There are no formal rules in the Netherlands 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.
Map of the major municipalities in the Netherlands
Historically, there existed systems of city rights, 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. 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. Yet the old and third largest urban center of The Hague, has, together with Amsterdam' the status of the seat of the national government, but never received city rights for deliberate historical reasons. It can therefore be considered a 'plaats' or a 'village', but, arguably, not a 'stad', which translates to town or city, as it was never granted the right to carry that status.
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.
List of cities by province
When discussing cities, the distinction is sometimes made between the cities in two urban networks.
The largest urban network is known as Randstad, including the largest four cities (3 with, and 1 without historical city 'rights') in the Netherlands (Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague and Utrecht). The second urban network in the Netherlands is known as Brabantstad, a partnership of the Brabant "Big 5": Eindhoven, Tilburg, Breda, 's-Hertogenbosch and Helmond. In addition, there are several medium-sized cities in the Netherlands without an urban network. Groningen, notably, is a medium-sized city (sixth-largest city in the Netherlands), without an urban network.
Maps of the Netherlands on World-Gazetteer.com at archive.today (archived 10 December 2012)
List of cities in the Netherlands at Holland.com (archived 16 March 2018)
List of cities and towns in the Netherlands at Britannica.com (archived 16 March 2018)
May 10, 2023
list, cities, netherlands, province, there, formal, rules, netherlands, distinguish, cities, from, other, settlements, smaller, settlements, usually, called, dorp, comparable, with, villages, english, speaking, countries, dutch, word, city, stad, plural, stede. There are no formal rules in the Netherlands 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 Map of the major municipalities in the Netherlands Historically there existed systems of city rights 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 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 Yet the old and third largest urban center of The Hague has together with Amsterdam the status of the seat of the national government but never received city rights for deliberate historical reasons It can therefore be considered a plaats or a village but arguably not a stad which translates to town or city as it was never granted the right to carry that status 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 List of cities by province EditWhen discussing cities the distinction is sometimes made between the cities in two urban networks The largest urban network is known as Randstad including the largest four cities 3 with and 1 without historical city rights in the Netherlands Amsterdam Rotterdam The Hague and Utrecht The second urban network in the Netherlands is known as Brabantstad a partnership of the Brabant Big 5 Eindhoven Tilburg Breda s Hertogenbosch and Helmond In addition there are several medium sized cities in the Netherlands without an urban network Groningen notably is a medium sized city sixth largest city in the Netherlands without an urban network Province City Province mapDrenthe Assen DrentheCoevordenEmmenHoogeveenMeppelFlevoland Almere FlevolandBiddinghuizenEmmeloordLelystadFriesland Bolsward FrieslandDokkumFranekerHarlingenHindeloopenIJlstLeeuwardenSlotenSneekStavorenWorkumGelderland Apeldoorn GelderlandArnhemBredevoortBurenBorculoCulemborgDierenDoetinchemEdeElburgEnspijkGendtGroenloHarderwijkHattemHeukelumHuissenNijkerkNijmegenStaverdenTielUlftVoorstWageningenWijchenWinterswijkZaltbommelZevenaarZutphenGroningen Appingedam GroningenDelfzijlGroningenHoogezand SappemeerStadskanaalVeendamWinschotenLimburg Echt LimburgGeleenGennepHeerlenKerkradeTegelenKesselLandgraafMaastrichtMontfortNieuwstadtRoermondSchin op GeulSittardSteinSusterenThornVaalsValkenburgVenloWeertNorth Brabant s Hertogenbosch Den Bosch North BrabantBergen op ZoomBoxtelBredaEindhovenGeertruidenbergGeldropGraveHelmondHeusdenKlundertOosterhoutOssRavensteinRoosendaalSint OedenrodeTilburgValkenswaardVeldhovenWaalwijkWillemstadWoudrichemNorth Holland Alkmaar North HollandAmsterdamDen HelderEdamEnkhuizenHaarlemHeerhugowaardHilversumHoornLarenMedemblikMonnickendamMuidenNaardenPurmerendSchagenVelsenVolendamWeespZaanstadOverijssel Almelo OverijsselBlokzijlDeventerEnschedeGenemuidenHardenbergHasseltHengeloKampenOldenzaalRijssenSteenwijkVollenhoveZwolleSouth Holland Alphen aan den Rijn South HollandCapelle aan den IJsselDelftDordrechtGorinchemGoudaThe Hague Den Haag LeidenMaassluisRotterdamSchiedamSpijkenisseVlaardingenVoorburgZoetermeerUtrecht Amersfoort UtrechtBaarnBunschotenEemnesHagesteinHoutenLeerdamMontfoortNieuwegeinOudewaterRhenenUtrechtVeenendaalVianenWijk bij DuurstedeWoerdenIJsselsteinZeistZeeland Arnemuiden ZeelandGoesHulstMiddelburgSluisTerneuzenVeereVlissingenZeelandZierikzeeSee also EditCity rights in the Low Countries List of cities towns and villages in the Netherlands by province List of populated places in the Netherlands Municipalities of the Netherlands Provinces of the Netherlands Netherlands portal Cities portal Europe portalExternal links EditMaps of the Netherlands on World Gazetteer com at archive today archived 10 December 2012 List of cities in the Netherlands at Holland com archived 16 March 2018 List of cities and towns in the Netherlands at Britannica com archived 16 March 2018 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title List of cities in the Netherlands by province amp oldid 1153019715, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,