View source for Administrative divisions of the Netherlands

{{short description|none}} <!-- "none" is preferred when the title is sufficiently descriptive; see [[WP:SDNONE]] -->

The [[Netherlands]] has several levels of [[Administrative division|administrative subdivisions]]. The first level of subdivision consists of [[Provinces of the Netherlands|12 provinces]].<ref>[http://www.statoids.com/unl.html Provinces of Netherlands]</ref> The second level of subdivision consists of [[Municipalities of the Netherlands|342 municipalities]].

The country is also 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> Direct elections of the water boards take place every four years.

== Group of provinces ==
{{main|:nl:Landsdeel (Nederland)}}
[[File:Landsdeel.png|200px|thumb|right|Groups of provinces.]]
The Group of provinces ({{langx|nl|landsdeel}}) is a European subdivision of the Netherlands. It meets the needs of Eurostat, the European statistical institute, which has defined a classification of territorial units for statistics. These groups correspond to the first European statistical level ([[NUTS 1]]).

There are four of them: Northern Netherlands, Eastern Netherlands, Western Netherlands and Southern Netherlands.<ref>[https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/nuts/background NUTS 2021 classification]</ref>

== Provinces ==
{{main|Provinces of the Netherlands}}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:90%;"
! scope="col" rowspan=2 | Province
! scope="col" rowspan=2 class="unsortable"| Coat of arms
!ISO
! rowspan="2" scope="col" | Capital
! scope="col" rowspan=2 | Largest municipality
! scope="col" rowspan=2 | King's Commissioner
! scope="col" rowspan=2 | Number of<br/ >municipalities<br/ >(since 2023)
! scope="col" colspan=2 | Total area<ref name="CBS_key_figs">{{cite web |url=https://opendata.cbs.nl/statline/#/CBS/nl/dataset/70072ned/table?dl=3B9A1 |title=Regionale kerncijfers Nederland |trans-title=Regional key figures Netherlands |language=nl |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=18 December 2023 |work=CBS Statline |publisher=[[Statistics Netherlands|CBS]] |access-date=15 March 2024}}</ref>
! scope="col" colspan=2 | Land area<ref name="CBS_key_figs" />
! scope="col" rowspan=2 | {{nowrap|Population}}<ref name="CBS_key_figs" /><br/ > (2023)
! scope="col" rowspan=2 | {{nowrap|Population density}}<ref name="CBS_key_figs" />
|-
!
! scope="col" class="unsortable" |km<sup>2</sup>
! scope="col"|mi<sup>2</sup>
! scope="col" class="unsortable"|km<sup>2</sup>
! scope="col"|mi<sup>2</sup>
|-
! style="text-align: left;" | {{flag|Drenthe}}
|[[File:Drenthe wapen.svg|60x40px|center|alt=Coat of arms of Drenthe]]
|NL-DR
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Assen]]
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Emmen, Netherlands|Emmen]]
| style="text-align:center;" | {{sortname|Jetta|Klijnsma|Jetta Klijnsma}}&nbsp;([[Labour Party (Netherlands)|PvdA]])
| style="text-align:center;" | 12
| {{cvt|2680.39|km2|mi2|0|adj=ri0|abbr=values|sortable=on|disp=table}}
| {{cvt|2632.67|km2|mi2|0|adj=ri0|abbr=values|sortable=on|disp=table}}
| {{right|{{nts|502051}}}}
| {{convert|191|/km2|/sqmi|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|-
! style="text-align: left;" | {{flag|Flevoland}}
| [[File:Flevoland wapen.svg|60x40px|center|alt=Coat of arms of Flevoland]]
|NL-FL
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Lelystad]]
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Almere]]
| style="text-align:center;" | {{sortname|Arjen|Gerritsen|Arjen Gerritsen}}&nbsp;([[People's Party for Freedom and Democracy|VVD]])
| style="text-align:center;" | 6
| {{cvt|2412.31|km2|mi2|0|adj=ri0|abbr=values|sortable=on|disp=table}}
| {{cvt|1410.12|km2|mi2|0|adj=ri0|abbr=values|sortable=on|disp=table}}
| {{right|{{nts|444701}}}}
| {{convert|315|/km2|/sqmi|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|-
! style="text-align: left;" | {{flag|Friesland}}
| [[File:Friesland wapen.svg|60x40px|center|alt=Coat of arms of Friesland]]
|NL-FR
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | [[Leeuwarden]]
| style="text-align:center;" | {{sortname|Arno|Brok|Arno Brok}}&nbsp;([[People's Party for Freedom and Democracy|VVD]])
| style="text-align:center;" | 18
| {{cvt|5753.26|km2|mi2|0|adj=ri0|abbr=values|sortable=on|disp=table}}
| {{cvt|3340.10|km2|mi2|0|adj=ri0|abbr=values|sortable=on|disp=table}}
| {{right|{{nts|659551}}}}
| {{convert|197|/km2|/sqmi|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|-
! style="text-align: left;" | {{flag|Gelderland}}
| [[File:Gelderland wapen.svg|60x40px|center|alt=Coat of arms of Gelderland]]
|NL-GE
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Arnhem]]
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Nijmegen]]
| style="text-align:center;" | {{sortname|John|Berends|John Berends}}&nbsp;([[Christian Democratic Appeal|CDA]])
| style="text-align:center;" | 51
| {{cvt|5136.30|km2|mi2|0|adj=ri0|abbr=values|sortable=on|disp=table}}
| {{cvt|4960.47|km2|mi2|0|adj=ri0|abbr=values|sortable=on|disp=table}}
| {{right|{{nts|2133708}}}}
| {{convert|430|/km2|/sqmi|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|-
! style="text-align: left;" | {{flag|Groningen}}
| [[File:Groningen provincie wapen.svg|60x40px|center|alt=Coat of arms of Groningen]]
|NL-GR
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | [[Groningen]]
| style="text-align:center;" | {{sortname|René|Paas|René Paas}}&nbsp;([[Christian Democratic Appeal|CDA]])
| style="text-align:center;" | 10
| {{cvt|2955.18|km2|mi2|0|adj=ri0|abbr=values|sortable=on|disp=table}}
| {{cvt|2315.86|km2|mi2|0|adj=ri0|abbr=values|sortable=on|disp=table}}
| {{right|{{nts|596075}}}}
| {{convert|257|/km2|/sqmi|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|-
! style="text-align: left;" | {{flag|Limburg (Netherlands)|name=Limburg}}
| [[File:Limburg-nl-wapen.svg|60x40px|centre|alt=Coat of arms of Limburg]]
|NL-LI
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | [[Maastricht]]
| style="text-align:center;" | {{sortname|Emile|Roemer|Emile Roemer}}&nbsp;([[Socialist Party (Netherlands)|SP]])
| style="text-align:center;" | 31
| {{cvt|2209.85|km2|mi2|0|adj=ri0|abbr=values|sortable=on|disp=table}}
| {{cvt|2144.63|km2|mi2|0|adj=ri0|abbr=values|sortable=on|disp=table}}
| {{right|{{nts|1128367}}}}
| {{convert|526|/km2|/sqmi|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|-
! style="text-align: left;" | {{nowrap|{{flag|North Brabant}}}}
| [[File:Noord-Brabant wapen.svg|60x40px|center|alt=Coat of arms of North Brabant]]
|NL-NB
| data-sort-value="Hertogenbosch, s-" style="text-align:center;" | {{nowrap|[['s-Hertogenbosch]]}}
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Eindhoven]]
| style="text-align:center;" | {{sortname|Ina|Adema|Ina Adema}}&nbsp;([[People's Party for Freedom and Democracy|VVD]])
| style="text-align:center;" | 56
| {{cvt|5082.06|km2|mi2|0|adj=ri0|abbr=values|sortable=on|disp=table}}
| {{cvt|4901.54|km2|mi2|0|adj=ri0|abbr=values|sortable=on|disp=table}}
| {{right|{{nts|2626210}}}}
| {{convert|536|/km2|/sqmi|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|-
! style="text-align: left;" | {{nowrap|{{flag|North Holland}}}}
| [[File:Noord-Holland wapen.svg|60x40px|centre|alt=Coat of arms of North Holland]]
|NL-NH
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Haarlem]]
| style="text-align:center;" | {{nowrap|[[Amsterdam]]}}
| style="text-align:center;" | {{sortname|Arthur van|Dijk|Arthur van Dijk}}&nbsp;([[People's Party for Freedom and Democracy|VVD]])
| style="text-align:center;" | 44
| {{cvt|4091.93|km2|mi2|0|adj=ri0|abbr=values|sortable=on|disp=table}}
| {{cvt|2662.57|km2|mi2|0|adj=ri0|abbr=values|sortable=on|disp=table}}
| {{right|{{nts|2952622}}}}
| {{convert|1109|/km2|/sqmi|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|-
! style="text-align: left;" | {{nowrap|{{flag|Overijssel}}}}
| [[File:Overijssel wapen.svg|60x40px|center|alt=Coat of arms of Overijssel]]
|NL-OV
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Zwolle]]
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Enschede]]
| style="text-align:center;" | {{sortname|Andries|Heidema|Andries Heidema}}&nbsp;([[Christian Union (Netherlands)|CU]])
| style="text-align:center;" | 25
| {{cvt|3420.74|km2|mi2|0|adj=ri0|abbr=values|sortable=on|disp=table}}
| {{cvt|3316.52|km2|mi2|0|adj=ri0|abbr=values|sortable=on|disp=table}}
| {{right|{{nts|1184333}}}}
| {{convert|357|/km2|/sqmi|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|-
! style="text-align: left;" | {{nowrap|{{flag|South Holland}}}}
| [[File:Zuid-holland wapen.svg|60x40px|center|alt=Coat of arms of South Holland]]
|NL-ZH
| style="text-align:center;" | {{nowrap|[[The Hague]]}}
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Rotterdam]]
| style="text-align:center;" | {{sortname|Jaap|Smit|Jaap Smit}}&nbsp;([[Christian Democratic Appeal|CDA]])
| style="text-align:center;" | 50
| {{cvt|3307.86|km2|mi2|0|adj=ri0|abbr=values|sortable=on|disp=table}}
| {{cvt|2698.40|km2|mi2|0|adj=ri0|abbr=values|sortable=on|disp=table}}
| {{right|{{nts|3804906}}}}
| {{convert|1410|/km2|/sqmi|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|-
! style="text-align: left;" | {{flag|Utrecht}}
| [[File:Utrecht provincie wapen.svg|60x40px|center|alt=Coat of arms of Utrecht]]
|NL-UT
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | [[Utrecht]]
| style="text-align:center;" | {{nowrap|{{sortname|Hans|Oosters|Hans Oosters}}}}&nbsp;([[Labour Party (Netherlands)|PvdA]])
| style="text-align:center;" | 26
| {{cvt|1560.05|km2|mi2|0|adj=ri0|abbr=values|sortable=on|disp=table}}
| {{cvt|1484.47|km2|mi2|0|adj=ri0|abbr=values|sortable=on|disp=table}}
| {{right|{{nts|1387643}}}}
| {{convert|935|/km2|/sqmi|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|-
! style="text-align: left;" | {{flag|Zeeland}}
| [[File:Zeeland wapen.svg|60x40px|center|alt=Coat of arms of Zeeland]]
|NL-ZE
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Middelburg, Zeeland|Middelburg]]
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Terneuzen]]
| style="text-align:center;" | {{sortname|Han|Polman|Han Polman}}&nbsp;([[Democrats 66|D66]])
| style="text-align:center;" | 13
| {{cvt|2933.44|km2|mi2|0|adj=ri0|abbr=values|sortable=on|disp=table}}
| {{cvt|1779.89|km2|mi2|0|adj=ri0|abbr=values|sortable=on|disp=table}}
| {{right|{{nts|391124}}}}
| {{convert|220|/km2|/sqmi|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|}

== COROP regions ==
{{main|COROP}}
A COROP region is a division of the [[Netherlands]] for statistical purposes, used by [[Statistics Netherlands]], among others. The [[Dutch (language)|Dutch]] abbreviation stands for {{lang|nl|'''Co'''ördinatiecommissie '''R'''egionaal '''O'''nderzoeks'''p'''rogramma}}, literally the Coordination Commission Regional Research Programme. These divisions are also used in the EU designation as [[Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics|NUTS 3]].

== Water boards ==
{{main|Water board (Netherlands)}}
[[File:2019-Waterschap-prov-1200.png|thumb|300px|The 21 water boards in The Netherlands in 2019]]

Typically, a water board's territory is made up of one or more [[polder]]s or [[drainage basin|watersheds]]. The territory of a water board generally covers several municipalities and may even include areas in two or more provinces. As of 2021, there are 21 water boards in The Netherlands.
<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.waterschappen.nl/mijn-waterschap/|title=Zoek Waterschap|website=waterschappen.nl|access-date=2 August 2021}}</ref>

# Waterschap [[Noorderzijlvest]] ([[Groningen (province)|Groningen]], [[Friesland]] and [[Drenthe]])
# Wetterskip Fryslân ([[Friesland]] and [[Groningen (province)|Groningen]])
# Waterschap Hunze en Aa's ([[Groningen (province)|Groningen]] and [[Drenthe]])
# Waterschap Drents Overijsselse Delta ([[Drenthe]] and [[Overijssel]])
# Waterschap Vechtstromen ([[Drenthe]] and [[Overijssel]])
# Waterschap Vallei en Veluwe ([[Utrecht (province)|Utrecht]] and [[Gelderland]])
# Waterschap Rijn en IJssel ([[Gelderland]])
# Hoogheemraadschap De Stichtse Rijnlanden ([[Utrecht (province)|Utrecht]] and [[South Holland]])
# Waterschap Amstel, Gooi en Vecht ([[North Holland]], [[Utrecht (province)|Utrecht]] and [[South Holland]])
# Hoogheemraadschap Hollands Noorderkwartier ([[North Holland]])
# [[Hoogheemraadschap van Rijnland]] ([[South Holland]] and [[North Holland]])
# [[Hoogheemraadschap van Delfland]] ([[South Holland]])
# Hoogheemraadschap van Schieland en de Krimpenerwaard ([[South Holland]])
# Waterschap Rivierenland ([[South Holland]], [[Gelderland]], [[Utrecht]] and [[North Brabant]])
# [[Waterschap Hollandse Delta]] ([[South Holland]])
# Waterschap Scheldestromen ([[Zeeland]])
# Waterschap Brabantse Delta ([[North Brabant]])
# Waterschap De Dommel ([[North Brabant]])
# Waterschap Aa en Maas ([[North Brabant]])
# Waterschap Limburg ([[Limburg (Netherlands)|Limburg]])
# Waterschap Zuiderzeeland ([[Flevoland]])

== Municipalities ==
{{main|Municipalities of the Netherlands}}
[[File:Gemeenten 2024.png|200px|thumb|right|Municipalities of the Netherlands.]]
Since 1 January 2023, there have been 342 municipalities ({{langx|nl|gemeenten}}). Municipalities are the second-level administrative division in the Netherlands and are subdivisions of their respective [[Provinces of the Netherlands|provinces]]. Their duties are delegated to them by the [[Cabinet of the Netherlands|central government]] and they are ruled by a [[Municipal council (Netherlands)|municipal council]] that is elected every four years. Municipal [[Merger (politics)|mergers]] have reduced the total number of municipalities by two-thirds since the first official boundaries were created in the mid 19th century. Municipalities themselves are informally subdivided into districts and neighbourhoods for administrative and statistical purposes.

These municipalities come in a wide range of sizes, [[Westervoort]] is the smallest with a land area of {{convert|7.03|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} and [[Súdwest-Fryslân]] the largest with a land area of {{convert|523.01|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}. [[Schiermonnikoog]] is both the least populated and the least densely populated municipality at {{convert|23|/km2|/sqmi|abbr=on|sortable=on}}. [[Amsterdam]] has the highest population with over 900,000 residents (31 March 2022), whereas [[The Hague]] is the most densely populated with a density of {{convert|6620|/km2|/sqmi|abbr=on|sortable=on}}.

== Caribbean Netherlands ==
The three islands of [[Bonaire]], [[Sint Eustatius]], and [[Saba (island)|Saba]], officially known as [[Caribbean Netherlands]],  are classified as [[Public body (Netherlands)|public bodies]] of a special constitutional category, ''Caribbean public bodies''. They are not part of any province.

== References ==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Subdivisions of the Netherlands| ]]
[[Category:Administrative divisions in Europe|Netherlands]]