Country Guide • Netherlands

Flag of Netherland

The Netherlands is located in North West Europe. It is bound by the North Sea to the north and west, Germany to the east and Belgium to the south.

Official NameKingdom of the Netherlands
Area39,931km² (15,417mile²)
Population16,150,000
ContinentEurope
Population per mile²1007
Capital CityAmsterdam
Religions36% Roman Catholic, 18.5% Dutch Reformed, 8.4% are of other reformed churches
LanguageDutch, Frisian
GovernmentConstitutional Monarchy
Member of EUYes
CurrencyEuro
GDP$434 billion
GDP per Head$26,900
Natural ResourcesArable land, natural gas, and petroleum
Land UseArable Land 27%
AgricultureGrains, potatoes, sugar beets, fruits, vegetables and various livestock
IndustryAgriculture, Banking, Chemicals, Clothing, Diamond Cutting, Fertilizers, Fishing, Food Processing, Forestry, Horticulture, Iron and Steel, Oil and Gas Production and Refining, Printing, Ship Building, Textiles, Tobacco Processing
TourismThe Netherlands is renowned for its canals, windmills and tulips. Amsterdam its capital is one of the most visually stunning in the world, and to see it at its best you should get aboard a canal boat and then afterwards explore the array of excellent museums this city has to offer. Spring is a good time to visit as the bulbs are in bloom - April for daffodils, tulips in May. Currently approx. 6.5 million tourists visit annually
Natural HazardsFlooding
Health RisksNone
ClimateThe Netherlands has a temperate maritime climate influenced by the North Sea and Atlantic Ocean. Rainfall is distributed fairly evenly throughout the year with average annual rainfall 28 inches. Average temperature ranges are from -1 to 4°C in January to 13 to 22°C in July
TimeGMT/UTC+1 hour
National DaysApril 30 - Queen’s Day
VisasBritish citizens and other European Union residents just need their EU papers to enter. No visas are required for travellers from Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan and the USA for visits of up to 90 days
British EmbassyEmbassy Details

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