Netherlands

The Netherlands (Dutch: Nederland; IPA pronunciation: /"ne:d?rlant/) is the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands that is formed by the Netherlands, the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba.(Dutch: Koninkrijk der Nederlanden). The Netherlands is a parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarch, located in northwestern Europe. It borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east.

Provinces

The Netherlands is divided into twelve administrative regions, called provinces, each under a Governor, who is called Commissaris van de Koningin (Commissionair of the Queen).

Related Topics:
Provinces - Governor

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• Friesland - north west; capital Leeuwarden
• Groningen - north east; capital Groningen
• Drenthe - south of Groningen; capital Assen
• Overijssel - east central, south of Drenthe; capital Zwolle
• Flevoland - central, north of Utrecht; capital Lelystad
• Gelderland - east central, south of Overijssel; capital Arnhem
• Utrecht - central; capital Utrecht
• North Holland - (Noord-Holland) north west (including Amsterdam); capital Haarlem
• South Holland - (Zuid-Holland) west central, south of North Holland (including Rotterdam); capital The Hague (s-Gravenhage or Den Haag)
• Zeeland - south west; capital Middelburg
• North Brabant - (Noord-Brabant) south central; capital 's-Hertogenbosch (or Den Bosch)
• Limburg - south east; capital Maastricht.

All provinces are divided into municipalities (gemeenten), together 467; see Municipalities in the Netherlands, and also List of cities in the Netherlands by province.

Related Topics:
Municipalities - Municipalities in the Netherlands - List of cities in the Netherlands by province

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The country is also subdivided in water districts, governed by a water board (waterschap or hoogheemraadschap), each having authority in matters concerning water management. As of 1 January 2005 there are twenty seven. The creation of water boards actually predates that of the nation itself, the first appearing in 1196. In fact, the Dutch water boards are one of the oldest democratic entities in the world still in existence.

Related Topics:
1 January - 2005 - 1196

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See also: Ranked list of Dutch provinces.

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