The Netherlands is a small country that covers an area of 41,450 km² (16,038 sq mi), 27% of which is below sea level. With a population of over 17 million, it's one of the most densely populated countries in Europe.

The country is a democratic kingdom in which power is shared by its ministers and parliament.

The country is divided into twelve provinces and each province has its own commissioner, executive and council. Its economy is one of the world's Top 20. The Netherlands was a founding member of the European Union (EU) and uses the euro (€) as its currency.

The official language of the Netherlands is Dutch, a West Germanic language, closely related to German and also resembling English. Dutch is also spoken in Belgium and in Suriname. Friesland (in Frisian: Fryslân) is the only one of the twelve Dutch provinces with an officially recognised regional language.

The Dutch are known for their mastery of foreign languages. Most have a good grasp of English and/or German, and to a lesser extent French or Spanish.

If you're living in the Netherlands, it's important to have a basic understanding of the Dutch language. This will allow you to converse more easily with your colleagues, supermarket employees, etc. Also, for most immigrants learning Dutch is compulsory as part of their civic integration process.

For more information on life in the Netherlands, please check this website.