The Netherlands, often referred to as Holland, is a European nation on the North Sea.
The official language of the Netherlands is Dutch. English is widely understood and the Dutch are among the most accomplished linguists in Europe.
The Netherlands is a Unitary parliamentary representative democracy under constitutional monarchy. The monarch is the head of state, equipped with limited constitutional powers. The head of government is the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, who often is the leader of the largest party of the coalition.
The Netherlands is one of the most secular countries in Western Europe, with reportedly fewer than 20% visiting church regularly. Currently, Roman Catholicism is the single largest religion of the Netherlands with around four million registered adherents (about 24%) The Protestant Church of the Netherlands represents 16% of the population.
Both the Euro and U.S. Dollar are accepted currency.