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 country'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