The Netherlands is a small country located in Northwest Europe. It has a population of 16.4 million people and an area of 41,526 square kilometers. The Netherlands borders Germany to the east, Belgium to the south, and the North Sea to the north and west. Amsterdam is the capital city, and Dutch is the official language. The current Queen is Beatrix Wilhelmina, who has ruled since 1980. The economy relies heavily on exports and services, with the majority of the workforce employed in services industries. The climate is temperate due to the influence of the surrounding seas, with average temperatures ranging from 2 degrees Celsius in January to 15 degrees Celsius in July.