Netherlands

| HDI_ref = <ref name="UNHDR">{{Cite web |date=6 May 2025 |title=Human Development Report 2025 |url=https://hdr.undp.org/system/files/documents/global-report-document/hdr2025reporten.pdf|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250506051232/https://hdr.undp.org/system/files/documents/global-report-document/hdr2025reporten.pdf |archive-date=6 May 2025 |access-date=6 May 2025 |publisher=[[United Nations Development Programme]] |language=en}}</ref>

| HDI_ref = <ref name="UNHDR">{{Cite web |date=6 May 2025 |title=Human Development Report 2025 |url=https://hdr.undp.org/system/files/documents/global-report-document/hdr2025reporten.pdf|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250506051232/https://hdr.undp.org/system/files/documents/global-report-document/hdr2025reporten.pdf |archive-date=6 May 2025 |access-date=6 May 2025 |publisher=[[United Nations Development Programme]] |language=en}}</ref>

| HDI_rank = 8th

| HDI_rank = 8th

| currency = {{hlist|[[Euro]] (€) ([[ISO 4217|EUR]])|United States dollar (US$) ([[ISO 4217|USD]]){{efn|The euro is used in the European part of the Netherlands and replaced the [[Dutch guilder]] in 2002. The United States dollar is used in the [[Caribbean Netherlands]] and replaced the [[Netherlands Antillean guilder]] in 2011.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0028551 |title=Wet geldstelsel BES |publisher=Dutch government |date=30 September 2010 |access-date=11 January 2014}}</ref>}}}}

| currency = {{hlist|[[Euro]] (€) ([[ISO 4217|EUR]])|United States dollar (US$) ([[ISO 4217|USD]]){{efn|The euro is used in the European part of The Netherlands and replaced the [[Dutch guilder]] in 2002. The United States dollar is used in the [[Caribbean Netherlands]] and replaced the [[Netherlands Antillean guilder]] in 2011.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0028551 |title=Wet geldstelsel BES |publisher=Dutch government |date=30 September 2010 |access-date=11 January 2014}}</ref>}}}}

| timezone =

| timezone =

| utc_offset_list = {{hlist|[[UTC+01:00]] ([[Central European Time|CET]])|[[UTC−04:00]] ([[Atlantic Time Zone|AST]])}}{{efn|CET and CEST are used in the European Netherlands, and AST is used in the Caribbean Netherlands.}}

| utc_offset_list = {{hlist|[[UTC+01:00]] ([[Central European Time|CET]])|[[UTC−04:00]] ([[Atlantic Time Zone|AST]])}}{{efn|CET and CEST are used in the European Netherlands, and AST is used in the Caribbean Netherlands.}}

{{nowrap|The '''Netherlands'''}},{{efn|{{langx|nl|Nederland}} {{IPA|nl|ˈneːdərlɑnt||Nl-Nederland.ogg}}}} [[Terminology of the Low Countries|informally]] '''Holland''',<!-- IMPORTANT!!! Do not link this Holland per [[WP:BOLDLINK]]; It is already linked and discussed further below and the bold unlinked inclusion is per community consensus!--> is a country in [[Northwestern Europe]], with [[Caribbean Netherlands|overseas territories]] in the [[Caribbean]]. It is the largest of the four constituent countries of the [[Kingdom of the Netherlands]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0002154/2017-11-17 |title=Statuut voor het Koninkrijk der Nederlanden |trans-title=Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands |language=nl |publisher=Government of the Netherlands |date=17 November 2017 |access-date=11 July 2020}}</ref> The Netherlands consists of [[Provinces of the Netherlands|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 boundary|maritime borders]] with the [[United Kingdom]], Germany, and Belgium.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.defensie.nl/english/topics/hydrography/contents/maritime-zones-and-boundaries/netherlands-boundaries-in-the-north-sea |title=Netherlands boundaries in the North Sea |publisher=Ministry of Defence |access-date=15 August 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819083824/http://www.defensie.nl/english/topics/hydrography/contents/maritime-zones-and-boundaries/netherlands-boundaries-in-the-north-sea |archive-date=19 August 2014}}</ref> The official language is [[Dutch language|Dutch]], with [[West Frisian language|West Frisian]] as a secondary official language in the province of [[Friesland]].<ref name="official-and-recognised-languages"/> Dutch, [[English language|English]], and [[Papiamento]] are official in the [[Caribbean Netherlands|Caribbean territories]].<ref name="official-and-recognised-languages"/> People from the Netherlands are referred to as [[Dutch people|Dutch]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Babbel.com |last2=GmbH |first2=Lesson Nine |title=Why Do We Call People From The Netherlands 'Dutch'? |url=https://www.babbel.com/en/magazine/the-netherlands-holland-and-dutch |access-date=2025-06-15 |website=Babbel Magazine |language=en}}</ref>

{{nowrap|The '''Netherlands'''}},{{efn|{{langx|nl|Nederland}} {{IPA|nl|ˈneːdərlɑnt||Nl-Nederland.ogg}}}} [[Terminology of the Low Countries|informally]] '''Holland''',<!-- IMPORTANT!!! Do not link this Holland per [[WP:BOLDLINK]]; It is already linked and discussed further below and the bold unlinked inclusion is per community consensus!--> is a country in [[Northwestern Europe]], with [[Caribbean Netherlands|overseas territories]] in the [[Caribbean]]. It is the largest of the four constituent countries of the [[Kingdom of the Netherlands]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0002154/2017-11-17 |title=Statuut voor het Koninkrijk der Nederlanden |trans-title=Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands |language=nl |publisher=Government of the Netherlands |date=17 November 2017 |access-date=11 July 2020}}</ref> The Netherlands consists of [[Provinces of the Netherlands|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 boundary|maritime borders]] with the [[United Kingdom]], Germany, and Belgium.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.defensie.nl/english/topics/hydrography/contents/maritime-zones-and-boundaries/netherlands-boundaries-in-the-north-sea |title=Netherlands boundaries in the North Sea |publisher=Ministry of Defence |access-date=15 August 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819083824/http://www.defensie.nl/english/topics/hydrography/contents/maritime-zones-and-boundaries/netherlands-boundaries-in-the-north-sea |archive-date=19 August 2014}}</ref> The official language is [[Dutch language|Dutch]], with [[West Frisian language|West Frisian]] as a secondary official language in the province of [[Friesland]].<ref name="official-and-recognised-languages"/> Dutch, [[English language|English]], and [[Papiamento]] are official in the [[Caribbean Netherlands|Caribbean territories]].<ref name="official-and-recognised-languages"/> People from the Netherlands are referred to as [[Dutch people|Dutch]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Babbel.com |last2=GmbH |first2=Lesson Nine |title=Why Do We Call People From The Netherlands 'Dutch'? |url=https://www.babbel.com/en/magazine/the-netherlands-holland-and-dutch |access-date=2025-06-15 |website=Babbel Magazine |language=en}}</ref>

{{anchor|name}}''Netherlands'' literally means "lower countries" in reference to its low elevation and flat topography, with 26% below [[Height above mean sea level|sea level]].<ref name=":1" /> Most of the areas below sea level, known as [[Polder|''polders'']], are the result of [[Land reclamation in the Netherlands|land reclamation that began in the 14th century]].<ref name="Cavendish_2003">{{cite book|title=How it Works: Science and Technology|url=https://archive.org/details/howitworks09mars|url-access=registration|year=2003|publisher=Marshall Cavendish|isbn=978-0-7614-7323-7|page=[https://archive.org/details/howitworks09mars/page/1208 1208]}}</ref> In the [[Dutch Republic|Republican period]], which began in 1588, the Netherlands entered a unique era of political, economic, and cultural greatness, ranked among the most powerful and influential in Europe and the world; this period is known as the [[Dutch Golden Age]].<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia |title=Netherlands – Dutch civilization in the Golden Age (1609–1713)|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Netherlands|access-date=10 November 2021|encyclopedia=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en}}</ref> During this time, its trading companies, the [[Dutch East India Company]] and the [[Dutch West India Company]], [[Dutch Empire|established colonies and trading posts]] all over the world.<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia |title=Dutch Republic {{!}} History & Facts|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Dutch-Republic|access-date=10 November 2021|encyclopedia=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=History of the Dutch Empire|url=http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/plaintexthistories.asp?historyid=aa61|access-date=10 November 2021|website=historyworld.net}}</ref>

{{anchor|name}}''Netherlands'' literally means "lower countries" in reference to its low elevation and flat topography, with 26% below [[Height above mean sea level|sea level]].<ref name=":1" /> Most of the areas below sea level, known as [[Polder|''polders'']], are the result of [[Land reclamation in The Netherlands|land reclamation that began in the 14th century]].<ref name="Cavendish_2003">{{cite book|title=How it Works: Science and Technology|url=https://archive.org/details/howitworks09mars|url-access=registration|year=2003|publisher=Marshall Cavendish|isbn=978-0-7614-7323-7|page=[https://archive.org/details/howitworks09mars/page/1208 1208]}}</ref> In the [[Dutch Republic|Republican period]], which began in 1588, the Netherlands entered a unique era of political, economic, and cultural greatness, ranked among the most powerful and influential in Europe and the world; this period is known as the [[Dutch Golden Age]].<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia |title=Netherlands – Dutch civilization in the Golden Age (1609–1713)|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Netherlands|access-date=10 November 2021|encyclopedia=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en}}</ref> During this time, its trading companies, the [[Dutch East India Company]] and the [[Dutch West India Company]], [[Dutch Empire|established colonies and trading posts]] all over the world.<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia |title=Dutch Republic {{!}} History & Facts|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Dutch-Republic|access-date=10 November 2021|encyclopedia=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=History of the Dutch Empire|url=http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/plaintexthistories.asp?historyid=aa61|access-date=10 November 2021|website=historyworld.net}}</ref>

With a population of over 18 million people, all living within a total area of {{cvt|41,850|km2}}—of which the land area is {{cvt|33,500|km2}}—the Netherlands is the [[List of countries and dependencies by population density|33rd most densely populated]] country, with a density of {{convert|535|/km2||disp=preunit|people |people}}. Nevertheless, it is the world's second-largest exporter of food and agricultural products by value, owing to its [[Soil fertility|fertile soil]], mild climate, [[Intensive farming|intensive agriculture]], and [[List of Dutch inventions and innovations|inventiveness]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Reiley |first=Laura |title=Cutting-edge tech made this tiny country a major exporter of food |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/interactive/2022/netherlands-agriculture-technology/ |url-access=subscription |access-date=23 November 2022 |newspaper=Washington Post |language=en}}</ref><ref name="hollandtrade.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.hollandtrade.com/sector-information/agriculture-and-food/?bstnum=4909|title=Agriculture and food|first=Netherlands Enterprise Agency|last=(RVO)|work=hollandtrade.com|access-date=26 August 2016|date=17 July 2015|archive-date=1 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101082732/http://www.hollandtrade.com/sector-information/agriculture-and-food/?bstnum=4909|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="nationalgeographic.com">{{cite web |date=September 2017 |title=How the Netherlands Feeds the World |url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/article/holland-agriculture-sustainable-farming |url-access=subscription |access-date=15 January 2020 |publisher=[[National Geographic Society]]}}</ref> The four largest cities in the Netherlands are [[Amsterdam]], [[Rotterdam]], [[The Hague]] and [[Utrecht]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cbs.nl/nl-nl/onze-diensten/methoden/classificaties/overig/gemeentegrootte-en-stedelijkheid |title=Gemeentegrootte en stedelijkheid |language=nl |publisher=[[Statistics Netherlands|CBS]] |access-date=16 December 2019}}</ref> Amsterdam is the country's most populous city and the nominal [[Capital of the Netherlands|capital]], though the primary national political institutions are located in the Hague.<ref>{{cite web |last=Dutch Wikisource |title=Grondwet voor het Koninkrijk der Nederlanden |trans-title=Constitution for the Kingdom of the Netherlands |language=nl |url=http://nl.wikisource.org/wiki/Grondwet_voor_het_Koninkrijk_der_Nederlanden |at=[http://nl.wikisource.org/wiki/Nederlandse_grondwet/Hoofdstuk_2#Artikel_32 Chapter 2, Article 32] |quote=... de hoofdstad Amsterdam ... |access-date=3 July 2013}}</ref>

With a population of over 18 million people, all living within a total area of {{cvt|41,850|km2}}—of which the land area is {{cvt|33,500|km2}}—the Netherlands is the [[List of countries and dependencies by population density|33rd most densely populated]] country, with a density of {{convert|535|/km2||disp=preunit|people |people}}. Nevertheless, it is the world's second-largest exporter of food and agricultural products by value, owing to its [[Soil fertility|fertile soil]], mild climate, [[Intensive farming|intensive agriculture]], and [[List of Dutch inventions and innovations|inventiveness]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Reiley |first=Laura |title=Cutting-edge tech made this tiny country a major exporter of food |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/interactive/2022/netherlands-agriculture-technology/ |url-access=subscription |access-date=23 November 2022 |newspaper=Washington Post |language=en}}</ref><ref name="hollandtrade.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.hollandtrade.com/sector-information/agriculture-and-food/?bstnum=4909|title=Agriculture and food|first=Netherlands Enterprise Agency|last=(RVO)|work=hollandtrade.com|access-date=26 August 2016|date=17 July 2015|archive-date=1 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101082732/http://www.hollandtrade.com/sector-information/agriculture-and-food/?bstnum=4909|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="nationalgeographic.com">{{cite web |date=September 2017 |title=How the Netherlands Feeds the World |url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/article/holland-agriculture-sustainable-farming |url-access=subscription |access-date=15 January 2020 |publisher=[[National Geographic Society]]}}</ref> The four largest cities in the Netherlands are [[Amsterdam]], [[Rotterdam]], [[The Hague]] and [[Utrecht]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cbs.nl/nl-nl/onze-diensten/methoden/classificaties/overig/gemeentegrootte-en-stedelijkheid |title=Gemeentegrootte en stedelijkheid |language=nl |publisher=[[Statistics Netherlands|CBS]] |access-date=16 December 2019}}</ref> Amsterdam is the country's most populous city and the nominal [[Capital of the Netherlands|capital]], though the primary national political institutions are located in the Hague.<ref>{{cite web |last=Dutch Wikisource |title=Grondwet voor het Koninkrijk der Nederlanden |trans-title=Constitution for the Kingdom of the Netherlands |language=nl |url=http://nl.wikisource.org/wiki/Grondwet_voor_het_Koninkrijk_der_Nederlanden |at=[http://nl.wikisource.org/wiki/Nederlandse_grondwet/Hoofdstuk_2#Artikel_32 Chapter 2, Article 32] |quote=... de hoofdstad Amsterdam ... |access-date=3 July 2013}}</ref>