This guide provides a comprehensive overview of Italy address formatting, postal code structures, and localization practices. It includes information on postal services, languages, time zones, and address validation standards across Netherlands.
Address Format
Structure for standardized Netherlands postal addresses.
- Organization
- Building SubBuilding SubPremisesLevel SubPremises
- Thoroughfare PremisesNumber
- PostalCode Locality
- Country
Address Verification Data
Netherlands postal addresses verification data.
| Available: | Yes |
| Does the country use Postal Codes: | Yes |
| PO Box Indicator: | Postbus, PO Box |
| ISO-2-Code: | NL |
| ISO-3-Code: | NLD |
| Phonecode: | 31 |
Address Example
Example of standardized Netherlands postal addresses.
Country Info
Full Country Name: Kingdom of the Netherlands (Koninkrijk der Nederlanden)
| Country Alpha-2 code | NL |
|---|---|
| Country Alpha-3 code | NLD |
| Numeric Code | 528 |
Timezone
Netherlands Time Zone Details
| Time Zone | UTC | DST |
|---|---|---|
| Central European Time (CET): | UTC+1 | UTC+2 |
Official Language
The official language is Dutch, with Frisian recognized as a co-official language in Friesland.
Fun Fact
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The total area of the Netherlands is about 41,543 sq km / 16,040 sq miles, including inland water but excluding overseas territories. (CIA World Factbook)
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Around 26% of the country lies below sea level, relying on dikes, pumps, and flood barriers for protection. (CIA World Factbook)
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The Netherlands has a coastline of about 451 km / 280 miles along the North Sea. (CIA World Factbook)
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The country became a constitutional monarchy in 1815 after the defeat of Napoleon. (CIA World Factbook)
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Natural hazards include flooding, which remains the primary environmental risk despite advanced water management systems. (CIA World Factbook)
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Life expectancy is high, averaging about 82 years, reflecting strong healthcare and living standards. (CIA World Factbook)
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The population is highly urbanized, with over 90% living in cities or urban areas. (CIA World Factbook)
Postal Authority
The Koninklijke PostNL B.V. (PostNL) is the primary postal service provider in the Netherlands. It operates a nationwide network for mail and parcel delivery, offering domestic and international postal services, logistics solutions, and digital communication options. PostNL ensures universal service across all provinces and municipalities.
Reference: https://www.postnl.nl
Postal Code Format
In the Netherlands, postal codes consist of 6 alphanumeric characters—4 digits followed by 2 letters, with a space separating the digits and letters. The postal code is placed to the left of the locality name, with two spaces separating the code from the locality. The 4 digits indicate a specific area or district, while the 2 letters narrow the delivery area down to a street or small neighborhood.
Example:
1030 BD AMSTERDAM
Postal Data & Certification
PostNL is very technology forward with a number of their own integrations and API’s. They have plugin’s that to multiple e-commerce applications and solutions for businesses to verify Dutch addresses. While not publicly listed on their website, they do have private partnerships to license official postal data. PostNL is a strategic partner for Melissa which allows us to use official Dutch postal address in our Global Address solution.
Name Conventions
Population Names
In the Netherlands (NL), names follow the Western naming convention and are regulated by Dutch civil law. The typical structure includes one or more given names followed by a family name. By law, parents must choose either the father’s or the mother’s surname for their children at the time of birth registration; this choice applies to all future siblings. Hyphenated or double surnames are also permitted, especially when combining family names.
Names may include diacritical marks such as é, è, ï, and ç, which are fully recognized in official documents. Dutch civil registries will reject names that are offensive, misleading, or excessively long. Traditional Dutch surnames often include prefixes like van, de, van der, or van den, which are considered part of the surname.
In a full name, the surname prefix “van” is written in lowercase e.g. Jan van Dijk.
However, when only the surname is referred, the van becomes capitalized: Mr Van Dijk.
Honorifics and titles such as de heer (Mr.), mevrouw (Mrs./Ms.), dr. (doctor), and prof. (professor) are used in formal contexts but are not legally part of the registered name.
[opt: title] [given name] [opt: middle name(s)] [FAMILY NAME]
Examples:
- De heer Jan van den Berg
- Mevrouw Elise de Jong
- Dr. Pieter van der Meer
- Prof. Anna de Vries
Organizational Names:
Dutch businesses must register with the Kamer van Koophandel (Chamber of Commerce) and include a legal entity designation. Commonly used designations include:
• B.V. (Besloten Vennootschap) – private limited company
• N.V. (Naamloze Vennootschap) – public limited company
• V.O.F. (Vennootschap onder Firma) – general partnership
Business names must be unique, clearly indicate the type of legal entity, and comply with Dutch trade name regulations.
