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The '''Netherlands''' (Dutch: ''Nederland'') is a country in the [[European Union]] in northwestern Europe, north of Belgium and France. It is a part of [[the Kingdom of the Netherlands]] (''Koninkrijk der Nederlanden''). It is bordered by [[Belgium]] and [[Germany]], and has a total population of 16,5 million (2007). Its system of government is [[constitutional monarchy]]. The country is often referred to as "Holland", this was originally the name of two densely populated provinces of the country (North-Holland and South-Holland), the cities of [[Amsterdam]], [[Rotterdam]] and [[The Hague]] all lie in these provinces that have always been the most influential regions in the Netherlands. The language is [[Dutch]] and the people are referred to in English as Dutchmen or the Dutch.

The '''Netherlands''' (Dutch: ''Nederland'') is a country in the [[European Union]] in northwestern Europe, north of Belgium and France. It is a part of [[the Kingdom of the Netherlands]] (''Koninkrijk der Nederlanden''). It is bordered by [[Belgium]] and [[Germany]], and has a total population of 16,5 million (2007). Its system of government is [[constitutional monarchy]]. The country is divided into twelve administrative entities, called [[provinces]]. Two of these are the densely populated provinces of [[North-Holland]] and [[South-Holland]], in which the the cities of [[Amsterdam]], [[Rotterdam]] and [[The Hague]] all lie and which  have always been the most influential regions in the Netherlands.  Therefore, the whole country is often referred to as '''Holland'''. The language is [[Dutch]] (Dutch: ''Nederlands'') and the people are referred to in English as Dutchmen or the Dutch.

The major ethnic groups in the Netherlands are [[Dutch]] 94%, Surinamese 2%, Asians 2% and others 2%.

The major ethnic groups in the Netherlands are [[Dutch]] 94%, Surinamese 2%, Asians 2% and others 2%.