Though Holland is, in fact, a region that forms part of the Netherlands, it is often used to refer informally to the whole country. Amsterdam is the capital city and the official language is Dutch. The country has a long history of social tolerance, is known for having a high quality of life, and in 2013 ranked as being the fourth happiest country in the world.
The name ‘Netherlands’ means ‘low country’ — roughly 50% of the land is only one metre above sea level, and about 26% of its total area lies below sea level. The country is divided into north and south regions by the River Rhine, and this has historically created both cultural and linguistic divides between the two areas.
Featured Netherlands Tours
Our Holland Specialist Recommends
“ If you are looking for an excellent winter birdwatching holiday near to home, I recommend our Holland in Winter weekend break which focuses on the large numbers of wildfowl and geese that congregate mainly in the Flevo and Zeeland areas during the winter. The excellent infrastructure, hospitable local people and vast flocks of exciting birds make this a memorable short winter break.”
