The Netherlands

A little history

What's it like there?

The weather is temperate.

Location

• Western Europe
• Bordering the North Sea
• Between Belgium and Germany

Size

Slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey

Climate

• Temperate
• Marine
• Cool summers and mild winters

Landscape

• Mostly coastal lowland and reclaimed land (polders)
• Some hills in southeast

Natural resources

• Natural gas
• Petroleum
• Peat
• Limestone
• Salt
• Sand and gravel
• Arable land

Land use

Agricultural land	53.5%
Arable land	30%
Permanent crops	1.1%
Permanent pasture	22.5%
Forest	10.9%
Other	35.5%

2023 estimate

Good to know

• Located at mouths of three major European rivers (Rhine (Rijn), Meuse (Maas), and Scheldt (Schelde))
• About a quarter of the country lies below sea level and only about half of the land exceeds one meter above sea level

Who lives there?

About 17.2 million people live in the Netherlands, and the biggest city is Rotterdam.

Largest cities

Rotterdam		868,135
Amsterdam Capital		741,636
The Hague		474,292
Utrecht		376,435
Groningen		244,807
Eindhoven		235,691
Tilburg		221,947
Breda		184,126
Nijmegen		177,359
Almere Stad		176,432

Languages

Dutch (official), Frisian (official in Fryslan province)

Note: Frisian, Low Saxon, Limburgish, Romani, and Yiddish have protected status; Dutch is the official language of the three special municipalities of the Caribbean Netherlands; English is a recognized regional language on Sint Eustatius and Saba; Papiamento is a recognized regional language on Bonaire

Religions

Roman Catholic		20.1%
Protestant (includes Dutch Reformed, Protestant Church of The Netherlands, Calvinist)		14.8%
Muslim		5%
Other (includes Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish)		5.9%
None		54.1%

2019 estimate

Ethnic groups

Dutch		75.4%
EU (excluding Dutch)		6.4%
Turkish		2.4%
Moroccan		2.4%
Surinamese		2.1%
Indonesian		2%
Other		9.3%

2021 estimate

Where people live

• An area known as the Randstad, anchored by the cities of Amsterdam, Rotterdam, the Hague, and Utrecht, is the most densely populated region
• The north tends to be less dense, but sizeable communities can be found throughout the entire country

Cities and towns

Urban population	93.2% of total population 2023
Rate of urbanization	0.59% annual rate of change 2020-25 estimate

What people are called

Noun	Dutchman(men), Dutchwoman(women)
Adjective	Dutch

Who's in charge?

Its government is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy.

Leaders

Head of state	King Willem-Alexander (since 30 April 2013)
Head of government	Caretaker Prime Minister Dick Schoof (since 3 June 2025)

Parliament

Legislature name	States General (Staten-Generaal)
Legislative structure	Bicameral

Courts

Highest court(s)	Supreme Court or Hoge Raad (consists of 41 judges: the president, 6 vice presidents, 31 justices, and 3 justices in exceptional service) The court is divided into criminal, civil, tax, and ombuds chambers
Judge selection and term of office	Justices appointed by the monarch from a list provided by the House of Representatives of the States General Justices appointed for life or until mandatory retirement at age 70
Subordinate courts	Courts of appeal District courts, each with up to 5 subdistrict courts Netherlands Commercial Court

Constitution

History	Many previous to adoption of the "Basic Law of the Kingdom of the Netherlands" on 24 August 1815 Revised 8 times, the latest in 1983
Amendment process	Proposed as an Act of Parliament by or on behalf of the king or by the Second Chamber of the States General The Second Chamber is dissolved after its first reading of the Act Passage requires a second reading by both the First Chamber and the newly elected Second Chamber, followed by at least two-thirds majority vote of both chambers, and ratification by the king

Legal system

• Civil law system based on the French system
• Constitution does not permit judicial review of acts of the States General

Who can vote

• 18 years of age
• Universal

How does it make a living?

In short

• High-income, core EU- and eurozone-member economy
• Strong services, logistics, and tech sectors
• Strongly trade-oriented with heightened risks from global tensions
• Declining inflation aided by easing energy prices and wage growth
• Rising but manageable deficits and public debt
• Strong ratings for innovation, competitiveness, and business climate

Industries

• Agroindustries
• Metal and engineering products
• Electrical machinery and equipment
• Chemicals
• Petroleum
• Construction
• Microelectronics
• Fishing

Farming

• Milk
• Sugar beets
• Potatoes
• Onions
• Pork
• Wheat
• Chicken
• Tomatoes
• Carrots/turnips
• Beef

2023

Note: Top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Exports

• Refined petroleum
• Vaccines
• Machinery
• Crude petroleum
• Broadcasting equipment

2023

Note: Top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Sells most to

Germany		16%
Belgium		15%
France		11%
Italy		6%
USA		6%

2023

Note: Top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Imports

• Crude petroleum
• Refined petroleum
• Broadcasting equipment
• Cars
• Natural gas

2023

Note: Top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Buys most from

Germany		16%
Belgium		10%
China		10%
USA		10%
UK		5%

2023

Note: Top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Workforce

10.315 million

2024 estimate

Note: Number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Below the poverty line

14.5%

2021 estimate

Note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Electricity

Electrification - total population	100% 2022 estimate

Government budget

Revenues	$451.11 billion
Expenditures	$455.334 billion

2023 estimate

Note: Central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated