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{{Infobox country
|native_name = {{native name|nl|Nederland|icon=no}}<!-- Do not change the name, the Netherlands is only part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (which has its own article). -->
|conventional_long_name = Netherlands<!-- Do not change the name, the Netherlands is only part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (which has its own article). -->
|common_name = the Netherlands
|image_flag = Flag of the Netherlands.svg
|image_coat =
|image_map = EU-Netherlands.svg
|map_width = 250px
|map_caption = {{map caption|countryprefix=the|location_color=dark green|region=[[Europe]]|region_color=dark grey|subregion=the [[European Union]]|subregion_color=light green|legend=EU-Netherlands.svg}}
|image_map2 = BES islands location map.svg
|map2_width = 250px
|map_caption2 = <span style="font-size:11px;">Special municipalities of the '''Netherlands''' <span style="font-size:9px;">(green)</span><br />in the [[Caribbean Netherlands|Caribbean]]</span>
|national_motto = <span style="line-height:133%;">''Je maintiendrai''{{Spaces|2}}<small>([[French language|French]])</small><ref>{{cite web|title=Wat is het Koninklijk wapen of Rijkswapen? (Google translate)|url=http://translate.google.com/translate?js=n&prev=_t&hl=nl&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rijksoverheid.nl%2Fdocumenten-en-publicaties%2Fvragen-en-antwoorden%2Fwat-is-het-koninklijk-wapen-of-rijkswapen.html|work=Official Dutch government website|accessdate=8 August 2011}}</ref><br />(''I will maintain''){{Ref|box1|1}}</span>
|national_anthem = The ''[[Wilhelmus]]''
|official_languages = [[Dutch language|Dutch]]
|regional_languages = [[West Frisian language|Frisian]] (in [[Friesland]]), [[Papiamento]] (in [[Bonaire]]), [[English language|English]] (in [[Sint Eustatius]] and [[Saba]]){{Ref|box3|3}}
|ethnic_groups = 80.7% [[Dutch people|Dutch]],<br>5% [[EU]] varieties,<br>2.4% [[Indo people|Indonesians]],<br>2.2% [[Turks in the Netherlands|Turks]],<br>2% [[Surinamese people|Surinamese]],<br>2% [[Moroccan people|Moroccans]],<br>0.8% [[Dutch Caribbean|Caribbean]]<br>4.8% others<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/nl.html |title=Netherlands |author=World Factbook |date=3 August 2010 |publisher=CIA |accessdate=14 August 2010}}</ref>
|ethnic_groups_year = 2008
|demonym = Dutch
|capital = [[Amsterdam]]<!-- Do not replace Amsterdam as capital. The Hague is ''not'' the capital of the Netherlands. If you disagree, too bad, for a change here you need to change the Dutch constitution first-->{{Ref|box2|2}}
|largest_city = capital
|latd=52 |latm=19 |latNS=N |longd=05 |longm=33 |longEW=E
|government_type = [[Parliamentary democracy]] under a [[Constitutional monarchy|constitutional monarch]]<ref name=US-DoS>{{cite web |title =GovType |work=[[United States Department of State]] website |publisher=United States Department of State |date =16 July 2010 |url =http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/3204.htm |accessdate =5 August 2010}}</ref>
|leader_title1 = [[Monarchy of the Netherlands|Monarch]]
|leader_name1 = [[Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands|Willem-Alexander]]
|leader_title2 = [[Prime Minister of the Netherlands|Prime Minister]]
|leader_name2 = [[Mark Rutte]] ([[People's Party for Freedom and Democracy|VVD]])
|leader_title3 = [[Deputy Prime Minister of the Netherlands|Deputy Prime Minister]]
|leader_name3 = [[Lodewijk Asscher]] ([[Labour Party (Netherlands)|PVDA]])
|leader_title4 = [[Dutch general election, 2012|Current coalition]]
|leader_name4 = [[Rutte II cabinet|VVD-PVDA Coalition]]
|legislature = [[States-General of the Netherlands|States-General]]
|upper_house = [[Senate of the Netherlands|Senate]]
|lower_house = [[House of Representatives of the Netherlands|House of Representatives]]
|area_rank = 135th
|area_magnitude = 1 E10
|area_km2 = 41,543
|area_sq_mi = 16,039 <!--Do not remove per [[WP:MOSNUM]]-->
|percent_water = 18.41
|population_estimate = 16,847,007 <ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/nl.html CIA - The World Factbook]</ref>
|population_estimate_year = {{CURRENTYEAR}}
|population_estimate_rank = 61st
|population_census =
|population_census_year =
|population_density_km2 = {{#expr:{{Data Netherlands|poptoday}} / 41526 round 1}}
|population_density_sq_mi = {{#expr:{{Data Netherlands|poptoday}} / 16033 round 1}} <!--Do not remove per [[WP:MOSNUM]]-->
|population_density_rank = 30th
|GDP_PPP_year = 2010
|GDP_PPP = $676.895 billion<ref name=imf2>{{cite web|url=http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2011/01/weodata/weorept.aspx?sy=2008&ey=2011&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=138&s=NGDPD%2CNGDPDPC%2CPPPGDP%2CPPPPC%2CLP&grp=0&a=&pr.x=40&pr.y=0 |title=Netherlands|publisher=International Monetary Fund|accessdate=6 May 2011}}</ref>
|GDP_PPP_rank =
|GDP_PPP_per_capita = $40,764<ref name=imf2/>
|GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank =
|GDP_nominal = $783.293 billion<ref name=imf2/>
|GDP_nominal_rank =
|GDP_nominal_year = 2010
|GDP_nominal_per_capita = $47,172<ref name=imf2/>
|GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank =
|sovereignty_type = [[Independence]]
|sovereignty_note = As result of the [[Eighty Years' War]] from the [[Habsburg Empire]]
|established_event1 = Declared
|established_date1 = 26 July 1581 <!--Use Euro style per [[WP:MOSNUM]]-->
|established_event2 = Recognised
|established_date2 = 30 January 1648{{Ref|box4|4}} <!--Use Euro style per [[WP:MOSNUM]]-->
|accessionEUdate = 25 March 1957 <!--Use Euro style per [[WP:MOSNUM]]-->
|HDI_year = 2011
|HDI = 0.910
|HDI_change = increase
|HDI_ref = <ref name="HDI">{{cite web|url=http://hdr.undp.org/en/media/HDR_2011_EN_Complete.pdf|title=Human Development Report 2011|year=2011|publisher=United Nations|accessdate=2 November 2011}}</ref>
|HDI_rank = 3rd
|HDI_category = <span style="color:#090;">very high</span>
|Gini = 30.9
|Gini_ref = <!--Regularly check CIA factbook or http://www.wider.unu.edu/research/Database/en_GB/wiid/ -->
|Gini_year = 2006
|Gini_category=<span style="color:#fc0;">medium</span>
|currency = [[Euro]] ([[€]]): Netherlands{{Ref|box5|5}}, [[United States dollar]] ([[$]]): [[Caribbean Netherlands]]{{Ref|box6|6}}
|country_code = [[NLD]]
|time_zone = [[Central European Time|CET]] and [[Atlantic Standard Time|AST]]
|utc_offset = +1 and −4
|time_zone_DST = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]] and [[Atlantic Standard Time|AST]]
|utc_offset_DST = +2 and −4
|drives_on = right
|cctld = [[.nl]]{{Ref|box7|7}}
|calling_code = [[Telephone numbers in the Netherlands|31]], [[+599]]{{Ref|box8|8}}
|footnote1 = {{note|box1}} The official motto is French; the literal translation to English is "I will maintain" (namely, the integrity and independence of the territory){{Fact|date=September 2011}}
|footnote2 = {{note|box2}} While [[Amsterdam]] is the constitutional capital, [[The Hague]] is the seat of the government.
|footnote3 = {{note|box3}} [[West Frisian language|Frisian]] ([[Friesland]]),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0002219/tekst_bevat_Fries/geldigheidsdatum_25-10-2010|title=Wet gebruik Friese taal in het rechtsverkeer|publisher=wetten.nl|accessdate=25 October 2010|language=Dutch}}</ref> [[Papiamento]] ([[Bonaire]])<ref name=languages>{{cite web|url=http://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0028063/tekst_bevat_taal%2Bin%2Bhet%2Bbestuurlijk%2Bverkeer/geldigheidsdatum_01-01-2011|title=Invoeringswet openbare lichamen Bonaire, Sint Eustatius en Saba|language=Dutch|publisher=wetten.nl|accessdate=1 January 2011}}</ref> and [[English language|English]] ([[Sint Eustatius]] and [[Saba]])<ref name=languages/> have a formal status in certain parts of the country. [[Yiddish]] and the [[Romani language]] are recognised as non-territorial languages.{{Fact|date=July 2011}} [[Dutch Low Saxon]] and [[Limburgish language|Limburgish]] are recognised as [[European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages|regional languages]] by the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.
|footnote4 = {{note|box4}} [[Peace of Westphalia]]
|footnote5 = {{note|box5}} Before 2002: [[Dutch guilder]].
|footnote6 = {{note|box6}} The [[United States dollar]] is the sole legal tender within the [[Caribbean Netherlands]]. Before 2011: [[Netherlands Antillean guilder]].
|footnote7 = {{note|box7}} The [[.eu]] domain is also used, as it is shared with other [[European Union]] member states.
|footnote8 = {{note|box8}} 599 was the country code designated for the now dissolved [[Netherlands Antilles]]. The Caribbean Netherlands still use 599-7 (Bonaire), 599-3 (Sint Eustatius) and 599-4 (Saba).
|}}
The '''Netherlands''' is a [[country]] in [[Western Europe]]. More than 16 million people live there. To the north and west of the Netherlands is the [[North Sea]]. To the east is the country [[Germany]] and to the south is the country [[Belgium]]. The Netherlands is one of the countries that started the [[European Union]]. People who live in the Netherlands are called "[[Dutch (people)|Dutch]]". The language of the Netherlands is also called [[Dutch language|Dutch]]. The main capital of the Netherlands is Amsterdam. This however, is not the place where the government is seated. The House of Representatives (in Dutch: 'Tweede Kamer') is in [[The Hague]].
== Name ==
"The Netherlands" means "the low lands". The land only rises, on average, 1 meter above the sea level. One third of the land is below sea level. The Netherlands is also called [[Holland]]. Holland was a very rich area in the western part of the Netherlands, thus causing people to be mistaken. Some people who do not live in the western part of the Netherlands do not like it when people call the country Holland. The name "Holland" originates from the old Dutch words "Holt land" which means "wood lands".
== History ==
At the end of the [[Middle Ages]] the [[duke]]s of [[Burgundy]], a country that is now part of [[France]], united seventeen areas. Those areas were called the Netherlands. When the daughter of a duke married [[Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor]], the Netherlands became part of [[Spain]]. In the 16th century many Dutch people became [[Protestant]]. The king of Spain did not like it, he wanted all Dutch to be [[Roman Catholic]]. He decided that all Protestants should be killed. Of course the Dutch people did not like this, and in 1568 they started a war against Spain. The war lasted until 1648, therefore it is called the [[Eighty Years' War]]. An important leader of the Dutch in this war was Willem van Oranje (Willem of orange) also called [[William the Silent]].
In 1648 the Netherlands and Spain signed [[Peace of Münster|peace]]. The Dutch people were allowed to keep all the areas they conquered. The part of the Netherlands that was not conquered by the Dutch stayed part of Spain. Later this part became the country [[Belgium]].
When the Netherlands became independent, it was a very special country. That time almost all countries in [[Europe]] were ruled by a king, but the Netherlands was a [[republic]]. The Netherlands was made up of seven [[province]]s, that were ruled by the big cities. The cities where ruled by the municipality which consisted from rich civilians. Together those provinces were ruled by a [[stadtholder]], a very powerful man, but compared to the kings of other European countries he had much less power.
In the [[17th century]] the Netherlands was the richest and one of the most powerful countries in the world. Therefore the Dutch call the 17th century the [[Golden Age]]. They had possessions all around the world. The most important possession were the [[East Indies]], a country that is now called [[Indonesia]]. The Dutch also founded [[New Netherland]], which is now called [[New York]]. The Netherlands often fought wars against other European countries, especially the [[Anglo-Dutch Wars]] against [[England]]. [[Michiel de Ruyter]], a Dutch [[admiral]], became a Dutch hero when he defeated the English navy close to London.
In the 18th century the Netherlands became poorer. Many people thought this was the fault of the stadtholders. Many thought they had too much power and wanted them to get away. In 1789 the French people deposed their king. French armies attacked other countries to depose their leaders too. In 1795 they attacked the Netherlands. Stadtholder [[Stadtholder William V of the Netherlands|William V]] had to flee to England. The Netherlands were renamed to [[Batavian Republic]] and became a [[democracy]]. But the French were not content with the Dutch ruler, so in 1806 the French [[emperor]] [[Napoleon]] made his brother [[Louis Bonaparte]] king of the Netherlands. Louis became popular in the Netherlands, but the emperor was again not content with him, so in 1810 the Netherlands became a part of France.
In 1815 Napoleon was defeated, and the Netherlands became independent again. The rulers of European countries thought it was a good idea to make the Netherlands stronger, to make them able to resist another French invasion. Therefore [[Belgium]] and [[Luxembourg]] were added to the Netherlands. [[King William I of the Netherlands|William I]], the son of stadtholder William V, became king. The Belgians were not happy with the Dutch king. In 1830 they revolted. William sent an army. He was much more powerful than the Belgians but after ten days the French sent an army to support them. In 1831 the Belgians chose their own king and Belgium became an independent country.
[[Liberalism|Some people]] thought the Dutch king had too much power. They wanted to give him less power and vote for the government themselves. In 1848 there were violent revolts against the kings of many European countries. The Dutch king was afraid the same would happen in the Netherlands. Therefore he allowed [[Johan Rudolf Thorbecke]] to write a [[constitution]]. From then on people were allowed to vote. At first only rich men were allowed to vote. From 1919 on [[universal suffrage|everyone was allowed to vote]].
In [[World War I]], the Netherlands did not fight. The Dutch wanted to stay [[neutral]] in [[World War II]] as well, but in 1940 the country was invaded and occupied by [[Germany]]. Just like in other countries they had occupied, the National Socialist Party started to kill [[Jews]]. [[Anne Frank]] was a Jewish girl who lived in the Netherlands. Her family hid from the Nazis and she wrote a [[diary]]. She died in a Nazi [[concentration camp]] and her diary became famous.
In 1944 the [[United States|American]], [[Canada|Canadian]], [[Poland|Polish]] and British armies liberated the south of the Netherlands from Nazi Occupation. They wanted to cross the [[Rhine]] river in [[Operation Market Garden]] to liberate the rest of the country, but they were defeated. It took until May 1945 before the entire country was liberated. During the five years of Nazi occupation, 250,000 people had died in the Netherlands.
Shortly after the war, [[Indonesia]] declared its independence. The Dutch sent soldiers to fight in Indonesia. During the war the Dutch realized how it is to be occupied by another country, so some thought they should not do the same to the Indonesians. After other countries, including the [[United States]], told the Dutch to leave Indonesia, they finally did so in 1949.
After the war the Netherlands became one of the richest countries in the world. In 2004 the [[United Nations]] said that the Netherlands was the 5th best country to live in.
== Politics ==
The Netherlands is a [[constitutional monarchy]]. That means the country has a king or queen, but the real power is in hands of a [[parliament]], chosen by the Dutch people. All Dutch people who are 18 or older are allowed to vote. There are [[election]]s every four years. After the elections, parties that have had a majority of the votes create a [[cabinet]]. The cabinet consists of a [[prime minister]] and several other ministers.
The following [[Political party|political parties]] are in the parliament:
* [[CDA]], Christian-Democratic Appeal. The CDA is fourth largest party. CDA members are mostly [[Christian]]. The previous prime minister, [[Jan Peter Balkenende]] is a CDA member.
* [[PvdA]], Party of Laborers. The PvdA is a [[social-democrat]] party
* [[GroenLinks]] is a [[social-democrat]] party that pays special attention to the environment.
* [[SP]], Socialist Party, considered modern socialism
* [[D66]], Democrats 66. D66 was founded in [[1966]]. Just like the VVD, it is a liberal party. But D66 is more [[progressive]] than the VVD.
* [[ChristenUnie]], Christian Union. The ChristenUnie is a [[Christian]] party.
* [[PVV]], Party for the freedom. It is a very conservative right party and the third party.
* [[Partij voor de Dieren]], Party for the Animals. It is a party for animal rights.
* [[SGP]], Stately Reformed Party. The SGP is a very conservative Christian party.
The Netherlands is known for [[Toleration|tolerance]] in politics. The Netherlands is the only country where [[soft drugs]] are not entirely considered illegal. Furthermore the Netherlands is one of the few countries that allow [[same-sex marriage]]s, [[euthanasia]] and [[prostitution]] to a certain extent.
== Provinces ==
{{main|Provinces of the Netherlands}}
[[File:Netherlands-CIA WFB Map-10-10-10.png|thumb|220px|Map of Netherlands]]
In the Netherlands there are 12 provinces:
{| style="background:none;" cellspacing="2px"
|-
|
{| class="sortable wikitable" style="text-align:left;"
|-
! style="width:40px;" class="unsortable"| [[Flag]]
! style="width:140px;"| [[Province]]
! style="width:80px;"| [[Capital (political)|Capital]]
! style="width:80px;"| Largest city
! style="width:60px;"| [[Area]] (km<sup>2</sup>)
!<ref name="ProvArea">{{cite web|url=http://statline.cbs.nl/StatWeb/publication/?VW=T&DM=SLNL&PA=70072ned&D1=224&D2=5-16&D3=l&HD=081103-1603&HDR=T&STB=G1,G2|language=Dutch|publisher=[[Statistics Netherlands]]|year=2007|accessdate=2007-10-13|title=Regionale Kerncijfers Nederland}}</ref> width="70px"| [[Population]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://statline.cbs.nl/StatWeb/publication/?VW=T&DM=SLNL&PA=03759ned&D1=0&D2=802-813&D3=0&D4=l&HD=081103-1603|language=Dutch|publisher=[[Statistics Netherlands]]|year=2007|accessdate=2007-10-13|title=Bevolking per regio naar leeftijd, geslacht en burgerlijke staat}}</ref>
! style="width:80px;"|Density<br />(per km<sup>2</sup>)
|-
| [[File:Flag Drenthe.svg|27px]] || [[Drenthe]] || [[Assen]] ||<!-- Please DO NOT change the largest city of Drenthe to Emmen. What is intended here is the city proper; not the municipality. Assen city proper is larger than Emmen city proper although Emmen municipality is larger. --> [[Assen]] || style="text-align:right"|2,641|| style="text-align:right"|486,197|| style="text-align:right"|184
|-
| [[File:Flevolandflag.svg|27px]] || [[Flevoland]] || [[Lelystad]] || [[Almere]] || style="text-align:right"|1,417|| style="text-align:right"|374,424|| style="text-align:right"|264
|-
| [[File:Frisian flag.svg|27px]] || [[Friesland]] || [[Leeuwarden]] || [[Leeuwarden]] || style="text-align:right"|3,341|| style="text-align:right"|642,209|| style="text-align:right"|192
|-
| [[File:Gelderland-Flag.svg|27px]] || [[Gelderland]] || [[Arnhem]] || [[Nijmegen]] || style="text-align:right"|4,971|| style="text-align:right"|1,979,059|| style="text-align:right"|398
|-
| [[File:Flag Groningen.svg|27px]] || [[Groningen (province)|Groningen]] || [[Groningen (city)|Groningen]] || [[Groningen (city)|Groningen]] || style="text-align:right"|2,333|| style="text-align:right"|573,614|| style="text-align:right"|246
|-
| [[File:NL-LimburgVlag.svg|27px]] || [[Limburg (Netherlands)|Limburg]] || [[Maastricht]] || [[Maastricht]] || style="text-align:right"|2,150|| style="text-align:right"|1,127,805|| style="text-align:right"|525
|-
| [[File:North Brabant-Flag.svg|27px]] || [[North Brabant|North ''(Noord)'' Brabant]]|| [['s-Hertogenbosch|Den Bosch]]<!-- spelled this way for table-aesthetic reasons--> || [[Eindhoven]] || style="text-align:right"|4,916|| style="text-align:right"|2,419,042|| style="text-align:right"|492
|-
| [[File:Flag North-Holland, Netherlands.svg|27px]] || [[North Holland|North ''(Noord)'' Holland]] || [[Haarlem]] || [[Amsterdam]] || style="text-align:right"|2,671|| style="text-align:right"|2,613,070|| style="text-align:right"|978
|-
| [[File:Flag Overijssel.svg|27px]] || [[Overijssel]] || [[Zwolle, Overijssel|Zwolle]] || [[Enschede]] || style="text-align:right"|3,325|| style="text-align:right"|1,116,374|| style="text-align:right"|336
|-
| [[File:Utrecht (province)-Flag.svg|27px]] || [[Utrecht (province)|Utrecht]] || [[Utrecht (city)|Utrecht]] || [[Utrecht (city)|Utrecht]] || style="text-align:right"|1,385|| style="text-align:right"|1,190,604|| style="text-align:right"|860
|-
| [[File:Flag of Zeeland.svg|27px]] || [[Zeeland (province)|Zealand ''(Zeeland)'']] || [[Middelburg]] || [[Middelburg]] || style="text-align:right"|1,787|| style="text-align:right"|380,497|| style="text-align:right"|213
|-
| [[File:Flag Zuid-Holland.svg|27px]] || [[South Holland|South ''(Zuid)'' Holland]] || [[The Hague]]<br />''(Den Haag)'' || [[Rotterdam]] || style="text-align:right"|2,814|| style="text-align:right"|3,455,097|| style="text-align:right"|1228
|}
|}
Apart from these provinces, [[Bonaire]], [[Saba]] and [[Sint Eustatius]] are special municipalities of the Netherlands. They are not part of a province, but together are known as the [[Caribbean Netherlands]]. [[Aruba]], [[Curaçao]] and [[Sint Maarten]] are countries within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
===Cities===
This is a list of the cities with over 100,000 people.
[[File:Amsterdam airphoto.jpg|thumb|[[Amsterdam]]]]
[[File:RotterdamMaasNederland.jpg|thumb|[[Rotterdam]]]]
[[File:Skyline Den Haag.JPG|thumb|[[The Hague]]]]
[[File:Domuitzicht8.jpg|thumb|[[Utrecht (city)|Utrecht]]]]
[[File:Hoogbouw Eindhoven.jpg|thumb|[[Eindhoven]]]]
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Rank
!City
!Population
!Province
!Notes
|-
|1||[[Amsterdam]]||780,000||{{flag|North Holland}}||<small>''excl. [[Driemond]] and [[Landelijk Noord]]''</small>
|-
|2||[[Rotterdam]]||611,000||{{flag|South Holland}}||
|-
|3||[[The Hague]]||500,000||{{flag|South Holland}}||<small>''[[Dutch language|Dutch]] name: Den Haag''</small>
|-
|4||[[Utrecht (city)|Utrecht]]||312,634 ||{{flag|Utrecht}}
|-
|5||[[Eindhoven]]||213,809||{{flag|North Brabant}}
|-
|6||[[Tilburg]]||203,492||{{flag|North Brabant}}
|-
|7||[[Almere]]||193,303||{{flag|Flevoland}}
|-
|8||[[Groningen (city)|Groningen]]||187,298||{{flag|Groningen}}||<small>''excl. Engelbert, Hoogkerk, Middelbert and Noorderhoogebrug''</small>
|-
|9||[[Breda]]||173,299||{{flag|North Brabant}}
|-
|10||[[Nijmegen]]||164,165||{{flag|Gelderland}}||<small>''excl. Lent and Oosterhout''</small>
|-
|11||[[Apeldoorn]]||155,726||{{flag|Gelderland}}||<small>''excl. Beekbergen, Hoenderloo, Hoog Soeren, Klarenbeek, Lieren, Loenen, Uddel and Ugchelen''</small>
|-
|12||[[Enschede]]||154,017||{{flag|Overijssel}}||
|-
|13||[[Haarlem]]||151,853||{{flag|North Holland}}||<small>''excl.Bloemendaal, Hillegom, Heemstede, Velsen, Overveen''</small>
|-
|14||[[Arnhem]]||147,018||{{flag|Gelderland}}||<small>''excl. Schaarsbergen''</small>
|-
|15||[[Amersfoort]]||126,750||{{flag|Utrecht}}||<small>''excl. Hoogland and Hooglanderveen''</small>
|-
|16||[[Dordrecht]]||118,540||{{flag|South Holland}}
|-
|17||[[Zoetermeer]]||118,020||{{flag|South Holland}}
|-
|18||[[Zwolle, Overijssel|Zwolle]]||118,000||{{flag|Overijssel}}||<small>''excl. Brinkhoek, Haerst, Herfte, Langenholte, Wijthmen and Windesheim''</small>
|-
|19||[[Leiden]]||117,480||{{flag|South Holland}}
|-
|20||[[Maastricht]]||116,200||{{flagcountry|Limburg (Netherlands)}}||<small>''excl. Borgharen and Itteren''</small>
|-
|21||[[Ede]]||107,476||{{flag|Gelderland}}||<small>''CBS (1 January, 2007)''</small>
|-
|22||[['s-Hertogenbosch]]||102,220||{{flag|North Brabant}}||<small>''excl. Bokhoven, Empel, Engelen, Kruisstraat, Maliskamp and Rosmalen''</small>
|-
|23||[[Venlo]]||100,271||{{flagcountry|Limburg (Netherlands)}}
|}
== Geography ==
In fact a large part of Holland was created by the sand that came from the many [[river]]s flowing through it. Notable Dutch rivers are the [[Rhine]], the [[Maas]], the [[IJssel]] and the [[Scelt]]. A large part of the Netherlands is below [[sea level]]. This is because the Dutch have made many lakes and parts of the sea dry, creating polders. Therefore there is a [[saying]] "God created the earth, but the Dutch created the Netherlands." This makes the Netherlands very flat. In the very south-east of the Netherlands, in [[Limburg (Netherlands)|Limburg]], there are some hills. Therefore, this region is a tourist-attraction for many Dutch people. The highest point in the European portion of the Netherlands, the [[Vaalserberg]], is 323 metres above sea level. The highest point in both the Netherlands proper and the Kingdom of the Netherlands is [[Mount Scenery]], on the Caribbean island of [[Saba]], at 887 metres.
The Netherlands is a small country; about 300 kilometers from north to south, and about 170 kilometers from east to west.
== People ==
{{main|Dutch (people)}}
[[File:Keetmolen in Ede.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Windmill]] in Netherlands]]
The Netherlands is a small country, but many people live there. It is one of the most densely populated countries of the world.
Most people in the Netherlands speak [[Dutch language|Dutch]]. In [[Friesland]] about 200,000 people speak [[Frisian language|Frisian]]. Frisian is the language with the most similarities to English. Some Dutch people speak [[dialect]]s. The Saxon dialects spoken in the north eastern part of the Netherlands are somewhat similar to [[Lower German language|Lower German]].
According to a survey done in 2006, 25% of the Dutch people are [[Christian]] and 3% believe in an other organised religion, like Judaism, Islam or Hinduism etc. 26% are 'unbounded spiritual' (have their own beliefs and are not tied to a religion). The other 44% are not religious.
==Related pages==
* [[List of Dutch people]]
* [[List of rivers of the Netherlands]]
* [[Netherlands at the Olympics]]
* [[Netherlands national football team]]
== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{Europe}}
{{European Union}}
{{North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)}}
{{Commons}}
{{Wikivoyage}}
[[Category:Netherlands| ]]
[[Category:European Union member states]]
[[Category:Current monarchies]]
[[Category:Dutch-speaking countries]]
{{Link FA|tt}}
{{Link GA|es}}
|native_name = {{native name|nl|Nederland|icon=no}}<!-- Do not change the name, the Netherlands is only part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (which has its own article). -->
|conventional_long_name = Netherlands<!-- Do not change the name, the Netherlands is only part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (which has its own article). -->
|common_name = the Netherlands
|image_flag = Flag of the Netherlands.svg
|image_coat =
|image_map = EU-Netherlands.svg
|map_width = 250px
|map_caption = {{map caption|countryprefix=the|location_color=dark green|region=[[Europe]]|region_color=dark grey|subregion=the [[European Union]]|subregion_color=light green|legend=EU-Netherlands.svg}}
|image_map2 = BES islands location map.svg
|map2_width = 250px
|map_caption2 = <span style="font-size:11px;">Special municipalities of the '''Netherlands''' <span style="font-size:9px;">(green)</span><br />in the [[Caribbean Netherlands|Caribbean]]</span>
|national_motto = <span style="line-height:133%;">''Je maintiendrai''{{Spaces|2}}<small>([[French language|French]])</small><ref>{{cite web|title=Wat is het Koninklijk wapen of Rijkswapen? (Google translate)|url=http://translate.google.com/translate?js=n&prev=_t&hl=nl&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rijksoverheid.nl%2Fdocumenten-en-publicaties%2Fvragen-en-antwoorden%2Fwat-is-het-koninklijk-wapen-of-rijkswapen.html|work=Official Dutch government website|accessdate=8 August 2011}}</ref><br />(''I will maintain''){{Ref|box1|1}}</span>
|national_anthem = The ''[[Wilhelmus]]''
|official_languages = [[Dutch language|Dutch]]
|regional_languages = [[West Frisian language|Frisian]] (in [[Friesland]]), [[Papiamento]] (in [[Bonaire]]), [[English language|English]] (in [[Sint Eustatius]] and [[Saba]]){{Ref|box3|3}}
|ethnic_groups = 80.7% [[Dutch people|Dutch]],<br>5% [[EU]] varieties,<br>2.4% [[Indo people|Indonesians]],<br>2.2% [[Turks in the Netherlands|Turks]],<br>2% [[Surinamese people|Surinamese]],<br>2% [[Moroccan people|Moroccans]],<br>0.8% [[Dutch Caribbean|Caribbean]]<br>4.8% others<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/nl.html |title=Netherlands |author=World Factbook |date=3 August 2010 |publisher=CIA |accessdate=14 August 2010}}</ref>
|ethnic_groups_year = 2008
|demonym = Dutch
|capital = [[Amsterdam]]<!-- Do not replace Amsterdam as capital. The Hague is ''not'' the capital of the Netherlands. If you disagree, too bad, for a change here you need to change the Dutch constitution first-->{{Ref|box2|2}}
|largest_city = capital
|latd=52 |latm=19 |latNS=N |longd=05 |longm=33 |longEW=E
|government_type = [[Parliamentary democracy]] under a [[Constitutional monarchy|constitutional monarch]]<ref name=US-DoS>{{cite web |title =GovType |work=[[United States Department of State]] website |publisher=United States Department of State |date =16 July 2010 |url =http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/3204.htm |accessdate =5 August 2010}}</ref>
|leader_title1 = [[Monarchy of the Netherlands|Monarch]]
|leader_name1 = [[Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands|Willem-Alexander]]
|leader_title2 = [[Prime Minister of the Netherlands|Prime Minister]]
|leader_name2 = [[Mark Rutte]] ([[People's Party for Freedom and Democracy|VVD]])
|leader_title3 = [[Deputy Prime Minister of the Netherlands|Deputy Prime Minister]]
|leader_name3 = [[Lodewijk Asscher]] ([[Labour Party (Netherlands)|PVDA]])
|leader_title4 = [[Dutch general election, 2012|Current coalition]]
|leader_name4 = [[Rutte II cabinet|VVD-PVDA Coalition]]
|legislature = [[States-General of the Netherlands|States-General]]
|upper_house = [[Senate of the Netherlands|Senate]]
|lower_house = [[House of Representatives of the Netherlands|House of Representatives]]
|area_rank = 135th
|area_magnitude = 1 E10
|area_km2 = 41,543
|area_sq_mi = 16,039 <!--Do not remove per [[WP:MOSNUM]]-->
|percent_water = 18.41
|population_estimate = 16,847,007 <ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/nl.html CIA - The World Factbook]</ref>
|population_estimate_year = {{CURRENTYEAR}}
|population_estimate_rank = 61st
|population_census =
|population_census_year =
|population_density_km2 = {{#expr:{{Data Netherlands|poptoday}} / 41526 round 1}}
|population_density_sq_mi = {{#expr:{{Data Netherlands|poptoday}} / 16033 round 1}} <!--Do not remove per [[WP:MOSNUM]]-->
|population_density_rank = 30th
|GDP_PPP_year = 2010
|GDP_PPP = $676.895 billion<ref name=imf2>{{cite web|url=http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2011/01/weodata/weorept.aspx?sy=2008&ey=2011&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=138&s=NGDPD%2CNGDPDPC%2CPPPGDP%2CPPPPC%2CLP&grp=0&a=&pr.x=40&pr.y=0 |title=Netherlands|publisher=International Monetary Fund|accessdate=6 May 2011}}</ref>
|GDP_PPP_rank =
|GDP_PPP_per_capita = $40,764<ref name=imf2/>
|GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank =
|GDP_nominal = $783.293 billion<ref name=imf2/>
|GDP_nominal_rank =
|GDP_nominal_year = 2010
|GDP_nominal_per_capita = $47,172<ref name=imf2/>
|GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank =
|sovereignty_type = [[Independence]]
|sovereignty_note = As result of the [[Eighty Years' War]] from the [[Habsburg Empire]]
|established_event1 = Declared
|established_date1 = 26 July 1581 <!--Use Euro style per [[WP:MOSNUM]]-->
|established_event2 = Recognised
|established_date2 = 30 January 1648{{Ref|box4|4}} <!--Use Euro style per [[WP:MOSNUM]]-->
|accessionEUdate = 25 March 1957 <!--Use Euro style per [[WP:MOSNUM]]-->
|HDI_year = 2011
|HDI = 0.910
|HDI_change = increase
|HDI_ref = <ref name="HDI">{{cite web|url=http://hdr.undp.org/en/media/HDR_2011_EN_Complete.pdf|title=Human Development Report 2011|year=2011|publisher=United Nations|accessdate=2 November 2011}}</ref>
|HDI_rank = 3rd
|HDI_category = <span style="color:#090;">very high</span>
|Gini = 30.9
|Gini_ref = <!--Regularly check CIA factbook or http://www.wider.unu.edu/research/Database/en_GB/wiid/ -->
|Gini_year = 2006
|Gini_category=<span style="color:#fc0;">medium</span>
|currency = [[Euro]] ([[€]]): Netherlands{{Ref|box5|5}}, [[United States dollar]] ([[$]]): [[Caribbean Netherlands]]{{Ref|box6|6}}
|country_code = [[NLD]]
|time_zone = [[Central European Time|CET]] and [[Atlantic Standard Time|AST]]
|utc_offset = +1 and −4
|time_zone_DST = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]] and [[Atlantic Standard Time|AST]]
|utc_offset_DST = +2 and −4
|drives_on = right
|cctld = [[.nl]]{{Ref|box7|7}}
|calling_code = [[Telephone numbers in the Netherlands|31]], [[+599]]{{Ref|box8|8}}
|footnote1 = {{note|box1}} The official motto is French; the literal translation to English is "I will maintain" (namely, the integrity and independence of the territory){{Fact|date=September 2011}}
|footnote2 = {{note|box2}} While [[Amsterdam]] is the constitutional capital, [[The Hague]] is the seat of the government.
|footnote3 = {{note|box3}} [[West Frisian language|Frisian]] ([[Friesland]]),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0002219/tekst_bevat_Fries/geldigheidsdatum_25-10-2010|title=Wet gebruik Friese taal in het rechtsverkeer|publisher=wetten.nl|accessdate=25 October 2010|language=Dutch}}</ref> [[Papiamento]] ([[Bonaire]])<ref name=languages>{{cite web|url=http://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0028063/tekst_bevat_taal%2Bin%2Bhet%2Bbestuurlijk%2Bverkeer/geldigheidsdatum_01-01-2011|title=Invoeringswet openbare lichamen Bonaire, Sint Eustatius en Saba|language=Dutch|publisher=wetten.nl|accessdate=1 January 2011}}</ref> and [[English language|English]] ([[Sint Eustatius]] and [[Saba]])<ref name=languages/> have a formal status in certain parts of the country. [[Yiddish]] and the [[Romani language]] are recognised as non-territorial languages.{{Fact|date=July 2011}} [[Dutch Low Saxon]] and [[Limburgish language|Limburgish]] are recognised as [[European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages|regional languages]] by the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.
|footnote4 = {{note|box4}} [[Peace of Westphalia]]
|footnote5 = {{note|box5}} Before 2002: [[Dutch guilder]].
|footnote6 = {{note|box6}} The [[United States dollar]] is the sole legal tender within the [[Caribbean Netherlands]]. Before 2011: [[Netherlands Antillean guilder]].
|footnote7 = {{note|box7}} The [[.eu]] domain is also used, as it is shared with other [[European Union]] member states.
|footnote8 = {{note|box8}} 599 was the country code designated for the now dissolved [[Netherlands Antilles]]. The Caribbean Netherlands still use 599-7 (Bonaire), 599-3 (Sint Eustatius) and 599-4 (Saba).
|}}
The '''Netherlands''' is a [[country]] in [[Western Europe]]. More than 16 million people live there. To the north and west of the Netherlands is the [[North Sea]]. To the east is the country [[Germany]] and to the south is the country [[Belgium]]. The Netherlands is one of the countries that started the [[European Union]]. People who live in the Netherlands are called "[[Dutch (people)|Dutch]]". The language of the Netherlands is also called [[Dutch language|Dutch]]. The main capital of the Netherlands is Amsterdam. This however, is not the place where the government is seated. The House of Representatives (in Dutch: 'Tweede Kamer') is in [[The Hague]].
== Name ==
"The Netherlands" means "the low lands". The land only rises, on average, 1 meter above the sea level. One third of the land is below sea level. The Netherlands is also called [[Holland]]. Holland was a very rich area in the western part of the Netherlands, thus causing people to be mistaken. Some people who do not live in the western part of the Netherlands do not like it when people call the country Holland. The name "Holland" originates from the old Dutch words "Holt land" which means "wood lands".
== History ==
At the end of the [[Middle Ages]] the [[duke]]s of [[Burgundy]], a country that is now part of [[France]], united seventeen areas. Those areas were called the Netherlands. When the daughter of a duke married [[Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor]], the Netherlands became part of [[Spain]]. In the 16th century many Dutch people became [[Protestant]]. The king of Spain did not like it, he wanted all Dutch to be [[Roman Catholic]]. He decided that all Protestants should be killed. Of course the Dutch people did not like this, and in 1568 they started a war against Spain. The war lasted until 1648, therefore it is called the [[Eighty Years' War]]. An important leader of the Dutch in this war was Willem van Oranje (Willem of orange) also called [[William the Silent]].
In 1648 the Netherlands and Spain signed [[Peace of Münster|peace]]. The Dutch people were allowed to keep all the areas they conquered. The part of the Netherlands that was not conquered by the Dutch stayed part of Spain. Later this part became the country [[Belgium]].
When the Netherlands became independent, it was a very special country. That time almost all countries in [[Europe]] were ruled by a king, but the Netherlands was a [[republic]]. The Netherlands was made up of seven [[province]]s, that were ruled by the big cities. The cities where ruled by the municipality which consisted from rich civilians. Together those provinces were ruled by a [[stadtholder]], a very powerful man, but compared to the kings of other European countries he had much less power.
In the [[17th century]] the Netherlands was the richest and one of the most powerful countries in the world. Therefore the Dutch call the 17th century the [[Golden Age]]. They had possessions all around the world. The most important possession were the [[East Indies]], a country that is now called [[Indonesia]]. The Dutch also founded [[New Netherland]], which is now called [[New York]]. The Netherlands often fought wars against other European countries, especially the [[Anglo-Dutch Wars]] against [[England]]. [[Michiel de Ruyter]], a Dutch [[admiral]], became a Dutch hero when he defeated the English navy close to London.
In the 18th century the Netherlands became poorer. Many people thought this was the fault of the stadtholders. Many thought they had too much power and wanted them to get away. In 1789 the French people deposed their king. French armies attacked other countries to depose their leaders too. In 1795 they attacked the Netherlands. Stadtholder [[Stadtholder William V of the Netherlands|William V]] had to flee to England. The Netherlands were renamed to [[Batavian Republic]] and became a [[democracy]]. But the French were not content with the Dutch ruler, so in 1806 the French [[emperor]] [[Napoleon]] made his brother [[Louis Bonaparte]] king of the Netherlands. Louis became popular in the Netherlands, but the emperor was again not content with him, so in 1810 the Netherlands became a part of France.
In 1815 Napoleon was defeated, and the Netherlands became independent again. The rulers of European countries thought it was a good idea to make the Netherlands stronger, to make them able to resist another French invasion. Therefore [[Belgium]] and [[Luxembourg]] were added to the Netherlands. [[King William I of the Netherlands|William I]], the son of stadtholder William V, became king. The Belgians were not happy with the Dutch king. In 1830 they revolted. William sent an army. He was much more powerful than the Belgians but after ten days the French sent an army to support them. In 1831 the Belgians chose their own king and Belgium became an independent country.
[[Liberalism|Some people]] thought the Dutch king had too much power. They wanted to give him less power and vote for the government themselves. In 1848 there were violent revolts against the kings of many European countries. The Dutch king was afraid the same would happen in the Netherlands. Therefore he allowed [[Johan Rudolf Thorbecke]] to write a [[constitution]]. From then on people were allowed to vote. At first only rich men were allowed to vote. From 1919 on [[universal suffrage|everyone was allowed to vote]].
In [[World War I]], the Netherlands did not fight. The Dutch wanted to stay [[neutral]] in [[World War II]] as well, but in 1940 the country was invaded and occupied by [[Germany]]. Just like in other countries they had occupied, the National Socialist Party started to kill [[Jews]]. [[Anne Frank]] was a Jewish girl who lived in the Netherlands. Her family hid from the Nazis and she wrote a [[diary]]. She died in a Nazi [[concentration camp]] and her diary became famous.
In 1944 the [[United States|American]], [[Canada|Canadian]], [[Poland|Polish]] and British armies liberated the south of the Netherlands from Nazi Occupation. They wanted to cross the [[Rhine]] river in [[Operation Market Garden]] to liberate the rest of the country, but they were defeated. It took until May 1945 before the entire country was liberated. During the five years of Nazi occupation, 250,000 people had died in the Netherlands.
Shortly after the war, [[Indonesia]] declared its independence. The Dutch sent soldiers to fight in Indonesia. During the war the Dutch realized how it is to be occupied by another country, so some thought they should not do the same to the Indonesians. After other countries, including the [[United States]], told the Dutch to leave Indonesia, they finally did so in 1949.
After the war the Netherlands became one of the richest countries in the world. In 2004 the [[United Nations]] said that the Netherlands was the 5th best country to live in.
== Politics ==
The Netherlands is a [[constitutional monarchy]]. That means the country has a king or queen, but the real power is in hands of a [[parliament]], chosen by the Dutch people. All Dutch people who are 18 or older are allowed to vote. There are [[election]]s every four years. After the elections, parties that have had a majority of the votes create a [[cabinet]]. The cabinet consists of a [[prime minister]] and several other ministers.
The following [[Political party|political parties]] are in the parliament:
* [[CDA]], Christian-Democratic Appeal. The CDA is fourth largest party. CDA members are mostly [[Christian]]. The previous prime minister, [[Jan Peter Balkenende]] is a CDA member.
* [[PvdA]], Party of Laborers. The PvdA is a [[social-democrat]] party
* [[GroenLinks]] is a [[social-democrat]] party that pays special attention to the environment.
* [[SP]], Socialist Party, considered modern socialism
* [[D66]], Democrats 66. D66 was founded in [[1966]]. Just like the VVD, it is a liberal party. But D66 is more [[progressive]] than the VVD.
* [[ChristenUnie]], Christian Union. The ChristenUnie is a [[Christian]] party.
* [[PVV]], Party for the freedom. It is a very conservative right party and the third party.
* [[Partij voor de Dieren]], Party for the Animals. It is a party for animal rights.
* [[SGP]], Stately Reformed Party. The SGP is a very conservative Christian party.
The Netherlands is known for [[Toleration|tolerance]] in politics. The Netherlands is the only country where [[soft drugs]] are not entirely considered illegal. Furthermore the Netherlands is one of the few countries that allow [[same-sex marriage]]s, [[euthanasia]] and [[prostitution]] to a certain extent.
== Provinces ==
{{main|Provinces of the Netherlands}}
[[File:Netherlands-CIA WFB Map-10-10-10.png|thumb|220px|Map of Netherlands]]
In the Netherlands there are 12 provinces:
{| style="background:none;" cellspacing="2px"
|-
|
{| class="sortable wikitable" style="text-align:left;"
|-
! style="width:40px;" class="unsortable"| [[Flag]]
! style="width:140px;"| [[Province]]
! style="width:80px;"| [[Capital (political)|Capital]]
! style="width:80px;"| Largest city
! style="width:60px;"| [[Area]] (km<sup>2</sup>)
!<ref name="ProvArea">{{cite web|url=http://statline.cbs.nl/StatWeb/publication/?VW=T&DM=SLNL&PA=70072ned&D1=224&D2=5-16&D3=l&HD=081103-1603&HDR=T&STB=G1,G2|language=Dutch|publisher=[[Statistics Netherlands]]|year=2007|accessdate=2007-10-13|title=Regionale Kerncijfers Nederland}}</ref> width="70px"| [[Population]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://statline.cbs.nl/StatWeb/publication/?VW=T&DM=SLNL&PA=03759ned&D1=0&D2=802-813&D3=0&D4=l&HD=081103-1603|language=Dutch|publisher=[[Statistics Netherlands]]|year=2007|accessdate=2007-10-13|title=Bevolking per regio naar leeftijd, geslacht en burgerlijke staat}}</ref>
! style="width:80px;"|Density<br />(per km<sup>2</sup>)
|-
| [[File:Flag Drenthe.svg|27px]] || [[Drenthe]] || [[Assen]] ||<!-- Please DO NOT change the largest city of Drenthe to Emmen. What is intended here is the city proper; not the municipality. Assen city proper is larger than Emmen city proper although Emmen municipality is larger. --> [[Assen]] || style="text-align:right"|2,641|| style="text-align:right"|486,197|| style="text-align:right"|184
|-
| [[File:Flevolandflag.svg|27px]] || [[Flevoland]] || [[Lelystad]] || [[Almere]] || style="text-align:right"|1,417|| style="text-align:right"|374,424|| style="text-align:right"|264
|-
| [[File:Frisian flag.svg|27px]] || [[Friesland]] || [[Leeuwarden]] || [[Leeuwarden]] || style="text-align:right"|3,341|| style="text-align:right"|642,209|| style="text-align:right"|192
|-
| [[File:Gelderland-Flag.svg|27px]] || [[Gelderland]] || [[Arnhem]] || [[Nijmegen]] || style="text-align:right"|4,971|| style="text-align:right"|1,979,059|| style="text-align:right"|398
|-
| [[File:Flag Groningen.svg|27px]] || [[Groningen (province)|Groningen]] || [[Groningen (city)|Groningen]] || [[Groningen (city)|Groningen]] || style="text-align:right"|2,333|| style="text-align:right"|573,614|| style="text-align:right"|246
|-
| [[File:NL-LimburgVlag.svg|27px]] || [[Limburg (Netherlands)|Limburg]] || [[Maastricht]] || [[Maastricht]] || style="text-align:right"|2,150|| style="text-align:right"|1,127,805|| style="text-align:right"|525
|-
| [[File:North Brabant-Flag.svg|27px]] || [[North Brabant|North ''(Noord)'' Brabant]]|| [['s-Hertogenbosch|Den Bosch]]<!-- spelled this way for table-aesthetic reasons--> || [[Eindhoven]] || style="text-align:right"|4,916|| style="text-align:right"|2,419,042|| style="text-align:right"|492
|-
| [[File:Flag North-Holland, Netherlands.svg|27px]] || [[North Holland|North ''(Noord)'' Holland]] || [[Haarlem]] || [[Amsterdam]] || style="text-align:right"|2,671|| style="text-align:right"|2,613,070|| style="text-align:right"|978
|-
| [[File:Flag Overijssel.svg|27px]] || [[Overijssel]] || [[Zwolle, Overijssel|Zwolle]] || [[Enschede]] || style="text-align:right"|3,325|| style="text-align:right"|1,116,374|| style="text-align:right"|336
|-
| [[File:Utrecht (province)-Flag.svg|27px]] || [[Utrecht (province)|Utrecht]] || [[Utrecht (city)|Utrecht]] || [[Utrecht (city)|Utrecht]] || style="text-align:right"|1,385|| style="text-align:right"|1,190,604|| style="text-align:right"|860
|-
| [[File:Flag of Zeeland.svg|27px]] || [[Zeeland (province)|Zealand ''(Zeeland)'']] || [[Middelburg]] || [[Middelburg]] || style="text-align:right"|1,787|| style="text-align:right"|380,497|| style="text-align:right"|213
|-
| [[File:Flag Zuid-Holland.svg|27px]] || [[South Holland|South ''(Zuid)'' Holland]] || [[The Hague]]<br />''(Den Haag)'' || [[Rotterdam]] || style="text-align:right"|2,814|| style="text-align:right"|3,455,097|| style="text-align:right"|1228
|}
|}
Apart from these provinces, [[Bonaire]], [[Saba]] and [[Sint Eustatius]] are special municipalities of the Netherlands. They are not part of a province, but together are known as the [[Caribbean Netherlands]]. [[Aruba]], [[Curaçao]] and [[Sint Maarten]] are countries within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
===Cities===
This is a list of the cities with over 100,000 people.
[[File:Amsterdam airphoto.jpg|thumb|[[Amsterdam]]]]
[[File:RotterdamMaasNederland.jpg|thumb|[[Rotterdam]]]]
[[File:Skyline Den Haag.JPG|thumb|[[The Hague]]]]
[[File:Domuitzicht8.jpg|thumb|[[Utrecht (city)|Utrecht]]]]
[[File:Hoogbouw Eindhoven.jpg|thumb|[[Eindhoven]]]]
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Rank
!City
!Population
!Province
!Notes
|-
|1||[[Amsterdam]]||780,000||{{flag|North Holland}}||<small>''excl. [[Driemond]] and [[Landelijk Noord]]''</small>
|-
|2||[[Rotterdam]]||611,000||{{flag|South Holland}}||
|-
|3||[[The Hague]]||500,000||{{flag|South Holland}}||<small>''[[Dutch language|Dutch]] name: Den Haag''</small>
|-
|4||[[Utrecht (city)|Utrecht]]||312,634 ||{{flag|Utrecht}}
|-
|5||[[Eindhoven]]||213,809||{{flag|North Brabant}}
|-
|6||[[Tilburg]]||203,492||{{flag|North Brabant}}
|-
|7||[[Almere]]||193,303||{{flag|Flevoland}}
|-
|8||[[Groningen (city)|Groningen]]||187,298||{{flag|Groningen}}||<small>''excl. Engelbert, Hoogkerk, Middelbert and Noorderhoogebrug''</small>
|-
|9||[[Breda]]||173,299||{{flag|North Brabant}}
|-
|10||[[Nijmegen]]||164,165||{{flag|Gelderland}}||<small>''excl. Lent and Oosterhout''</small>
|-
|11||[[Apeldoorn]]||155,726||{{flag|Gelderland}}||<small>''excl. Beekbergen, Hoenderloo, Hoog Soeren, Klarenbeek, Lieren, Loenen, Uddel and Ugchelen''</small>
|-
|12||[[Enschede]]||154,017||{{flag|Overijssel}}||
|-
|13||[[Haarlem]]||151,853||{{flag|North Holland}}||<small>''excl.Bloemendaal, Hillegom, Heemstede, Velsen, Overveen''</small>
|-
|14||[[Arnhem]]||147,018||{{flag|Gelderland}}||<small>''excl. Schaarsbergen''</small>
|-
|15||[[Amersfoort]]||126,750||{{flag|Utrecht}}||<small>''excl. Hoogland and Hooglanderveen''</small>
|-
|16||[[Dordrecht]]||118,540||{{flag|South Holland}}
|-
|17||[[Zoetermeer]]||118,020||{{flag|South Holland}}
|-
|18||[[Zwolle, Overijssel|Zwolle]]||118,000||{{flag|Overijssel}}||<small>''excl. Brinkhoek, Haerst, Herfte, Langenholte, Wijthmen and Windesheim''</small>
|-
|19||[[Leiden]]||117,480||{{flag|South Holland}}
|-
|20||[[Maastricht]]||116,200||{{flagcountry|Limburg (Netherlands)}}||<small>''excl. Borgharen and Itteren''</small>
|-
|21||[[Ede]]||107,476||{{flag|Gelderland}}||<small>''CBS (1 January, 2007)''</small>
|-
|22||[['s-Hertogenbosch]]||102,220||{{flag|North Brabant}}||<small>''excl. Bokhoven, Empel, Engelen, Kruisstraat, Maliskamp and Rosmalen''</small>
|-
|23||[[Venlo]]||100,271||{{flagcountry|Limburg (Netherlands)}}
|}
== Geography ==
In fact a large part of Holland was created by the sand that came from the many [[river]]s flowing through it. Notable Dutch rivers are the [[Rhine]], the [[Maas]], the [[IJssel]] and the [[Scelt]]. A large part of the Netherlands is below [[sea level]]. This is because the Dutch have made many lakes and parts of the sea dry, creating polders. Therefore there is a [[saying]] "God created the earth, but the Dutch created the Netherlands." This makes the Netherlands very flat. In the very south-east of the Netherlands, in [[Limburg (Netherlands)|Limburg]], there are some hills. Therefore, this region is a tourist-attraction for many Dutch people. The highest point in the European portion of the Netherlands, the [[Vaalserberg]], is 323 metres above sea level. The highest point in both the Netherlands proper and the Kingdom of the Netherlands is [[Mount Scenery]], on the Caribbean island of [[Saba]], at 887 metres.
The Netherlands is a small country; about 300 kilometers from north to south, and about 170 kilometers from east to west.
== People ==
{{main|Dutch (people)}}
[[File:Keetmolen in Ede.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Windmill]] in Netherlands]]
The Netherlands is a small country, but many people live there. It is one of the most densely populated countries of the world.
Most people in the Netherlands speak [[Dutch language|Dutch]]. In [[Friesland]] about 200,000 people speak [[Frisian language|Frisian]]. Frisian is the language with the most similarities to English. Some Dutch people speak [[dialect]]s. The Saxon dialects spoken in the north eastern part of the Netherlands are somewhat similar to [[Lower German language|Lower German]].
According to a survey done in 2006, 25% of the Dutch people are [[Christian]] and 3% believe in an other organised religion, like Judaism, Islam or Hinduism etc. 26% are 'unbounded spiritual' (have their own beliefs and are not tied to a religion). The other 44% are not religious.
==Related pages==
* [[List of Dutch people]]
* [[List of rivers of the Netherlands]]
* [[Netherlands at the Olympics]]
* [[Netherlands national football team]]
== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{Europe}}
{{European Union}}
{{North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)}}
{{Commons}}
{{Wikivoyage}}
[[Category:Netherlands| ]]
[[Category:European Union member states]]
[[Category:Current monarchies]]
[[Category:Dutch-speaking countries]]
{{Link FA|tt}}
{{Link GA|es}}