Geography Quiz Arcade

Capital of Netherlands: Amsterdam — Facts & 5-Question Quiz

The capital of Netherlands is Amsterdam. Netherlands sits in Europe, has a population of 17,564,014, and uses the EUR. Official languages include Dutch.

Quick facts

  • Capital: Amsterdam
  • Continent: Europe
  • Population: ~17,564,014
  • Area: 41,850 km²
  • Population density: 420 people per km²
  • Official language: Dutch
  • Currency: EUR
  • ISO code: NL

How big is Netherlands?

By population, Netherlands ranks 71st in the world, holding roughly 0.22% of all people on Earth. By land area it ranks 131st.

Those two numbers rarely match, and the gap between them is the interesting part. Netherlands has 420 people per square kilometre, which is about 7.1 times the world average of 59.4. It is more crowded than its size alone would suggest.

Within Europe, Netherlands is the 10th most populous country of 46.

Countries of a similar size

The two countries closest to Netherlands in population are Somalia (17,597,511) and Chad (17,723,315).

By land area, its closest counterparts are Switzerland (41,285 km²) and Denmark (43,094 km²).

Comparisons like these are worth more than raw figures when you are trying to remember them. A number on its own is hard to hold; a number next to a country you already have a feel for is much easier.

Language and currency

Dutch is spoken officially in 3 countries in this dataset, including Belgium and Suriname.

The EUR is not unique to Netherlands — it is also used by Andorra, Austria, Belgium and Croatia, and 21 others. Shared currencies usually mark a monetary union or a long-standing peg, and they are a useful shortcut in quizzes: get one country's currency and you often get several.

How to remember Netherlands

Amsterdam means 'dam in the Amstel', after the river it grew up around. It is the capital, but the government and the royal family are based in The Hague. For the flag, remember that the red stripe started out orange.

The flag of Netherlands: red, white and blue

🇳🇱 The flag is three horizontal stripes of red, white and blue. The colours come from William I, Prince of Orange. The top stripe was first orange, but the orange dye faded to red over time, so red became the permanent colour.

Region and neighbours

Netherlands is a low, flat country in northwestern Europe, on the coast of the North Sea. It shares land borders with 2 countries: Belgium and Germany.

Three facts about Netherlands

  1. The name Netherlands means 'lower countries', and about 26% of the country is below sea level.
  2. After a great flood in 1953, the Dutch built the Delta Works, a huge set of flood defences along the coast, which took more than 40 years to complete.
  3. About a quarter of all trips in the Netherlands are made by bicycle.

Sources: Wikipedia: Netherlands, Wikipedia: Flag of the Netherlands, Wikipedia: Amsterdam, CIA World Factbook.

Quiz yourself on Netherlands

Netherlands capital quiz

  1. What is the capital of Netherlands 🇳🇱?

    • Prague
    • Vilnius
    • Amsterdam
    • Warsaw
    Show answer

    Amsterdam

  2. What is the capital of Romania 🇷🇴?

    • Podgorica
    • Bucharest
    • Valletta
    • Andorra la Vella
    Show answer

    Bucharest

  3. What is the capital of Belgium 🇧🇪?

    • Brussels
    • Prague
    • ChiÈ™inău
    • Zagreb
    Show answer

    Brussels

  4. What is the capital of Sweden 🇸🇪?

    • Stockholm
    • Sarajevo
    • Andorra la Vella
    • Bucharest
    Show answer

    Stockholm

  5. What is the capital of Czechia 🇨🇿?

    • Reykjavík
    • Tallinn
    • Warsaw
    • Prague
    Show answer

    Prague

Netherlands capital quiz tip

Amsterdam is the capital under the constitution, but the government, parliament and the king's working palace are in The Hague. Quizzes that ask for the capital want Amsterdam.

Netherlands in Europe

The largest countries by population sharing this continent are Russia, Germany, United Kingdom and France.

If you are learning capitals region by region — far more effective than working alphabetically — Europe is the block Netherlands belongs to, and its neighbours are the ones worth learning alongside it.

Try the Country to Capital Quiz, or the harder reverse direction. There is also a full country profile for Netherlands.

Frequently asked questions

What is the capital of Netherlands?

The capital of Netherlands is Amsterdam.

Is The Hague the capital of the Netherlands?

No. Amsterdam is the capital; The Hague is the seat of government.

What is the population of Netherlands?

About 17,564,014, making it the 71st most populous country in the world.

How big is Netherlands?

41,850 square kilometres, ranking 131st by land area, at a density of 420 people per square kilometre.

What currency does Netherlands use?

The EUR, shared with 25 other countries.

What are the colours of the Netherlands flag?

The flag of Netherlands is three horizontal stripes of red, white and blue. The colours come from William I, Prince of Orange. The top stripe was first orange, but the orange dye faded to red over time, so red became the permanent colour.

Which countries border Netherlands?

Netherlands shares land borders with Belgium and Germany.

How can I remember the capital of Netherlands?

Amsterdam means 'dam in the Amstel', after the river it grew up around. It is the capital, but the government and the royal family are based in The Hague. For the flag, remember that the red stripe started out orange.

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