Netherlands
Europe · 18 specs
Direct Answer
The Netherlands (NL / NLD / 528) operates on a 230 V / 50 Hz electrical grid using Type C (Europlug) and Type F (Schuko) sockets. Traffic drives on the right (RHT). The official currency is the Euro (EUR, €), country calling code is +31, emergency dispatch is 112, and paper standard is NEN-EN-ISO 216 A4.
Source: NEN (Nederlands Normalisatie-instituut) / ACM / ISO 3166-1 / PostNL · Last reviewed Aug 28, 2026
Specs
| Official English Name | Kingdom of the Netherlands ISO 3166-1 |
| Local Endonym | Nederland |
| ISO 3166-1 Alpha-2 | NL |
| ISO 3166-1 Alpha-3 | NLD |
| ISO 3166-1 Numeric / UN M49 | 528 UN M49 (Code 150) |
| Country Calling Code | +31 ACM (ITU-T E.164) |
| International Exit Code (IDD) | 00 |
| Internet ccTLD | .nl SIDN Registry |
| Vehicle Registration Code | NL EU Euroband Plate |
| National Currency (ISO 4217) | Euro (EUR, €) 100 Cent (Cash rounds to 5c) |
| Mains Electricity Standard | 230 V (±10%), 50 Hz NEN 1010 / CENELEC EN 50160 |
| Electrical Plug Sockets | Type C (Europlug) & Type F (Schuko / CEE 7/4) 16 A / 230 V |
| Road Traffic Driving Side | Right-Hand Traffic (RHT / LHD) Reglement verkeersregels en verkeerstekens (RVV) |
| Primary Measurement System | Metric (SI) VSL Standard |
| Standard Office Paper Format | NEN-EN-ISO 216 A4 (210 × 297 mm) Standard |
| Consolidated Emergency Number | 112 (Non-emergency Police: 0900-8844) Direct Service Dispatch |
| Postal Code Regex / Format | Alphanumeric (4 Digits + 2 Letters: NNNN AA, e.g. 1012 JS Amsterdam) PostNL Standard |
| Primary Time Zone | UTC+1 (CET) / UTC+2 (CEST Summer) EU DST schedule |
Official 2020 Dropping of the 'Holland' Exonym
In January 2020, the Dutch government officially phased out the moniker Holland for all international marketing, trade, and governmental branding, standardizing exclusively on The Netherlands (Nederland).
- Geographic Distinction: 'Holland' technically refers only to 2 of the country's 12 provinces (North Holland and South Holland, containing Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and The Hague), whereas 'The Netherlands' encompasses the entire 12-province European realm and Caribbean municipalities.
Electrical Grid, Voltage & Plug Compatibility
- Nominal Grid Parameters: Operates on a single-phase standard of 230 V (±10%), 50 Hz.
- Plug & Socket Hardware: Type C (Europlug) & Type F (Schuko / CEE 7/4). Uses European standard Type C (ungrounded 2.5 A Europlug) and Type F (grounded 16 A Schuko) or Type E sockets.
- International Traveler Guidance: Devices operating on 100–240 V (smartphones, laptops) require only a mechanical pin adapter. Single-voltage appliances from differing voltage regions require a certified step-down/step-up power transformer.
Telecommunications, Dialing & Emergency Dispatch
- International Dialing: The country calling code is +31. Outbound international calls from within the country require dial prefix 00 followed by the destination country code.
- Emergency Dispatch: Consolidated emergency services are reached at 112 (Non-emergency Police: 0900-8844). Calls are automatically routed to local public safety answering points with emergency vehicle dispatch.
Transportation, Driving Standards & Road Regulations
- Traffic Flow: Road traffic drives on the right (RHT) with Left-Hand Drive (LHD) vehicles.
- Standard Speed Limits: General regulatory speed limits default to 50 km/h (31 mph) in built-up urban and residential zones, 80–100 km/h (50–62 mph) on undivided rural roads, and 110–130 km/h (68–81 mph) on grade-separated divided motorways/expressways (unless lower local limits are posted).
- Safety Requirements: Mandatory seatbelt compliance for all occupants, zero-distraction handheld mobile phone bans while driving, and mandatory in-vehicle warning triangles.
Commerce, Currency & Document Standards
- Official Currency: Legal tender is the Euro (EUR, €).
- Document & Paper Standards: Standard office printing, official government gazettes, and legal filings strictly utilize NEN-EN-ISO 216 A4 (210 × 297 mm). Standard business correspondence pairs with standard business envelopes.
- National Time Zone: Regulated under UTC+1 (CET) / UTC+2 (CEST Summer).
Postal Addressing & Administrative Divisions
- Postal Architecture: Postal delivery utilizes Alphanumeric (4 Digits + 2 Letters: NNNN AA, e.g. 1012 JS Amsterdam).
- Standard Address Format: Structured in standardized hierarchy: Recipient Name → Street Address / Building Unit → Postal Code + City/Town → Province/State → Kingdom of the Netherlands.