Netherlands

The Netherlands is Europe’s densest major nation, squeezing 18.1 million people into just 41,865 square kilometers—a population density of 432 per km², which is 8 times higher than Romania’s (#9) 80 per km². Land reclamation has added 17% more territory since 1950, with polders and dikes protecting 60% of the country from flooding. Urban planning here is a constant battle against spatial limits: Amsterdam now prices residential land at €650 per square meter, 4 times the European average. The Netherlands outperforms #2 in transport efficiency, with 95% of residents within 5 km of a train station, thanks to its compact design.