When you hear the word “Holland,” you probably envision brightly colored tulips, winding canals, windmills, cheese, and even those adorable wooden shoes. Hearing “the Netherlands” might also conjure the same images, which could lead to some Holland vs. Netherlands confusion. Although Holland has become colloquially synonymous with the Netherlands, it’s actually just a region of the European country. The Holland region — which boasts the densely populated and well-known cities of Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and The Hague — is often thought of as its own country, but that’s not correct. So, when did this confusion of names first begin? It can be traced back to 1795, when Dutch sailors traversed the open seas in search of new land, trade routes and spices. When asked where they were from, the sailors were known to say they were from “Noord Holland” or “Zuid Holland” — North Holland or South Holland — which made many outsiders believe that Holland was a country. To cut through the confusion, the Kingdom of the Netherlands is the actual country. Holland is merely a province within the Netherlands. People who live in the Netherlands are referred to broadly as Dutch. If you’re from a town in the province of Holland — North or South — you’re referred to as a "Hollander." If you’re from anywhere else, you’re referred to as a “Nederlander.” Still confused? Most Dutch people will pardon visitors who mix up the terms…….just don’t confuse them with the Danish. That’s a whole different story.
