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
- Temperatures rise at slavery memorial event in Amsterdamby Senay Boztas (DutchNews.nl) on July 1, 2025
Two years after national apologies for slavery were made by the king and prime minister, campaigners and politicians at a...
- Senate backs nationwide consumer fireworks ban at New Yearby Robin Pascoe (DutchNews.nl) on July 1, 2025
Senators have voted in favour of banning the sale of fireworks to consumers, a measure the cabinet hopes to introduce...
- Americans are applying for asylum in NL: 28 up to end Mayby Robin Pascoe (DutchNews.nl) on July 1, 2025
Between January and the end of May, 28 US nationals applied for asylum in the Netherlands, the immigration service IND...
- Six energy firms to face mass claim for illegal rate hikesby Hanneke Sanou (DutchNews.nl) on July 1, 2025
Campaigners have launched a mass claim against six energy companies, accusing them of illegally increasing rates for people on variable contracts...
- Save €35 bn by scrapping ineffective tax breaks: civil servantsby Robin Pascoe (DutchNews.nl) on July 1, 2025
Cutting some ineffective tax breaks could generate up to €35 billion for the Dutch treasury, civil servants at the finance...
- The south is set to swelter in 38° heat, Wednesday also hotby Robin Pascoe (DutchNews.nl) on July 1, 2025
The Netherlands is in the grip of soaring heat on Tuesday, with the temperature topping 30° in several places in...
- Feyenoord’s European Cup-winning captain Rinus Israel dies at 83by Gordon Darroch (DutchNews.nl) on July 1, 2025
Rinus Israël, the first Dutch footballer to have lifted the European Cup when Feyenoord won the trophy in 1970, has...
- Van Hijum wants limit on EU firms hiring third-country workersby Gordon Darroch (DutchNews.nl) on July 1, 2025
Social affairs minister Eddy van Hijum wants to tighten European rules that enable third-country nationals to work for companies based...
- More cancer patients are surviving thanks to new treatmentsby Robin Pascoe (DutchNews.nl) on July 1, 2025
The proportion of cancer patients in the Netherlands who survive at least four years after diagnosis has risen sharply, according...
- Griekspoor crashes out of Wimbledon with ”scandalous” defeatby Gordon Darroch (DutchNews.nl) on July 1, 2025
Dutch number one Tallon Griekspoor described his own performance as “scandalous” after being knocked out of Wimbledon in the first...