What is the difference? The Netherlands and Holland are the same or not?

The Netherlands is called the northern flower of Europe. They are a country of beautiful tulips, delicious cheeses, windmills, ancient castles, the birthplace of the most talented painters, well, recently also known as a territory of free morals. Some call this country Holland, and others call the Netherlands. On the map it is designated by the second name. So what's the difference: the Netherlands and the Netherlands?

How Peter the Great visited Holland

It turns out that the tradition to call the kingdom of tulips Holland has strengthened among Russians since the end of the 17th century, since the time when the most progressive of the Russian tsars, Peter the Great, decided to cut a window to Europe and, changing into an ordinary pilot, went to Holland. During his "overseas" trip, he managed to visit only two of the Netherlands provinces - South and North Holland. Then, returning to Russia, he described the life, culture, scientific achievements of this country as a whole, and called it exclusively Holland. So, thanks to this Russian tsar, the Netherlands has established such a name, and it remains in our minds till now.

Holland and the Netherlands - the same thing, or is there still a difference?

This beautiful country, which is located on the shores of the North Sea in the northwestern part of the continent of Eurasia, is officially called the Kingdom of the Netherlands (Koninkrijk der Nederlanden (Netherlands) or Kingdom of the Netherlands. The name Nederlanden is translated as "lowlands". In fact, this country is located on one of the lowest land areas in Europe, the name Holland means hollow ground, that is, without a solid foundation for land. At first glance it seems that these names are identical, but if you think about it, you can understand the difference. The Netherlands and the Netherlands (as part of the kingdom) are located in the lowlands, but the provinces of North and South Holland, in addition to being below sea level, also exhibit instability, a cavity of soil. This is the difference.

Holland or the Netherlands?

Holland has always been the most progressive and developed province of the kingdom. Here the largest and most developed cities of the country are concentrated: The Hague, Rotterdam, and the capital of the country Amsterdam. Of course, the inhabitants of these provinces are flattered that it is not uncommon for the Netherlands to associate with their province, but the inhabitants of other regions do not like it at all, and they are ready to give many reasons explaining the difference. The Netherlands and the Netherlands, according to their opinion, even translate in different ways. And they, residents of other provinces, do not like to be called Dutch. Of course, we, the Russians, do not understand this, because we are used to believe that the homeland of tulips is Holland. Or the Netherlands? "Yes, what's the difference," - you think. However, for example, the inhabitants of Great Britain will perfectly understand the Netherlands. After all, it is unacceptable to call all Britons English, and Britain is called England, which we often do.

A bit about the Netherlands

This state, which in its political structure is a constitutional monarchy. It is a member of the European Union since 1957. He owns a small piece of land on the coast of the North Sea, sandwiched between Belgium and Germany, as well as the islands of Saba, Bonaire and Sint Eustatius in the Caribbean and several Antilles: Curaçao, Sant Martin, Aruba. As you can see, the Netherlands, with the exception of the North and South Holland, includes the provinces, located not only in Europe, but also in other parts of the world. That's why it's wrong to call the whole country Holland, and its people are Dutch. Now it is more or less clear what the difference is. The Netherlands and Holland are related to each other, like Britain and England. Nevertheless, for us Russians, the inhabitants of this country will always be called Dutch, and Rembrandt and Van Gogh are Dutch artists. Well, the famous tulips, too, will invariably always be called Dutch, not Netherlandish.