Why is it that English people have two names for Holland?

Question

Netherlands and Holland? And is it just English that have two names for those crazy, loveable guys?

Answer 1

I know, i was so confused when i was watching the World Cup until my sister had to explain to me that they were the same country, just different names
How silly is that?

Answer 2

I guess Holland is the best known part of the Netherlands, and so people think that Holland is the Netherlands in the same way that ignorant people think that England is Britain. I called the Netherlands Holland and a Dutchman bit my head off, however another Dutch friend said Holland was a perfectly acceptable name for the country, which probably means she is from Holland and not the other bits.

Answer 3

It's kinda complicated. Holland is a part of the country The Netherlands, but in history was a seperate county. Together with other counties it formed the 'Republic of the Seven United Provinces of the Netherlands'. Later that all changed and parts of the former Netherlands are now Belgium and a small bit of France, Germany and Luxemburg.

The rest is still called The Netherlands, of which North and South Holland are two provinces.



Check it out yourself at wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holland

Oh and thanks for the compliment :-)

Answer 4

Here in Belgium we have 2 names for The Netherlands. The Netherlands (Nederland) and Holland. But Holland is actually just a region of The Netherlands!

Answer 5

The official English name is the Netherlands, but many people call it Holland. Holland is actually a region in the Netherlands. In France people say Pays-Bas or Hollande.

Answer 6

Ther is another thing too,they call the people from Holland(or Netherlands)as Dutch.

Answer 7

I think English people twist everything they can.

Answer 8

http://www.tourismturkey.org/

Answer 9

do we?!!!!