Location Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between Belgium and Germany

Geographic coordinates 52 30 N, 5 45 E

Map references Europe

Area
total: 41,526 sq km
water: 7,643 sq km
land: 33,883 sq km

Area - comparative slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey

Land boundaries
total: 1,027 km
border countries: Belgium 450 km, Germany 577 km

Coastline 451 km

Maritime claims
exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM

Climate temperate; marine; cool summers and mild winters

Terrain mostly coastal lowland and reclaimed land (polders); some hills in southeast

Elevation extremes
lowest point: Zuidplaspolder -7 m
highest point: Vaalserberg 322 m

Natural resources natural gas, petroleum, arable land

Land use
arable land: 27%
permanent crops: 1%
other: 72% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land 5,650 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards flooding

Environment - current issues water pollution in the form of heavy metals, organic compounds, and nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates; air pollution from vehicles and refining activities; acid rain

Environment - international agreements
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Geography - note located at mouths of three major European rivers (Rhine, Maas or Meuse, and Schelde)

NOTE: The information regarding Netherlands on this page is re-published from the 2002 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Netherlands Geography 2002 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Netherlands Geography 2002 should be addressed to the CIA.