Netherlands, also known unofficially as Holland, constitutional monarchy of north-western Europe, bordered on the north and west by the North Sea, on the east by Germany, and on the south by Belgium. With Belgium and Luxembourg, the Netherlands forms the Low Countries or Benelux. The Netherlands Antilles and Aruba, self-governing island territories in the Caribbean, are part of the kingdom. The Netherlands has a total area of 41,526 sq km (16,033 sq mi), of which 33,939 sq km (13,104 sq mi) is land surface and some 6,500 sq km (2,500 sq mi) is reclaimed land, or polder. The nation's capital and largest city is Amsterdam.

Population
        15,451,000
        (1995 estimate)
Population Density
        455 people/sq km
        (1,179 people/sq mi)
        (1995 estimate)
Urban/Rural Breakdown
        90%Urban
        10%Rural
Largest Cities
        Amsterdam724,096
        Rotterdam598,521
        The Hague445,279
        Utrecht234,106
        (1994 estimates)
Largest Metropolitan Areas
        Amsterdam1,101,407
        Rotterdam1,078,747
        The Hague694,249
        (1995 estimates)
Ethnic Groups
        95%Dutch
        5%Other
        including Asians, Moroccans, and Turks
Languages
Official Language
        Dutch
Other Languages
        Frisian, minority languages
Religions
        39%No Affiliation
        30%Roman Catholicism
        20%Protestantism (including 
        13% Dutch Reformed
        11% Other