Netherlands flag information
Description flag of Netherlands
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
Related country flags
Related continent flag
Official country name
Kingdom of the Netherlands
Local names
Koninkrijk der Nederlanden (long)
Nederland (short)
Nationality
Dutchman(men), Dutchwoman(women) (noun) Nederland (adjective)
Languages spoken
Dutch (official), Frisian (official)
Government type
constitutional monarchy
Population
16,645,313 ranked 61, (data 2008)
Geography
located at mouths of three major European rivers (Rhine, Maas or Meuse, and Schelde). The lowest point is Zuidplaspolder -7 m.
Coastline
Coastline 451 km.
Land borders
1,027km, Belgium 450 km, Germany 577 km.
Administrative divisions
12 provinces (provincies, singular - provincie); Drenthe, Flevoland, Friesland (Fryslan), Gelderland, Groningen, Limburg, Noord-Brabant (North Brabant), Noord-Holland (North Holland), Overijssel, Utrecht, Zeeland (Zealand), Zuid-Holland (South Holland)
Dependent areas
Aruba, Netherlands Antilles
Independence
23 January 1579 (the northern provinces of the Low Countries conclude the Union of Utrecht breaking with Spain; on 26 July 1581 they formally declared their independence with an Act of Abjuration; however, it was not until 30 January 1648 and the Peace of Westphalia that Spain recognized this independence)