Batavia

The United Provinces of Batavia (Dutch: Verenigde Provincies van Batavië), informally known as the United Provinces, UPB, and/or Batavia are a souvereign commonwealth of provinces located in Western Europe. Batavia is bordered by the North Sea to the west and to the north, by Germany to the east and by France to the south. The total area of the HBC is 86,350 km², making it the 81st largest country in the world and the 9th largest in Europe. With a population of 31.3 million people, Batavia is the 45th most populous country in the world and the 10th most populous European nation. Batavia consists of 10 souvereign provinces, and 9 overseas territories.

Etymology
The native name for the nation, Batavië, is delivered from the Proto-Germanic words bataz (good) and awjo (island). The name was delivered from the Germanic tribe of the Batavians, inhabiting the modern Dutch Rhine delta from the second half of the first century BC to the third century AD.

Revolution
In 1848, revolution raged across Europe. The revolutions broht democratic reforms, but not in the Netherlands. King William II of Orange refused to sign a constitution made up by Johan Rudolph Thorbecke. On March 25th, 1848, Thorbecke was arrested. Four months later, on July 25th, 1848, Thorbecke and ten other liberals were sentenced to death. However, two days later he was liberated from prison by an armed force led by Jan van de Coppeloo. A day later, the Batavian Revolution broke out. The royal palace in The Hague was stormed by the rebels and William II was taken prisoner, however, he was released in December and went in exile to Austria. On the same day, the 28th of July, 1848, the United Provinces of Batavia were proclaimed in Maasdam. The first Prime Minister of the Provinces became Jan van de Coppeloo.

First years
On December 28th, 1848, the Constitution of the United Provinces of Batavia was ready. Batavia became a unitary parliamentary constitutional republic. The first session of the Council took place on January 14th, 1849.

The first president of the Provinces became Gerrit Schimmelpenninck. Schimmelpenninck took office on the 1st of January, 1849.

Late 19th century
Samuel van Houten is considered one of the best Prime Ministers of Batavia throughout the 19th century. Van Houten became Prime Minister in 1872 and left office in 1880.

After Van Houten left office in 1880, Aeneas Mackay became Prime Minister.

Geography
Batavia is geographically a very low and flat country, with about 26% of its area and 21% of its population located below sea level, and only about 50% of its land exceeding one metre above sea level.

The country is for the most part flat, with the exception of foothills in the far southeast, up to a height of no more than 321 metres, and some low hill ranges in the central parts. Most of the areas below sea level are man-made, caused by peat extraction or achieved through land reclamation. Since the late 16th century, large polder areas are preserved through elaborate drainage systems that include dikes, canals and pumping stations. Nearly 17% of the country's land area is reclaimed from the sea and from lakes.

Politics
Batavia is politically active country and it especially has a lot of relations with European countries. Head of the State is President and the country is ruled by Parliament. The Head of Parliament is the Chairman.

President
Main article: President of Batavia

According to the Constitution, the President of Batavia is the head of state. Direct, one- or two-stage elections are used to elect the president for a term of six years and for a maximum of two consecutive terms. The current president is Johannes Sandt; he took office on 27 July 2016.

Parliament
Main article: Parliament of Batavia

The federal legislature is the bicameral Parliament of Batavia, composed of the Chamber of Lords and the Chamber of Provinces. Parliament makes federal law, declares war, imposes taxes, approves the national budget and international treaties. The Chamber of Lords has 90 MP's and the Chamber of Provinces 200. Parliament is elected by plurality vote in two election rounds.

The members of Parliament elected for a four-year term. The deputies and senators elected by plurality vote. The last election was held in May 2015.