The Netherlands has 12 provinces, the primary administrative divisions that sit between the national government and the country's municipalities. Although people sometimes ask about "states," the Dutch system uses provinces (provincies), each with its own elected council and executive. Together these 12 provinces cover the entire European territory of the Netherlands.
The 12 Provinces of the Netherlands
Here is the complete list of all 12 provinces, alphabetically:
- Drenthe
- Flevoland
- Friesland (Fryslân)
- Gelderland
- Groningen
- Limburg
- North Brabant (Noord-Brabant)
- North Holland (Noord-Holland)
- Overijssel
- South Holland (Zuid-Holland)
- Utrecht
- Zeeland
Each province is governed by a directly elected Provincial Council (Provinciale Staten), which in turn elects a Provincial Executive. The monarch appoints a King's Commissioner to chair each provincial government. The councils handle regional matters such as spatial planning, transport, environmental policy, and supervision of municipal finances. Notably, members of the Provincial Councils also elect the members of the Dutch Senate, giving these regional bodies a direct role in national politics.
Largest and Most Populated Provinces
By land area, Gelderland is the largest province, stretching across the central-eastern part of the country and bordering Germany. By population, South Holland is by far the most populous, home to more than 3.7 million people and to the major cities of Rotterdam and The Hague. North Holland, which contains the capital, Amsterdam, ranks second in population.
At the other end of the scale, Zeeland and Flevoland are among the least populated provinces. Zeeland is a low-lying, sea-facing province in the southwest made up of islands and peninsulas, while Flevoland sits on land that did not exist a century ago.
Flevoland: Land Reclaimed From the Sea
Flevoland is the youngest province in the Netherlands, established only in 1986. What makes it remarkable is that almost all of its land was reclaimed from the former Zuiderzee, a shallow inlet of the North Sea that was sealed off by the Afsluitdijk dam in 1932. Engineers then pumped out enormous polders, creating new dry land where there had once been open water.
Flevoland is often described as the largest artificial island in the world. Its capital, Lelystad, is named after Cornelis Lely, the engineer who designed the Zuiderzee Works. The province is a striking example of the Dutch genius for water management, a skill that has shaped the entire country, since roughly a quarter of the Netherlands lies below sea level. To explore more about this remarkable nation, see our netherlands country guide.
The Two Hollands and a Common Confusion
People around the world often call the entire country "Holland," but that name technically refers only to two of the 12 provinces: North Holland and South Holland. These western coastal provinces have historically been the economic and political heartland of the country, containing Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, and Utrecht's neighboring urban belt. Because this region dominated Dutch trade and culture for centuries, its name became a shorthand for the whole nation. The Dutch government has in recent years encouraged the use of "the Netherlands" rather than "Holland" in official branding to reflect all 12 provinces fairly.
It is also worth noting that the Kingdom of the Netherlands is larger than the 12 European provinces alone. It includes three constituent countries in the Caribbean (Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten) and three special municipalities (Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba). These overseas territories are not provinces, however, and the 12-province count applies specifically to the European Netherlands.
How the Provincial System Developed
The roots of the Dutch provinces reach back to the Dutch Republic of the 16th and 17th centuries, when seven largely independent provinces united to resist Spanish rule. The modern structure took shape after the founding of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in 1815. Over time provinces merged and split, with the most recent change being the creation of Flevoland in 1986. Today the system is stable at 12, though periodic political discussions propose merging smaller provinces for efficiency. So far none of these proposals has succeeded, and the 12-province map remains intact.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Netherlands have states or provinces?
The Netherlands has provinces, not states. There are 12 provinces, each with an elected Provincial Council. The English word "state" sometimes appears in translations of Staten, the name of the provincial assemblies, which can cause confusion.
What is the capital of the Netherlands?
Amsterdam is the constitutional capital, located in the province of North Holland. The Dutch government and parliament, however, are based in The Hague, in South Holland.
Which is the largest province in the Netherlands?
Gelderland is the largest province by land area, while South Holland is the largest by population with more than 3.7 million residents.
What is the newest province in the Netherlands?
Flevoland, created in 1986, is the newest province. It was built almost entirely on land reclaimed from the sea through the Zuiderzee Works.
