holland

IPA/ˈhɒl.ənd/
KK[hˈɑlənd]IPA/ˈhɑː.lənd/

holland — noun

1. the informal name for the country of the Netherlands, which sits in northwestern

1.nounB1
Definition

the informal name for the country of the Netherlands, which sits in northwestern Europe and is famous for its canals, tulip fields, and windmills.

Example

Sahil visited Holland last spring to see the tulip gardens and cycle through the countryside.

informal country name: 'Holland' stands for the Netherlands

Ryo bought some Gouda cheese from a market stall while visiting Holland.

Common collocations
  • in Holland
  • visit Holland
  • from Holland
  • live in Holland
  • trip to Holland
Synonyms
  • the Netherlands

    the official name of the country; preferred in formal contexts

  • the Low Countries

    a broader historical-geographical region that includes the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg; not a synonym in modern usage

Usage Note

The official name of the country is the Netherlands. 'Holland' strictly refers to only two of the twelve provinces — North Holland and South Holland — but is widely used informally to mean the whole country. In formal writing, such as academic papers or official documents, choose 'the Netherlands' instead.

Common Mistakes

The capital of Holland is Amsterdam.
The capital of the Netherlands is Amsterdam.
'The Netherlands' is the official country name required in formal contexts; 'Holland' is informal.

2. a historical region in the western part of the Netherlands that was once a singl

2.nounB2
Definition

a historical region in the western part of the Netherlands that was once a single county and later a province; in 1840 it was split into two modern provinces — North Holland to the north and South Holland to the south.

Example

The old county of Holland split into North and South Holland during the 1800s.

historical division: North Holland / South Holland

In the 1600s, Holland was the wealthiest region in the Dutch Republic, controlling sea trade.

Common collocations
  • the county of Holland
  • the province of Holland
  • divided into
  • North Holland
  • South Holland

Usage Note

Primarily encountered in historical discussions about the Dutch Republic or the administrative geography of the Netherlands before 1840. In modern contexts, refer to the current provinces by their full names: North Holland and South Holland.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

'Holland' and 'the Netherlands' are often used interchangeably in everyday speech, but they are not exact equivalents. The Netherlands is the official name of the country, which is made up of twelve provinces. Holland properly refers to only two of those — North Holland and South Holland — which together form the historic heartland of the nation. 'The Low Countries' is a broader historical-geographical term covering the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg. In formal writing, always choose 'the Netherlands' for the country. In casual conversation, 'Holland' is very common but can be seen as slightly imprecise by Dutch speakers. For example, saying 'I am going to Holland on holiday' sounds natural in spoken English, but a news headline should say 'the Netherlands announced a new policy'.

the NetherlandsHolland ↗the Low Countries

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • the people of Holland
  • the history of Holland
  • a map of Holland
  • the coast of Holland

Prepositions

Etymology

Middle DutchDutchEnglish

The name 'Holland' comes from Middle Dutch 'Holtlant', meaning 'wooded land' (holt 'wood' + lant 'land'). It originally described the forested area around Leiden and Haarlem in the western part of the modern Netherlands. By the 11th century, the name referred to the county of Holland, which later became the most powerful province in the Dutch Republic. Over time, 'Holland' became a common shorthand for the entire country, though this broader usage is technically informal.

First known use

14th century

14th century, in the meaning defined above