Located on the North Sea between Belgium and Germany, the Netherlands is among Western Europe's smaller countries. It occupies an area of 41,500 square kilometers, about equal in size to Switzerland or twice the size of New Jersey. With 16.3 million inhabitants, the Netherlands is among Europe's more densely populated countries. The Netherlands is a member of the European Union and NATO and is the home of the International Court of Justice among other international institutions. The Netherlands has a trade-oriented economy. Principal products that are exported include energy-related products, machinery, medical and scientific equipment, food and beverages and chemicals. Germany, Belgium and other EU countries are its principal trading partners. With a free and open economy, the country has attracted considerable foreign direct investment.