Amsterdam is the capital. Government is in The Hague.
The Netherlands includes a European part and the Caribbean islands of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba. Together with Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten, it forms the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Amsterdam is the capital; the government and parliament work in The Hague.
The Netherlands or Holland?
People often use Holland to mean the whole country. Strictly speaking, it refers to North Holland and South Holland, two western provinces. The Netherlands is therefore larger than Holland.
The monarch, government and cabinet
The Netherlands is a constitutional monarchy and a parliamentary democracy. The monarch and ministers together form the government. The cabinet consists of ministers and state secretaries. Ministers are politically responsible for government decisions and answer to parliament.
Two chambers with different roles
The House of Representatives (Tweede Kamer) has 150 directly elected members. The Senate (Eerste Kamer) has 75 indirectly elected members. Both scrutinise government and consider bills. The House can amend a bill; the Senate can approve or reject it.
Decisions closer to home
Provinces work on matters such as nature conservation and regional planning. Municipalities provide local services, including registering your address. Water boards (waterschappen) manage regional water systems, water quality and flood protection. These public bodies each have their own responsibilities and representatives.
Meet the people behind the institutions
Staatskaart maps people, institutions and the connections between them. Explore the interactive map, follow a guided tour or check the sources. The map is available in 28 languages, helping you learn how Dutch democracy works in your own language.
Sources and datasets
Read the official sources for more detail. Dates and coverage are listed with the map records.
- Government.nl · The Kingdom of the Netherlands
- Holland.com · The Netherlands and Holland
- Government.nl · Constitution
- House of Representatives · How Parliament works
- Senate · Elections
- Government.nl · Public administration