Is it "The Netherlands" or just "Netherlands" the proper way to refer to the country commonly called Holland?

Question

I know that Ukraine is NOT called THE Ukraine, but just Ukraine. I was wondering if the same applied here. Thanks!

Answer 1

It's The Netherlands (it means the low countries, and refers to a number of provinces). Pluralized nations use "the," as in "the United States."

And Holland is technically not the name of the country, but a section of The Netherlands.

Answer 2

The Netherlands is the name in English, Holland is not in fact the name of the country, just the name of two of the provinces - Noord-Holland and Zuid-Holland. I think that the two names for the country (The Netherlands and Holland) started during the Dutch Golden Age, which was during the 1600-1700s, and there was lots of trade from the port cities from the two provinces, a little before the various provinces came together to from a country called The Netherlands.

'Nether' is an old English word that means 'low'. Most of the Netherlands is below sea level.

Answer 3

The Netherlands, like the United Kingdom and the United States. Without the the it would be Netherland, without the s. That's what we call it ourselves in Dutch, Nederland, and not "de Nederlanden", so it has to do with the English language, not with the Dutch. We also say Netherlandish (Nederlands) instead of Dutch, same thing. The French call the Netherlands "Pays Bas" which means Low Lands.

Answer 4

If your speaking proper english say "the netherlands" or Holland. If your speaking to a dutch person just say 'netherlands'. the "the" in front of it sounds weird.
I lived there. They just say 'netherlands' if speaking english

Answer 5

It is The Netherlands, asume this is because in the past it consisted of provinces which later joined to become a country

Answer 6

It's The Netherlands. You can also call it Holland which was the first area settled by the Dutch.

Answer 7

Please go to: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/nl.html