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🌍 Countries of the world 🏰 Europe

The Netherlands

Canals add to the beauty of Amsterdam and other Dutch cities. They're also used as waterways and help drain the country's low-lying areas.
Canals add to the beauty of Amsterdam and other Dutch cities. They're also used as waterways and help drain the country's low-lying areas.

📖 In short

The Netherlands is a small country in northwest Europe, on the North Sea. It's called “the Low Countries” because much of it is lower than sea level! Its capital is Amsterdam, and it's famous for windmills, tulips and bicycles.

🤩 Did you know?

  • The capital of the Netherlands is Amsterdam, and the government sits in The Hague.
  • Leiden University is the oldest in the Netherlands, founded in 1575.
  • The Dutch airline, founded in 1919, is one of the oldest airlines in the world.
  • The currency is the euro, and the language is Dutch.

🗂️ Fact file

The coat of arms, with the old symbols of the Dutch royal family; the sword and arrows stand for strength through unity.
The coat of arms, with the old symbols of the Dutch royal family; the sword and arrows stand for strength through unity.
The Dutch flag dates from about 1630; until then it had an orange stripe at the top instead of red.
The Dutch flag dates from about 1630; until then it had an orange stripe at the top instead of red.
Capital
Amsterdam.
Official language
Dutch.
Official name
The Netherlands
Currency
Guilder.
Area
41,526 km², including 7,587 km² of inland water.
Population
According to the 2000 estimate the population was 15,995,000; the 1991 census counted 15,010,445 people.

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🌟 A battle with the sea

The Dutch built long dykes and walls against the sea and pumped water off the land, creating new land where they live and farm.

🔍 Windmills

In the past windmills pumped water from the low land into canals and ground grain. Many are still standing, and they're lovely.

💡 Tulip fields

In spring millions of tulips bloom in Dutch fields, and the land looks like a carpet striped with red, yellow and purple.

🎯 Land of bicycles

There are more bikes than people in the Netherlands! Young and old cycle to school and work, and there are bike paths everywhere.

📸 More pictures

The polders (drained land) are the richest farmland in the Netherlands, and the canals that drain the water also irrigate the fertile soil. Tulips and other flowers are grown there to sell.
The polders (drained land) are the richest farmland in the Netherlands, and the canals that drain the water also irrigate the fertile soil. Tulips and other flowers are grown there to sell.
The parliament buildings in The Hague, home of the House of Representatives, the Dutch parliament.
The parliament buildings in The Hague, home of the House of Representatives, the Dutch parliament.
Map of the Netherlands
Map of the Netherlands

🧩 Test yourself

1 Why is the Netherlands called “the Low Countries”?

2 Which flower is the Netherlands famous for?

3 Which picture shows “The Netherlands”?

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