Editing Netherlands (section)

==Government and politics==
{{Main|Politics of the Netherlands}}
{{multiple image
 | align             = right
 | direction         = horizontal
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 | image1            = Zijne Majesteit Koning Willem-Alexander met koningsmantel april 2013 (cropped).jpeg
 | width1            = 120
 | caption1          = [[Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands|Willem-Alexander]]<br />[[Monarchy of the Netherlands|King of the Netherlands]]<br />since 30 April 2013
 | image2            = Directeur-generaal_AIVD_Dick_Schoof_(cropped).jpg
 | width2            = 120
 | caption2          = [[Dick Schoof]]<br />[[Prime Minister of the Netherlands]]<br />since 2 July 2024
}}

The Netherlands has been a [[constitutional monarchy]] since 1815 and a [[parliamentary system|parliamentary democracy]] since 1848. The Netherlands is described as a [[consociational state]]. Dutch politics and governance are characterised by an effort to achieve broad consensus on important issues. The Netherlands was ranked as the 17th best electoral democracy in the world by [[V-Dem Democracy indices]] in 2023<ref name="vdem_dataset">{{cite journal |last1=Coppedge |first1=Michael |first2=John |last2=Gerring |first3=Carl Henrik |last3=Knutsen |first4=Staffan I. |last4=Lindberg |first5=Jan |last5=Teorell |first6=Nazifa |last6=Alizada |first7=David |last7=Altman |first8=Michael |last8=Bernhard |first9=Agnes |last9=Cornell |first10=M. Steven |last10=Fish |first11=Lisa |last11=Gastaldi |first12=Haakon |last12=Gjerløw |first13=Adam |last13=Glynn |first14=Allen |last14=Hicken |first15=Garry |last15=Hindle |first16=Nina |last16=Ilchenko |first17=Joshua |last17=Krusell |first18=Anna |last18=Lührmann |first19=Seraphine F. |last19=Maerz |first20=Kyle L. |last20=Marquardt |first21=Kelly |last21=McMann |first22=Valeriya |last22=Mechkova |first23=Juraj |last23=Medzihorsky |first24=Pamela |last24=Paxton |first25=Daniel |last25=Pemstein |first26=Josefine |last26=Pernes |first27=Johannes |last27=von Römer |first28=Brigitte |last28=Seim |first29=Rachel |last29=Sigman |first30=Svend-Erik |last30=Skaaning |first31=Jeffrey |last31=Staton |first32=Aksel |last32=Sundström |first33=Eitan |last33=Tzelgov |first34=Yi-ting |last34=Wang |first35=Tore |last35=Wig |first36=Steven |last36=Wilson |first37=Daniel |last37=Ziblatt |date=2021 |title=V-Dem [Country–Year/Country–Date] Dataset v11.1 |journal=Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) Project |doi=10.23696/vdemds21}}</ref> and 9th most democratic country in the world by the [[Democracy Index|Democracy Index (The Economist)]] in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023 |title=Democracy Index 2022: Frontline democracy and the battle for Ukraine |url=https://pages.eiu.com/rs/753-RIQ-438/images/DI-final-version-report.pdf |website=[[Economist Intelligence Unit]] |page=3 |language=en-GB}}</ref>

The [[Monarchy of the Netherlands|monarch]] is the [[head of state]], at present King [[Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands]]. Constitutionally, the position is equipped with limited powers due to ministerial responsibility.<!-- Commented out: "The monarch can exert some influence during the formation of a new cabinet, where they serve as neutral arbiter between the political parties." Information: The Dutch Lower House (Tweede Kamer) relieved the monarch of this role on 27 March 2012. -->

The [[Executive (government)|executive power]] is formed by the government that includes the monarch and the [[Council of Ministers (Netherlands)|Council of Ministers]], the deliberative organ of the [[Cabinet of the Netherlands|Dutch cabinet]]. The cabinet usually consists of 13 to 16 ministers and a varying number of [[State Secretary (Netherlands)|state secretaries]]. One to three ministers are [[Minister without portfolio|ministers without portfolio]]. The council of ministers is presided over by the [[Prime Minister of the Netherlands]], who often is the leader of the largest party of the coalition. The Prime Minister is a ''[[primus inter pares]]'', with no explicit powers beyond those of the other ministers. [[Dick Schoof]] has been Prime Minister since July 2024, succeeding the longest-serving Prime Minister [[Mark Rutte]].

[[File:Den Haag - panoramio - Nikolai Karaneschev.jpg|thumb|left|The [[Binnenhof]], where the lower and upper houses of the States General meet]]

The cabinet is [[Ministerial responsibility|responsible]] to the [[Bicameralism|bicameral]] parliament, the [[States General of the Netherlands|States General]], which also has [[Legislative|legislative powers]]. The 150 members of the [[House of Representatives (Netherlands)|House of Representatives]], the [[lower house]], are elected in [[direct election]]s on the basis of [[party-list proportional representation]]. These are held every four years, or sooner in case the cabinet falls. The provincial assemblies, the [[States-Provincial|States Provincial]], are directly elected every four years as well. The members of the provincial assemblies elect the 75 members of the [[Senate (Netherlands)|Senate]], the [[upper house]], which has the power to reject laws, but not amend them.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.government.nl/topics/parliament/senate-and-house-of-representatives|title=The House of Representatives and Senate – Parliament – Government.nl|first=Ministerie van Algemene|last=Zaken|date=12 October 2011|website=government.nl}}</ref>

===Political culture===
{{Main|Political parties of the Netherlands|Politics of the Netherlands}}

[[File:Red-light district of Amsterdam by day. 2012.JPG|thumb|[[De Wallen]], Amsterdam's red-light district, offers activities such as legal [[Prostitution in the Netherlands|prostitution]], symbolizing the Dutch political culture and tradition of tolerance.]]

Both trade unions and [[employers organisation]]s are consulted in policymaking in the financial, economic and social areas. They meet regularly with the government in the [[Social-Economic Council]].

The Netherlands has a tradition of [[Toleration|social tolerance]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Buruma|first=Ybo|date=2007|title=Dutch Tolerance: On Drugs, Prostitution, and Euthanasia|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/650185|journal=Crime and Justice|volume=35|issue=1|pages=73–113|doi=10.1086/650185|jstor=10.1086/650185|s2cid=144295342|issn=0192-3234}}</ref> In the late 19th century this Dutch tradition of religious tolerance transformed into a system of [[pillarisation]], in which religious groups coexisted separately and only interacted at the level of government.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Kaplan |first=Benjamin J. |url=https://brill.com/view/book/9789004353954/BP000009.xml |title="Dutch" Religious Tolerance: Celebration and Revision |date=5 September 2019 |publisher=Brill |isbn=978-90-04-35395-4 |language=en}}</ref> Protection for [[LGBT rights in the Netherlands|LGBT]] and abortion rights are enshrined within the Netherlands' foreign aid policy.<ref>{{cite web |title=Feminist foreign policy explained |date=18 November 2022 |url=https://www.government.nl/latest/news/2022/11/18/feminist-foreign-policy-netherlands |publisher=Government of the Netherlands |access-date=8 September 2023}}</ref>

No single party has held a majority in parliament since the 19th century, and as a result, [[coalition government|coalition cabinets]] had to be formed. Since [[Universal manhood suffrage|male suffrage]] became universal [[Pacification of 1917|in 1917]], the Dutch political system has been dominated by three families of political parties: [[Christian democracy|Christian Democrats]] (currently the [[Christian Democratic Appeal|CDA]]), [[Social democracy|Social Democrats]] (currently the [[Labour Party (Netherlands)|PvdA]]), and [[Liberalism in the Netherlands|Liberals]] (currently the [[People's Party for Freedom and Democracy|VVD]]). In November 2023, the right-wing populist [[Party for Freedom]] of [[Geert Wilders]] was the winner of [[2023 Dutch general election|a general election]], securing 37 out of 150 seats.<ref>{{Cite news |url = https://www.nu.nl/formatie-2023/6292138/verkiezingsuitslag-definitief-d66-grijpt-net-naast-tiende-zetel-pvv-blijft-op-37.html |date = 1 December 2023 |access-date = 3 July 2024 |language = nl |website = [[NU.nl]] |title = Verkiezingsuitslag definitief: D66 grijpt net naast tiende zetel, PVV blijft op 37 |trans-title = Final election results: D66 barely misses tenth seat, PVV stays at 37 }}</ref> [[Schoof cabinet|A cabinet]] was inaugurated in July 2024, and [[Dick Schoof]] succeeded [[Mark Rutte]] as [[Prime Minister of the Netherlands|prime minister]].<ref>{{Cite news |url = https://nos.nl/collectie/13962/artikel/2527025-ministers-en-staatssecretarissen-kabinet-schoof-beedigd |date = 2 July 2024 |access-date = 2 July 2024 |language = nl |website = [[Nederlandse Omroep Stichting|NOS]] |title = Ministers en staatssecretarissen kabinet-Schoof beëdigd |trans-title = Ministers and state secretaries of Schoof cabinet sworn in }}</ref>

=== Administrative divisions ===

[[File:Map provinces Netherlands-en.svg|thumb|upright=0.9|[[Provinces of the Netherlands|Provinces]] and [[Caribbean Netherlands#Administration|territories]] of the Netherlands]]

{{Main|Administrative divisions of the Netherlands|Public body (Netherlands)}}

The Netherlands is divided into twelve provinces, each under a [[King's Commissioner]]. All provinces are divided into [[Municipalities of the Netherlands|municipalities]] (''gemeenten''), of which there are 342 (2023).<ref name="CBS_code">{{cite web |url=https://www.cbs.nl/nl-nl/onze-diensten/methoden/classificaties/overig/gemeentelijke-indelingen-per-jaar/indeling-per-jaar/gemeentelijke-indeling-op-1-januari-2023 |title=Gemeentelijke indeling op 1 januari 2023 |trans-title=Municipalities on 1 January 2021 |language=nl |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |work=CBS Classifications |publisher=[[Statistics Netherlands|CBS]] |access-date=16 January 2023}}</ref>

The country is subdivided into 21 water districts, governed by a [[Water board (Netherlands)|water board]] (''waterschap'' or ''hoogheemraadschap''), each having authority in matters concerning water management.<ref name=WATER>{{cite web|url=http://www.uvw.nl/de-waterschappen.html |title=De waterschappen |language=nl |access-date=7 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103064157/http://www.uvw.nl/de-waterschappen.html |archive-date=3 November 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.waterschappen.nl/mijn-waterschap/ |title=Mijn waterschap |language=nl |access-date=6 May 2021}}</ref> The creation of water boards pre-dates that of the nation itself, the first appearing in 1196. The Dutch water boards are among the oldest democratic entities in the world still in existence. Direct elections of the water boards take place every four years.

Within the Dutch town of [[Baarle-Nassau]], are 22 Belgian [[Enclave and exclave|exclaves]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.exclave.eu/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4&Itemid=10|title=Baarle-Hertog and Baarle Nassau|website=Exclave.eu|access-date=21 November 2016}}</ref> and within those are 8 Dutch [[Enclave and exclave|enclaves]].
<!--As prose text is preferred overly detailed data charts and diagrams such as weather data boxes, population charts and past elections results etc should be reserved for main sub articles on the topic as per WP:DETAIL.--->

{| class="sortable wikitable" style="width:60em" {{right}}
|-
! style=width:8em | Province
! style=width:7em | Capital
! style=width:6em | Largest city
! Total area<br/>(km<sup>2</sup>)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.waarstaatjeprovincie.nl/Paginas/Ruimtelijke%20ordening/Oppervlakte.aspx |title=Oppervlakte |access-date=10 January 2020 |archive-date=4 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210504021427/https://www.waarstaatjeprovincie.nl/Paginas/Ruimtelijke%20ordening/Oppervlakte.aspx |url-status=dead}}</ref>
! Land area<br/>(km<sup>2</sup>)<ref name="NL data">{{cite web |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/netherlands/cities/ |title=Netherlands : Major Urban Centers |date=15 September 2022 |website=City Population |access-date=28 October 2023}}</ref>
! Population<br/>(2023)<ref name="NL data"/>
! Density<br/>(/km<sup>2</sup>)
|-
| {{left}} {{flag|Drenthe}} || colspan="2" | {{center| [[Assen]]}}
| 2,680 || 2,633 || 502,051 || 191
|-
| {{left}} {{flag|Flevoland}} || {{center| [[Lelystad]]}} || {{center| [[Almere]]}}
| 2,412 || 1,410 || 444,701 || 315
|-
| {{left}} {{flag|Friesland}} || colspan="2" | {{center| [[Leeuwarden]]}}
| 5,753 || 3,340 || 659,551 || 197
|-
| {{left}} {{flag|Gelderland}} || {{center| [[Arnhem]]}} || {{center| [[Nijmegen]]}}
| 5,136 || 4,960 || 2,133,708 || 430
|-
| {{left}} {{flag|Groningen}} || colspan="2" | {{center| [[Groningen (city)|Groningen]]}}
| 2,955 || 2,316 || 596,075 || 257
|-
| {{left}} {{flag|Limburg (Netherlands)|name=Limburg}} || colspan="2" | {{center| [[Maastricht]]}}
| 2,210 || 2,145 || 1,128,367 || 526
|-
| {{left}} {{flag|North Brabant }} || {{center| [['s-Hertogenbosch]]}} || {{center| [[Eindhoven]]}}
| 5,082 || 4,902 || 2,626,210 || 536
|-
| {{left}} {{flag|North Holland}} || {{center| [[Haarlem]]}} || {{center| [[Amsterdam]]}}
| 4,092 || 2,663 || 2,952,622 || 1,109
|-
| {{left}} {{flag|Overijssel}} || {{center| [[Zwolle]]}} || {{center| [[Enschede]]}}
| 3,421 || 3,317 || 1,184,333 || 357
|-
| {{left}} {{flag|South Holland}} || {{center| [[The Hague]]}} || {{center| [[Rotterdam]]}}
| 3,308 || 2,698 || 3,804,906 || 1,410
|-
| {{left}} {{flag|Utrecht}} || colspan="2" | {{center| [[Utrecht (city)|Utrecht]]}}
| 1,560 || 1,484 || 1,387,643 || 935
|-
| {{left}} {{flag|Zeeland}} || colspan="2" | {{center| [[Middelburg, Zeeland|Middelburg]]}}
| 2,933 || 1,780 || 391,124 || 220
|- class="sortbottom"
! colspan="3"| Mainland
! 41,543 || 33,647 || 17,811,291 || 529
|}

The administrative structure on the three BES islands, collectively known as the [[Caribbean Netherlands]], is outside the twelve provinces. These islands have the status of ''openbare lichamen ([[Public body (Netherlands)|public bodies]])''.<ref name=WOLBES>{{cite web|url=http://www.eerstekamer.nl/wetsvoorstel/31954_wet_openbare_lichamen|title=31.954, Wet openbare lichamen Bonaire, Sint Eustatius en Saba|language=nl|publisher=Eerste kamer der Staten-Generaal|quote=De openbare lichamen vallen rechtstreeks onder het Rijk omdat zij geen deel uitmaken van een provincie. <br />"Through the establishment of the BES islands as public bodies, rather than communities, the BES islands' rules may deviate from the rules in the European part of the Netherlands. The Dutch legislation will be introduced gradually. The public bodies fall directly under the central government because they are not part of a province."|access-date=15 October 2010}}</ref> In the Netherlands these administrative units are often referred to as ''special municipalities''.

{| class="sortable wikitable" {{right}}
|-
! Island
! Capital
! Area<br/>(km<sup>2</sup>)<ref name="BES">{{cite web |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/caribbeannetherlands/ |title=Caribbean Netherlands |date=23 July 2023 |website=City Population |access-date=28 October 2023}}</ref>
! Population<br/>(2023)<ref name="BES"/>
! Density<br/>(/km<sup>2</sup>)
|-
| {{left}} {{flag|Bonaire}} || {{center| [[Kralendijk]]}}
| 288 || 24,090 || 84
|-
| {{left}} {{flag|Saba}} || {{center| [[The Bottom]]}}
| 13 || 2,035 || 157
|-
| {{left}} {{flag|Sint Eustatius}} || {{center| [[Oranjestad, Sint Eustatius|Oranjestad]]}}
| 21 || 3,293 || 157

|- class="sortbottom"
! colspan="2" | Caribbean Netherlands
! 322 || 29,418 || 91
|}

===Foreign relations===
{{Main|Foreign relations of the Netherlands|List of diplomatic missions of the Netherlands}}
[[File:TheHague PeacePalace 016 5771.jpg|thumb|The [[Peace Palace]] (''Vredespaleis''), in [[The Hague]]]]
The history of [[foreign relations of the Netherlands|Dutch foreign policy]] has been characterized by its [[neutral state|neutrality]]. According to the 2024 [[Global Peace Index]], Netherlands is the 18th most peaceful country in the world.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2024 Global Peace Index |url=https://www.economicsandpeace.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/GPI-2024-web.pdf}}</ref> Since World War II, the Netherlands has become a member of a large number of international organisations, most prominently the UN, [[NATO]] and the EU.

The [[foreign policy]] of the Netherlands is based on four basic commitments: to [[atlanticism|Atlantic co-operation]], to [[European integration]], to [[international development]] and to [[international law]]. One of the more controversial international issues surrounding the Netherlands is its [[Drug policy of the Netherlands|liberal policy towards soft drugs]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Drug Kingpin Trial 'Ultimate Test' for Dutch Rule of Law |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/drug-kingpin-trial-ultimate-test-for-dutch-rule-of-law/6885306.html |access-date=18 July 2023 |agency=Agence France-Presse |publisher=VOA |date=21 December 2022}}</ref>

The historical ties inherited from its colonial past in [[Indonesia]] and [[Suriname]] still influence the foreign relations of the Netherlands. Many with heritage from these countries now live permanently in the Netherlands.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/suriname/|title=Suriname|date=6 December 2023|publisher=Central Intelligence Agency|via=CIA.gov}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://scholarhub.ui.ac.id/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1003&context=wacana|title=Indonesian political exiles in the Netherlands after 1965; Postcolonial nationalists in an era of transnationalism}}</ref>

===Military===
{{Main|Armed forces of the Netherlands}}
{{Multiple image
| direction         = vertical
| caption_align     = center
| image1            = HNLMS Holland.jpg
| caption1          = [[Holland-class offshore patrol vessel|''Holland''-class offshore patrol vessel]] of the [[Royal Netherlands Navy]]
| image2            = Aankomst F-35 Leeuwarden-4.jpg
| caption2          = [[F-35 Lightning II]] of the [[Royal Netherlands Air Force]]
}}
The Netherlands has one of the oldest standing armies in Europe; it was first established in the late 1500s. After the defeat of Napoleon, the Dutch army was transformed into a [[conscription]] army. The Netherlands abandoned its neutrality in 1948 when it signed the [[Treaty of Brussels]], and became a founding member of [[NATO]] in 1949. The Dutch military was therefore part of the NATO strength in [[Cold War]] Europe. In 1983 the (ceremonial) function of commander of chief of the monarch was transferred to the government, which means the monarch (nominal head of state) has no formal military function. In 1996 conscription was suspended, and the Dutch army was once again transformed into a professional army. Since the 1990s the Dutch army has been involved in the [[Bosnian War]] and the [[Kosovo War]], it held a province in [[Iraq]] after the defeat of [[Saddam Hussein]], and it was engaged in [[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|Afghanistan]].<ref name="Vol. 21, No. 3, 429–458">{{cite journal|last=Dimitriu|first=George|author2=de Graaf |title=The Dutch COIN Approach: Three years in Uruzgan|journal=Small Wars & Insurgencies|date=September 2010|volume=21|issue=3|pages=429–458|url=https://www.academia.edu/3091201|doi=10.1080/09592318.2010.505471|hdl=1887/16536|s2cid=144724148 |hdl-access=free}}</ref> The Netherlands has ratified many international conventions concerning [[International humanitarian law|war law]]. The Netherlands decided not to sign the UN [[treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Red Cross urges Netherlands to sign UN nuclear weapons ban |url=https://nltimes.nl/2019/02/11/red-cross-urges-netherlands-sign-un-nuclear-weapons-ban |work=NL Times |date=11 February 2019}}</ref>

The military is composed of four branches, all of which carry the prefix ''Koninklijke'' (Royal):
<!-- Pls do not change any of these from 'Royal Netherlands' to 'Dutch', the official name of ALL branches of the Army is Royal Netherlands-->
* ''Koninklijke Marine'' (KM), the [[Royal Netherlands Navy]], including the Naval Air Service and Marine Corps;
* ''Koninklijke Landmacht'' (KL), the [[Royal Netherlands Army]];
* ''Koninklijke Luchtmacht'' (KLu), the [[Royal Netherlands Air Force]];
* ''Koninklijke Marechaussee'' (KMar), the [[Royal Marechaussee]] (Military Police), tasks include military police and border control.

The submarine service opened to women on 1 January 2017. The [[Korps Commandotroepen]], the Special Operations Force of the Netherlands Army, is open to women, but because of the extremely high physical demands for initial training, it is almost impossible for a woman to become a commando.<ref>[http://www.korpscommandotroepen.nl/index.php?l=nl&p=118 KCT. Official website of the Dutch Commando Foundation] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110205094656/http://www.korpscommandotroepen.nl/index.php?l=nl&p=118 |date=5 February 2011}}. Korpscommandotroepen.nl (14 April 2010). Retrieved on 21 August 2012.</ref> The Dutch Ministry of Defence employs more than 70,000 personnel, including over 20,000 civilians and over 50,000 military personnel.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.defensie.nl/onderwerpen/werken_bij_defensie |title=Ministerie van defensie – Werken bij Defensie |publisher=Mindef.nl |access-date=29 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811142105/http://www.defensie.nl/onderwerpen/werken_bij_defensie |archive-date=11 August 2011}}</ref>