Description: Detailed large political map of Netherlands showing names of capital cities, towns, states, provinces and boundaries with neighbouring countries.
Map of the Netherlands, Netherland map with cities, counties, and roads network. As shown above, the political map of the Netherlands offers more than just a basic overview of boundaries. It shows the arrangement of the country the twelve provinces, major cities, and transport roads. If you're studying geography, travelling or just curious to learn about the Netherlands, this map is a visual aid to the identity of the Netherlands.
This guide starts zooming in on an island in the north to the Randstad built-up area and goes through the map item by item.
Use the map as your reference point as we explore every region, stopping at major cities, noting boundaries, and uncovering what makes each province administratively and culturally unique.
The Netherlands is a kingdom and parliamentary democracy. It is divided administratively into 12 provinces. The map indicates each province has its own local capital and local government of the province. These provinces, shown in different colors on the map, are:
Groningen
Friesland
Drenthe
Overijssel
Gelderland
Utrecht
Noord-Holland
Zuid-Holland
Zeeland
Noord-Brabant
Limburg
Flevoland
Each of these provinces has a designated provincial capital (marked by a red square) and a unique color on the map for easy differentiation.
Amsterdam, marked prominently in the west, is the national capital.
The Hague ('s-Gravenhage), although not the capital, is the seat of the Dutch government and the residence of the royal family.
Each province has its capital clearly marked on the map, such as:
Groningen for Groningen
Arnhem for Gelderland
Maastricht for Limburg
Leeuwarden for Friesland
Refer to the red square symbol on the map to locate each provincial capital.
Situated in the northeast corner of the map, Groningen borders Germany and the Wadden Sea. The province is shaded in purple and includes:
Groningen city, the capital, a major cultural and academic hub.
Other visible towns include Winschoten and Delfzijl.
West of Groningen, shaded in yellow-orange, is Friesland, notable for its lakes and islands:
The capital, Leeuwarden, appears centrally.
Other towns: Heerenveen, Sneek, and Dokkum.
The West Frisian Islands stretch across the northern coast: Terschelling, Ameland, Schiermonnikoog, Vlieland, and Texel.
These islands are part of the province and form a natural barrier along the Wadden Sea.
Just south of Groningen, Drenthe is colored green on the map. It's more rural and features:
The capital city Assen.
Other notable cities: Emmen, Hoogeveen, Meppel.
Dense road networks and green zones reflect its forested lands.
Moving further down on the map, you'll find Overijssel, in light brown, bordered by Germany and several Dutch provinces:
Capital: Zwolle.
Other major cities: Deventer, Enschede, Almelo, Hengelo.
The river IJssel runs along its western border.
Below Overijssel and shaded in yellow, Gelderland is the largest province by land area:
Capital: Arnhem.
Key cities include Nijmegen, Apeldoorn, Ede, and Doetinchem.
The Rhine River and Waal River cross the province, forming essential water routes.
These rivers and their tributaries contribute to the area's fertile lands and transport importance.
Created from reclaimed land, Flevoland appears centrally in orange. It's the newest Dutch province:
Capital: Lelystad.
Another key city: Almere, now one of the fastest-growing urban centers.
Borders the IJsselmeer, a significant inland water body.
You can clearly see the sharp geometric layout of Flevoland's borders—a result of precise land reclamation.
A small yet densely populated province, Utrecht is in pale yellow at the heart of the map:
Capital: Utrecht, a city with rich medieval history and modern business hubs.
Other visible towns: Amersfoort, Zeist, and Nieuwegein.
Utrecht is surrounded by major transport arteries connecting north, south, east, and west.
This dark purple region includes Amsterdam, the national capital, and faces the North Sea:
Cities to observe: Haarlem (the provincial capital), Hilversum, Den Helder, Alkmaar, and Zaandam.
The Markermeer and IJsselmeer lakes are east of the province.
The Zaan River and canal systems support dense commerce.
Immediately south of Noord-Holland is Zuid-Holland, marked in grey. It houses:
The Hague ('s-Gravenhage), the administrative capital.
Major cities: Rotterdam (a key global port), Delft, Leiden, and Gouda.
The Nieuwe Maas and Rotte rivers are visible, along with a major seaport.
The province is the most densely populated, and its proximity to international waters gives it economic strength.
Located at the bottom-left corner of the map in green, Zeeland consists of islands and peninsulas:
Capital: Middelburg.
Other towns: Vlissingen, Goes, Terneuzen.
It borders the North Sea, and the Scheldt River Delta flows through.
The scattered landforms and blue waterways mark Zeeland's vulnerability to the sea, which led to the construction of the Delta Works.
Bordering Belgium, Noord-Brabant is shown in orange:
Capital: 's-Hertogenbosch (Den Bosch).
Key cities: Eindhoven, Tilburg, Breda, Helmond, and Roosendaal.
This province is known for tech innovation (Philips in Eindhoven) and cultural richness.
The road network here is dense and leads directly to Belgium and into central Netherlands.
At the southeastern tail, Limburg is green and has a unique shape that hugs Germany and Belgium:
Capital: Maastricht.
Other cities: Heerlen, Sittard, Venlo, and Roermond.
The Meuse River runs from south to north, forming the province’s spine.
You’ll notice the province’s mountainous and hilly appearance on the map, unlike the rest of the flat Netherlands.
The Netherlands shares its borders with:
Germany to the east (across Groningen, Drenthe, Overijssel, Gelderland, Limburg).
Belgium to the south (across Zeeland, Noord-Brabant, Limburg).
North Sea to the west and north.
Roads and rail links shown on the map indicate close integration with European transportation networks.
Observe the dense highway system, especially in the western half. Major highways include:
A1, A2, A4, A12, A15, and A16.
Rail lines connect Amsterdam to Brussels, Paris, and Berlin.
The political map clearly shows the country's well-structured infrastructure.
Refer to the map legend on the top-left:
Red squares: Provincial capitals.
Black circles of various sizes: Cities by population scale.
Lines: Highways and international borders.
Color blocks: Province identification.
Understanding these symbols allows for efficient reading of administrative data.
This political map of the Netherlands tells a story of a nation that balances history with innovation, water with land, and autonomy with collaboration. Through its provinces, cities, and transport lines, the map lays out how the country governs itself and connects both internally and across Europe.
This map is a handy reference for geography students showing administrative divisions. It maps out what cities, roads and border crossings for travelers. And for the locals, it expresses a national identity that is both traditional and progressive.
Whether you follow the Amsterdam-Maastricht road, see the island towns of Zeeland or the borders with Groningen, this map gives you all the insights for the Netherlands and makes understanding it easier.
Physical Map of Netherlands
Physical map and map image of Netherlands.
Road Map of Netherlands
Road map and map image of Netherlands.
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