Netherlands - Government
Based on the etymolgy of Netherlands, it was the country name literally means "the lowlands" and refers to the geographic features of the land being both flat and down river from higher areas (i.e., at the estuaries of the Scheldt, Meuse, and Rhine Rivers; only about half of the Netherlands is more than 1 meter 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, tulip; national color: orange.

The flag
The National flag of Netherlands has three equal horizontal bands of red (bright vermilion; top), white, and blue (cobalt); similar to the flag of Luxembourg, which uses a lighter blue and is longer; the colors were derived from those of WILLIAM I, Prince of Orange, who led the Dutch Revolt against Spanish sovereignty in the latter half of the 16th century; originally the upper band was orange, but because its dye tended to turn red over time, the red shade was eventually made the permanent color; the banner is perhaps the oldest tricolor in continuous use.
The National Anthem
Title "Het Wilhelmus" (The William)
Lyric/music Philips VAN MARNIX van Sint Aldegonde (presumed)/unknown
More about the government of Netherlands
Date of Independence 26 July 1581 (the northern provinces of the Low Countries 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)
National holiday King's Day (birthday of King WILLEM-ALEXANDER), 27 April (1967); note - King's or Queen's Day is observed on the ruling monarch's birthday; currently celebrated on 26 April if 27 April is a Sunday
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
Amendments 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; amended many times, last in 2023
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 Prime Minister Dick SCHOOF (since 2 July 2024)
Cabinet Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch
Elections/appointments the monarchy is hereditary; following Second Chamber elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the monarch; deputy prime ministers are appointed by the monarch
Legislative branch
Description Bicameral States General or Staten Generaal consists of:
Senate or Eerste Kamer (75 seats; members indirectly elected by the country's 12 provincial council members by proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms)
House of Representatives or Tweede Kamer (150 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by open-list proportional representation vote to serve up to 4-year terms)
Elections Senate - last held on 30 May 2023 (next to be held in May 2027)
House of Representatives - last held on 22 November 2023 (next to be held on 30 November 2027)
Election results Senate - percent of vote by party - BBB 21.3%, VVD 13.3%, GL 9.3%, PvdA 9.3%, CDA 8.0%, D66 6.7%, PVV 5.3%, SP 4%, CU 4%, PvdD 4%, JA21 4%, Volt 2.7%, SGP 2.7%,  FvD 2.7%, other 2.6%; seats by party - BBB 16, VVD 10, GL 7, PvdA 7, CDA 6, D66 5, PVV 4, SP 3, CU 3, PvdD 3, JA21 3, Volt 2, SGP 2, FvD 2 other 2; composition - men 45, women 30, percentage women 40%

House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - PVV 23.6%, GL/PvdA 15.5%, VVD 15.2%, NSC 12.8%, D66 6.2%, BBB 4.7%, CDA 3.3%, SP 3.1%, Denk 2.4%, FvD 2.2%, PvdD 2.3%, CU 2.1%, SGP 2.2%, other 6.4%; seats by party - PVV 37, GL/PvdA 25, VVD 24, NSC 20, D66 9, BBB 7, CDA 5, SP 5, Denk 3, PvdD 3, CU 3, FvD 3, SGP 3, other 6; composition - men 91, women 58, percentage women 38.7%; total States General percentage women 39.3%
Judicial branch
Highest court(s) Supreme Court or Hoge Raad (consists of 41 judges: the president, 6 vice presidents, 31 justices or raadsheren, and 3 justices in exceptional service, referred to as buitengewone dienst); 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 Shefali RAZDAN DUGGAL (since 19 October 2022)
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); note - includes one site in Curacao
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)
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    • All Important Facts about Netherlands

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

    Netherlands is found in Western Europe