Geography of the Netherlands

The geography of the European Netherlands is quite special because much of its land has been taken from the sea and is below sea level, kept safe by strong walls called dikes. It is a small country with an area of 41,545 km² (16,041 sq mi), but it is very crowded with people. About 17.4 million people live there, making it the second most crowded place in the European Union after Malta. This means many people live close together, especially in a big area called the Randstad, which holds almost half of the country’s people even though it is only 20% of the land. Because of this, the Netherlands has many cities and towns where lots of people live and work.

Statistics

The Netherlands is a small country in Europe with a total area of 41,545 km² (16,041 sq mi). Much of its land has been reclaimed from the sea and is protected by dikes. It has a coastline of 451 km (280 mi) and shares land borders with Belgium and Germany.

The country's terrain is mostly low coastal land, including areas below sea level called polders, with some hills in the southeast. Its lowest point is Zuidplaspolder at −7 m (−23 ft) below sea level, and its highest point on the European mainland is Vaalserberg at 322.7 m (1,059 ft) above sea level. The Netherlands faces the natural hazard of flooding, which is managed by an extensive system of dikes, dams, and sand dunes.

Landscape

The Netherlands has two main types of land. The west and north are low and flat, with much of the land taken from the sea and called polders. These areas are often below sea level and protected by strong seawalls and dunes. The east and south have higher land with small hills, and the highest point in Europe is Vaalserberg at 322.7 metres above sea level. The highest point in the whole country is Mount Scenery on the island of Saba in the Caribbean.

The Netherlands lies where three large rivers meet: the Rhine, Maas, and Scheldt. In 2016, the Netherlands and Belgium agreed to exchange small pieces of land because the river Meuse changed its path. This change happened in 2018.

Urbanization

The Netherlands does not have one very large city, but its four biggest cities are found in the western areas, in North Holland, South Holland, and Utrecht. These cities are surrounded by a ring of smaller towns called the Randstad. About half of the country’s people live in this crowded area, which is only 20% of the land. In the middle of the Randstad is a greener space known as the Groene Hart, or Green Heart. Most of the rest of the country is more open and less crowded.

The biggest cities in the Netherlands, with their populations in 2019, are:

1. Amsterdam (North Holland) 872,680 inhabitants
2. Rotterdam (South Holland) 650,711
3. The Hague ('s-Gravenhage) (South Holland) 544,766
4. Utrecht (Utrecht) 357,179
5. Eindhoven (North Brabant) 234,235

Ecosystems per province

This table shows the different kinds of natural areas and how much space they take up in each part of the Netherlands in the year 2021. It breaks down the land into 10 types of ecosystems and looks at each province. The information comes from CBS.

Climate

The weather in the Netherlands is influenced by winds from the southwest, giving it a mild climate. This means the summers are warmly warm, and the winters are cool, with plenty of moisture in the air. Near the coast, temperatures don’t change much between summer and winter, or between day and night.

The country usually sees icy days — when the temperature drops below 0 °C (32 °F) — from December to February. Snow can fall from November to April, and sometimes even in May or October. Warm days, when temperatures rise above 20 °C (68 °F), happen from April to October. The sun shines for varying lengths, from about eight hours in December to nearly 17 hours in June.