What are the Benelux countries?

The Benelux countries are Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. The name “Benelux” combines the first parts of the countries' names: Be for Belgium, Ne for the Netherlands, and Lux for Luxembourg.

The grouping began as a customs agreement signed in 1944 by the governments in exile of the three countries during World War II. Their economic cooperation helped remove trade barriers and later influenced the development of wider European integration. The Benelux Economic Union formally came into force in 1960.

Today, the Benelux is also known as the Benelux Union, a framework for cooperation in areas such as the internal market, sustainable development, justice, and cross-border mobility. The three countries are all in Western Europe and are members of both the European Union and NATO.

A frequent mix-up is treating “Benelux” as a fourth country or as a synonym for the Netherlands. It is a regional grouping of three sovereign states. The Netherlands is one member; “Holland” refers more narrowly to two provinces within the Netherlands.