Most people I talk too refer to Holland in the same way as they would to The Netherlands. They think Holland is the same as The Netherlands.Just to let you in on a little secret: this is wrong!
So what is the difference, you may ask?
Well, the difference is that The Netherlands (the kingdom as we know it nowadays) came into existence after Napoleon (1830). Between 1815 and 1830 The Kingdom of The Netherlands also included Belgium, but that is another story for another time 
Nowadays The Netherlands consists out of twelve provinces: Groningen, Friesland, Drente, Overijssel, Flevoland, Gelderland, Utrecht, North-Holland, South-Holland, Zealand, North Brabant and Limburg.
So what is Holland then?
I am glad you asked … Two of the twelve provinces in The Netherlands have the name Holland, specifically North Holland and South Holland (see also a map of The Netherlands here). The major cities (Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague) are located in these two provinces. So if you have ever been to The Netherlands, the chance is big that you have also been to Holland.
Why does everyone refer to The Netherlands as Holland then?
To answer that question we need to give you a little bit of a history lesson: When the Dutch went out into the world during the Dutch Golden Age (starting in the 17th century) to establish our trading routes, most ships came from the two provinces now called North Holland and South Holland. As you might have figured out, The Netherlands did not exist at that time yet, so when you would ask the sailor where they were from they would respond with the name of their city-state (province). Most of the time the sailor response would be that he was from Holland. Ever since Holland has been an synonym for the area that would later be called The Netherlands. Of course the supporters of some of the major Dutch soccer teams (also mostly from Holland) did not help making this clearer for foreigners
So now that I all know this, can I still refer to The Netherlands as Holland?
Now since there are ten other provinces with each having their own proud history, I would not recommend saying Holland when you are actually trying to refer to The Netherlands. It is just not correct and can even be seen as offensive or insulting, unless of course the person you are talking too is from one of those two provinces
If you have any question or comments about the difference between Holland and The Netherlands, make sure you leave a comment below 
49 comments ↓
So to resume, Holland is a part of Netherlands?
In short: Yes
It’s all dutch to me
hmmm my family’s dutch and when i asked them about this, they said there’s no way people would be offended when one uses holland instead of the netherlands or the other way around…so i don’t know where you got your information from?
Hi Matt,
Thanks for your message. Is your family from the part that is called Holland (or close by)? I am from the very north and there we can consider it offensive (just note that not every person would be offended). In my opinion it is just safer to refer to Dutch people as coming from the Netherlands (you can not go wrong with that … well maybe with the Friesen
Yeah, I’ve been to Friesland in Holland.
I’m a Nigerian, and all this while I have been refering to The Netherlands as Holland and viz. I have educated my self from this site. I’m an prospecting student for Wageningen university. My appology to Maroin a VSO in Nigeria if I have refered to her wronly in this regard
Am a Gambian, I have some friends from either Holland or The Netherlands? Well , a question mark because i definitely dont know from which of the two are they from. All along if i speak to them through whatever means, i will always ask them how is Holland? Wright or wrong they have never told me anythingabout that. Good that i have now learnt about it from you, i will find out from them where they are from. Big thanks for this info.
thanks for the insight. As an American who loves to watch Euro soccer (football)
, this has cleared alot up for me.
I guess it would be like someone from Europe coming over and saying they visited with the Yankees when actually they were in the south? I too would be offended.
this is a bit confusing… is it two countries in one?
Hi Koko,
To answer your question: There is only one country, called “The Netherlands”. “Holland” is just a part of it, so “Holland” is officially not a country. That said, in a lot of countries say “Holland” but are actually referring to “The Netherlands”. I hope this helps clarify things
yeahhh.. a lil..thanks anyway
this is a bit confusing… two country in one
It is historical information,very intresting too,
How long does it take to complete a masters degree in Holland?
and are international students taught in dutch language as well?
Thanks for this information. I am a Nigerian and have always wondered the difference between Holland and the Netherlands.
I am still not satisfied with the explanation cos the name ‘Holland’ is always used in competitions and in the news. However, i am a bit more informed than i was b4 i read ur blog.
Thanks again.
Cheers!
This blog/site is very informative. I am learning a whole lot about the Dutch that i didn’t know about.
You are doing a great job.
Kudos!
thanks for the info, i never thought of it that way, i felt the Govt just change the name for a purpose but thank you for the updating, moreover, why are they still refering to the state as “holland” in term of sport and other things? this should be known everywhere.
doing great job!
I just couldn’t beleive what I was reading. It sounds interesting and very informative. I am still confused, why are many people still refering to this country as Holland?
am from kenya.i was searching for a scholarship for an intended postgraduate yet, i had no idea of the distinction btn holland and the nethetlands.n enlightened me
Thanks for the information.
Very interesting. I was prompted to search further about Holland/Netherlands when my daughter had an assignment for school about where her family came from. Our family name comes from a town called Wageningen (I think I spelled that right). So now I know that years ago that would have been Holland, but now Netherlands. Thankyou for the clearification!
Julie
Offcoz it is real interesting to get the secrect of such news! keep in touch guyz
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Thanks for educating us. we have a tendency of calling it Holland instead of Netherlands because we donot know and that we have known it will be alright.
Similar to relationship between England and UK.
hello,
i really enjoy this topic, it’s an eye opener for me.
i would like you to give me informations on how to get a scholarship from any university in holland or netherlands in a year time.
i am rounding up high school or secondary school in nigeria in a year time.
i will be waiting earnestly for your reply.
Thanks for the valuable information.
Thank you very much for this clear explanation. I admit that I always thought that Holland and The Netherlands were one and the same thing.
As Tiansun said, it’s similar to the England / UK relationship . A lot of people refer to England when they really mean the UK and, as a Scot, I find that annoying. But it’s quite probable that they just don’t know the difference!
But the Dutch national football team is called Holland, why is this then? Also, when Fifa announced that the 2006 World Cup will be held in Germany, they referred to Germany as Dutchland, but apparently Dutch is a language spoken in Netherlands/Holland. So where does Dutch actually fit in?
Actually, The Netherlands and Holland are the same. Im from the Netherlands and we also use both ‘holland’ and ‘The netherlands’ when talking about our country.
well for me Holland is much shorter when pronoucing it so i will continue using Holland to refer to the netherlands . The Dutch should make up their minds anway is it going to be Hoeland or the Netherlands.
Brainstorming
tanks 4 de info
thanks a lot for informing us,best of luck
To me, this Netherland-Holland thing is still confusing.
Why is the national soccer team called Holland?
If Netherland is the country, how is it different from Netherland kingdom today?
What about Dutchland or Dutch?
Otherwise am a little bite informed job well done. I will never offended these friends when they come to Uganda
Thanks I was really glad that now I was able to distinguise between two names HOlland & Netherland, which were in disguise form..
WOW! Thanks for the explanation. I’m doing a homeschool lesson on The Netherlands/Holland. I was ust trying to answer the question as to why the country had two names, but it doesn’t! The kids are 4, 6, 8, and 10. I am glad to be able to start them off knowing the correct name. I wonder why the world has remained so ignorant to this for so long. It doesn’t even make sense to refer to the country as Holland. Just as it wouldn’t make sense to refer to The United States as New England, since New England only makes up a small, yet significant, portion of it.
EXCELLENT!!!
for me they are the same
I’m Half Dutch/Afro-American,
I was born there and in my many years of living there, I haven’t bothered to know the distinction between Holland & Nederland. They’re all the same to me.
In short, I find it rather unique
I’m currently in England but, when friends ask what the difference is, I just quote; “Shut up, don’t question, just call it as you see fit”
I’m Indonesian, and Indonesian was occupied for more than 250 years by the Dutch. For us the term Holland is more familiar than Netherland. My grand father told me that the dutch is more proud to be called “Hollandisch” (orang Belanda = People from Holland) rather than “Netherlandisch” as Netherland has negative connotation as Niederland (low or under country)?
I still wonder why Holand is sometimes used officially for the entire province when indeed Netherlands is being rerfered to. Not to confuse people expecially foreigners I think the word Holand should no longer be used at all.
Really 10Q for valuable info!!!!!!
and it means the same to, hol-land means low-land and netherland (nederland) means low-land (on cnn they say the lower countries)
I have to correct Dutch people who refer to Gelderland as Holland…
I was consufing about that and when some one say i did my master degree from neatherland, then i asume that may hollad as mostly people says that holland is new official name of neather land . thaks, its really a historical information. atleast it must be clear to all those who lived their.
It really great to know the difference. Thanks for the info. It a real brain gain.
I am a teacher of EFL. I have my own idea why more people will call the Netherlands Holland than the other way round. It is much easier to pronounce it, guys……As simple as that. For this reason I do not think it will ever change, what’ s more, thanx to sports commentaries and the football fans etc. more and more people will refer to the Netherlands as Holland…Sorry, it s just human nature…For me it s all the same- I can pronounce both perfectly. 90% of the people will be different from me.
It isn’t all incorrect to say Holland. It can be a pars pro toto, just like you say “Bosnia” for Bosnia and Herzegovina. Politically it is The Netherlands, but the people in the Netherlands itself call it ‘Nederland’, so that is singular, while English people are calling it in plurar. You could say that that is politically wrong too.
Don’t try to make things up when you answering me, I’m full bone Dutchman :p
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