Holland or the Netherlands
Mar 18, 2010
Holland or the Netherlands
The country’s formal name is ‘Nederland’, meaning the ‘low country’. ‘Low’ because much of the land is at or below sea level. Holland is in fact the name of the western part of the country. In the 17th century, these western provinces were the most highly developed and wealthiest part of the country. At present, the provinces of North and South Holland are the most heavily populated of all the provinces, encompassing Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague and other well-known Dutch cities such as Delft and Leiden. The name Holland is therefore also used to refer to the Netherlands as a whole, even though the other provinces are sometimes a little unhappy about it. If you are going to study outside of the provinces of North and South Holland, try and use ‘the Netherlands’. You’ll notice you’ll make more friends this way.