![Map provinces Netherlands-nl](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1e/Map_provinces_Netherlands-nl.svg)
There are no formal rules in the
Netherlands
)
, anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau")
, image_map =
, map_caption =
, subdivision_type = Sovereign state
, subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands
, established_title = Before independence
, established_date = Spanish Netherl ...
to distinguish cities from other settlements. Smaller settlements are usually called ''dorp'', comparable with villages in English speaking countries. The Dutch word for city is ''stad'' (plural: ''steden''). The intermediate category of town does not exist in the Netherlands.
Historically, there existed systems of
city rights
Town privileges or borough rights were important features of European towns during most of the second millennium. The city law customary in Central Europe probably dates back to Italian models, which in turn were oriented towards the tradition ...
, granted by the territorial lords, which defined the status of a place: a ''stad'' or ''dorp''. Cities were self-governing and had several privileges. In 1851 the granting of city rights and all privileges and special status of cities were abolished. Since then, the only local administrative unit is the
municipality
A municipality is usually a single administrative division having corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate.
The term ''municipality'' may also mean the go ...
. Regardless of this legal change, many people still use the old city rights as a criterion: certain small settlements proudly call themselves a ''stad'' because they historically had city rights, while other, newer towns may not get this recognition.
Geographers and policy makers can distinguish between places with respect to the number of inhabitants or the economic and planological functions within a larger area. Hence, settlements can be considered a city if they function as an urban centre in a rural area; while larger population centres in densely populated areas are often neither considered a village nor a city and are usually referred to with the generic word ''plaats'' (place). Inhabitants may also base their choice of words just on the subjective way they experience life at a certain place.
When discussing cities, the distinction is sometimes made between the cities in two urban network.
The largest urban network is known as
Randstad
The Randstad (; "Rim" or "Edge" City) is a roughly crescent-shaped conurbation in the central-western Netherlands, consisting primarily of the four largest Dutch cities (Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, and Utrecht); their suburbs, and many tow ...
, including the largest four cities in the Netherlands (
Amsterdam
Amsterdam ( , , , lit. ''The Dam on the River Amstel'') is the Capital of the Netherlands, capital and Municipalities of the Netherlands, most populous city of the Netherlands, with The Hague being the seat of government. It has a population ...
,
Rotterdam
Rotterdam ( , , , lit. ''The Dam on the River Rotte'') is the second largest city and municipality in the Netherlands. It is in the province of South Holland, part of the North Sea mouth of the Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt delta, via the ''"N ...
,
The Hague
The Hague ( ; nl, Den Haag or ) is a city and municipality of the Netherlands, situated on the west coast facing the North Sea. The Hague is the country's administrative centre and its seat of government, and while the official capital of ...
and
Utrecht
Utrecht ( , , ) is the List of cities in the Netherlands by province, fourth-largest city and a List of municipalities of the Netherlands, municipality of the Netherlands, capital and most populous city of the Provinces of the Netherlands, pro ...
). The second urban network in the Netherlands is known as
Brabantstad
North Brabant ( nl, Noord-Brabant ; Brabantian: ; ), also unofficially called Brabant, is a province in the south of the Netherlands. It borders the provinces of South Holland and Gelderland to the north, Limburg to the east, Zeeland to the wes ...
, a partnership of the Brabant "Big 5":
Eindhoven
Eindhoven () is a city and municipality in the Netherlands, located in the southern province of North Brabant of which it is its largest. With a population of 238,326 on 1 January 2022,[Tilburg
Tilburg () is a city and municipality in the Netherlands, in the southern province of North Brabant. With a population of 222,601 (1 July 2021), it is the second-largest city or municipality in North Brabant after Eindhoven and the seventh-larg ...]
,
Breda
Breda () is a city and municipality in the southern part of the Netherlands, located in the province of North Brabant. The name derived from ''brede Aa'' ('wide Aa' or 'broad Aa') and refers to the confluence of the rivers Mark and Aa. Breda has ...
,
's-Hertogenbosch
s-Hertogenbosch (), colloquially known as Den Bosch (), is a city and municipality in the Netherlands with a population of 157,486. It is the capital of the province of North Brabant and its fourth largest by population. The city is south of th ...
and
Helmond
Helmond (; called ''Héllemond'' in the local dialect) is a city and municipality in the Metropoolregio Eindhoven of the province of North Brabant in the Southern Netherlands.
Helmond is home to several textile and metal companies. The Vlisco fa ...
. In addition, there are several medium-sized cities in the Netherlands without an urban network.
Groningen
Groningen (; gos, Grunn or ) is the capital city and main municipality of Groningen province in the Netherlands. The ''capital of the north'', Groningen is the largest place as well as the economic and cultural centre of the northern part of t ...
, notably, is a medium-sized city (sixth-largest city in the Netherlands), without an urban network.
See also
*
City rights in the Low Countries
City rights are a feature of the medieval history of the Low Countries. A liege lord, usually a count, duke or similar member of the high nobility, granted to a town or village he owned certain town privileges that places without city rights did n ...
*
*
List of populated places in the Netherlands
This is an alphabetical list of populated places in the Netherlands.
A
Aadorp -
Aagtdorp -
Aagtekerke -
Aalbeek -
Aalburg -
Aalden -
Aalsmeer -
Aalsmeerderbrug -
Aalst, Buren -
Aalst, North Brabant& ...
*
Municipalities of the Netherlands
As of 24 March 2022, there are 344 municipalities ( nl, gemeenten) and three special municipalities () in the Netherlands. The latter is the status of three of the six island territories that make up the Dutch Caribbean. Municipalities are the ...
*
Provinces of the Netherlands
There are twelve provinces of the Netherlands (), representing the administrative layer between the national government and the local municipalities, with responsibility for matters of subnational or regional importance.
The most populous prov ...
* ''
''
* ''
''
* ''
''
External links
*
List of cities in the Netherlandsat Holland.com (archived 16 March 2018)
List of cities and towns in the Netherlandsat Britannica.com (archived 16 March 2018)
{{DEFAULTSORT:List Of Cities In The Netherlands By Province
Netherlands
)
, anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau")
, image_map =
, map_caption =
, subdivision_type = Sovereign state
, subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands
, established_title = Before independence
, established_date = Spanish Netherl ...
2
Netherlands
)
, anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau")
, image_map =
, map_caption =
, subdivision_type = Sovereign state
, subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands
, established_title = Before independence
, established_date = Spanish Netherl ...
Populated places in the Netherlands by province