Netherlands 🇳🇱

Flag of the Netherlands

The Netherlands is one of four countries making up the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The others are Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten, three West Indian island territories in the Caribbean.
The Netherlands is a founding member of the European Union, Eurozone, G10, NATO, OECD, and WTO.
- The Netherlands is one of the five founding states of the Schengen agreement, signed on 14 June 1985.
The Port of Rotterdam is the largest port in Europe and world’s largest port outside Asia
The world’s second biggest beer exporter, after Mexico

Area » 41,864 sq km (16,164 sq miles)
More than a quarter of its total area is under sea level
- 50% is less than one metre above sea level
Netherlands consists of twelve provinces
Netherlands is located in western Europe, bordered by the North Sea to west and north, Belgium to the south and Germany to the east.
The Netherlands maintains maritime borders with France and the United Kingdom.

The Netherlands is known to broadcast OTA ground traffic services that are accessible by properly equipped satellite navigation devices (Garmin)

Over tourism is a concern in Amsterdam (Pre-pandemic)
Stereotypically known for the colourful tulips, numerous windmills and delicious cheese
The Netherlands has given the world many of it’s most famous artists including:
- Rembrandt
- Vermeer
- Van Gogh
- Mondrian

As of 2019, it was estimated that there were approximately 22.9 million bicycles in the Netherlands, including some 2.4 million electric bikes.
The Netherlands has world-class cycling infrastructure, high bicycle modal shares, convenient inter-city modality, and riders of all stripes.
Amsterdam is one of the top bike-friendly cities in the world.
- Amsterdam has an ambitious plan that focuses on improving bicycle parking and existing bicycle infrastructure even further. With 11,000 new inhabitants every year, Amsterdam is creating new “royal routes” to accommodate more bicycles. To reduce stress during rush hour, they’re widening existing cycle tracks to more than eight feet, building more low-speed cycle streets, and redesigning major intersections to allow for more protected cycling space. (Wired)
Utrecht prioritizing cycling over driving, aiming to double bicycle commuting traffic by 2030.

#10 in Overall Rankings of world’s best countries (US News & World Report)
- #15 in Adventure (2021)
- #9 overall best country in 2020
- #11 overall best country in 2019

The National Coordinator for Security and Counterterrorism (NCTV) maintains a national terrorism threat level for the Netherlands.