View source for Provinces of the Netherlands

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

{{Infobox subdivision type
| name = Provinces of the Netherlands
| alt_name = 
| caption = Clickable map of provinces
| map = {{Provinces of the Netherlands imagemap}}
| category = [[Unitary state|Unitary unit]]
| territory = [[Kingdom of the Netherlands]]
| start_date = 
| current_number = [[#European Netherlands|12 provinces]]<br>[[#Caribbean Netherlands|3 special municipalities]]
| number_date = 
| population_range = Least: [[Zeeland]], 391,124<br />Most: [[South Holland]], 3,804,906
| area_range = Smallest (including water): [[Utrecht (province)|Utrecht]], {{cvt|1560.05|km2|0|adj=ri0}}<br />Largest (including water): [[Friesland]], {{cvt|5753.26|km2|0|adj=ri0}}
| government = [[Provincial executive]]
| subdivision = [[Municipalities of the Netherlands|Municipalities]]
}}

There are twelve [[province]]s ({{langx|nl|provincies}} {{IPA|nl|proːˈvɪnsis||Nl-provincies.ogg}} or {{lang|nl|provinciën}} {{IPA|nl|proːˈvɪnsijə(n)||Nl-provinciën.ogg}}; [[Grammatical number#Overview|sing.]]&nbsp;{{lang|nl|provincie}} {{IPA|nl|ˌproːˈvɪnsi||Nl-provincie.ogg}}) of the [[Netherlands]] representing the administrative layer between the [[cabinet of the Netherlands|national government]] and the [[municipalities of the Netherlands|local governments]], with responsibility for matters of subnational or regional importance.

The most populous province is [[South Holland]], with just over 3.8 million inhabitants {{As of|2023|Jan|lc=y}}, and also the most densely populated province with {{cvt|1410|/km2|/sqmi|adj=ri0}}.<ref name="CBS_key_figs" /> With 391,124 inhabitants, [[Zeeland]] has the smallest population. However [[Drenthe]] is the least densely populated province with {{cvt|191|/km2|/sqmi|adj=ri0}}. In terms of area, [[Friesland]] is the largest province with a total area of {{cvt|5753.26|km2|0|adj=ri0}}. If water is excluded, [[Gelderland]] is the largest province by land area at {{cvt|4960.47|km2|0|adj=ri0}}. The province of [[Utrecht (province)|Utrecht]] is the smallest with a total area of {{cvt|1560.05|km2|0|adj=ri0}}, while [[Flevoland]] is the smallest by land area at {{cvt|1410.12|km2|0|adj=ri0}}. In total about 10,000 people were employed by the provincial administrations in 2018.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://personeelsmonitorprovincies.onderzoek.nl/index.cfm?action=main.report |title = Personeelsmonitor Provincies|language = nl |author = <!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |work = A&O-fonds Provincies |date= 2 July 2019 |access-date = 26 October 2019}}</ref>

The provinces of the Netherlands are joined in the [[Association of Provinces of the Netherlands]] (IPO). This organisation promotes the common interests of the provinces in the national government of the Netherlands in [[The Hague]].

==Politics and governance==
{{Main|Provincial politics in the Netherlands}}

The government of each province consists of three major parts:  

* The [[Provincial council (Netherlands)|provincial council]] ({{lang|nl|Provinciale Staten}}) is the provincial parliament elected every four years. The number of members varies between 39 and 55 (since 2015), depending on the number of inhabitants of the province.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rijksoverheid.nl/onderwerpen/provincies/provinciale-staten | lang=nl |title=Provinciale Staten |website=Rijksoverheid.nl }}</ref> Being a member is a part-time job. The main task of the provincial council is to scrutinise the work of the provincial government.
* The [[provincial executive]] ({{lang|nl|Gedeputeerde Staten}}) is a [[Collegiality|collegial body]] supported by a majority in the provincial council charged with most executive tasks. Each province has between three and seven deputies, each having their own portfolio. The task of the Provincial Executive is the overall management of the province.
* The [[King's commissioner|King's Commissioner]] ({{lang|nl|Commissaris van de Koning}}) is a single person appointed by the Crown who presides over the provincial council as well as over the Provincial Executive. The Commissioner is appointed for a term of six years, after which reappointment for another term is possible.

===Elections===
{{Politics of the Netherlands}}

The members of the provincial council are elected every four years in direct elections. To a large extent, the same [[list of political parties in the Netherlands|political parties]] are enlisted in these elections in the national elections. The chosen provincial legislators elect the members of the national [[Senate (Netherlands)|Senate]] within three months after the provincial elections. The [[elections in the Netherlands|elections for the water boards]] take place on the same date as the provincial elections.

The last provincial elections were held in [[2023 Dutch provincial elections|2023]]. The next provincial elections are scheduled for [[2027 Dutch provincial elections|2027]].

== Competencies ==
The provinces of the Netherlands have seven core tasks:<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ipo.nl/over-de-provincies/de-zeven-kerntaken-van-de-provincies-test |website= Association of Provinces of the Netherlands |lang=nl |title=De zeven kerntaken van de provincies |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806123341/https://ipo.nl/over-de-provincies/de-zeven-kerntaken-van-de-provincies-test |archive-date= Aug 6, 2020 }}</ref>

# Sustainable spatial development, including water management
# Environment, energy and climate
# Vital countryside
# Regional accessibility and regional public transport
# Regional economy
# Cultural infrastructure and preservation
# Quality of public administration

===Financing===
To a large extent, the provinces of the Netherlands are financed by the national government. Also, provinces have income from a part of the [[Vehicle Excise Duty]]. Several provinces have made a large profit in the past from privatising [[Public utility|utility companies]] originally owned or partly owned by the provinces. [[Essent]], which was originally owned by six provinces and more than a hundred municipalities, was sold for around 9.3 billion euros.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Onze geschiedenis {{!}} Energie in transitie |url=https://www.essent.nl/over-essent/bedrijf/geschiedenis |access-date=January 10, 2024 |website=Essent }}</ref>

==List==
The [[Kingdom of the Netherlands#Constituent countries|constituent country]] of the [[Netherlands]], being the largest part of the [[Kingdom of the Netherlands]], is divided into twelve [[province]]s (''provincies'' in [[Dutch language|Dutch]]) and three overseas special municipalities; [[Bonaire]], [[Sint Eustatius]], and [[Saba (island)|Saba]] in the [[Caribbean Netherlands]] that are not part of any province. Previously these were part of [[public body (Netherlands)|public bodies]] (''openbare lichamen'').

===European Netherlands===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! class="unsortable" rowspan="2"|[[Flags of provinces of the Netherlands|Flag]]
! class="unsortable" rowspan="2"|Location 
! scope="col" rowspan=2 | Province
! scope="col" rowspan=2 | Capital
! scope="col" rowspan=2 | Largest<br/>municipality
! scope="col" rowspan=2 | King's<br/>Commissioner
! scope="col" rowspan=2 | Political<br/>party
! scope="col" rowspan=2 | Munici{{shy}}palities <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 -> Perioden - Jaren: 2023 |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=22 February 2024}}</ref>
! scope="col" colspan=2 | Land area<ref name="CBS_key_figs" />
! scope="col" colspan=2 | Water area<ref name="CBS_key_figs" />
! scope="col" rowspan=2 | Population <br/>(1 January 2023)<ref name="CBS_key_figs" />
! scope="col" colspan=2 | Density Land<ref name="CBS_key_figs" />
! scope="col" rowspan=2 | [[Gross regional domestic product|GRDP]] in<br />million euros<br />(2019)<ref name=grp>{{Cite web|url=https://opendata.cbs.nl/statline/#/CBS/nl/dataset/84432NED/table?ts=1584714842775 |website=StatLine |title = Regionale kerncijfers; nationale rekeningen, 1995-2022}}</ref>
! scope="col" rowspan=2 | [[Gross regional domestic product|GRDP]] per<br />capita (€; 2019)<ref name=grp/>
|-
! 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>
! 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>
|-
| align=center|[[File:Flag of Drenthe.svg|40px|border]]
| align=center|[[File:Drenthe in the Netherlands.svg|50px]]
| style="text-align:center;" |[[Drenthe]]
| style="text-align:center;" |[[Assen]]
| style="text-align:center;" |[[Emmen, Netherlands|Emmen]]
| style="text-align:center;" |{{sortname|Jetta|Klijnsma|Jetta Klijnsma}}
| style="text-align:center;" |[[Labour Party (Netherlands)|PvdA]]
| {{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}}
| {{cvt|47.73|km2|mi2|0|adj=ri0|abbr=values|sortable=on|disp=table}}
| {{right|{{nts|502051}}}}
| {{cvt|191|/km2|/sqmi|adj=ri0|abbr=values|sortable=on|disp=table}}
| {{right|{{nts|15701}}}}
| {{right|{{nts|31853}}}}
|-
| align=center|[[File:Flag of Flevoland.svg|40px|border]]
| align=center|[[File:Flevoland in the Netherlands.svg|50px]]
| style="text-align:center;" |[[Flevoland]]
| style="text-align:center;" |[[Lelystad]]
| style="text-align:center;" |[[Almere]]
| style="text-align:center;" |{{sortname|Arjen|Gerritsen|Arjen Gerritsen}}
| style="text-align:center;" |[[People's Party for Freedom and Democracy|VVD]]
| {{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}}
| {{cvt|1002.19|km2|mi2|0|adj=ri0|abbr=values|sortable=on|disp=table}}
| {{right|{{nts|444701}}}}
| {{cvt|315|/km2|/sqmi|adj=ri0|abbr=values|sortable=on|disp=table}}
| {{right|{{nts|14756}}}}
| {{right|{{nts|35151}}}}
|-
| align=center|[[File:Frisian flag.svg|40px|border]]
| align=center|[[File:Friesland in the Netherlands.svg|50px]]
| style="text-align:center;" |[[Friesland]]
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | [[Leeuwarden]]
| style="text-align:center;" |{{sortname|Arno|Brok|Arno Brok}}
| style="text-align:center;" |[[People's Party for Freedom and Democracy|VVD]]
| {{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}}
| {{cvt|2413.15|km2|mi2|0|adj=ri0|abbr=values|sortable=on|disp=table}}
| {{right|{{nts|659551}}}}
| {{cvt|197|/km2|/sqmi|adj=ri0|abbr=values|sortable=on|disp=table}}
| {{right|{{nts|20728}}}}
| {{right|{{nts|31947}}}}
|-
| align=center|[[File:Flag of Gelderland.svg|40px|border]]
| align=center|[[File:Gelderland in the Netherlands.svg|50px]]
| style="text-align:center;" |[[Gelderland]]
| style="text-align:center;" |[[Arnhem]]
| style="text-align:center;" |[[Nijmegen]]
| style="text-align:center;" |[[Daniel Wigboldus]]
| style="text-align:center;" |[[Christian Democratic Appeal|CDA]]
| {{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}}
| {{cvt|175.84|km2|mi2|0|adj=ri0|abbr=values|sortable=on|disp=table}}
| {{right|{{nts|2133708}}}}
| {{cvt|430|/km2|/sqmi|adj=ri0|abbr=values|sortable=on|disp=table}}
| {{right|{{nts|81757}}}}
| {{right|{{nts|39326}}}}
|-
| align=center|[[File:Flag of Groningen.svg|40px|border]]
| align=center|[[File:Groningen in the Netherlands.svg|50px]]
| style="text-align:center;" |[[Groningen (province)|Groningen]]
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | [[Groningen]]
| style="text-align:center;" |{{sortname|René|Paas|René Paas}}
| style="text-align:center;" |[[Christian Democratic Appeal|CDA]]
| {{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}}
| {{cvt|639.32|km2|mi2|0|adj=ri0|abbr=values|sortable=on|disp=table}}
| {{right|{{nts|596075}}}}
| {{cvt|257|/km2|/sqmi|adj=ri0|abbr=values|sortable=on|disp=table}}
| {{right|{{nts|24669}}}}
| {{right|{{nts|42174}}}}
|-
| align=center|[[File:Flag of Limburg.svg|40px|border]]
| align=center|[[File:Limburg in the Netherlands.svg|50px]]
| style="text-align:center;" |[[Limburg (Netherlands)|Limburg]]
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | [[Maastricht]]
| style="text-align:center;" |{{sortname|Emile|Roemer|Emile Roemer}}
| style="text-align:center;" |[[Socialist Party (Netherlands)|SP]]
| {{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}}
| {{cvt|65.22|km2|mi2|0|adj=ri0|abbr=values|sortable=on|disp=table}}
| {{right|{{nts|1128367}}}}
| {{cvt|526|/km2|/sqmi|adj=ri0|abbr=values|sortable=on|disp=table}}
| {{right|{{nts|45848}}}}
| {{right|{{nts|41058}}}}
|-
| align=center|[[File:North_Brabant-Flag.svg|40px|border]]
| align=center|[[File:Noord-Brabant in the Netherlands.svg|50px]]
| style="text-align:center;" |[[North Brabant]]
| data-sort-value="Hertogenbosch, s-" style="text-align:center;" |{{nowrap|[['s-Hertogenbosch]]{{efn-ua|Also {{lang|nl|Den Bosch}} in Dutch.}}}}
| style="text-align:center;" |[[Eindhoven]]
| style="text-align:center;" |{{sortname|Ina|Adema|Ina Adema}}
| style="text-align:center;" |[[People's Party for Freedom and Democracy|VVD]]
| {{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}}
| {{cvt|180.52|km2|mi2|0|adj=ri0|abbr=values|sortable=on|disp=table}}
| {{right|{{nts|2626210}}}}
| {{cvt|536|/km2|/sqmi|adj=ri0|abbr=values|sortable=on|disp=table}}
| {{right|{{nts|120869}}}}
| {{right|{{nts|47328}}}}
|-
| align=center|[[File:Flag of North Holland.svg|40px|border]]
| align=center|[[File:Noord-Holland in the Netherlands.svg|50px]]
| style="text-align:center;" |[[North Holland]]
| style="text-align:center;" |[[Haarlem]]{{efn-ua|name=NH_capital}}
| style="text-align:center;" |{{nowrap|[[Amsterdam]]{{efn-ua|name=NH_capital|Amsterdam is the national [[capital of the Netherlands]]. Haarlem is, however, the capital of the province in which both Amsterdam and Haarlem are situated.}}}}
| style="text-align:center;" |{{sortname|Arthur van|Dijk|Arthur van Dijk}}
| style="text-align:center;" |[[People's Party for Freedom and Democracy|VVD]]
| {{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}}
| {{cvt|1429.36|km2|mi2|0|adj=ri0|abbr=values|sortable=on|disp=table}}
| {{right|{{nts|2952622}}}}
| {{cvt|1109|/km2|/sqmi|adj=ri0|abbr=values|sortable=on|disp=table}}
| {{right|{{nts|177733}}}}
| {{right|{{nts|62005}}}}
|-
| align=center|[[File:Flag of Overijssel.svg|40px|border]]
| align=center|[[File:Overijssel in the Netherlands.svg|50px]]
| style="text-align:center;" |[[Overijssel]]
| style="text-align:center;" |[[Zwolle]]
| style="text-align:center;" |[[Enschede]]
| style="text-align:center;" |{{sortname|Andries|Heidema|Andries Heidema}}
| style="text-align:center;" |[[Christian Union (Netherlands)|CU]]
| {{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}}
| {{cvt|104.22|km2|mi2|0|adj=ri0|abbr=values|sortable=on|disp=table}}
| {{right|{{nts|1184333}}}}
| {{cvt|357|/km2|/sqmi|adj=ri0|abbr=values|sortable=on|disp=table}}
| {{right|{{nts|45517}}}}
| {{right|{{nts|39258}}}}
|-
| align=center|[[File:Flag of South Holland.svg|40px|border]]
| align=center|[[File:Zuid-Holland in the Netherlands.svg|50px]]
| style="text-align:center;" |[[South Holland]]
| style="text-align:center;" |{{nowrap|[[The Hague]]{{efn-ua|{{lang|nl|Den Haag}} in Dutch. The Dutch parliament and the Dutch government are located in The Hague along with the Supreme Court and the Council of State.}}}}
| style="text-align:center;" |[[Rotterdam]]
| style="text-align:center;" |{{sortname|Wouter|Kolff|Wouter Kolff}}
| style="text-align:center;" |[[Christian Democratic Appeal|CDA]]
| {{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}}
| {{cvt|609.46|km2|mi2|0|adj=ri0|abbr=values|sortable=on|disp=table}}
| {{right|{{nts|3804906}}}}
| {{cvt|1410|/km2|/sqmi|adj=ri0|abbr=values|sortable=on|disp=table}}
| {{right|{{nts|169118}}}}
| {{right|{{nts|45815}}}}
|-
| align=center|[[File:Utrecht (province)-Flag.svg|40px|border]]
| align=center|[[File:Utrecht in the Netherlands.svg|50px]]
| style="text-align:center;" |[[Utrecht (province)|Utrecht]]
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | [[Utrecht]]
| style="text-align:center;" |{{nowrap|{{sortname|Hans|Oosters|Hans Oosters}}}}
| style="text-align:center;" |[[Labour Party (Netherlands)|PvdA]]
| {{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}}
| {{cvt|75.59|km2|mi2|0|adj=ri0|abbr=values|sortable=on|disp=table}}
| {{right|{{nts|1387643}}}}
| {{cvt|935|/km2|/sqmi|adj=ri0|abbr=values|sortable=on|disp=table}}
| {{right|{{nts|77445}}}}
| {{right|{{nts|57431}}}}
|-
| align=center|[[File:Flag of Zeeland.svg|40px|border]]
| align=center|[[File:Zeeland in the Netherlands.svg|50px]]
| style="text-align:center;" |[[Zeeland]]
| style="text-align:center;" |[[Middelburg, Zeeland|Middelburg]]
| style="text-align:center;" |[[Terneuzen]]
| style="text-align:center;" |[[Hugo de Jonge]]
| style="text-align:center;" |[[Christian Democratic Appeal|CDA]]
| {{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}}
| {{cvt|1153.55|km2|mi2|0|adj=ri0|abbr=values|sortable=on|disp=table}}
| {{right|{{nts|391124}}}}
| {{cvt|220|/km2|/sqmi|adj=ri0|abbr=values|sortable=on|disp=table}}
| {{right|{{nts|14391}}}}
| {{right|{{nts|37549}}}}
|-
|- class="sortbottom"
! align=center|[[File:Flag of the Netherlands.svg|40px|border]]
! align=center|[[File:Map provinces Netherlands-en.svg|50px]]
! style="text-align:center;" | [[Netherlands]]
! colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" |[[Amsterdam]]
! colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" |
! 342
! 41,543
! {{cvt|41543.37|km2|mi2|0|adj=ri0|abbr=values|sortable=on|disp=out}}
! 33,647
! {{cvt|33647.23|km2|mi2|0|adj=ri0|abbr=values|sortable=on|disp=out}}
! 7,896
! {{cvt|7896.14|km2|mi2|0|adj=ri0|abbr=values|sortable=on|disp=out}}
! {{right|{{nts|17811291}}}}
! 529
! {{cvt|529|/km2|/sqmi|adj=ri0|abbr=values|sortable=on|disp=out}}
! {{right|{{nts|810247}}}}
! {{right|{{nts|46714}}}}
|}

=== Caribbean Netherlands ===
{{About|text="Special municipality (Netherlands)" redirects here.}}
{{Main|Caribbean Netherlands}}
{| class="sortable wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:left;"
|-
! scope="col" class="unsortable"| Special Municipality
! scope="col"| Capital
! scope="col"| Largest city
! scope="col"| Area<ref name="rijksoverheid.nl">{{Cite web|url=https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/onderwerpen/caribische-deel-van-het-koninkrijk/vraag-en-antwoord/waaruit-bestaat-het-koninkrijk-der-nederlanden|title = Waaruit bestaat het Koninkrijk der Nederlanden? |website=Rijksoverheid.nl|date = 19 May 2015}}</ref>
! style="width:90px;"| Population<ref name="rijksoverheid.nl"/><br />(2019)
! style="width:80px;"| Density
|-
! scope="row" | [[Bonaire]]
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" |[[Kralendijk]] || style="text-align:right"|{{convert|294|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|sortable=on}}|| style="text-align:right"|20,104|| style="text-align:right"|{{convert|69|/km2|/sqmi|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|-
! scope="row" | [[Sint Eustatius]]
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" |[[Oranjestad, Sint Eustatius|Oranjestad]] || style="text-align:right"|{{convert|21|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|sortable=on}}|| style="text-align:right"|3,138|| style="text-align:right"|{{convert|150|/km2|/sqmi|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|-
! scope="row" | [[Saba (island)|Saba]]
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" |[[The Bottom]] || style="text-align:right"|{{convert|13|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|sortable=on}}|| style="text-align:right"|1,915|| style="text-align:right"|{{convert|148|/km2|/sqmi|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|- class="sortbottom"
! colspan="3" style="text-align:right;"| Total
! style="text-align:right;"| {{convert|328|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
! style="text-align:right;"| 25,157
! style="text-align:right;"| {{convert|77|/km2|/sqmi|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|}

===Notes===
<small>{{notelist-ua|30em}}</small>

== History ==
[[File:Flags of Dutch Provinces The Hague.jpg|thumb|[[Flags of provinces of the Netherlands|Flags of the provinces]] near the [[Hofvijver]] in [[The Hague]]]]

{{Multiple image
 | align = left
 | total_width = 280
 | image_style = border:none;

 | image1 = Dutch provinces by nominal GRP in 2016.png
 | caption1 = Dutch provinces by nominal [[Gross regional domestic product|GRDP]] in 2016

 | image2 = Dutch provinces by nominal GRP per capita in 2016.png
 | caption2 = Dutch provinces by nominal [[Gross regional domestic product|GRDP]] per capita in 2016
}}

{{Main|Seventeen Provinces}}

Nearly all Dutch provinces can trace their origin to a [[Middle Ages|medieval]] [[county]] or [[duchy]], as can the [[provinces of regions in Belgium]]. Their status changed when they came under a single ruler who centralised their administration, reducing their powers. There were 17 in total: from these unified Netherlands, seven northern provinces from 1588 formed the [[Republic of the Seven United Provinces]], namely [[Holland]], [[Zeeland]], [[Gelderland]], [[Utrecht (province)|Utrecht]], [[Friesland]], [[Overijssel]] and [[Groningen (province)|Groningen]].

The Republic's lands also included [[Drenthe]] (one of the 17, but without the autonomous status of the others), and parts of the [[Duchy of Brabant]], [[Duchy of Limburg]] and [[County of Flanders]], which were considered to be "conquered lands" and were governed directly by the [[States General of the Netherlands|States General]], hence their name [[Generality Lands]]. They were called ''Staats-Brabant'', ''Staats-Limburg'' and ''Staats-Vlaanderen'', meaning "governed by the States General".

Each of these "Netherlands" had a high degree of [[Autonomous entity|autonomy]], cooperating with each other mainly on defense and foreign relations, but otherwise keeping to their own affairs.

On 1 January 1796, under the [[Batavian Republic]], Drenthe and Staats-Brabant became the eighth and ninth provinces of the Netherlands. The latter, which had been known as Bataafs Brabant (English: Batavian Brabant), changed its name to Noord-Brabant, North Brabant, in 1815 when it became part of the [[United Kingdom of the Netherlands]], which also contained (then) South Brabant, a province now in [[Belgium]]. This new unified state featured the provinces in their modern form, as non-autonomous subdivisions of the national state, and again numbering 17, though they were not all the same as the 16th century ones. In 1839, following the separation of Belgium, the province of Limburg was divided between the two countries, each now having a province called Limburg. A year later, Holland, the largest and most populous of the Dutch provinces, was also split into two provinces, for a total of 11. The 12th province to be created was [[Flevoland]], consisting almost entirely of [[reclaimed land]], established on 1 January 1986.

===French period===
During the Batavian Republic, the Netherlands was from 1798 to 1801 completely reorganised into eight new departments, most named after rivers, inspired by the [[France|French]] revolutionary example, in an attempt to do away with the old semi-autonomous status of the provinces. They are listed below, with their capitals and the territory of the former provinces that they mostly incorporated:

{| class="wikitable sortable"  style="font-size:95%; margin:auto;"
|+ Batavian Departments
|- 
! English name
! Dutch name
! Capital
! Territory contained
|-
| Department of the [[Ems (river)|Ems]]
| {{lang|nl|Departement van de Eems}}
| [[Leeuwarden]]
| Northern Friesland, Groningen
|-
| Department of the Old [[IJssel]]
| {{lang|nl|Departement van de Oude IJssel}}
| [[Zwolle]]
| Southern Friesland, Drenthe, Overijssel, Northern Gelderland
|-
| Department of the [[Rhine]]
| {{lang|nl|Departement van de Rijn}}
| [[Arnhem]]
| Central Gelderland, Eastern Utrecht
|-
| Department of the [[Amstel]]
| {{lang|nl|Departement van de Amstel}}
| [[Amsterdam]]
| Area around Amsterdam
|-
| Department of [[Texel]]
| {{lang|nl|Departement van Texel}}
| [[Alkmaar]]
| Northern Holland minus Amsterdam, Northwestern Utrecht
|-
| Department of the [[Delft]]
| {{lang|nl|Departement van de Delft}}
| [[Delft]]
| Southern Holland up to the Meuse, Southwestern Utrecht
|-
| Department of the [[Dommel]]
| {{lang|nl|Departement van de Dommel}}
| [['s-Hertogenbosch]]
| Eastern Batavian Brabant, Southern Gelderland
|-
| Department of the [[Scheldt]] and [[Meuse]]
| {{lang|nl|Departement van de Schelde en Maas}}
| [[Middelburg, Zeeland|Middelburg]]
| Zeeland, Southern Holland under the Meuse and Western Batavian Brabant
|}
 
After only three years, following a [[coup d'état]], the borders of the former provinces were restored, though not their autonomous status. They were now also called "departments" and Drenthe was added to Overijssel. In 1806 the [[Kingdom of Holland]] replaced the republic to further French interests. It was during this administration that Holland was first split in two, with the department of {{lang|nl|Amstelland}} to the north and that of {{lang|nl|Maasland}} to the south. [[East Frisia]], then as now in [[Germany]], was added to the kingdom as a department in 1807 and Drenthe split off again making a total of 11 departments.

When the Netherlands finally did become fully part of France in 1810, the departments of the kingdom and their borders were largely maintained, with some joined. They were however nearly all renamed, again mainly after rivers, though the names differed from their Batavian counterparts. Following are their names and the modern day province they mostly correspond to:

[[File:Netherlands during French administration 1810-1814.png|thumb|right|Map of the subdivisions of the Netherlands during French administration; East Frisia is not included in this later map]]

{| class="wikitable sortable"  style="font-size:95%; margin:auto;"
|+ French departments in the Netherlands
|- style="background:#efefef;"
! English name
! French name
! Dutch name
! Modern territory
|-
| Department of the [[Zuiderzee]]
| {{lang|fr|[[Département]] du [[Zuyderzée]]}}
| {{lang|nl|Departement van de Zuiderzee}}
| North Holland and Utrecht
|-
| Department of the Mouths of the Meuse
| {{lang|fr|Département des [[Bouches-de-la-Meuse]]}}
| {{lang|nl|Departement van de Monden van de Maas}}
| South Holland
|-
| Department of the Mouths of the Scheldt
| {{lang|fr|Département des [[Bouches-de-l'Escaut]]}}
| {{lang|nl|Departement van de Monden van de Schelde}}
| Zeeland
|-
| Department of the Two Nethes
| {{lang|fr|Département des [[Deux-Nèthes]]}}
| {{lang|nl|Departement van de Twee Nethen}}
| Western North Brabant and [[Antwerp (province)|Antwerp]]
|-
| Department of the Mouths of the Rhine
| {{lang|fr|Département des [[Bouches-du-Rhin]]}}
| {{lang|nl|Departement van de Monden van de Rijn}}
| Eastern North Brabant and southern Gelderland
|-
| Department of the Upper IJssel
| {{lang|fr|Département de l'[[Yssel-Supérieur]]}}
| {{lang|nl|Departement van de Boven IJssel}}
| Northern Gelderland
|-
| Department of the Mouths of the IJssel
| {{lang|fr|Département des [[Bouches-de-l'Yssel]]}}
| {{lang|nl|Departement van de Monden van de IJssel}}
| Overijssel
|-
| Department of Frisia
| {{lang|fr|Département de la [[Frise (department)|Frise]]}}
| {{lang|nl|Departement Friesland}}
| Friesland
|-
| Department of the Western Ems
| {{lang|fr|Département de l'[[Ems-Occidental]]}}
| {{lang|nl|Departement van de Wester Eems}}
| Groningen and Drenthe
|-
| Department of the Eastern Ems
| {{lang|fr|Département de l'[[Ems-Oriental]]}}
| {{lang|nl|Departement van de Ooster Eems}}
| East Frisia
|}
 
With the defeat and withdrawal of the French in 1813, the old provinces and their names were re-established, Holland was reunited and East-Frisia went its separate way. The 17 provinces of the [[United Kingdom of the Netherlands]] were for a significant part based on the former French departments and their borders, in particular in what would later become Belgium.{{citation needed|date=July 2021}}

There is continuous discussion within the Netherlands about the future of the provinces. Before 2014, the national government was planning to merge the provinces Flevoland, North Holland and Utrecht into a single province {{ill|Noordvleugelprovincie|nl}}. Due to significant protest the plan was abandoned.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=nu.nl |title=Superprovincie gaat definitief niet door |date=20 June 2014 |url=https://www.nu.nl/politiek/3807729/superprovincie-gaat-definitief-niet.html |access-date=26 October 2019 |language=nl-NL }}</ref>

==See also==
*[[ISO 3166-2:NL]]
*[[Table of administrative divisions by country]]
*[[Flags of the provinces of the Netherlands]]
*[[Coats of arms of provinces of the Netherlands]]
*[[List of provinces of the Netherlands by Human Development Index]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20081017121901/http://www.sdu.nl/staatscourant/scdata/prov/provincies.htm Basic data for each province, with links to official province sites]
*{{statoids|id=unl|title=Provinces of the Netherlands}}
*[http://nlgis.nl Historical boundaries of provinces of the Netherlands ]

{{Footer Provinces of the Netherlands}}
{{Netherlands topics}}
{{Articles on first-level administrative divisions of European countries}}

[[Category:Provinces of the Netherlands| ]]
[[Category:Subdivisions of the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Lists of subdivisions of the Netherlands|Netherlands, Provinces]]
[[Category:Administrative divisions in Europe|Netherlands 1]]
[[Category:First-level administrative divisions by country|Provinces, Netherlands]]
[[Category:Local government in the Netherlands]]