The Netherlands is divided into 12 provinces, which constitute the primary level of regional administration between the national government and municipalities. Provinces are governed by elected Provincial States (Provinciale Staten) and an executive body called the Gedeputeerde Staten, headed by a King's Commissioner appointed by the Crown. Provincial governments hold responsibility for spatial planning, environmental management, transport infrastructure, economic development, and cultural heritage within their territories. They also supervise municipal governments and coordinate regional policies that extend beyond individual municipal boundaries. While provinces possess significant autonomy in their designated areas, their powers are more limited than those of federal states in other countries, reflecting the Netherlands' unitary constitutional structure. Provincial budgets are funded through national grants and provincial taxes, primarily the motor vehicle tax.