Netherlands
Country in northwestern Europe / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Netherlands,[lower-alpha 10] informally Holland, is a country located in northwestern Europe with overseas territories in the Caribbean. It is the largest of the four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.[13] The Netherlands consists of twelve provinces; it borders Germany to the east and Belgium to the south, with a North Sea coastline to the north and west. It shares maritime borders with the United Kingdom, Germany, and Belgium.[14] The official language is Dutch, with West Frisian as a secondary official language in the province of Friesland.[1] Dutch, English, and Papiamento are official in the Caribbean territories.[1]
Netherlands | |
|---|---|
| Motto: | |
| Anthem: Wilhelmus (Dutch) ("William of Nassau") | |
Location of Netherlands (dark green) – in Europe (light green & dark grey) | |
| Sovereign state | Kingdom of the Netherlands |
| Before independence | Spanish Netherlands |
| Act of Abjuration | 26 July 1581 |
| Peace of Münster | 30 January 1648 |
| Kingdom established | 16 March 1815 |
| Liberation Day | 5 May 1945 |
| Kingdom Charter | 15 December 1954 |
| Caribbean reorganisation | 10 October 2010 |
| Capital and largest city | Amsterdam[lower-alpha 1] 52°22′N 4°53′E |
| Government seat | The Hague[lower-alpha 1] |
| Official languages | Dutch |
Recognised languages | |
| Ethnic groups (2022) |
|
| Religion (2021)[4] |
|
| Demonym(s) | Dutch |
| Government | Unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy |
• Monarch | Willem-Alexander |
| Mark Rutte | |
| Legislature | States General |
| Senate | |
| House of Representatives | |
| European Parliament | |
| 26 seats | |
| Area | |
• Total | 41,865[5][lower-alpha 5] km2 (16,164 sq mi) (134th) |
• Water (%) | 18.41[6] |
| Highest elevation | 322.4 m (1,057.7 ft) |
| Population | |
• 15 May 2024 estimate |  18,088,400[7] (68th) |
• 2011 census | 16,655,799[8] |
• Density | 520/km2 (1,346.8/sq mi) (33rd) |
| GDP (PPP) | 2024 estimate |
• Total |  $1.329 trillion[9] (28th) |
• Per capita | $74,158[9] (11th) |
| GDP (nominal) | 2024 estimate |
• Total | $1.143 trillion[9] (17th) |
• Per capita | $63,750[9] (11th) |
| Gini (2021) |  26.4[10]low |
| HDI (2022) |  0.946[11]very high · 10th |
| Currency |
|
| Time zone | [lower-alpha 7] |
| Driving side | right |
| Calling code | +31, +599[lower-alpha 8] |
| Internet TLD | .nl, .bq[lower-alpha 9] |
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Netherlands literally means "lower countries" in reference to its low elevation and flat topography, with 26% situated below sea level.[15] Most of the areas below sea level, known as polders, are the result of land reclamation that began in the 14th century.[16] In the Republican period, which began in 1588, the Netherlands entered a unique era of political, economic, and cultural greatness, ranked among the most powerful and influential in Europe and the world; this period is known as the Dutch Golden Age.[17] During this time, its trading companies, the Dutch East India Company and the Dutch West India Company, established colonies and trading posts all over the world.[18][19]
With a population of 17.9 million people, all living within a total area of 41,850 km2 (16,160 sq mi)—of which the land area is 33,500 km2 (12,900 sq mi)—the Netherlands is the 33rd most densely populated country, with a density of 535 people per square kilometre (1,390 people/sq mi). Nevertheless, it is the world's second-largest exporter of food and agricultural products by value, owing to its fertile soil, mild climate, intensive agriculture, and inventiveness.[20][21][22] The four largest cities in the Netherlands are Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague and Utrecht.[23] Amsterdam is the country's most populous city and the nominal capital, though the primary national political institutions are located in the Hague.[24]
The Netherlands has been a parliamentary constitutional monarchy with a unitary structure since 1848. The country has a tradition of pillarisation (separation of citizens into groups by religion and political beliefs) and a long record of social tolerance, having legalised prostitution and euthanasia, along with maintaining a liberal drug policy. The Netherlands allowed women's suffrage in 1919 and was the first country to legalise same-sex marriage in 2001.[25] Its mixed-market advanced economy has the eleventh-highest per capita income globally. The Hague holds the seat of the States General, Cabinet, and Supreme Court.[26] The Port of Rotterdam is the busiest in Europe.[27] Schiphol is the busiest airport in the Netherlands, and the fourth busiest in Europe. Being a developed country, the Netherlands is a founding member of the European Union, Eurozone, G10, NATO, OECD, and WTO, as well as a part of the Schengen Area and the trilateral Benelux Union. It hosts intergovernmental organisations and international courts, many of which are in The Hague.[28]