Global Sourcebook for International Data Management
by Graham Rhind
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Netherlands
Global Sourcebook | Index | Properties
| THE NETHERLANDS |
Holland comprises two provinces in the west of the country and no more. You should therefore refrain from addressing mail to ‘Holland’ and use the correct term - ‘The Netherlands’.
For supplementary information, see links to post office home pages here , to postal code pages here
and to other personal name and addressing issues pages here
.
Video explaining about Holland, The Netherlands and its Caribbean parts
The Netherlands - Country information
Local short name form
Official Name
Area
Population
Capital
Currency
International telephone access code
ISO 3166 country codes
Car nationality plate code
Internet country code
GRC Country Code
The Netherlands - Number format
1.234,45
(where , indicates the decimal separator and . the thousands separator)
The Netherlands - Date and time formats
The Netherlands - Languages
Dutch , spoken by 88% of the population as a mother language, is the official language. Friesian
, spoken in Friesland, a province in the northern part of the country, is spoken by 5% of the population. Most speakers of Friesian are bilingual in Dutch. Low Saxon
, a German dialect, is spoken in the north and central areas along the German border. Most of these speakers are bilingual in Dutch.
The Netherlands - For the attention of
For written communications to people within companies, the abbreviation T.a.v., short for Ter Attentie van or Ten aanzien van and meaning ‘For the attention of’ often precedes the person’s name in this way:
Bakkerij Janssens T.a.v. Dhr. A. Janssens
Tables of names can be acquired: given names, surnames/family names
The Netherlands - Personal names and forms of address
Dutch laws prohibit given names if they are too similar to an existing surname, is a noble title (baron, prins, graaf etc.), or if the name is inappropriate.
Dutch personal names often contain prepositions, especially ‘van de’ and ‘van der’ which mean, literally, ‘of the’. As a rule, these parts of the person’s name are written in lower case, thus:
Hans van de Duinen
Note, however, that when used without a given name, the first letter of the first preposition is written with an upper case first letter as follows:
Dhr Van de Duinen
The most common prepositions used in Dutch names are:
bij de bij het bij ‘t de den der het in in de in het in ‘t op op de op het op ‘t te ten ter ‘t van van de van den van der van het van ‘t
Most Dutch people have two names - their official name and their day-to-day name. Thus a person with the official name J.C.M.P. (Johannes Cornelis Maria Pieter) van Agt may be known as Hans or Cees, for example. On mailings, one should avoid using either the day-to-day name or the official name - the abbreviation of the official name should be used. It is virtually impossible to match the official and day-to-day names of individuals on the basis of name only. In Dutch databases, therefore, two fields are best reserved for the first name - one containing the initials of the official first name, the other containing the day-to-day first name for recognition purposes.
The form of address which would be used on an address label is inappropriate for use within a letter.
Married Dutch women may take their husband’s name but retain their own as a second surname in this way:
Marijke van den Broek marries Jan Nijpels
and becomes
Marijke Nijpels-van den Broek
Other married women retain their maiden names, though any children take the father’s surname. Children older than 12 may choose to change their family name to that of the other parent. New laws also allow children to retain Spanish/Portuguese-type family names structures.
The Netherlands - Company names
It is more correct, where the nature of a company is mentioned in its name, that this precedes the name of the company, thus:
Bakkerij Janssens
You will often, however, find these activity indications after the company name, thus:
Janssens, Bakkerij Janssens (Bakkerij)
The Netherlands - Company legal forms
The following company types may be found in Dutch company names:
Buitenlands Filiaal BV (Besloten Vennootschap met beperkte aansprakelijkheid – limited liability company) Coöperatie CV (Commanditaire Vennootschap – limited partnership) (Obsolete from 2009) CvoA (Commanditaire Vennootschap op Aandelen – limited partnership with shares) Eenmanszaak (one-person company) Mij (Maatschappij) (Obsolete from 2009) NV (Naamloze Vennootschap) OV (Openbare vennootschap zonder rechtspersoonlijkheid) Stichting Vereniging VOF (Vennootschap onder Firma – general partnership) (Obsolete from 2009)
Comprehensive tables of these strings can be acquired – see http://www.grcdi.nl/addresses.htm
The Netherlands - Addresses
Note: This section last updated 15th June 2013
It is law in The Netherlands that each thoroughfare is named and each building is numbered
Addresses are written in the format:
Name
Thoroughfare Name thoroughfare type[ ]number{[-]sub-building indicator}
POSTAL CODE[ ]SETTLEMENT
For example:
There should be two spaces between the postal code and the settlement name.
There are three official formats for writing Dutch addresses. The first, the ‘official’ format, is as follows:
- Street address with maximum 43 characters in mixed case
- The town with maximum 24 characters in upper case
- The IJ written as IJ (see section on Dutch in the chapter on Diacritical Marks)
For example:
The second format is used by the Ministry of Internal Affairs for its address databases:
- Street address with maximum 24 characters in mixed case
- The town with maximum 24 characters in upper case
- the IJ written as IJ
For example:
The third format is used by the post office:
- Street address with maximum 17 letters in upper case
- The town with maximum 18 letters in upper case
- The IJ written as Y
For example:
In terms of database management, it is preferable to use a mixture of all three systems, thus:
- Street address, complete, in mixed case
- Town name, complete, in upper case
- The IJ as IJ
For example:
In some databases, you may find that the prepositions, titles, initials and articles are put behind the rest of the thoroughfare type, thus:
Koningin Julianastraat becomes Julianastr., kon.;
and
Meester P. Troelstralaan becomes Troelstraln., mr. p.
but this system should not be used when addressing envelopes.
Some streets in The Netherlands are themselves numbered. Thus the figures le, 2e etc. in front of the street name indicate the number of the thoroughfare, not of the habitation. These mean 1st, 2nd etc.
If you can choose between a street address and a post office box number for mailings, always use the post office box number with its postal code.
If you wish to add codes or messages to the label, these should always be placed above and to the left of the address.
Houseboats without a house number should have the house number replaced with the letters AB (aan boord = on board) and the name of the boat. The number may be preceded with t/o, meaning ‘opposite’, and the number will be that of the building opposite the boat. However, in some cities, to aid location of the boats by emergency services, the boats are being assigned their own numbers. In Amsterdam, for example, the boats are being given numbers followed by the letter G.
Caravans without a house number should have the number replaced by the letters WW (woonwagen = caravan).
The Dutch Post Office prefers addresses to have only 3 lines:
- The name of the person or company.
- The street name and house number; or the word ‘Postbus’ with a post office box number.
- The postal code and the town.
For example:
or
Street addresses should be written:
Thoroughfare[ ]number{[-]sub-building indicator}
The sub-building indicator usually indicates a floor and/or part of a floor, and is often essential to ensure the correct delivery of an item. If this is not added where required, delivery is likely to be to the wrong flat within an apartment building. It can be a short text, roman numerals or numerals. For example:
Prinsengracht 88-hs (indicates ground floor flat) Prinsengracht 88-II (indicates second floor flat) Prinsengracht 88-IIIa (indicates third floor flat at the back) Prinsengracht 88-IIIv (indicates third floor flat at the front) Prinsengracht 88-2 (indicates second floor flat)
In some cities zwart (zw.) indicates the ground floor and rood the upper floor.
The last line should always consist of the postal code followed by the town name.
If an address has a box number (‘bus’) this should be added after the address so:
Thoroughfare[ ]number[ bus ]number
The thoroughfare type is suffixed to the thoroughfare name without a space. For example:
Haarlemmerdijk 23 Boslaan 98 Groenweg 2
The thoroughfare name may also consist of different components separated with a space thus:
Eerste Anjeliers Dwarsstraat
This is usually the case when the street name begins with an adjective such as ‘first’, ‘long’ etc.
The abbreviation t/m between numbers in an address is an abbreviation for tot en met meaning ‘up to and including’.
The border between Belgium and The Netherlands runs through the front door of this house in Baerle-Hertog/Baerle Nassau. It has two numbers.
In some areas of Nijmegen, Wijchen en Lelystad the streets are numbered and the neighbourhood name is used instead of a thoroughfare name. For example:
Malvert 3316
indicates street 33 in the neighbourhood of Malvert, house number 16. This is more often written:
Malvert 33-16
to reduce confusion.
In the district of Graan voor Visch in Haarlemmermeer the streets do not have names but each building in the neighbourhood is numbered, from 13000 to 19999, providing the highest house numbers in The Netherlands.
The longest street name is Burgemeester Baron van Voerst van Lyndenstraat in Gramsbergen, and the shortest are A and B in Ottoland and E in Zuidlaren.
A signpost in Graan voor Visch showing building number ranges. Source: Wikipedia.
A table containing information about the relevant position of elements within address blocks can be acquired
Thoroughfare types
Below is a list of the most commonly occurring thoroughfare types, with the abbreviated form(s) which you are most likely to find in address databases:
| Thoroughfare | Abbreviation |
| Baan | |
| Berg | |
| Boulevard | Bd, Bld, Boulev |
| Dijk | Dk |
| Donk | |
| Dwarsstraat | Dwstr |
| Dwarsweg | Dwwg |
| Gracht | Gr |
| Kade | Kd |
| Kanaal | Kan |
| Laan, Leane, Loane | Ln |
| Markt | |
| Park | Pk |
| Plantsoen | Plnts |
| Plein | Pln |
| Singel | Sngl |
| Straat, Strjitte | Str |
| Straatweg | Strwg |
| Wal | |
| Weg | Wg |
Comprehensive tables of these strings can be acquired – see http://www.grcdi.nl/addresses.htm
Street name change on the border between The Netherlands and Germany. © Bernd Kueck, http:www.grenzen.150m.com//
Thoroughfares in Friesland
In Friesland, in the north of The Netherlands, Friesian is spoken. It is uncommon to come across a street name in Friesian in address databases, although Friesian-speakers themselves use them. Thoroughfares are only given a single name (although they are easily translated by users), in Dutch or in Friesian, and this is the one to be used for preference.
Other elements commonly found in address databases
Dutch
| Neuter | Abbrev. | Gendered and Plural (where different from neuter form) | Abbrev. | Translation |
| het (sometimes ’t) | de | the | ||
| een | a, an | |||
| en | and | |||
| tot | till, until, up to | |||
| voor | for | |||
| van | of, from | |||
| op, naar | to, towards | |||
| bij | near, by | |||
| aan | on (sea, for example), at | |||
| aan de | a/d | on (a river) | ||
| op | on | |||
| in | in | |||
| tegenover | opposite | |||
| naast | next to | |||
| achter | behind | |||
| vóór | in front of | |||
| tussen | between | |||
| over | over | |||
| onder | under | |||
| met | with | |||
| nieuw | nw. | nieuwe | nwe. | new |
| oud | oude | old | ||
| kort | k. | korte | kte. | short |
| lang | 1. | lange | lge. | long |
| hoog | hg. | hoge | hg. | high |
| laag | lg. | lage | lg. | low |
| groot | g./gt. | grote | g./gte. | large |
| klein | k./kl. | kleine | k./kle. | small |
| gedempte | ged. | filled-in (of a canal) | ||
| heilige | h. | holy | ||
| kromme | kr. | crooked, curved | ||
| verlengde | verl. | extended | ||
| noord | n. | north | ||
| noordzijde | nz. | north side | ||
| oost | o. | east | ||
| oostzijde | oz. | east side | ||
| zuid | z. | south | ||
| zuidzijde | zz. | south side | ||
| west | w. | west | ||
| westzijde | wz. | west side | ||
| kasteel | kast. | castle | ||
| sint | st. | saint | ||
| Industriepark | industrial estate |
Friesian
| Neuter | Abbrev. | Gendered and Plural (where different from neuter form) | Abbrev. | Translation |
| it (sometimes ’t) | de (sometimes ’e) | the | ||
| in | a, an | |||
| en | and | |||
| oant, oan, ta | till, until, up to | |||
| foar | for | |||
| fan | of, from | |||
| nei | to, towards | |||
| by | near, by, close to | |||
| op | on | |||
| yn | in, into | |||
| foaroer | opposite | |||
| nêst, njonken | next to | |||
| efter | behind | |||
| foar | in front of | |||
| tusken | between | |||
| oer | over | |||
| ûnder | under | |||
| boppe | above | |||
| mei | with | |||
| nij | nije | new | ||
| âld | âlde | old | ||
| koart | kt. | koarte | kte. | short |
| lang | 1. | lange | lge. | long |
| heeg | hg. | hege | hg. | high |
| leeg | lg. | lege | lg. | low |
| great | g./gt. | greate | g./gte. | large |
| lyts | lytse | small | ||
| noard | n. | north | ||
| east | e. | east | ||
| súd | s. | south | ||
| west | w. | west | ||
| sint | st. | saint |
Addresses will also often contain the names of people with their titles or forms of address. These titles are, and can be abbreviated, as follows:
| Title | Abbreviation | Translation |
| Aalmoezenier | Aalm | Chaplain |
| Admiraal | Adm | Admiral |
| Baron | Bar | Baron |
| Baronesse | Bsse | Baroness |
| Bisschop | Biss | Bishop |
| Burgemeester | Burg | Mayor |
| Commissaris | Comm | Commissioner |
| Deken | Dkn | Deacon |
| doctorandus | drs | academic grade, masters degree, no translation |
| Dokter, Doctor | Dr | Doctor |
| Dominee | Ds | Minister, Vicar, Padre |
| Douairière | Dre | Dowager |
| Gebroeders | Gebr | Brothers |
| Generaal | Gen | General |
| Graaf | Gr | Duke |
| Gravin | Gr | Duchess |
| Hertog | Htg | Earl |
| Ingenieur | Ir | Engineer |
| Jonkheer | Jhr | Esquire |
| Kanunnik | Kan | Canon |
| Kapelaan | Kap | Curate, Chaplain |
| Kapitein | Kapt | Captain |
| Kardinaal | Kard | Cardinal |
| Keizer | Kzr | Emperor |
| Kolonel | Kol | Colonel |
| Koning | Kon | King |
| Koningin | Kon | Queen |
| Luitenant-Generaal | Lt Gen | Lieutenant-General |
| Majoor | Maj | Major |
| meester | mr | Mister (academic grade) |
| Minister | Min | Minister (political) |
| Monseigneur | Mgr | Monseigneur |
| Notaris | Not | Notary |
| Pastoor | Past | Pastor |
| Pater | Ptr | Father (religious) |
| Paters | Ptrs | Fathers (religious) |
| President | Pres | President |
| Prins | Pr | Prince |
| Princes | Pr | Princess |
| Professor | Prof | Professor |
| Rector | Rect | Rector |
| Ridder | Rdr | Knight |
| Secretaris | Secr | Secretary |
| Sinjeur | Sinj | Cleric |
| Sint | St | Saint |
| Wethouder | Weth | Alderman |
| Zuster | Zr | Sister (religious) |
| Zusters | Zrs | Sisters (religious) |
The Netherlands - Post office box
This is written Postbus, abbreviated to PB.
Post office boxes have their own postal codes. The Dutch postal service prefers the use of the post office box number to the street 0address. Do not use both the street address and the post office box address. If you do this, the Dutch postal service will attempt to deliver the package only to the post office box number. If the postal code for this post office box is incorrect (i.e. it refers to the street address), then the package will be returned as undeliverable.
Dutch companies will often provide both a street address and a post office box address with only one postal code in this way:
Bakker Het Dagelijkse Brood Hoofdstraat 12 Postbus 187 6872 AG POSTSTAD
In these cases, the postal code belongs always to the post office box number.
The Netherlands - Postal codes
There are more than 575 000 postal codes (Postcodes) in The Netherlands, introduced in 1976, and around 30 000 are changed each year as new streets are created. Postal codes have 4 digits and two letters, the digits starting with a number between 1 and 9. The layout is as follows:
9999[ ]AA
The postal code is written before, and on the same line as, the town name.
The digits indicate the town or district, the letters a group of some 25 habitations, offices, factories or post office boxes. There is no correlation between codes and administrative districts.
The letter combinations SS, SA and SD are not used.
There should be no punctuation anywhere within the postal code, and there should be nothing written underneath the postal code.
Metadata containing postal code formatting rules, exceptions and regular expressions can be acquired
The Netherlands - Postal code format graphic
The Netherlands - Postal code format
The Netherlands - Postal code specifics
The Netherlands - Postal code regular expression
\A([1-9]\d{3,3}( )([A-R|T-Z][A-Z]|[S][B|C|E-R|T-Z]))\Z
The Netherlands - Postal code level of coverage
The Netherlands - Postal code map
Place names in The Netherlands
Note: This section last updated 27th January 2017
St., the abbreviation for Sint (Saint), can in all cases be used in place names except for the settlement of Sintjohannesga.
Place names consisting of more than one word are not usually hyphenated.
Place names can begin with an apostrophe, followed by an ‘s’ or a ‘t’. Some of these names have alternative spellings which are perfectly acceptable to use (though the former spellings are the official spellings), i.e:
’s-Hertogenbosch = Den Bosch ’s-Gravenhage = Den Haag
Place names sometimes include the link aan or aan de, meaning ‘on’ or ‘on the’. Aan de is often abbreviated to a/d.
Place names may be followed by Ca (more correctly C.A.), meaning cum annexus (“and surrounding area”).
Refer to Exonyms in Netherlands for full lists of place names in the Netherlands in other languages.
Alternate place name forms/postal code tables can be acquired at http://www.grcdi.nl/settlements.htm
Other language place name data can be acquired at http://www.grcdi.nl/otherlanguageplace.htm
Place names in Friesland
In Friesland, in the north of The Netherlands, Friesian is spoken. Where a municipality (gemeente) recognizes both a Friesian and a Dutch name for the municipality, the postal service prefers that the Dutch name is used. Where the municipality uses a unilingular Friesian name, the postal service prefers that this name is used. It is preferable as far as the recipient is concerned that the town name corresponding to his/her preferred language is used.
The following list is of settlements in Friesland which have both Dutch and Friesian names:
The Netherlands: Endonyms and exonyms in Frisian:
In all other cases, the settlement has a unilingular name.
Bilingual place name board, Friesland
The Netherlands - Administrative districts
The Netherlands is split into 12 provinces :
Drenthe (Dr.)
Flevoland (Fl.)
Fryslân (Friesland) (Fr.)
Gelderland (Gld.)
Groningen (Gr.)
Limburg (Lim., Lb)
Noord Brabant (N.Br., N.B.)
Noord Holland (N.H.)
Overijssel (Ov.)
Utrecht (Utr.)
Zeeland (Zld.)
Zuid Holland (Z.H.)
These are not used in addresses unless no postal code is used and a town of the same name exists in more than one province, in which case the province abbreviation is written directly after the postal town name.
These provinces are further split into gemeentes , municipalities, which contain one or more settlements.
Administrative districts graphic
Telephone numbers in The Netherlands
All telephone numbers in the Netherlands, including the area code, have 9 digits when called from abroad. Dutch telephone numbers may (temporarily) no longer be located in the geographical area to which the area code belongs, and two area code ranges have been assigned which are non-geographic. Mobile numbers have the area code 6.
References
- ^ citypopulation.de/en/netherlands/admin/
- ^ https://nos.nl/artikel/2458361-22-dorpen-in-friesland-hebben-vanaf-nu-een-friese-naam
- ^ https://nos.nl/artikel/2458361-22-dorpen-in-friesland-hebben-vanaf-nu-een-friese-naam
- ^ https://nos.nl/artikel/2458361-22-dorpen-in-friesland-hebben-vanaf-nu-een-friese-naam
Every effort is made to keep this resource updated. If you find any errors, or have any questions or requests, please don't hesitate to contact the author.
All information copyright Graham Rhind 2024. Any information used should be acknowledged and referenced.