The parliamentary monarchy Netherlands (Dutch Nederland and Frisian Nederlân, informally Holland) in WestEurope with the capital Amsterdam and the seat of government The Hague consists of four autonomous countries in Europe (mainland) and in the Caribbean (3 islands). The European part of the Netherlands covers 41,543 km². It is bordered in the mainland to the north and west by the North Sea, to the south by Belgium and to the east by Germany. Together with Belgium and Luxembourg, the Benelux countries are formed.

The three island groups Bonaire (288 km²), Sint Eustatius (21 km²) and Saba (13 km²) form the Caribbean Netherlands and have the status of "Bijzondere Gemeenten" (Special Municipalities). Other Dutch Caribbean territories are not part of the Netherlands but autonomous countries with their own constitution, currency, and government. The head of state is the respective Belgian monarch, who is represented by a governor. These are Aruba (179 km²), Curaçao (444 km²), and Sint Maarten (34 km²). About half of Sint Maarten belongs to France. The only vineyard on Aruba is the Alto Vista Winery, which is operated in a sustainable manner.
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Thomas Götz
Weinberater, Weinblogger und Journalist; Schwendi