Historically, the Netherlands was defined by a Protestant (Calvinist) north and a Roman Catholic south, a divide that profoundly shaped its society.
Today, the Netherlands is one of the most secular countries in the world. Over half of the population does not identify with any religious affiliation.
* **Christianity:** The largest religious groups remain Roman Catholics and Protestants (mainly the Protestant Church in the Netherlands - PKN), though active church attendance has significantly declined. * **Islam:** The largest minority religion, practiced by roughly 5% of the population, largely rooted in the Turkish and Moroccan communities. * **Other Faiths:** There are active Hindu (largely from the Surinamese community), Buddhist, and Jewish communities. * **Culture:** The country strongly protects freedom of religion and promotes a culture of tolerance and pluralism.