Netherlands

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.”TipVisit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.Definitions and Notes

Geography

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

52 31 N, 5 46 E

Map references

Europe

Area

total : 41,543 sq km

land: 33,893 sq km

water: 7,650 sq km

comparison ranking: total 134

Area – comparative

slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey

Area comparison map:

Land boundaries

total: 1,053 km

border countries (2): Belgium 478 km; Germany 575 km

Coastline

451 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Climate

temperate; marine; cool summers and mild winters

Terrain

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

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

note: the highest point on continental Netherlands is Vaalserberg at 322 m

Natural resources

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

Land use

agricultural land: 53.6% (2022 est.)

arable land: 29.8% (2022 est.)

permanent crops: 1.1% (2022 est.)

permanent pasture: 22.7% (2022 est.)

forest: 11% (2022 est.)

other: 35.4% (2022 est.)

Irrigated land

2,969 sq km (2019)

Major rivers (by length in km)

Rijn (Rhine) river mouth (shared with Switzerland [s], Germany, and France) – 1,233 km

note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Atlantic Ocean drainage: Rhine-Maas (198,735 sq km)

Population distribution

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

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

Geography – 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

People and Society

Population

total: 17,772,378 (2024 est.)

male: 8,844,100

female: 8,928,278

comparison rankings: total 71; female 71; male 70

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

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

major-language sample(s): Het Wereld Feitenboek, een onmisbare bron van informatie. (Dutch)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

note: Frisian, Low Saxon, Limburgish, Romani, and Yiddish have protected status; Dutch is the official language of the three special municipalities of the Caribbean Netherlands; English is a recognized regional language on Sint Eustatius and Saba; Papiamento is a recognized regional language on Bonaire

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.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 15.2% (male 1,384,142/female 1,312,455)

15-64 years: 64.1% (male 5,750,034/female 5,640,691)

65 years and over: 20.7% (2024 est.) (male 1,709,924/female 1,975,132)

2024 population pyramid:

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 56 (2024 est.)

youth dependency ratio: 23.7 (2024 est.)

elderly dependency ratio: 32.4 (2024 est.)

potential support ratio: 3.1 (2024 est.)

Median age

total: 42.2 years (2024 est.)

male: 40.9 years

female: 43.5 years

comparison ranking: total 44

Population growth rate

0.39% (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 160

Birth rate

10.6 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 175

Death rate

9.7 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 38

Net migration rate

3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 37

Population distribution

Urbanization

urban population: 93.2% of total population (2023)

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

Major urban areas – population

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

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female

total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Mother’s mean age at first birth

30.2 years (2020 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio

4 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: 176

Infant mortality rate

total: 3.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

male: 3.9 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 3.3 deaths/1,000 live births

comparison ranking: total 194

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 81.9 years (2024 est.)

male: 80.3 years

female: 83.5 years

comparison ranking: total population 39

Total fertility rate

1.61 children born/woman (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 180

Gross reproduction rate

0.78 (2024 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

note: percent of women aged 18-45

Drinking water source

improved:

urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)

rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)

total: 100% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved:

urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)

rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)

total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Health expenditure

11.3% of GDP (2021)

15.9% of national budget (2022 est.)

Physician density

3.88 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Hospital bed density

2.9 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Sanitation facility access

Obesity – adult prevalence rate

20.4% (2016)

comparison ranking: 99

Alcohol consumption per capita

total: 8.23 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

beer: 3.95 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine: 2.92 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits: 1.36 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

comparison ranking: total 40

Tobacco use

total: 18.7% (2025 est.)

male: 21% (2025 est.)

female: 16.4% (2025 est.)

comparison ranking: total 77

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

53.7% (2023 est.)

Education expenditure

5.1% of GDP (2022 est.)

11.6% national budget (2022 est.)

comparison ranking: Education expenditure (% GDP) 58

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 19 years (2021 est.)

male: 18 years (2021 est.)

female: 19 years (2021 est.)

Environment

Environmental issues

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

International environmental agreements

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Climate

temperate; marine; cool summers and mild winters

Land use

Urbanization

urban population: 93.2% of total population (2023)

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

Carbon dioxide emissions

188.191 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from coal and metallurgical coke: 23.701 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids: 112.037 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from consumed natural gas: 52.454 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: total emissions 33

Particulate matter emissions

10 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually: 8.855 million tons (2015 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually: 2,179,216 tons (2015 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 24.6% (2015 est.)

Total water withdrawal

municipal: 2.05 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial: 5.94 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

agricultural: 31 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

Total renewable water resources

91 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Geoparks

total global geoparks and regional networks: 2 (2024)

global geoparks and regional networks: De Hondsrug; Schelde Delta (includes Belgium) (2024)

Government

Country name

conventional long form: Kingdom of the Netherlands

conventional short form: Netherlands

local long form: Koninkrijk der Nederlanden

local short form: Nederland

abbreviation: NL

etymology: the English name is derived from the country’s Dutch name, which means “the lowlands” and describes the geographic area; only about half the Netherlands is more than 1 meter (3.3 ft) above sea level

Government type

parliamentary constitutional monarchy; part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

Capital

name: Amsterdam

geographic coordinates: 52 21 N, 4 55 E

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

daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

time zone note: time descriptions apply to the continental Netherlands only, for the constituent countries in the Caribbean, the time difference is UTC-4

etymology: the name is derived from the Dutch name of the local river, the Amstel, and the Dutch word dam, which has the same meaning in English; the river name is said to derive from the Germanic words ama (current) and stelle (place)

note: The Hague is the seat of government

Administrative divisions

12 provinces (provincies, singular – provincie), 3 public entities* (openbare lichamen, singular – openbaar lichaam (Dutch); entidatnan publiko, singular – entidat publiko (Papiamento)); Bonaire*, Drenthe, Flevoland, Fryslan (Friesland), Gelderland, Groningen, Limburg, Noord-Brabant (North Brabant), Noord-Holland (North Holland), Overijssel, Saba*, Sint Eustatius*, Utrecht, Zeeland (Zealand), Zuid-Holland (South Holland)

note 1: the Netherlands is one of four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; the other three, Aruba, Curacao, and Sint Maarten, are Caribbean islands; all four are considered equal partners, but the Netherlands makes up about 98% of the Kingdom’s total land area and population and administers most of the Kingdom’s affairs

note 2: although Bonaire, Saba, and Sint Eustatius are officially incorporated into the country of the Netherlands under the broad designation of “public entities,” Dutch government sources often call them “special municipalities;” Bonaire, Saba, and Sint Eustatius are collectively referred to as the Caribbean Netherlands

Legal system

civil law system based on the French system; constitution does not permit judicial review of acts of the States General

Constitution

history: many previous to adoption of the “Basic Law of the Kingdom of the Netherlands” on 24 August 1815; revised 8 times, the latest in 1983

amendment process: proposed as an Act of Parliament by or on behalf of the king or by the Second Chamber of the States General; the Second Chamber is dissolved after its first reading of the Act; passage requires a second reading by both the First Chamber and the newly elected Second Chamber, followed by at least two-thirds majority vote of both chambers, and ratification by the king

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no

citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of the Netherlands

dual citizenship recognized: no

residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state: King WILLEM-ALEXANDER (since 30 April 2013)

head of government: Caretaker Prime Minister Dick SCHOOF (since 3 June 2025)

cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch

election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; following Second Chamber elections, the monarch usually appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as prime minister; deputy prime ministers are also appointed by the monarch

note: Prime Minister Dick SCHOOF resigned on 3 June 2025 after a party withdrew from his governing coalition, but he will continue in a caretaker capacity until new elections are held, probably in the fall of 2025

Legislative branch

legislature name: States General (Staten-Generaal)

legislative structure: bicameral

Legislative branch – lower chamber

chamber name: House of Representatives (Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal)

number of seats: 150 (all directly elected)

electoral system: proportional representation

scope of elections: full renewal

term in office: 4 years

most recent election date: 11/22/2023

parties elected and seats per party: Party for Freedom (PVV) (37); Labour Party (PvdA) (25); People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) (24); New Social Contract (NSC) (20); Democrats 66 (D66) (9); Other (35)

percentage of women in chamber: 39.3%

expected date of next election: October 2025

Legislative branch – upper chamber

chamber name: Senate (Eerste Kamer der Staten-Generaal)

number of seats: 75 (all indirectly elected)

scope of elections: full renewal

term in office: 4 years

most recent election date: 5/30/2023

percentage of women in chamber: 40%

expected date of next election: May 2027

Judicial branch

highest court(s): Supreme Court or Hoge Raad (consists of 41 judges: the president, 6 vice presidents, 31 justices, and 3 justices in exceptional service); the court is divided into criminal, civil, tax, and ombuds chambers

judge selection and term of office: justices appointed by the monarch from a list provided by the House of Representatives of the States General; justices appointed for life or until mandatory retirement at age 70

subordinate courts: courts of appeal; district courts, each with up to 5 subdistrict courts; Netherlands Commercial Court

Political parties

Christian Democratic Appeal or CDA
Christian Union or CU
Correct Answer 2021 or JA21
Democrats 66 or D66
Denk
Farmer-Citizen Movement or BBB
50Plus
Forum for Democracy or FvD
Green Left (GroenLinks) or GL
Labor Party or PvdA
New Social Contract or NSC
Party for Freedom or PVV
Party for the Animals or PvdD
People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy or VVD
Reformed Political Party or SGP
Socialist Party or SP
Together or BIJ1
Volt Netherlands or Volt

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Birgitta TAZELAAR (since 15 September 2023)

chancery: 4200 Linnean Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: [1] (202) 244-5300

FAX: [1] (202) 362-3430

email address and website:
[email protected]

https://www.netherlandsworldwide.nl/countries/united-states/about-us/embassy-in-washington-dc

consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Miami, New York, San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Marcus MICHELI (since January 2025)

embassy: John Adams Park 1, 2244 BZ Wassenaar

mailing address: 5780 Amsterdam Place, Washington DC 20521-5780

telephone: [31] (70) 310-2209

FAX: [31] (70) 310-2207

email address and website:
[email protected]

https://nl.usembassy.gov/

consulate(s) general: Amsterdam

International organization participation

ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council (observer), Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CBSS (observer), CD, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EITI (implementing country), EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, Schengen Convention, SELEC (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNMISS, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UN Security Council (temporary), UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Independence

26 July 1581

note: the northern provinces of the Low Countries formally declared their independence with an Act of Abjuration in 1581, but, it was not until 30 January 1648 and the Peace of Westphalia that Spain recognized this independence

National holiday

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

note: observed on the ruling monarch’s birthday; celebrated on 26 April if 27 April is a Sunday

Flag description

three equal horizontal bands of bright red (top), white, and cobalt blue; similar to the flag of Luxembourg, which uses a lighter blue and is longer; the colors come from WILLIAM I, Prince of Orange; originally the upper band was orange, but the dye would turn red over time, and red was eventually made the permanent color

National symbol(s)

lion, daisy

National color(s)

orange

National anthem(s)

title: “Het Wilhelmus” (The William)

lyrics/music: Philips VAN MARNIX van Sint Aldegonde (presumed)/unknown

history: adopted 1932, in use since the 17th century

National heritage

total World Heritage Sites: 13 (12 cultural, 1 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Schokland and Surroundings (c); Dutch Water Defense Lines (c); Van Nellefabriek (c); Mill Network at Kinderdijk-Elshout (c); Droogmakerij de Beemster (Beemster Polder) (c); Rietveld Schröderhuis (Rietveld Schröder House) (c); Wadden Sea (n); Seventeenth Century Canal Ring Area of Amsterdam inside the Singelgracht (c); Colonies of Benevolence (c); Frontiers of the Roman Empire – The Lower German Limes (c)

note: includes one site in Curacao

Economy

Economic 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

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

$1.276 trillion (2024 est.)
$1.263 trillion (2023 est.)
$1.263 trillion (2022 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

comparison ranking: 28

Real GDP growth rate

1% (2024 est.)
0.1% (2023 est.)
5% (2022 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

comparison ranking: 175

Real GDP per capita

$70,900 (2024 est.)
$70,700 (2023 est.)
$71,300 (2022 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

comparison ranking: 17

GDP (official exchange rate)

$1.228 trillion (2024 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3.3% (2024 est.)
3.8% (2023 est.)
10% (2022 est.)

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

comparison ranking: 107

GDP – composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 1.7% (2024 est.)

industry: 17.9% (2024 est.)

services: 70.3% (2024 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

comparison rankings: services 34; industry 144; agriculture 158

GDP – composition, by end use

household consumption: 42.1% (2023 est.)

government consumption: 24.5% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 20.1% (2023 est.)

investment in inventories: -0.1% (2023 est.)

exports of goods and services: 88.5% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services: -77.4% (2023 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Agricultural products

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

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Industries

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

Industrial production growth rate

-1.5% (2024 est.)

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

comparison ranking: 155

Labor force

10.315 million (2024 est.)

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

comparison ranking: 54

Unemployment rate

3.6% (2024 est.)
3.6% (2023 est.)
3.6% (2022 est.)

note: % of labor force seeking employment

comparison ranking: 60

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 8.2% (2024 est.)

male: 8.4% (2024 est.)

female: 7.9% (2024 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

comparison ranking: total 137

Population below poverty line

14.5% (2021 est.)

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Gini Index coefficient – distribution of family income

25.7 (2021 est.)

note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

comparison ranking: 151

Average household expenditures

on food: 11.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

on alcohol and tobacco: 3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 3.6% (2021 est.)

highest 10%: 21.4% (2021 est.)

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Remittances

0.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
0.4% of GDP (2023 est.)
0.4% of GDP (2022 est.)

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Budget

revenues: $399.616 billion (2022 est.)

expenditures: $398.696 billion (2022 est.)

note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Public debt

56.5% of GDP (2017 est.)

note: data cover general government debt and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment, debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions

comparison ranking: 85

Taxes and other revenues

24.8% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

comparison ranking: 18

Current account balance

$121.825 billion (2024 est.)
$113.676 billion (2023 est.)
$69.676 billion (2022 est.)

note: balance of payments – net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

comparison ranking: 4

Exports

$1.032 trillion (2024 est.)
$1.022 trillion (2023 est.)
$1.007 trillion (2022 est.)

note: balance of payments – exports of goods and services in current dollars

comparison ranking: 6

Exports – partners

Germany 16%, Belgium 15%, France 11%, Italy 6%, USA 6% (2023)

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Exports – commodities

refined petroleum, vaccines, machinery, crude petroleum, broadcasting equipment (2023)

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports

$884.154 billion (2024 est.)
$893.132 billion (2023 est.)
$915.294 billion (2022 est.)

note: balance of payments – imports of goods and services in current dollars

comparison ranking: 8

Imports – partners

Germany 16%, Belgium 10%, China 10%, USA 10%, UK 5% (2023)

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Imports – commodities

crude petroleum, refined petroleum, broadcasting equipment, cars, natural gas (2023)

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$79.129 billion (2024 est.)
$69.83 billion (2023 est.)
$63.353 billion (2022 est.)

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

comparison ranking: 35

Exchange rates

euros (EUR) per US dollar –

Exchange rates:
0.924 (2024 est.)
0.925 (2023 est.)
0.95 (2022 est.)
0.845 (2021 est.)
0.876 (2020 est.)

Energy

Electricity access

electrification – total population: 100% (2022 est.)

Electricity

installed generating capacity: 59.982 million kW (2023 est.)

consumption: 108.141 billion kWh (2023 est.)

exports: 25.206 billion kWh (2023 est.)

imports: 19.547 billion kWh (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses: 4.936 billion kWh (2023 est.)

comparison rankings: transmission/distribution losses 162; imports 13; exports 9; consumption 32; installed generating capacity 25

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels: 46.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

nuclear: 3.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar: 17.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

wind: 24.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectricity: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

biomass and waste: 8.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Nuclear energy

Number of operational nuclear reactors: 1 (2025)

Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 0.48GW (2025 est.)

Percent of total electricity production: 3.2% (2023 est.)

Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down: 1 (2025)

Coal

production: 1.761 million metric tons (2023 est.)

consumption: 12.796 million metric tons (2023 est.)

exports: 13.586 million metric tons (2023 est.)

imports: 24.663 million metric tons (2023 est.)

proven reserves: 3.247 billion metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum

total petroleum production: 70,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

refined petroleum consumption: 840,000 bbl/day (2024 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves: 137.747 million barrels (2021 est.)

Natural gas

production: 11.788 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

consumption: 31.288 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

exports: 45.129 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

imports: 66.783 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

proven reserves: 132.608 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

185.536 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: 20

Communications

Telephones – fixed lines

total subscriptions: 4.262 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 24 (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: total subscriptions 31

Telephones – mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 21.2 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 118 (2022 est.)

comparison ranking: total subscriptions 61

Broadcast media

more than 90% of households are connected to cable or satellite TV systems with a wide range of domestic and foreign channels; public service broadcast system includes multiple broadcasters, 3 with a national reach and the remainder in regional and local markets; 2 nationwide commercial TV companies, each with 3 or more stations, and many commercial TV stations in regional and local markets; nearly 600 radio stations with a mix of public and private stations

Internet country code

.nl

Internet users

percent of population: 97% (2023 est.)

Broadband – fixed subscriptions

total: 7.83 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 43 (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: total 29

Transportation

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports

44 (2025)

note: Includes 3 airports in Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba

comparison ranking: 97

Heliports

194 (2025)

comparison ranking: 15

Railways

total: 3,055 km (2020) 2,310 km electrified

Merchant marine

total: 1,187 (2023)

by type: bulk carrier 11, container ship 36, general cargo 521, oil tanker 27, other 592

comparison ranking: total 21

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

Military and Security

Military and security forces

Netherlands (Dutch) Armed Forces (Nederlandse Krijgsmacht): Royal Netherlands Army, Royal Netherlands Navy (includes Marine Corps), Royal Netherlands Air Force, Royal Netherlands Marechaussee (Military Constabulary) (2025)

note 1: the Netherlands Coast Guard and the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard are civilian in nature but managed by the Royal Netherlands Navy

note 2: the core missions of the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee are border security, security and surveillance, and international and military police tasks; it has 21 brigades based in eight Dutch provinces, plus Curaçao in the Caribbean, a special missions security brigade, and separate security platoons to guard and protect domestic sites that are most likely to be the targets of attacks, such as government buildings

note 3: the Netherlands (or National) Police maintain internal security and report to the Ministry of Justice and Security, which oversees law enforcement organizations, as do the justice ministries in Aruba, Curacao, and Sint Maarten

Military expenditures

2.1% of GDP (2024 est.)
1.6% of GDP (2023)
1.5% of GDP (2022)
1.4% of GDP (2021)
1.4% of GDP (2020)

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 51,000 active-duty Armed Forces (22,000 Army; 9,000 Navy/Marines; 8,000 Air Force; 7,000 Constabulary; 5,000 other) (2025)

note: the total figures include both professional military and reservists on active duty

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the military’s inventory consists of a mix of domestically produced and modern European- and US-sourced equipment; the Netherlands has an advanced domestic defense industry that focuses on armored vehicles, naval ships, and air defense systems; it also participates with the US and other European countries on joint development and production of advanced weapons systems (2025)

Military service age and obligation

17 years of age for voluntary service for men and women; the military is an all-volunteer force; conscription remains in place, but the requirement to show up for compulsory military service was suspended in 1997; must be a citizen of the Netherlands (2024)

note: in 2023, women made up about 14% of the military’s full-time personnel

Military deployments

350 Lithuania (NATO); 150 Romania (NATO); approximately 800 deployed to Dutch territories in the Caribbean (2025)

note: the Netherlands contributes naval assets to support freedom of the sea missions in such places as the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz; it also assists with monitoring the airspace of the eastern flank of NATO territory by means of fighter aircraft and provides some ground personnel to a variety of other NATO, UN, and EU security missions

Military – note

the Dutch military is charged with the three core tasks of defending the country’s national territory and that of its allies, enforcing the national and international rule of law, and providing assistance during disasters and other crises; it also has some domestic security duties, including in the Dutch Caribbean territories; the military operates globally but rarely carries out its operations independently, focusing instead on working through NATO and bilaterally with regional partners; it has particularly close ties with Belgium, Denmark, Germany, and the UK, including some combined military units and staffs

the Netherlands has been a member of NATO since its founding in 1949, and the Dutch military is involved in NATO missions and operations with air, ground, and naval forces, including air policing missions over the Benelux countries and Eastern Europe, NATO’s Enhanced Forward Presence initiative in the Baltic States and Eastern Europe, and several NATO naval flotillas, as well as standby units for NATO’s rapid response force; the military has previously deployed forces to NATO-led operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Kosovo and also contributes to EU- and UN-led missions; Royal Netherlands Marechaussee detachments have been included in international police units deployed by NATO (2025)

Space

Space agency/agencies

Netherlands Space Office (NSO; established 2009); Netherlands Institute for Space Research (SRON; advises NSO on scientific space research; established 1983) (2024)

Space program overview

has an active space program focused on the added value of space on science, the economy, and society, as well as the development of cutting edge space technologies and services based on satellite data; builds and operates satellites; researches and develops technologies related to astrophysics, telecommunications, remote sensing (RS), propulsion systems, atmospheric measuring instruments (such as spectrometers), planetary/exoplanetary research, and robotics; active member of the European Space Agency (ESA) and participates in the construction of ESA satellite launch vehicles (Arienne and VEGA) and in the ESA astronaut training program; participates in international space programs and with other foreign space agencies and industries, including those of Japan, the US, and members of the EU; has a robust commercial space sector tied in to the larger European space economy (2024)

note: further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in the Space Programs reference guide

Terrorism

Terrorist group(s)

Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)

note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide