Netherlands

American  

[neth-er-luhndz] / ˈnɛð ər ləndz /

noun

1. (used with a singular or plural verb) the, a kingdom in W Europe, bordering on the North Sea, Germany, and Belgium. 13,433 sq. mi. (34,790 sq. km). Capitals: Amsterdam and The Hague.

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Netherlands British  

/ ˈnɛðələndz /

noun

1. 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)

2. 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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Other Word Forms

• Netherlander noun
• Netherlandian adjective

Compare meaning

How does netherlands compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• Germany vs. Netherlands
• Denmark vs. Netherlands

Example Sentences

In the south of the Netherlands, beside a wide estuary, a village of around 1,100 people is likely to disappear from the map.

From BBC • Apr. 12, 2026

Koman does not deny that the Netherlands needs more clean power, but questions why the burden should fall here.

From BBC • Apr. 12, 2026

Second only to Rotterdam in the Netherlands, the Antwerp port on Belgium's north coast is a key gateway for goods coming into Europe from the United States, China and elsewhere.

From Barron's • Apr. 10, 2026

Netherlands and France issued warnings to airlines that Jet A1, one of the most widely used types of jet fuel, was temporarily available in limited supply—or not at all.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

Like Helmholtz, he developed into a scientist with many interests, though he was known early in his career for ophthalmology and for establishing the first eye hospital in the Netherlands in 1858.

From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel