Netherlands Travel Podcast with Sanne de Vries

Location

Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between Belgium and Germany

Terrain

Mostly coastal lowland and reclaimed land (polders); some hills in southeast

Climate

Temperate; marine; cool summers and mild winters

Elevation

Highest point

Mount Scenery (on the island of Saba in the Caribbean, now considered an integral part of the Netherlands following the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles) 862 m

Lowest point

Zuidplaspolder -7 m

Mean elevation

30 m

Area

Total

41,543 sq km

Land

33,893 sq km

Water

7,650 sq km

Size comparison

Slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey

Coastline

451 km

Land borders

Total

1,053 km

Border countries

Belgium 478 km; Germany 575 km

Natural resources

Natural gas, petroleum, peat, limestone, salt, sand and gravel, arable land

Land use

Agricultural land

53.5% (2023 est.)

Arable land

30% (2023 est.)

Permanent crops

1.1% (2023 est.)

Permanent pasture

22.5% (2023 est.)

Forest

10.9% (2023 est.)

Other

35.5% (2023 est.)

Natural hazards

Flooding

Volcanism: Mount Scenery (887 m), located on the island of Saba in the Caribbean, last erupted in 1640; Round Hill (601 m), a dormant volcano also known as "The Quill," is located on the island of St. Eustatius in the Caribbean; these islands are at the northern end of the volcanic island arc of the Lesser Antilles that extends south to Grenada

Note

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

Population

Total

17,833,885 (2025 est.)

Male

8,874,366

Female

8,959,519

Nationality

Noun

Dutchman(men), Dutchwoman(women)

Adjective

Dutch

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 est.)

Languages

Languages

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

Major-language sample(s)

Het Wereld Feitenboek, een onmisbare bron van informatie. (Dutch)

Religions

Roman Catholic 20.1%, Protestant 14.8% (includes Dutch Reformed, Protestant Church of The Netherlands, Calvinist), Muslim 5%, other 5.9% (includes Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish), none 54.1% (2019 est.)

Median age

Total

42.2 years (2025 est.)

Male

40.9 years

Female

43.5 years

Life expectancy

Total population

81.9 years (2024 est.)

Male

80.3 years

Female

83.5 years

Urbanisation

Urban population

93.2% of total population (2023)

Rate of urbanization

0.59% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

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

Largest cities

1.174 million AMSTERDAM (capital), 1.018 million Rotterdam (2023)

Background

The Dutch United Provinces declared their independence from Spain in 1581; during the 17th century, they became a leading seafaring and commercial power, with settlements and colonies around the world. After 18 years of French domination, the Netherlands regained its independence in 1813. In 1830, Belgium seceded and formed a separate kingdom. The Netherlands remained neutral in World War I but suffered German invasion and occupation in World War II. A modern, industrialized nation, the Netherlands is also a large exporter of agricultural products. The country was a founding member of NATO and the EEC (now the EU) and participated in the introduction of the euro in 1999. In 2010, the former Netherlands Antilles was dissolved and the three smallest islands -- Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba -- became special municipalities in the Netherlands administrative structure. The larger islands of Sint Maarten and Curacao joined the Netherlands and Aruba as constituent countries forming the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

In 2018, the Sint Eustatius island council (governing body) was dissolved and replaced by a government commissioner to restore the integrity of public administration. According to the Dutch Government, the intervention will be as "short as possible and as long as needed."

Government

Parliamentary constitutional monarchy; part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

Capital

Amsterdam

Time zone

UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Local name

Koninkrijk der Nederlanden

Independence

26 July 1581

National day

King's Day (birthday of King WILLEM-ALEXANDER), 27 April (1967)

Overview

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

GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2024

$70,900 (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$70,700 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2022

$71,300 (2022 est.)

Inflation

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

3.3% (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

3.8% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

10% (2022 est.)

Unemployment

Unemployment rate 2024

3.6% (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

3.6% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2022

3.6% (2022 est.)

Exchange rate

Currency

Euros (EUR) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2024

0.924 (2024 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

0.925 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

0.95 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

0.845 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

0.876 (2020 est.)

Main industries

Agroindustries, metal and engineering products, electrical machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum, construction, microelectronics, fishing

Agriculture

Milk, sugar beets, potatoes, onions, pork, wheat, chicken, tomatoes, carrots/turnips, beef (2023)

Airports

44 (2025)

Railways

Total 3,055 km (2020) 2,310 km electrified

Ports

Total ports

18 (2024)

Large

2

Medium

4

Small

5

Very small

7

Ports with oil terminals

12

Key ports

Amsterdam, Dordrecht, Europoort, Rotterdam, Terneuzen, Vlissingen

Internet domain

.nl

Internet users

Percent of population 97% (2023 est.)

Mobile subscriptions

Total subscriptions

23.4 million (2024 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

129 (2024 est.)

Environmental issues

Water pollution, including industrial and agricultural chemicals in rivers; air pollution from vehicles and refining activities

Fresh water

91 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

UNESCO Global Geoparks

Total global geoparks and regional networks

2 (2024)

Global geoparks and regional networks

De Hondsrug; Schelde Delta (includes Belgium) (2024)