[M]The Netherlands is a member of the European Union.[/M]
The Netherlands (in German plural; Dutch Nederland and Frisian Nederlân, singular, informal Holland) are one of the four autonomous countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The country, which is mostly in northern western Europe, is bounded there by the North Sea in the north and west, Belgium in the south and Germany in the east. The capital of the Netherlands is Amsterdam, the seat of government is The Hague. The official color of the country is orange (Oranje).
The area of ​​the Netherlands, which is represented in this article, includes, in addition to the twelve provinces of the European part, the Caribbean islands of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba (including their respective subsidiary islands), which are special municipalities of the country. Other Dutch Caribbean areas are not part of the Netherlands, but autonomous countries in the Kingdom of the Netherlands. These are the countries of Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten.
After belonging to the Middle Kingdom, Eastern Franconia and the Holy Roman Empire, the year 1581 with the Plakkaat van Verlatinghe is considered the birth of the United Netherlands, which was finally recognized in 1648 with the Peace of Westphalia. The Netherlands became a major trading, colonial and maritime power. The 17th century is described as the golden age.