The Netherlands, informally Holland is a country located in Northwestern Europe with overseas territories in the Caribbean. It is the largest of the four constituents countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The netherlands consists of twelve provinces; it borders Germany to the east and Belgium to the south, with a North sea coastline to the north and west> It shares maritime boundaries with the United Kingdom, Germany, and Belgium. The official language is Dutch, with Frisian as an official secondary language in the province of Friesland. Dutch, English, and Papiamento are official in the Caribbean territories.
With a population of nearly 18 million, this European country has an area of just 16, 160 sq miles making the Netherlands the 33rd most densely populated country with a density of 535 people per square kilometer. However, it is the world's second largest exporter of food and agricultural products by value, owing to its fertile land, mild climate, intensive agriculture, an inventiveness. The four largest cities in the Netherlands are Rotterdam, Amsterdam, The Hague, and Utrecht. Amsterdam is the country's most populous city, and the nominal capital, though the primary national political institutions are located in the Hague. Its main ethnic groups are 74% Dutch, 8.4% Other European, 2.4% Turkish- the same number for Moroccans, 2.1% Indonesian and Surinamese, 1.1% Dutch Caribbean, and 7.6% others. Only 42% of the dutch population are religious. Thirty percent are Christians, 6% Islam and others, with 58% having no religion.
The Netherlands has been a parliamentary constitutional monarchy with a unitary structure since 1848. The country has a tradition of pillarization and a long record of social tolerance, having legalized prostitution and euthanasia, along with maintaining a liberal drug policy.
The economy of the Netherlands is a highly developed market economy, focused on trade and logistics, manufacturing, services, innovation, and technology among others. It is the world's 18th largest economy, and the fifth largest in the European Union. Its GDP stands at 799 billion euros.
With a population of nearly 18 million, this European country has an area of just 16, 160 sq miles making the Netherlands the 33rd most densely populated country with a density of 535 people per square kilometer. However, it is the world's second largest exporter of food and agricultural products by value, owing to its fertile land, mild climate, intensive agriculture, an inventiveness. The four largest cities in the Netherlands are Rotterdam, Amsterdam, The Hague, and Utrecht. Amsterdam is the country's most populous city, and the nominal capital, though the primary national political institutions are located in the Hague. Its main ethnic groups are 74% Dutch, 8.4% Other European, 2.4% Turkish- the same number for Moroccans, 2.1% Indonesian and Surinamese, 1.1% Dutch Caribbean, and 7.6% others. Only 42% of the dutch population are religious. Thirty percent are Christians, 6% Islam and others, with 58% having no religion.
The Netherlands has been a parliamentary constitutional monarchy with a unitary structure since 1848. The country has a tradition of pillarization and a long record of social tolerance, having legalized prostitution and euthanasia, along with maintaining a liberal drug policy.
The economy of the Netherlands is a highly developed market economy, focused on trade and logistics, manufacturing, services, innovation, and technology among others. It is the world's 18th largest economy, and the fifth largest in the European Union. Its GDP stands at 799 billion euros.