Netherlands - Government
Based on the etymolgy of Netherlands, it was the English name is derived from the country's Dutch name, which means "the lowlands" and describes the geographic area; only about half the Netherlands is more than 1 meter (3.3 ft) above sea level. The Government system in this country is the parliamentary constitutional monarchy; part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands type and the different Administrative divisions includes: 12 provinces (provincies, singular - provincie), 3 public entities* (openbare lichamen, singular - openbaar lichaam (Dutch); entidatnan publiko, singular - entidat publiko (Papiamento)); Bonaire*, Drenthe, Flevoland, Fryslan (Friesland), Gelderland, Groningen, Limburg, Noord-Brabant (North Brabant), Noord-Holland (North Holland), Overijssel, Saba*, Sint Eustatius*, Utrecht, Zeeland (Zealand), Zuid-Holland (South Holland)
National symbols

Lion, daisy.

The flag
The National flag of Netherlands has .
The National Anthem
Title
Lyric/music
More about the government of Netherlands
Date of Independence 26 July 1581 
National holiday King's Day (birthday of King WILLEM-ALEXANDER), 27 April (1967)
Legal system civil law system based on the French system; constitution does not permit judicial review of acts of the States General
International law organization participation accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Constitution
History Many previous to adoption of the "Basic Law of the Kingdom of the Netherlands" on 24 August 1815; revised 8 times, the latest in 1983
Amendment process Proposed as an Act of Parliament by or on behalf of the king or by the Second Chamber of the States General; the Second Chamber is dissolved after its first reading of the Act; passage requires a second reading by both the First Chamber and the newly elected Second Chamber, followed by at least two-thirds majority vote of both chambers, and ratification by the king
Citizenship
Citizenship by birth no
Citizenship by descent only at least one parent must be a citizen of the Netherlands
Dual citizenship recognized no
Residency requirement for naturalization 5 years
Executive Branch
Chief of state King WILLEM-ALEXANDER (since 30 April 2013)
Head of government Caretaker Prime Minister Dick SCHOOF (since 3 June 2025)
Cabinet Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch
Election/appointment process the monarchy is hereditary; following Second Chamber elections, the monarch usually appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as prime minister; deputy prime ministers are also appointed by the monarch
Legislative branch
Legislature name States General (Staten-Generaal)
Legislative structure Bicameral
Judicial branch
Highest court(s) Supreme Court or Hoge Raad (consists of 41 judges: the president, 6 vice presidents, 31 justices, and 3 justices in exceptional service); the court is divided into criminal, civil, tax, and ombuds chambers
Judge selection and term of office Justices appointed by the monarch from a list provided by the House of Representatives of the States General; justices appointed for life or until mandatory retirement at age 70
Subordinate courts Courts of appeal; district courts, each with up to 5 subdistrict courts; Netherlands Commercial Court
Diplomatic representation in the US
Chief of mission Ambassador Birgitta TAZELAAR (since 15 September 2023)
Chancery 4200 Linnean Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Telephone [1] (202) 244-5300
FAX [1] (202) 362-3430
Email address and website
[email protected]

https://www.netherlandsworldwide.nl/countries/united-states/about-us/embassy-in-washington-dc
Consulate(s) general Atlanta, Chicago, Miami, New York, San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US
Chief of mission Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Marcus MICHELI (since January 2025)
Embassy John Adams Park 1, 2244 BZ Wassenaar
Mailing address 5780 Amsterdam Place, Washington DC  20521-5780
Telephone [31] (70) 310-2209
FAX [31] (70) 310-2207
Email address and website
[email protected]

https://nl.usembassy.gov/
Consulate(s) general Amsterdam
National heritage
Total World Heritage Sites 13 (12 cultural, 1 natural)
Selected World Heritage Site locales Schokland and Surroundings (c); Dutch Water Defense Lines (c); Van Nellefabriek (c); Mill Network at Kinderdijk-Elshout (c); Droogmakerij de Beemster (Beemster Polder) (c); Rietveld Schröderhuis (Rietveld Schröder House) (c); Wadden Sea (n); Seventeenth Century Canal Ring Area of Amsterdam inside the Singelgracht (c); Colonies of Benevolence (c); Frontiers of the Roman Empire - The Lower German Limes (c)
Key Political parties and their leaders in Netherlands
    • International organization participation
  • ADB (nonregional member)
  • AfDB (nonregional member)
  • Arctic Council (observer)
  • Australia Group
  • Benelux
  • BIS
  • CBSS (observer)
  • CD
  • CE
  • CERN
  • EAPC
  • EBRD
  • ECB
  • EIB
  • EITI (implementing country)
  • EMU
  • ESA
  • EU
  • FAO
  • FATF
  • G-10
  • IADB
  • IAEA
  • IBRD
  • ICAO
  • ICC (national committees)
  • ICCt
  • ICRM
  • IDA
  • IEA
  • IFAD
  • IFC
  • IFRCS
  • IGAD (partners)
  • IHO
  • ILO
  • IMF
  • IMO
  • IMSO
  • Interpol
  • IOC
  • IOM
  • IPU
  • ISO
  • ITSO
  • ITU
  • ITUC (NGOs)
  • MIGA
  • NATO
  • NEA
  • NSG
  • OAS (observer)
  • OECD
  • OPCW
  • OSCE
  • Pacific Alliance (observer)
  • Paris Club
  • PCA
  • Schengen Convention
  • SELEC (observer)
  • UN
  • UNCTAD
  • UNESCO
  • UNHCR
  • UNHRC
  • UNIDO
  • UNMISS
  • UNOOSA
  • UNRWA
  • UN Security Council (temporary)
  • UNTSO
  • UNWTO
  • UPU
  • Wassenaar Arrangement
  • WCO
  • WHO
  • WIPO
  • WMO
  • WTO
  • ZC
    • All Important Facts about Netherlands

    Want to know more about Netherlands? Check all different factbooks for Netherlands below.

    Netherlands is found in Western Europe