Netherlands
Americannoun
noun
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Also called: Holland. Dutch name: Nederland. a kingdom in NW Europe, on the North Sea: declared independence from Spain in 1581 as the United Provinces; became a major maritime and commercial power in the 17th century, gaining many overseas possessions; formed the Benelux customs union with Belgium and Luxembourg in 1948 and was a founder member of the Common Market, now the European Union. It is mostly flat and low-lying, with about 40 per cent of the land being below sea level, much of it on polders protected by dykes. Official language: Dutch. Religion: Christian majority, Protestant and Roman Catholic, large nonreligious minority. Currency: euro. Capital: Amsterdam, with the seat of government at The Hague. Pop: 16 805 037 (2013 est). Area: 41 526 sq km (16 033 sq miles)
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the kingdom of the Netherlands together with the Flemish-speaking part of Belgium, esp as ruled by Spain and Austria before 1581; the Low Countries
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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"These early quasars date back to the Universe's infancy," says Daming Yang of Leiden University in the Netherlands, lead author of the Euclid discovery paper.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 15, 2026
Researchers conducted the study between November 2021 and April 2026 across 24 medical centers in Switzerland, France, and the Netherlands.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 13, 2026
"We have been blindsided by a proposal that, in our view, jeopardises the stability of the Netherlands, our economic growth and our business climate," fumed Yesilgoz.
From Barron's ● Nov. 13, 2026
Dr van Bruchem says it's because euthanasia is legal in the Netherlands that her patients experience this anxiety.
From BBC ● Nov. 8, 2026
Petra’s dad told Petra something else stunning: A part of his family had lived for centuries in the Netherlands, in an area not far from Delft.
From "Chasing Vermeer" by Blue Balliett
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