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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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The Netherlands has also said it is sending a vessel carrying emergency supplies, while China has promised almost $15m in assistance.
From BBC • Jun. 29, 2026
And a pair of heavy hitters face off at 9 when Morocco takes on the Netherlands.
From Slate • Jun. 29, 2026
Tesla is currently trying to expand access to FSD in Europe after the Netherlands became the first in the European Union to approve its use.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 29, 2026
Last week, Germany joined France and the Netherlands in calling on the European Commission to tighten EU-wide rules on ultrafast fashion.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 29, 2026
Maria turned her sights on Amsterdam, the port city of the Netherlands and the center of science, art, and commerce for all of Europe.
From "The Girl Who Drew Butterflies: How Maria Merian's Art Changed Science" by Joyce Sidman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
