Netherlands

The Netherlands (Nederland in Dutch) is the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, a constitutional monarchy. It is located in northwestern Europe and borders the North Sea, Belgium and Germany. The country is often — technically incorrectly — referred to by the name of the economic powerhouse of the United Provinces (1581–1795): Holland (now split into North and South Holland). Said name is widely recognisable, however, as being equivalent to the Netherlands; its use is similar to the use of England for the United Kingdom or Russia for the defunct Soviet Union.