, and there was little social interaction between members of differing pillars. This voluntary segregation is the pillarisation of Lindian society.

During the second world war, members of each pillar had fought and died side-by-side to defend their country. This, along with a new generation of post-war Lindians being wealthier, better educated and more outspoken than their parents made it more likely for them to no longer identify with a specific pillar. The rise of irreligiousness, the rebellious character of youth in the 1960's, a sense of unity instilled during the war and the coming of immigrants eventually brought an end to pillarisation during the 1960's.

Health

Main article: Healthcare in Lindenholt

Lindenholt boasts a healthcare system renown for its standards and quality. The healthcare system is a mixed market system where adults are required by law to obtain private insurance. Children and students are are covered under a tax-payer funded system, although they can obtain extra insurance policies through private insurers as well.

The health insurance industry is well-regulated and government oversight is widespread. Since all Lindians are required by law to obtain basic health insurance via a private insurer, these private insurers are not allowed to discriminate on existing conditions or any other factors. Such distinctions are allowed to be made when it comes to supplementary insurance policies, something which has led to controversies in the past.

Prices for basic health insurance are set by the government, whilst the private sector can decide prices for additional services, coverage and benefits. For instance, basic health insurance only covers care within the Ventismar Union; insurers offer world-wide insurance plans separately for a higher price.

Lindenholt has an average life expectancy of almost 82 years, which ranks it as one of the highest in the world. Conversely, the infant mortality rate is one of the lowest in the world, with 4 deaths in 1000 live births. Currently the principle cause of death is due to malignant tumours and cancers, with cardiovascular diseases being a close second. Obesity, while a serious problem in most of the developed world, has not seen as big a rise in Lindenholt over the past twenty years. In part due to an active culture and successful government programmes encouraging a healthy lifestyle.

Education

Main article: Education in Lindenholt

The Lindian constitution describes education as a "fundamental right to every person". All forms of education in Lindenholt are free of charge for students, and students from ages four to sixteen are required to attend school. Lindian schools not only focus on theoretical knowledge and students mastering practical skills, schools are also regarded as a place where children become well rounded adults that are capable of functioning in Lindian society.

The concept of learning at one's own pace and level is central to the Lindian education system. From age twelve, students that will attend middle school are separated in to one of three differing academic levels. Praktijk provides practically skilled students with a pre-vocational education for four years. Lyceum prepares students to attend college after five years. Atheneum takes six years to complete and is meant to prepare gifted students for university.

Most universities are open to the public, however all of them require an atheneum diploma or an equivalent to enrol. Universities usually put their focus on academic achievements and research, whilst colleges are of a more practical character. Whereas a university student will graduate university through a thesis, college students usually graduate on the basis of an internship. Despite the differences, both institutions award graduates with internationally recognised Bachelor's and Master's degrees.

On average Lindian students spend around eighteen to nineteen years in school. On average these years will be divided as follows: two years in kindergarten (ages 2-4), eight years in primary school (4-12), four, five or six years in middle school (12-16, 17 or 18) and three to four years in university, college or vocational education.

History

Prehistoric Lindenholt

Beakerculture artefacts.

Archaeological records show that the area that is modern-day Lindenholt has been inhabited by humans for at least 40,000 years. It is evident that palaeolithic hunter-gatherer groups roamed the country during the last ice age, and settled the land around 8000 BC. These groups built canoes to fish and traverse marshlands and rivers. Lindenholt's geography required canoes for travel, as sediments left by glaciers during previous ice ages left a flat, low-lying landscape dotted with shallow lakes and bogs.

Modern humans were not the only inhabitants of Lindenholt however. The first recorded humans in Lindenholt were the Homo Tilialis. They inhabited Lindenholt during the late pleistocene era. Evidence suggests they intermingled with the later arriving modern humans and died out somewhere between the end of the ice ages and the introduction of agriculture. It is widely believed that the overwhelming competition from modern humans is what drove the Homo Tilialis to their extinction.

Around 5000 BC members of Central Ventismarien tribes migrated to modern-day Lindenholt. They brought agriculture and animal husbandry, which was quickly adopted by local tribes and cultures. The advent of agriculture led to an increase in pottery. Different cultures were distinguished by patterns applied to pottery used to store grain, other crops and fluids. Prehistoric Lindians were milk drinkers and brewed alcoholic drinks such as beer. These cultures were the so-called Beakercultures, they include the Spike, Dent, Line, Spiral, and Bundle groups.

Dolmen on the island of Sonnemonde.

Between 4100 and 3200 BC the Vrezen-culture started burying wealthy tribesmen in dolmen. These grave monuments were constructed mainly on what is today the island of Sonnemonde due to the solid ground in comparison with peatlands surrounding it. Evidence exists of early dolmen whose heavy megaliths had sunk in to the soft ground. Around fifty dolmen remain on the island, mainly as tourist attractions.

Around 2000 BC an important trade route along the Sonae river brought bronze to Lindenholt, ushering in the bronze age. During the bronze age the country also saw a significant increase in population. The introduction of the oxen plough made cultivating the heavy clay soils possible which increased the food supply.

Pre-Romaleus period

The Celtic expansion that took place across Ventismar reached Lindenholt around 1000 BC. Celtic tribes settled the heaths in the modern day province of Uilenbergen. Archaeological excavations in the Uilenberger Heath show that the so-called Heath-culture introduced iron to Lindenholt. This marked the start of the iron age.

Technologies such as metalworking allowed for the creation of higher quality tools; which in turn led to increased crop yields. This allowed for a rise in population but also allowed for an increasing amount of people to not work in agriculture. From 800 BC onward trade and crafts developed, and led to the creation of the first urban centres. These urban centres were usually situated in areas beneficial for trade with other settlements and the countryside, and usually started out as market places. Later, around 700 BC most marketplaces had populations nearing a thousand and were surrounded with fortifications.

Germanic tribes lay the foundations for cities such as Beutrecht and Seigerberg, whilst Celts founded their largest settlement of around 1500 inhabitants near Reurink. While evidence exists of these settlements being destroyed multiple times until the start of the Romalean period, the locations of these three settlements still roughly correspond to where there have been cities until the modern era.

Despite Germanic tribes being in the majority, up until 450 BC most wealth was in de hands of Celtic aristocrats. Attracted by their relative prosperity, Germanic tribes moved north to emigrate in to Celtic controlled territories. After several generations, Germanic tribesmen had taken over previously Celtic settlements. They came on top, effectively ending significant Celtic influence in pre-Romalean Lindenholt two centuries before the arrival of the Romaleans.

Age of reformation

Years of discontent with the Catholic church would prompt Martin Luther, a member of the clergy, to write and post his 95 theses on the door of the cathedral of Ellijn in 1517. This event is widely recognised as the start of the reformation in Ventismar. Throughout the 16th century Lindenholt would be a the centre of the reformation, being the home of religious groups such as Calvinism and Lutheranism. Despite being a large world-wide Christian sect, Lutheranism never caught on in Lindenholt. Reformatory ideas however did survive, and led to the establishment of Calvinism several decades later which did take hold, especially in the north of the country.

Fed up with the discrimination that Calvinists had to endure, in 1576 the first beeldenstorm took place. Calvinists and other Protestants rose up in Lindenholt's major cities, and defaced church properties such as statues, murals and paintings. Several days after the first beeldenstorm, groups of Protestants organised and moved to the countryside to continue the destruction of church property there. What is notable about the first beeldenstorm is that a significant minority of rioters were well-off merchants primarily in the textile trade. The fact that influential merchants participated in these events put mayors of major cities in a dilemma, as punishing rich traders would significantly hurt the economy of many cities which were dependent on trade. In the end, rioters in cities such as Artwingen, Beutrecht and Stokfort went without punishment. These cities' tolerance towards Protestant sects also made them a hotbed for Protestant refugees from around the world.

In other cities, particularly in the south, Protestants (regardless of whether or not they had participated in the beeldenstorm) were sentenced to death, most commonly by burning on the stake. These harsh punishments were directly ordered by the Fleuvien Emperor, who would also go to establish the Conseil des Troubles (lit. Council of Troubles). This special tribunal convicted and punished heretics and their supporters. As they operated on direct orders of the Fleuvien Emperor, the council believed they had jurisdiction over the entirety of the Lindian Realm. In 1581 however members of the council were denied entry in to the city of Artwingen by the city's mayor. That same year the Guldebond unanimously decided that none of its member cities within the Lindian Realm would allow for the persecution of religious groups by the Council of Troubles. The events of 1568 resulted in the Fleuvien Emperor sending an army to Lindenholt in an effort to enforce the sentences of the council. This act was seen as a breach of sovereignty by many of the Lindian states, and led to a diplomatic quarrel between the Empire and the Realm.

In 1584 however Imperial troops besieged Artwingen after being denied entry in to the city. This siege resulted in an actual heated battle, where the defenders of the city fired upon the besieging Imperial army. The Siege of Artwingen lasted for two months, during which Guldebond states assembled an army of mercenaries that would liberate the city on 18 April of that year, which is a holiday still celebrated in Lindenholt as the day of Artwingen's liberation.

Upon the surrender of the Fleuvien army, the leaders of the Guldebond states convened in Beutrecht. There they collectively declared their independence from the Fleuvien Empire. This declaration of independence, the Forswearing of Beutrecht, launched the Fifteen Years' War that would led to the creation of a united Lindian nation state.

Cappo-Lindian Union

Charles V of Guildelew (1708)

The period from 1691 to 1732 is characterised by the stadtholdership of Charles V of Guildelew, known in Dutch as Karel Guldeleeuw. He was a member of a Lindian trader family that had familial connections to the throne of Capsland. Guildelew was the youngest elected stadtholder in the Republic's existence, at 32 years of age. Five years in to his term as stadtholder, in 1691, the King of Capsland had died without leaving a suitable heir to the throne. After a short interregnum period, lasting several months, the Capslandian parliament had decided to invite Karel Guldeleeuw to the Capslandian throne, citing his familial ties to the previous monarch and hoping to establish an alliance with the Lindian Republic to gain access to the Ophionese spice trade.

Guldeleeuw accepted the invitation, and was crowned King on July 8th 1691. He assumed the Anglicised name of Charles V of Guildelew, and formally founded the House of Guildelew, whose descendants have reigned over Capsland until the modern day.

Guildelew being crowned King of Capsland during his term as stadtholder of the Lindian Republic meant that effectively both nations were in a personal union.

Guildelew's reign was a difficult one from the start, as his opponents in Capsland saw him as a foreigner. His legitimacy was put to question continuously throughout his time on the throne. Guildelew's lacking English further reinforced these sentiments. In his native Lindenholt numerous attempts were made to remove him from his position. All these attempts failed however, as the trader and merchant blocs within the States General would veto his removal on grounds of the beneficial trade relationship between the two countries.

Despite the insubordinate, and sometimes even mutinous, behaviour of both Lindian and Capslandian rulers, the Cappo-Lindian Union would last until the death of Charles V of Guildelew in 1732. After his death, during the stadtholder elections of 1733, Willem Verbeek was elected. As he was unrelated to Guildelew he had no rights to the Capslandian throne; ending the Cappo-Lindian Union. Directly after becoming stadtholder, Verbeek instituted reforms that would no longer allow a stadtholder to hold a foreign royal title.

In many ways Lindenholt saw advancements during the the Cappo-Lindian Union. The establishment of the Artwingen-Louis Investment Bank, one of the oldest and still operating commercial banks in the world is often hailed as a great success of the period. Despite successes, scholars largely agree that split leadership and the opportunistic politics that developed during the Cappo-Lindian Union times eventually led to the decline of the Republic throughout the rest of the 18th century. Notwithstanding, Charles V Guildelew is remembered for bringing together Lindenholt and Capsland and forging an alliance that would last until the modern era.

Geography

Topographical map of Lindenholt

The geography of Lindenholt is predominantly flat, with the only discrepancies being in the south east part of the country, where the Ripuarian border area contains the foothills of the Horns mountain range. Here the hilly landscape is home to Sonnae river and Lindenholt's highest peak at 467 metres. Hills can also be found in Fresia and Heelde. These hills, not much higher than 100 metres were formed by the ice sheets of the most recent ice age pushing on the land.

Similar geographic features can be found in the province of Uilenbergen in the east of the country. Here the Uilenberger Heaths were formed by push moraines of the second to last ice age. An other reminder of this event is the Uilenberger lake, which sits in the middle of the heath. The formation of this lake can also be credited to movement of glaciers in the distant past.

Most other areas of Lindenholt are low lying flat lands that rarely exceed 20 metres above sea level. The majority of areas situated under sea level are areas drained from bodies of water; so-called polders. During the middle ages many lakes were drained in the eastern part of the country through the use of iconic windmill pumps. The advent of steam powered pumps allowed for land reclamation in the west of the country. Here an intertidal zone formed a shallow body of water called the Westersea, with tidal flats and wetlands. Over the course of a century, nearly 80,000 square kilometres of land was won, destined for agriculture; making Lindenholt an agricultural powerhouse.

Map displaying land usage in Lindenholt

Land reclamation was not limited to lakes and marshes however. The entire province of Meijerwaard is land completely drained over the course of fifty years. This massive project, starting after the first great war, was only finished in 1986. It added a further 40,000 square kilometres of land destined for agriculture.

As is referenced by its name, the country used to be covered in woodlands and forests. However, in modern times the country is much less forested than in its past. Most of the forests were cleared to make way for pastures and fields throughout the ages, the bulk of which happened during the industrial revolution.

In order to relieve and help the unemployed during the 1930's the government planned a great reforestation of the country, using the labour of the newly unemployed men. The plan was to plant three million hectares of forest on pastures and fields that were no longer in use due to the economic downturn. Although the plans never fully came to fruition, as around 1 million hectares of forest was planted. The vast majority of forests present in the country today were planted during that time, and are thus artificial.

Climate

Lindenholt has a mild sea climate where extreme conditions are either non-existent or very rare. Temperatures seldom rise above thirty degrees and rarely drop below -10 degrees Celsius. Rain is very frequent in all seasons, and snow is often a rare sight during winters, even if temperatures are frigid. The geographical latitude of Lindenholt plays a role in the amount of sunlight received which varies by month. In December the nation receives about seven hours of sunlight whilst in the summer months it can receive up to seventeen hours of sunlight.

Climate data for Artwingen (1996–2016 averages)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	17.2 (63.0)	20.4 (68.7)	25.6 (78.1)	32.2 (90.0)	35.6 (96.1)	37.2 (99.0)	38.2 (100.8)	38.6 (101.5)	35.2 (95.4)	30.1 (86.2)	22.0 (71.6)	17.8 (64.0)	38.6 (101.5)
Average high °C (°F)	5.6 (42.1)	6.4 (43.5)	10.0 (50.0)	14.0 (57.2)	18.0 (64.4)	20.4 (68.7)	22.8 (73.0)	22.6 (72.7)	19.1 (66.4)	14.6 (58.3)	9.6 (49.3)	6.1 (43.0)	14.1 (57.4)
Daily mean °C (°F)	3.1 (37.6)	3.3 (37.9)	6.2 (43.2)	9.2 (48.6)	13.1 (55.6)	15.6 (60.1)	17.9 (64.2)	17.5 (63.5)	14.5 (58.1)	10.7 (51.3)	6.7 (44.1)	3.7 (38.7)	10.1 (50.2)
Average low °C (°F)	0.3 (32.5)	0.2 (32.4)	2.3 (36.1)	4.1 (39.4)	7.8 (46.0)	10.5 (50.9)	12.8 (55.0)	12.3 (54.1)	9.9 (49.8)	6.9 (44.4)	3.6 (38.5)	1.0 (33.8)	6.0 (42.8)
Record low °C (°F)	−27.4 (−17.3)	−26.8 (−16.2)	−20.7 (−5.3)	−9.4 (15.1)	−5.4 (22.3)	−1.2 (29.8)	0.7 (33.3)	1.3 (34.3)	−3.7 (25.3)	−8.5 (16.7)	−14.4 (6.1)	−22.3 (−8.1)	−27.4 (−17.3)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	69.6 (2.74)	55.8 (2.20)	66.8 (2.63)	42.3 (1.67)	61.9 (2.44)	65.6 (2.58)	81.1 (3.19)	72.9 (2.87)	78.1 (3.07)	82.8 (3.26)	79.8 (3.14)	75.8 (2.98)	832.5 (32.78)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm)	17	14	17	13	14	14	14	14	15	16	18	17	184
Average snowy days (≥ 0 cm)	6	6	4	2	0	—	—	—	—	0	2	5	25
Average relative humidity (%)	87	84	81	75	75	76	77	79	84	86	89	89	82
Mean monthly sunshine hours	62.3	85.7	121.6	173.6	207.2	193.9	206.0	187.7	138.3	112.9	63.0	49.3	1,601.5
Source: linfo.lin/en/weather/artwingen

Administrative divisions

The Kingdom of Lindenholt is divided in to thirteen provinces, each of which is divided in to a varying number of landscapes. In total there are 86 landscapes with an additional "overseas landscape" for the Maximillian Islands, raising the number to 87. In turn, each landscape is divided in to a differing amount of municipalities. Heavily urbanised areas, such as Artwingen, Stokfort, Dorningen and Beutrecht have only one municipality within their respective landscapes. In these areas municipalities and landscapes have merged in to a single entity. In total there are 764 municipalities in Lindenholt.

File:Lindenholt with provinces.svg

Map of Lindenholt displaying provinces

File:Lindenholt with landscapes.svg

Map of Lindenholt displaying landscapes

Politics

Parliament

The Oudeven complex in Artwingen houses the parliament

Lindenholt is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy, meaning that the main legislative powers fall in to the hands of the parliament, which is called the States General (Dutch: Staten Generaal). It is a unicameral assembly with 623 representatives that are elected via party-list proportional voting. The States General convenes at the Oudeven in Artwingen. Members of parliament can all propose and vote on proposed legislation and motions, which pass voting when a simple majority is reached.

Parliamentary elections are held every four years, when a sitting cabinet resigns or when a cabinet is removed through a motion of no-confidence. Candidates for a parliamentary seat are put on a ballot list, and elected according to the d'Hondt method. After elections, the largest party can choose to form a coalition and a cabinet in a process called formatie in order to form a government. Lindenholt has a multiparty system, and an outright majority by any party has never occurred in Lindian parliamentary history.

Once a new parliament goes in to session, members of parliament can vote to elect members to the Presidium, which includes the speaker. Each party can put forward two candidates for each of the eighteen available positions, after which members of parliament can vote until there are only two candidates left for each of the eighteen positions. At this point, a coin flip decides which candidate will be awarded the position. Unlike in other countries, members of the parliamentary Presidium retain their status as member of parliament, however they are barred from taking a part in debates whilst exercising their Presidium duties.

Political parties

Composition of parliament

  LVP: 123 seats

  UVD: 114 seats

  VOA: 114 seats

  LAP: 94 seats

  GP: 82 seats

  V'04: 71 seats

  VS: 25 seats

Currently, there are seven parties represented in the Lindian parliament. These parties range from the left to the right in their political ideologies, with their position in parliament symbolising their political stance. While Lindenholt has always been a multiparty democracy, it was only after the pillarisation of Lindian society that such a wide variety of political ideologies were represented in the States General. After the war, Lindian politics made a restart; where the largest and most influential players were the Calvinist (GSP) and Catholic (UVK) Christian democratic parties alongside the social democratic Lindian Labourers Party. A small, yet adequately represented party was the Liberal People's Party which, at the time, was a classical liberal party. During pillarisation, all parties had a loyal and well entrenched voting base, meaning that election results were always roughly the same.

The first large shift in Lindian politics happened in 1964, when members from the Liberal People's Party split off to form their own, centrist political party, the Union of Democrats. They found that the continuous cooperation of the LVP with the conservative UVK and USP had pushed their party to the right. In the subsequent elections the UVD managed to rally students and other social liberals to take part in the elections. During the 1964 elections the UVD became the larger than the LVP, making them kingmakers for the next cabinet. UVD leadership decided to form a government with the left wing Lindian Labourers Party.

Up until the 1980's, Lindenholt would be led by coalition governments of the Lindian Labourers Party and the Union of Democrats. The time period from 1964-1980 is known as the Steegmans-era, where LAP prime minister Albert Steegmans was the longest serving prime minister in Lindian history. It was during this time that the LAP switched from being a traditional social democratic party, campaigning solely for worker's rights and left wing economics, to being a contemporary social democratic party that also fought for civil rights and socially left wing ideals.

Another major shift in the political landscape came in 1980, when the two largest Christian democratic parties (UVK and GSP) merged to form a united Christian democratic party. Lindian society had gotten less religious since the 1960's, when both Christian democratic parties were in charge, and the leaderships of both parties realised that a single party had a greater chance of winning elections. This tactic worked, as the United Ecumenistic Alliance (VOA) saw large successes during the 1980's and 1990's.

In 2004 a fraction of the LVP split off from the party to form Change '04 (V'04). This party, frustrated by the LVP's cooperation with the LAP and UVD, which they deemed to be too left wing, aimed to be a right wing counter movement.

In 2010, when the UVD government decided they would increase the retirement age from 65 to 67, the V'04 party split. While some fiscal conservatives within the party deemed it to be a necessary step in austerity, a somewhat more populist wing of the party decided to split off to form the United Seniors (VS) party, which evolved from a one-issue political movement to a fully fledged right wing populist party.

Cabinet

Main article: Ministries of Lindenholt

Officially the Council of Ministers (Bewindsorgaan in Dutch), or simply the cabinet, is the main executive body of the Lindian government. Its members consist out of ministers, secretaries, the vice premier and the prime minister. In most circumstances members of the cabinet are elected members of parliament, however the separation of powers in the Lindian constitution prevents MPs from holding cabinet positions. Thus, members of the cabinet temporarily cede their seat to their political party, which selects a member from the party list to fill the minister's seat.

The current cabinet has a total of x ministries that are headed by an equal number of ministers. In addition to the ministers, there are also secretaries which are the head of a secretariat. They take over certain portfolios from their overarching ministry. With the vice premier and prime minister taken in to account, the currently sitting Tulpen I cabinet has x members from three parties.

Royal house

Lindenholt is a constitutional monarchy were the role of the monarch is described by the constitution. The constitution stipulates that the monarch enjoys individual ministerial responsibility, meaning that they cannot be held responsible for their actions. While the government operates in name of the monarch, neither the King nor any member of the royal house hold any political power and by law members of the royal house are bound to political neutrality.

Nowadays the monarchy functions as a national symbol with the aim of playing a unifying role within Lindian society. Members of the royal house are often participate in charity events and represent Lindenholt in international gatherings. The current king's brother is the chairman of the Lindian Cancer Society, while his mother has been a long time member of the World Autism Fund.

The current monarch is King Maximilian IV of Stokfort, and his heir apparent is Prince Maximilian V.

File:MaximilianIV.jpg

Maximilian IV of Stokfort has been King of Lindenholt since 1996.

The Hedge Palace has the official residence of the royal family since 1945.

Culture

Sport

Cycling is not just a sport; it's a mode of transportation.

There is no officially defined national sport of Lindenholt, however according to a survey conducted by Vandaag.lin the most popular practised sport is association football. Football is also the sport that is most watched on television. Around 18% of respondents claiming to practice a sport at least weekly reported they play hockey, whereas 52% of answers on the survey were for football. 10% of respondents play tennis on a weekly basis. The remaining 30% was split between a multitude of different sports.

The Lindian Secretariat for Sports estimates that around 53% of Lindians between the ages of 18 and 24 are part of some sort of sports association. This number is even higher for ages 12 through 18, with a percentage of 68%. This can be attributed to the Lindian education system taking great measures to promote sports, especially team sports, seeing them as an important instrument for a healthy body and a healthy mind.

Culturally sports that are typically Lindian are ice skating, cycling and korfball. Korfball was a popular sport until it lost its popularity over the course of the 20th century, in favour of football. Ice skating and cycling are still widely practised in their respective seasons.

Cuisine

Traditional Lindian meal of boiled vegetables, meat, gravy and potatoes.

Stroopwafels

Lindian cuisine is best described as rustic, largely shaped from its location and the historical needs of labourers and farmers. Lindenholt's location makes it so that grains, potatoes, dairy, fish and meats play a large role in the kitchen as ingredients. Stroopwafels are known around the world to be typically Lindian, though the choice of pastries and desserts is not limited to just that. Ingredients for desserts are largely based on Lindenholt's location, with semolina puddings being a common dessert as well as dairy based vla. Vlaai pies from Heintsbergen province are also commonly eaten.

Vast pastures have allowed a well-ingrained dairy culture to develop. On average a single Lindian drinks 50 litres of milk eats around 20 kilograms of cheese on a yearly basis. Lindian cheeses, popular across the globe are a large part of culinary culture. Cheese is traditionally eaten on a sandwich (boterham) or as a snack in the form of small cubes; usually accompanied by sausages such as liverwurst.

Fried foods enjoy large amounts of popularity among Lindians. Croquettes, bitterballen and chips being the most iconic. Chips are thicker than the international standard, and can be eaten with a multitude of sauces, the most popular of which being mayonnaise. Lindenholt's colonial empire has also brought oriental styles of food, such as satay, to the dinner table. A patat oorlog, chips served with satay sauce, is a good example of this mix of east and west. Being surrounded by ocean also made fish a food for the masses. Battered and fried fish like kibbeling and visfriet are traditional snacks, usually eaten and served at marketplaces.

Other popular dishes with fish range from simple snacks like Stokfortse Nieuwe, raw brined herring served with onions, to somewhat more complicated dishes such as Oldeniel's traditional mussels, oysters and smoked eels.

Breakfasts are simple and usually only involve whole grain bread (volkoren) topped with cold cuts, cheese or sweet toppings such as hagelslag, chocolate spreads, peanut butter or thick apple syrup. Gingerbread, called ontbijtkoek, and currant buns (krentenbol) are also a common sight on breakfast tables. Both are usually topped with butter before eating. In recent years eating corn flakes or other breakfast cereals has gained popularity as well. Common breakfast drinks include milk, tea, coffee and fruit juices.

Lunch is more diverse as it can include similar items eaten during breakfast like whole grain bread topped with cheese, cold cuts or sweet toppings. However it can also be of a more caloric character and include fried snacks like croquettes, fried fish and chips. Soups are also often served as lunch.

Dinner, served around 6 PM in most cases, is a lot less intricate than other Ventismarien cultures. Traditional home dinners only have a main course, omitting any appetisers and dessert. Although tea, coffee and something that would typically be considered dessert is usually served several hours after dinner. This simplicity is part of Calvinist culture that most of Lindenholt adhered to. Southern areas that were more influenced by Catholicism have a more elaborate style of eating that does involve multiple courses.

Main courses are mostly season based, with foods usually eaten around the time that they would be harvested. Winters feature pea soup called snert and dishes like stamppot, whilst spring usually features a lot of asparagus dishes. Stereotypically the Lindian main course consists out of boiled potatoes (whole or mashed), any type of meat (beef, pork, poultry, less often mutton or lamb), a sauce or gravy and boiled vegetables.

External links

• Lindenholt's NationStates web page