Kingdom of the Netherlands explained to kids

The Kingdom of the Netherlands, commonly known as the Netherlands, is a sovereign state and a constitutional monarchy with territory in Europe and in the Caribbean. The Netherlands is one of the founder states of the European Union and the Eurozone. It is a small, densely populated country located in Western Europe with three island territories in the Caribbean. The Netherlands is a parliamentary democracy with a constitutional monarchy, headed by King Willem-Alexander. The Netherlands is a founding member of the European Union, the Eurozone, the Schengen Area, NATO, and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). It is also a part of the Benelux Union and the Kingdom of the Netherlands–a grouping commonly known as the Dutch Kingdom. The Netherlands has a long history of social tolerance and is generally regarded as a liberal country, having legalised abortion, euthanasia, and same-sex marriage. The Netherlands is a small, densely populated country located in Western Europe, bordering Germany to the east, Belgium to the south, and France to the west. The Netherlands also has several island territories in the Caribbean, including Sint Maarten, Aruba, Curaçao, and Bonaire. The Netherlands has a temperate maritime climate, with cool summers and mild winters. The Netherlands is a constitutional monarchy, with King Willem-Alexander as the head of state. The Netherlands is a parliamentary democracy, with the Prime Minister as the head of government. The Dutch Parliament is bicameral, consisting of the First Chamber (Eerste Kamer) and the Second Chamber (Tweede Kamer). The Netherlands is a founding member of the European Union, the Eurozone, the Schengen Area, NATO, and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). It is also a part of the Benelux Union and the Kingdom of the Netherlands–a grouping commonly known as the Dutch Kingdom. The Netherlands has a long history of social tolerance and is generally regarded as a liberal country, having legalised abortion, euthanasia, and same-sex marriage. The Netherlands is also known for its progressive drug policy, having decriminalised the possession of small amounts of cannabis in 1976.