The standard Netherlands abbreviation is NL, the two letter international code you pick from country menus and see on shipping labels. Forms that want three letters use NLD, sports scoreboards show NED, and English writing that needs a short form uses Neth. with a period.
Each one has a job. NL and NLD come from the same international code list, NED comes from the Dutch name Nederland, and Neth. is a plain English clipping. Knowing which system a form or page follows tells you which letters to write.
Quick facts
Two letter code
NLThree letter code
NLDSports code
NEDIn English text
Neth.Web domain
.nlMain airport
AMS (Amsterdam)Not to be confused with
NL for Newfoundland and Labrador in Canada
Every abbreviation for Netherlands in one table
| Short form | System | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| NL | International two letter code | Shipping, online forms, car stickers |
| NLD | International three letter code | Passports, travel documents, data files |
| NED | Sports code | Medal tables, team lists, race results |
| Neth. | English abbreviation | Footnotes, reference lists, old atlases |
| .nl | Internet domain | Dutch web addresses |
| nl | Language code | Dutch language settings and subtitles |
For a quick answer on a form, NL is almost always the safe choice unless the box clearly asks for three letters.
Why sports use NED instead of NLD
Sporting organizations maintain separate lists, apart from the codes used in trade and travel. For the Netherlands they chose NED, from Nederland, the Dutch name for the country. So a swimmer's result line reads "NED" while the same swimmer's passport shows NLD. Neither is wrong; they belong to different systems.
On a speed skating results board: "3. NED 1:09.45." The third place skater represents the Netherlands. A shipping form for the same skater's gear would ask for NL.
Holland, Dutch and the official name
The Netherlands is the country's name in English. Holland is often used as a nickname, but strictly it refers to two western provinces, North Holland and South Holland, where Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague sit. The adjective for the people, language and things from the country is Dutch. That is why a sentence can say "the Dutch team from the Netherlands" without any mistake.
The country is part of a larger Kingdom of the Netherlands, which also includes several islands in the Caribbean. Amsterdam is the capital, while The Hague is the seat of government. None of these names change the codes: NL, NLD and NED all point to the European country.
How to write the Netherlands abbreviation on mail and forms
- International mail from the US: put NETHERLANDS in full as the final address line. Mail is routed by that country name, not a code.
- Online checkout: pick Netherlands from the list. The site stores NL behind the scenes.
- Travel and visa forms: if the box has room for three letters, use NLD.
- Running text: write Netherlands in full. Use Neth. only in notes, tables and citations.
The full word takes "the" in English: "She moved to the Netherlands." The codes do not: "Country: NL."
Codes people confuse with NL
- NL in Canada: the postal abbreviation for Newfoundland and Labrador. If the address has a Canadian postal code, it means the province. See our Canada abbreviation page for more Canadian codes.
- NZ: New Zealand, not the Netherlands.
- DE: Germany, the eastern neighbor. Details on the Germany abbreviation page.
- BE: Belgium, the southern neighbor.
- DK: Denmark, which is not a neighbor at all, though people mix them up. Covered on the Denmark page.
Abbreviation for Netherlands in example sentences
- "Select NL as the destination country."
- "The data file lists NLD in the nationality column."
- "NED took gold in the team pursuit."
- "See Neth. census figures in the appendix."
- "Our flight lands at AMS just after sunrise."
These are codes, not acronyms, since nobody says NL as a word. Our explainer on acronym vs abbreviation covers the difference, and the main country, city and airport codes page lists other nations side by side.
Questions people ask
What is the 2 letter abbreviation for the Netherlands?
It is NL. You will see it on shipping labels, in country menus and on oval car stickers.
What is the 3 letter code for the Netherlands?
The three letter international code is NLD, used on passports and in many data systems. In sports the three letter code is NED.
Why is the Netherlands NED in sports?
Sports bodies use their own code list. For the Netherlands it is NED, taken from Nederland, the Dutch name for the country.
Is Holland the same as the Netherlands?
Not exactly. Holland is the name of two provinces in the west of the country, though many people use it as a casual name for the whole nation. The codes NL, NLD and NED refer to the Netherlands as a whole.
How do you abbreviate Netherlands in writing?
In English text, use Neth. with a period, mostly in notes, tables and citations. In normal sentences, write the full name.