Netherlands

Amsterdam is the constitutional capital of the Netherlands, as specified in the Dutch constitution and signaled by royal inaugurations held there. The confusion arises because The Hague is the seat of government: it hosts the parliament, ministries, Supreme Court, embassies, and international courts, but it is not the capital. For context, Amsterdam grew rich in the 17th-century Dutch Golden Age as a trading hub, and its name comes from a dam on the River Amstel. The other options are important cities: Rotterdam has one of the world’s busiest ports, and Utrecht is a historic ecclesiastical center and major rail hub. Memory tip: Capital starts with A—Amsterdam.