![]() Its mixed-market advanced economy had the eleventh-highest per capita income globally. The Netherlands allowed women's suffrage in 1919 and was the first country to legalise same-sex marriage in 2001. The Netherlands abolished the death penalty in Civil Law in 1870, though it was not completely removed until a new constitution was approved in 1983. The country has a tradition of pillarisation and a long record of social tolerance, having legalised abortion, prostitution and human euthanasia, along with maintaining a liberal drug policy. The Netherlands has been a parliamentary constitutional monarchy with a unitary structure since 1848. Nevertheless, it is the world's second-largest exporter of food and agricultural products by value, owing to its fertile soil, mild climate, intensive agriculture, and inventiveness. With a population of 17.6 million people, all living within a total area of roughly 41,800 km 2 (16,100 sq mi)-of which the land area is 33,500 km 2 (12,900 sq mi)-the Netherlands is the 16th most densely populated country in the world and the second-most densely populated country in the European Union, with a density of 526 people per square kilometre (1,360 people/sq mi). During this time, its trading companies, the Dutch East India Company and the Dutch West India Company, established colonies and trading posts all over the world. In the Republican period, which began in 1588, the Netherlands entered a unique era of political, economic, and cultural greatness, ranked among the most powerful and influential in Europe and the world this period is known as the Dutch Golden Age. Most of the areas below sea level, known as polders, are the result of land reclamation that began in the 14th century. Netherlands literally means "lower countries" in reference to its low elevation and flat topography, with only about 50% of its land exceeding 1 m (3.3 ft) above sea level, and nearly 26% falling below sea level. It hosts several intergovernmental organisations and international courts, many of which are centred in The Hague. The Netherlands is a founding member of the European Union, Eurozone, G10, NATO, OECD, and WTO, as well as a part of the Schengen Area and the trilateral Benelux Union. Schiphol is the busiest airport in the Netherlands, and the third busiest in Europe. The Port of Rotterdam is the busiest seaport in Europe. The Hague holds the seat of the States General, Cabinet and Supreme Court. Amsterdam is the country's most populous city and the nominal capital. The four largest cities in the Netherlands are Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague and Utrecht. Dutch, English and Papiamento are official in the Caribbean territories. Dutch Low Saxon and Limburgish are recognised regional languages, while Dutch Sign Language, Sinte Romani and Yiddish are recognised non-territorial languages. The country's official language is Dutch, with West Frisian as a secondary official language in the province of Friesland. It shares maritime borders with the United Kingdom, Germany and Belgium in the North Sea. The Netherlands consists of twelve provinces it borders Germany to the east, Belgium to the south, with a North Sea coastline to the north and west. It is the largest of four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The Netherlands ( Dutch: Nederland ( listen)), informally Holland, is a country located in Northwestern Europe with overseas territories in the Caribbean. Note: Even though the European Netherlands are located within the UTC☐ longitudes, the country adopted UTC+01:00 ( Central European Time) as its standard time under German occupation on 2 November 1942, with a +0:40:28 offset (+1:40:28 during DST) from Amsterdam’s LMT (UTC+0:19:32).
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