Holland
Holland is a region in the central-western part of the Netherlands. Holland is a former county of the Holy Roman Empire, ruled by the Count of Holland, and later the leading member of the Republic of the Seven United Provinces of the Netherlands (Republiek der Zeven Verenigde Nederlanden, 1581–1795).
The area is today divided between two provinces of the Netherlands: North Holland (Noord-Holland) and South Holland (Zuid-Holland) that were created in 1840. A few regions that were historically Hollandic became part of other provinces as a result of reforms during the French occupation (1795-1813): Willemstad and surroundings, Biesbosch and the Land van Altena became part of North Brabant. In 1940, after the German occupation of the Netherlands, the islands of Vlieland and Terschelling went to Friesland. This was not changed back after World War II. In 1950, the island of Urk went to Overijssel (in 1986 to Flevoland). More recent territorial changes are the transfer of Oudewater, Woerden and Vianen from South Holland to the province of Utrecht, in 1970, 1989 and 2002 respectively.
The name Holland in this and the other entries on this page ultimately stem from holt land ("wooded land"). A popular, but incorrect, fake etymology holds that it is derived from hol land ("hollow land"), inspired by the low-lying geography of both the Dutch and the English region (Holland, Lincolnshire).
The province of Holland was the cultural, political and economic center of the United Provinces. The greatest cities of the provinces were located within the province of Holland such as Amsterdam (the capital), Rotterdam, Leiden, Alkmaar, the Hague (the seat of government), Delft and Haarlem.Today, together with Utrecht, this group of cities form what is called Randstad Holland. From the great port cities of Holland, Dutch merchants sailed to and from destinations all over Europe, and merchants from all over Europe gathered to trade in the warehouses of Amsterdam and other trading cities of Holland. As a result, many Europeans heard of the United Provinces first as "Holland" rather than "Republic of the Seven United Provinces of the Netherlands". This tradition continues to this day.
Thus, even though it is officially incorrect, the word Holland is often used by both Dutch (speaking) and foreign people to denote the entire Netherlands, possibly because "The Netherlands" ("Nederland" in Dutch) is more cumbersome. People from the other provinces of the Netherlands (such as Friesland, Groningen, North Brabant, Zeeland etc.) are often offended when referred to as "Hollanders".
For a short time (1806–1810), however, there was the Napoleonic Kingdom of Holland, which did encompass large parts of the Netherlands.
History
County of Holland
Holland arose as a county of the Holy Roman Empire in the 9th century. The counts of Holland were also counts of Hainaut, Flanders and Zeeland for several periods in the 13th-15th century. In 1432, Holland became part of the Burgundian Netherlands, and after 1477 of the Habsburg Seventeen Provinces.
United Provinces
In the Eighty Years' War (1568-1648), the northern Dutch provinces, including Holland, succesfully broke away from Habsburg-Spanish rule. Holland became the most prominent and prosperous part of the United Provinces.
After 1795
The formation of the Batavian Republic, inspired by the French revolution, led to a more centralized government. The dominance of Holland was reduced by an administrative reform in 1798, in which its territory was divided over several departments: Amstel, Delf, Texel, and (part of) Schelde en Maas. During the French occupation (1810-1813), Holland was divided over the départements Zuyderzée and Bouches-de-la-Meuse. After 1813, Holland was restored as a province of the Netherlands. It was divided into the present provinces North Holland and South Holland in 1840.