Vaadekoenië

**Vaadekoenië**, officially the **Principality of Vaadekoenië**, is a sovereign island city-state in maritime West Selaria. It is bordered by Niman to the west and north. The country's territory is composed of Vaadekoenië city, and 69 satellite islands and islets. The combined area of which has increased by 25% since the country's independence as a result of extensive land reclamation and artificial island projects. It has the greatest population density in Elparia. The country has over 3.9 million residents, 61% (2.4 million) of whom are Vaadekoense citizens. There are three official languages of Vaadekoenië: Prussatian, Dutch, and Nimani. Multiracialism is enshrined in the constitution, and continues to shape national policies in education, housing, and politics.

## Etymology

The name Vaadekoenië is a Dutch transliteration of the Nimani name for the strait between Nimani and Jainoro; the Vaidhekunah.

The standard way to refer to a citizen of Vaadekoenië is as a "Vaadekoener."

## Government and politics

Vaadekoenië is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy. The Constitution of Vaadekoenië is the supreme law of the country, establishing the structure and responsibility of government. The prince is head of state and exercises executive power on the advice of his ministers. The prime minister is head of government and is appointed by the prince as the person most likely to command the confidence of a majority of Parliament. Cabinet is chosen by the prime minister and formally appointed by the prince.

The government is separated into three branches:

* Executive: The prince is commander-in-chief of the military, can veto laws before they become effective (subject to parliamentary override), and holds limited discretionary powers of oversight over the government. The prime minister and Cabinet are responsible for administering and enforcing laws and policies.
* Legislative: The unicameral Consultative Assembly enacts national law, approves budgets, and provides a check on government policy.
* Judiciary: The Supreme Court and State Courts, whose judges are appointed by the prince, interpret laws and overturn those they find unconstitutional.

Members of the Consultative Assembly (MAs) are chosen to serve for a term lasting up to five years. The current Parliament has 40 members. All elections are held using preferential voting. The Progressive Action Party (PAP) occupies a dominant position in Vaadekoense politics, having won large parliamentary majorities in every election since the nation's independence in 1985. The most effective opposition party is the Labour Party (PvA).

### Local government and administrative divisions

Vaadekoenië's administrative divisions consist of 4 regions which collectively contain 6 provinces and 2 districts. The provincial and district councils' role is to regulate "the natural environment with particular emphasis on resource management", while territorial authorities are responsible for sewage, water, local roads, building consents, and other local matters.

## History

In 1599, as told in the Nimani Annals, trade within Vaidhekunah strait was dominated by the Dvipalaksham Sultanate. The capital of the ancient Sultanate was constructed by the Sultan Pallava, who named the area Dhahari, which would later become Daaharije, the modern-day capital of Vaadekoenië.

The Corusconian governor Sam Reiner arrived in Kaapaven on 28 January 1819 and soon recognised the island as a natural choice for the new port. The island was then nominally ruled by Thalpawila Senarath, Rajah of the Kingdom of Vai Dhekunah, one of multiple minor city states on the Nimani coast. Soon the kingdom soon came under the influence of Corusconia, and was later absorbed into the Empire along with the rest of Niman. During the colonial era, Dutch settlers flocked to the coastal cities of Niman. Dutch settlers to formed sizeable communities around the strait, creating the ethnically diverse culture that defines Vaadekoenië to this day, a blend of Corusconian, native Nimani, and Dutch influences.

After the era of Corusconian colonisation ended, the Federation of Niman was founded on the 28th of May 1979. While Vaadekoenië sent a delegation to the signing of the Niman Agreement which led to the formation of Niman, they did not sign as the Sultan of Vaadekoenië wished to be recognised as the senior ruler in the federation. Furthermore, concerns over the distribution of oil and natural gas royalties created a rift between Vaadekoenië and the rest of the Nimani city states.

In the 1970s, Vaadekoenië began to establish itself as a tax haven and a prospering entrepôt between Calderia and Selaria. The discovery of the offshore Selakarai gas field in 1983 brought significant economic growth to the city state.

## Geography

Vaadekoenië consists of Vaadekoenië city itself, 69 outlying islands, and the outer territories. Land reclamation projects had increased Vaadekoenië’s land area from 6453km² in the 1970s to 7935km² by 2020, an increase of some 23% (316 km²). The country is projected to reclaim another 176km² by 2030.

Vaadekoenië has a tropical rainforest climate (Köppen: Af) with no distinctive seasons, uniform temperature and pressure, high humidity, and abundant rainfall. Temperatures usually range from 23 to 32 °C (73 to 90 °F). While the temperature does not vary greatly throughout the year, there is a wetter monsoon season from November to February.

Vaadekoenië's urbanisation means that it has lost 80% of its historical forests, and now over half of the naturally occurring fauna and flora in Vaadekoenië is present in nature reserves, such as the Nieuwevorden Nature Reserve and the Windzaal Wetland Reserve, which comprise only 0.25% of Vaadekoenië's land area. In 1967, to combat this decline in natural space, the government introduced the vision of making Vaadekoenië an “urban forest”. The government launched the Green Vaadekoenië project with the aim to improve quality of life. Since then, nearly 10% of Vaadekoenië's land has been set aside for parks and nature reserves. The government has created plans to preserve the country's remaining wildlife.