The Netherlands (Koninkrijk der Nederlanden) is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system, which includes the Caribbean islands of the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba. The country is bordered to the east by Germany and to the south by Belgium, to the north and west from the North Sea. The main cities are: Amsterdam, The Hague, Rotterdam, Utrecht, Hilversum, Haarlem and Groningen.

The country is mainly formed by low and flat lands, including the reclaimed polders and river deltas, make up about half of its surface area and is less than 1 metre above sea level, and much of it is actually below sea level. An extensive range of seawalls and coastal dunes protect the Netherlands from the sea, and levees and dikes along the rivers protect against flooding from rivers. The Vaalserberg is the country's highest point at 322.7 metres above sea level. The most important river in the country is the Rhine.