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The Netherlands is better known by the name Holland, named after the provinces of North and South Holland in the western part of the country. The provinces of North and South Holland are only two of the Netherlands' twelve provinces. The official name of the country is the Netherlands.
The country is a densely populated and low-lying country (hence the name "Nederland, Netherlands" meaning "low lands"). Holland is in the rest of the world especially known for its windmills, Gouda and Edam cheese, tulips and other flowers, wooden shoes, dikes and flat lands, cows and its seventeenth century painters.
The city of Amsterdam is the capital city of the Netherlands, and The Hague (Den Haag or 's-Gravenhage) is the official seat of government and the home of the Queen.
The Netherlands has a rich history. After a major struggle in the 16th century against the Spanish ruler, the country gained independence from the Spanish Empire.
After the independence Holland became one of the major seafaring and economic powers of the seventeenth century. This period is called the Dutch Golden Age.
In this period ships were sent all over the world and colonies and trading posts were founded. Science and art also flourished. Painters like Rembrandt, Vermeer and Frans Hals are still very known today.
Read: history of Holland
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Vermeer, the painter
Vermeer (1632-1675) was born in Delft. He is original in the manner in his paintings. |
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Frans Hals, the painter
Frans Hals (1584-1666) was born in Haarlem. Rembrandt surpassed Hals only in 1 respect. |
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Rembrandt, the painter
Rembrandt (1606-1669) was born in Leiden. His famous paintings show strong contrasts of light and shade.
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The weather in Holland
The weather in Holland is moderate, the country has a maritime climate because of its location at the North Sea.
Pictures of the Netherlands
See photos and pictures of The Netherlands.
Map of the Netherlands
The Netherlands (Nederland) is also known as Holland. Holland is not the official name, but is widely used after the two provinces of "Holland" in The Netherlands. |
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Hugo Grotius
Huig de Groot, known as Grotius, was a scholar, lawyer & statesman. He was one of the master minds of the age. |
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Rene Descartes
Descartes was born in France. He went to Holland in 1629, and spent 20 years of his life in The Netherlands. |
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Desiderius Erasmus
Erasmus was born in the Dutch city of Rotterdam and became one of the great authors in Europe. |
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