The Netherlands
CulturalDiscover More
The sixteenth and seventeenth centuries also saw a flowering of Dutch painting by masters such as Rembrandt.
Half of the country lies below sea level. Much of this land has been reclaimed from the North Sea and is protected by dikes and irrigated by an intricate system of canals.
During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, The Netherlands established a powerful commercial and colonial empire. The Dutch Empire included the settlement of New Amsterdam, which later became New York, and the conquest of the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia).
During World War II, Germany invaded and occupied The Netherlands, exterminating most Dutch Jews (see also Jews). (See Anne Frank.)
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 international required surgery on the serious knee injury and missed the 2026 World Cup.
From BBC ● Jul. 25, 2026
The Netherlands haven’t lost a first-round knockout game since 2006.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 28, 2026
The Netherlands issued its first-ever red alert for heat, with temperatures forecast to reach 40C in some places.
From Barron's ● Jun. 26, 2026
The Netherlands were brilliant in a devastating first half - but Sweden created their fair share of chances as well.
From BBC ● Jun. 24, 2026
In spite of the war between France and The Netherlands, Huygens’s life was mostly without incident outside his scientific work.
From "The Scientists" by John Gribbin
![]()
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.