| Area Total | 41,543 sq km |
| Climate | temperate; marine; cool summers and mild winters |
| Natural Resources | natural gas, petroleum, peat, limestone, salt, sand and gravel, arable land |
| Imports | $China 16.4%, Germany 15.3%, Belgium 8.5%, US 6.9%, UK 5.1%, Russia 4.3% (2017) – machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, fuels, foodstuffs, clothing |
| Exports | Germany 24.2%, Belgium 10.7%, UK 8.8%, France 8.8%, Italy 4.2% (2017) – machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, mineral fuels; food and livestock, manufactured goods |
| Government | parliamentary constitutional monarchy |
| Capital | Amsterdam; note – The Hague is the seat of government |
| Population | 17.2 million (July 2018 est.) |
| Ethnicity | Dutch 76.9%, EU 6.4%, Turkish 2.4%, Moroccan 2.3%, Indonesian 2.1%, German 2.1%, Surinamese 2%, Polish 1%, other 4.8% (2018 est.) |
| Language | Dutch (official); Frisian, Low Saxon, Limburgish, Romani, and Yiddish |
News about the Netherlands
- Van Vroonhoven quits as NSC candidate after demotion on list
by Gordon Darroch (DutchNews.nl) on September 1, 2025Former NSC leader Nicolien van Vroonhoven has stood down as a candidate for the general election after being demoted from...
- Work walkout over war in Gaza draws hundreds of Dutch protestors
by Lauren Comiteau (DutchNews.nl) on September 1, 2025A short national work walkout Monday saw hundreds of people banging saucepans to get the government to stop supporting Israel....
- Former Ajax boss Ten Hag sacked by Leverkusen after two matches
by Gordon Darroch (DutchNews.nl) on September 1, 2025Former Ajax head coach Erik ten Hag has been sacked by his new club Bayer Leverkusen just two matches into...
- Belgian police arrest seven Dutch nationals at Antwerp port
by Hanneke Sanou (DutchNews.nl) on September 1, 2025Belgian police arrested seven Dutch nationals in the early hours of Sunday in connection with a haul of 1,200 kilos...
- If Storm Wubbo blows in, it’s a sign of an extreme winter
by Gordon Darroch (DutchNews.nl) on September 1, 2025Meteorological agency KNMI has paid tribute to former astronaut Wubbo Ockels in its list of prospective storm names for the...
- Baudet hopes new FVD leader will entice young right-wing voters
by Gordon Darroch (DutchNews.nl) on September 1, 2025The founder of Forum voor Democratie, Thierry Baudet, is stepping aside as party leader in favour of the far-right party’s...
- Leen Bakker and Kwantum are “under financial pressure”: FD
by Robin Pascoe (DutchNews.nl) on September 1, 2025Home furnishings chains Leen Bakker and Kwantum are under financial pressure and looking for solutions, their parent company Homefashion Group...
- American pays meteoric €1.7 million for space rock in Noordwijk
by Hanneke Sanou (DutchNews.nl) on September 1, 2025An iron meteorite weighing 240 kilos was sold at auction on Saturday at the Space Expo Museum in Noordwijk for...
- Calls for measures against dangerous dogs after deadly attack
by Hanneke Sanou (DutchNews.nl) on September 1, 2025A 66-year-old man has died after being attacked by two dogs at his home in Rotterdam at the weekend in...
- Dutch hashish only in 10 towns as legal marijuana trial moves on
by Robin Pascoe (DutchNews.nl) on September 1, 2025The next stage in the Dutch experiment with regulated marijuana protection starts on Monday, with “coffeeshops” in 10 different local...
