Netherlands

[neth-er-luhndz]

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.

Netherlands

/ 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

Other Word Forms

• Netherlander noun
• Netherlandian adjective

Example Sentences

England could be in the ignominious position of having to go through a qualifier against the likes of Netherlands, Scotland and the USA.

From BBC

James had played a key role in getting England through the group stage - she scored twice in the 4-0 win over the Netherlands.

From BBC

In Europe, the UK, Ireland, and the Netherlands form the western storm-naming group.

From BBC

That in itself would have been a setback to Norris, who had arrived in the Netherlands after winning three of the past four races.

From BBC

In the Netherlands, for example, he has opted for two days of track action, taking in Saturday’s qualifying and Sunday's race.

From BBC