The Netherlands & Holland

It‘s all a bit confusing… Is it  Holland… Or is it The Netherlands?  They are not the same thing.  Holland is one of the provinces or regions within The Kingdom of The Netherlands, located in the western Netherlands.  The region of Holland was, during the seventeenth century, a very important and powerful colonial area in Europe. The Dutch East India Company was formed in 1602. The Netherlands is also known by the Dutch as Nederland, which means ‘low land.’  

Located in Western Europe, The Netherlands is the European part of the Kingdom of The Netherlands. Their overseas territories include the Netherlands Antilles (the islands of Curacao and Bonaire) and island of Aruba, located in the Lesser Antilles in the Caribbean Sea.  Previously known as the Dutch West Indies, the Lesser Antilles chain of islands lies just off the coast of Venezeula.

Holland (The Netherlands) is bordered by Belgium to the south, Germany to the east and the North Sea to the north and west.  The currency is the Euro (formerly Guilder).  The official languages of The Netherlands are Dutch and Frisian.  The country’s people and language are both known as Dutch.

Within The Netherlands, Holland is split into north and south sections, with Haarlem being capital of North Holland and The Hague being the capital of  South Holland.  Holland was, during a point in history, an independent country with its own currency. It joined forces with the north and south of The Netherlands to resist the Spanish armies.  The southern Netherlands was occupied, however, and is now the country known as Belgium. 

The Hague, located in the west part of South Holland, is the administrative capital of The Netherlands, but not the capital city.  Amsterdam is the capital of The Netherlands, but not of Holland.  The Hague is the third largest city in The Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam.  The Netherlands is a member of the EU and NATO.  Europol is located in The Hague as well as many International Courts. 

The Northern Netherlands united with the regions of Drente, Holland, Friesland, Gelderland, Groningen, Utrecht and Zeeland to become a free Republic which is today known as The Kingdom of the Netherlands.  So, Holland is no longer an independent nation but a part of The Netherlands, just as England is a part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain.    Phew!

Some famous people from The Netherlands include the artists Rembrandt, Vermeer, Van Gogh and Mondrian. 

Holland is known as a flat land, and brings to mind canals, dikes, windmills, clogs, cheese, Delftware and tulips.  A significant portion of the land is covered by water, however, and a large portion of the land is below sea level which puts it in danger of flooding.   It is because of this that so many dikes were constructed as much of the land was reclaimed from the sea.   A huge engineering project named the Delta Project has been completed to try to protect the country from increased risk of flooding.  As if The Netherlands did not have enough exposure to water already, there are three main rivers which divide the land, the Rhine, Meuse and Waal.   The Netherlands is known as a very liberal country where prostitution, same-sex marriage and euthanasia have been legalized for several years.

Link:  www.holland.com 

Amsterdam

Amsterdam is the constitutional capital and largest city of the Kingdom of The Netherlands in the province of North Holland in the western Netherlands.  It is a city of many canals and hundreds of bridges and is often referred to as the Venice of the North because of the similarities.  Amsterdam, like Venice, because of the soft ground, is also built on wooden and concrete pilings.  The canals are lined with historic and picturesque houses.   The main street of Amsterdam is called the Dam and this is the area where most of the notable landmarks are located as well as the shopping areas.  The city has plenty of history and seventeenth century architecture, so although it is a modern and relaxed city, it is also like having a trip back through history. 

Amsterdam has some lovely parks where you might catch a concert in summer and there are trams to help you get around the city.  There are good places to relax with a drink and people-watch, such as the Rembrandtplein and Leidseplein (squares).  Amsterdam is also known for its famous Red Light District and this old part of the city also has many restaurants, bars and historic buildings. 

There are many museums and galleries in Amsterdam, including the Van Gogh Museum, which houses some of the artist’s masterpieces and the Rijksmuseum which has, among others, exhibits of works by Rembrandt and Vermeer.  You can tour Rembrandt’s house and the church where he is buried, and also visit the house of Anne Frank. There is also a Heineken Museum!

For a change of pace and some outdoor activities with sandy beaches and sand dunes try Noordwijk Beach where you can rent sports equipment, including for kite surfing, which is very popular.  This area is also popular with backpackers and there are several hostels close by. 

Link:  www.visitamsterdam.nl

European Guide

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