Three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue; similar to the flag of Luxembourg, which uses a lighter blue and is longer; one of the oldest flags in constant use, originating with William I, Prince of Orange, in the latter half of the 16th century.
12 provinces (provincien, singular - provincie): Drenthe, Flevoland, Friesland, Gelderland, Groningen, Limburg, Noord-Brabant, Noord-Holland, Overijssel, Utrecht, Zeeland, and Zuid-Holland.
Population:
16,067,754 (July 2002 est.)
Languages:
Dutch
Geographic coordinates:
52° 30' N, 5° 45' E
Area total:
41,526 sq. km
Land area:
33,883 sq. km
Water area:
7,643 sq. km
Total land boundaries:
1,027 km
Borders with neighbor countries:
Belgium 450 km, Germany 577 km
Coastline:
451 km
Elevation extremes:
Zuidplaspolder -7 m - Vaalserberg 322 m
Internet country code:
.nl
Currency:
euro (EUR)
Name - conventional long form:
Kingdom of the Netherlands
Name - conventional short form:
Netherlands
Name - local long form:
Koninkrijk der Nederlanden
Name - local short form:
Nederland
Independence:
1579 (from Spain) the northern provinces of the Low Country concluded the Union of Utrecht, but it was 1648 before Spain finally recognized their independence
Constitution:
adopted 1814, amended many times, last time 17 February 1983
Government type:
constitutional monarchy
Dependent areas:
Aruba, Netherlands Antilles
National holiday:
Queen's Day (Birthday of Queen-Mother JULIANA in 1909 and accession to the throne of her oldest daughter BEATRIX in 1980), 30 April