Netherlands Country Facts
Instantly browse key facts about the Netherlands — geography, demographics, economy, and government — all in one organized reference card.
Official Name
Kingdom of the Netherlands
Koninkrijk der Nederlanden in Dutch
Capital City
Amsterdam
Constitutional capital; The Hague is the seat of government
Total Area
41,543 km²
16,040 sq mi — rank 131st globally
Continent / Region
Western Europe
Borders Germany (east) and Belgium (south); North Sea coast (west/north)
Bordering Countries
Germany, Belgium
North Sea coastline to the west and north
Time Zone
UTC+1 / UTC+2
CET in winter; CEST (daylight saving) in summer
Elevation
−6.74 m to 322.4 m
Lowest: Zuidplas Polder; Highest: Vaalserberg
Coastline
451 km
280 mi on the North Sea; ~26% of land lies below sea level
Population (2024)
~17.9 million
~430 people/km²; one of Europe's most densely populated countries
Official Language
Dutch
Nederlands; Frisian (Frysk) co-official in Friesland province
Calling Code
+31
Drop the leading 0 when dialing from abroad
Major Religion
Non-religious ~52%
Christian ~37%; Muslim ~5%; among the least religious EU nations
Largest Cities
Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague
Also: Utrecht, Eindhoven, Groningen, Tilburg
Life Expectancy
~81.8 years
2023 estimate; among the highest in Western Europe
Government Type
Constitutional monarchy
Parliamentary democracy; bicameral States-General
Monarch
King Willem-Alexander
In office since April 30, 2013; first Dutch king since 1890
Prime Minister
Dick Schoof
In office since July 2, 2024
Kingdom Founded
1815
Dutch Republic declared independence from Spain in 1581
Administrative Divisions
12 provinces
Plus Caribbean territories: Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, BES islands
National Motto
Je maintiendrai
"I will uphold" in French; EU founding member since 1957
Currency
Euro (EUR, €)
Replaced the Dutch Guilder (NLG) on January 1, 2002
Nominal GDP (2023)
~USD 1.1 trillion
Rank ~17th globally (IMF); 6th largest in the EU
GDP per Capita (2023)
~USD 60,000
PPP: ~USD 73,000 (World Bank estimate)
Top Exports
Machinery, chemicals
Also: petroleum, food products, electronics, cut flowers
Major Industries
Port logistics, agriculture
Also: financial services, technology (ASML), energy, flower trade
Internet TLD
.nl
Administered by SIDN since 1986
ISO Codes
NL / NLD
ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 and alpha-3
National Holiday
King's Day
April 27 (Koningsdag); celebrates the King's birthday
Drives On
Right side of the road
Steering wheel on the left; one of the world's top cycling nations
UNESCO Heritage Sites
13 sites
Includes Kinderdijk windmills, Schokland, Amsterdam canals
Port of Rotterdam
Largest port in Europe
Handles ~450 million tonnes/year; gateway to European market
Summary
Instantly browse key facts about the Netherlands — geography, demographics, economy, and government — all in one organized reference card.
How it works
- All facts are organized into thematic sections: Geography, People, Government, Economy, and Culture.
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Use cases
- Quick lookup for students doing geography or social studies homework.
- Travelers preparing for a trip who need currency, timezone, and calling code info.
- Business professionals researching the Netherlands' economy and GDP figures.
- Journalists or writers needing accurate demographic and political facts.
- Trivia enthusiasts brushing up on Dutch country statistics.
- Teachers preparing classroom materials about European countries.
- Researchers studying one of Europe's most densely populated nations.
- Anyone curious about the Netherlands' geography, government, history, or culture.