The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which consists of Aruba, Curacao, Sint Maarten. The Netherlands is a west European country. The Netherlands contains roughly 98% of the area and population of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and it also looks after the affairs of the Kingdom.

1. The Netherlands literally means “low countries.” As 50% of the land of the country is just over 1m above sea level. Moreover, 21% of its population and 26% of its area is below sea level. Belgium and Luxembourg are other examples of low lying countries.

2. Port of Rotterdam is the largest port in Europe and the second largest in the world. Between 1962 and 2004, it was also the world’s busiest port. Shanghai, China has the biggest port in the world.

3. The Netherlands remained neutral in the World War I but was invaded and occupied by Germany in the World War II.

4. After the World War II, some 500,000 Dutch left the country in search of better opportunities.

5. It is the world’s first country to legalize same-sex marriage in 2001.

6. It is also a founding member of the EU, NATO, OECD, WTO and also a part of Schengen Area.

7. The Hague is dubbed as the world’s legal capital because it has Europol, Eurojust and UN Detention Unit.