Netherlands Factsheet

Last update : June 2012

Demography

Population: 17.8 million

Population Density (inhabitant/km2): 424 (national average), 1,410 (province of South Holland - highest), 191 (province of Drenthe - lowest)

Largest Cities (pop. in million): Amsterdam (1.5 m), Rotterdam (1.1m), Utrecht (0.82 m), The Hague (0.60 m), Leiden (0.25 m)

Number of municipalities: 458

Home Ownership: 69% (2025)

Urban Population: 89%

Ethnic Composition: Caucasians (87%), Arabs (3.6%), East Asians (3%), Black Africans (2.5%), Others (2.5%)

Official Language: Dutch

Major Religions: Agnosticism, Atheism, Protestantism (Dutch Reformed, Calvinist), Roman Catholicism, Islam

Geography

Area: 41,526 sq km

Coastline: 451 km

Highest Peak: Vaalserberg (321m)

Lowest Elevation: Zuidplaspolder ( -7 m)

Economy

Monetary unit: Euro (€, EUR)

Fiscal Year: 1 January - 31 December

Main Industries: agroindustries, metal and engineering products, electronic machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum, construction, microelectronics, fishing

Main Exports: machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels; foodstuffs

Main Imports: machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, fuels, foodstuffs, clothing

Main Trading Partners: Germany, Belgium, France, UK, USA, China, Italy

Government

Type of Government: Constitutional Monarchy

Parliamentary System : bicameral Diet (First Chamber and Second Chamber)

Administrative Division : 12 provinces

Capital: Amsterdam (since 1806)

Miscellaneous

Time Zone: GMT/UTC +1

Electricity: 230V AC, 50Hz

Weights & measures: Metric

Internet domain: .nl

International dialling code: +31