You’ve probably seen the orange-clad fans at a soccer match screaming for "Holland." Or maybe you’ve booked a flight to Amsterdam and told your friends you were heading to Holland for the week. Honestly, nobody is going to arrest you for saying it. But here is the thing: Holland is not a country.
It’s a region.
Specifically, it’s just two of the twelve provinces that make up the Netherlands: North Holland (Noord-Holland) and South Holland (Zuid-Holland). If you tell someone in the far-northern province of Friesland or the hilly southern reaches of Limburg that they live in "Holland," they might give you a polite, slightly weary smile. It’s a bit like calling the entire United Kingdom "England." People know what you mean, but it's technically wrong.
The Holland vs. Netherlands Identity Crisis
The confusion isn't just a random mistake. It’s rooted in history. Back in the 17th century, during the Dutch Golden Age, the province of Holland was the absolute powerhouse. It had the money, the ships, and the trade routes. When Dutch merchants showed up in far-flung ports, they introduced themselves as being from Holland.
The name stuck.
In 2020, the Dutch government actually launched a massive rebranding campaign to phase out the word "Holland" from official logos and tourism materials. They want people to know there is more to the country than just the tulip fields and canals of the west coast. But let's be real—habits die hard. Even the official tourism website used to be Holland.com for years.
Why the Name Matters in 2026
Right now, the Netherlands is dealing with a massive "overtourism" problem, particularly in the Holland region. Amsterdam is basically bursting at the seams. By insisting on the name "the Netherlands," the government is trying to nudge you to look elsewhere.
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- Utrecht: Think Amsterdam but with fewer crowds and "wharf" cellars right on the water.
- Groningen: A young, vibrant university city in the north that feels nothing like the tourist traps.
- Maastricht: It’s so far south it almost feels Belgian or French, with actual hills (a rarity in this flat-as-a-pancake country).
What No One Tells You About Dutch Culture
If you’re planning a trip, you’ve probably heard the stereotypes. Everyone rides bikes. Everyone is tall. Everyone is "direct."
That last one is an understatement.
The Dutch value bespreekbaarheid—the idea that everything should be out in the open. If your presentation at work was boring, a Dutch colleague will likely tell you exactly that. It isn't being mean; it's being efficient. They don’t want to waste time with "polite" fluff.
The Tikkie Culture
You also need to know about Tikkie. It’s a payment app, but it’s also a way of life. If you go out for drinks with a local, don’t expect them to cover the whole bill. You will almost certainly receive a Tikkie (a payment request) for your exact share of the beers, down to the last cent.
Some people call it stingy. The Dutch call it equality.
The Geography of a Sinking Region
The most fascinating part of Holland is that it shouldn't really exist. About 26% of the Netherlands is below sea level. If the pumps stopped working today, Schiphol Airport would be an underwater museum within days.
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The Dutch have spent centuries fighting the North Sea. They created "polders"—land reclaimed from the water. You’ll see these everywhere in the Holland provinces. They are perfectly flat, divided by narrow ditches, and usually filled with cows or tulips.
Pro tip: If you want to see the best windmills, skip the touristy shops in Amsterdam and head to Kinderdijk in South Holland. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage site where 19 windmills from the 1740s still stand. They weren't built for decoration; they were the high-tech water pumps of their era.
Travel Reality Check for 2026
Traveling here has changed recently. Starting in January 2026, the Dutch government hiked the VAT (Value Added Tax) on hotel stays from 9% to 21%. This is a huge jump. If you’re booking a stay in North or South Holland, expect your bill to be significantly higher than it would have been a couple of years ago.
Amsterdam has also pushed its tourist tax to the highest in Europe. They are actively trying to discourage "budget" tourists who just want to party, focusing instead on people who actually want to engage with the culture.
Transportation is King
Don't bother renting a car if you’re staying in the Holland region. The trains are incredible. You can get from Rotterdam to Amsterdam in about 40 minutes.
Bikes, however, are the real bosses of the road. In the Netherlands, there is a very specific hierarchy on the streets:
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- Bikes (They will not stop for you).
- Public Transit.
- Pedestrians.
- Cars.
If you wander into a red-paved bike lane while looking at your phone, expect a sharp "ding-ding" and probably a few choice Dutch words.
Is Holland Still Worth It?
Despite the name confusion and the rising taxes, the region of Holland remains a marvel. There is something surreal about standing in a field of millions of tulips at Keukenhof or watching the massive container ships navigate the port of Rotterdam, the largest in Europe.
But the real magic happens when you treat the Holland region as a starting point rather than the destination.
Go see the Van Gogh Museum. Eat a stroopwafel (the gooey caramel ones, not the dry ones from the supermarket). But then, hop on a train and head east or north. See the "other" Netherlands. You’ll find the same beautiful architecture and the same direct people, but with a lot more breathing room.
Immediate Steps for Your Trip
To make the most of a visit to the Netherlands in 2026, you should prioritize these specific actions:
- Book Accommodation Early: Because of the 21% VAT increase and the strict limits on new hotel construction in cities like Amsterdam, prices are volatile. Lock in your rate as far in advance as possible.
- Download the Apps: Get NS (for trains) and 9292 (for all other public transport). They are far more accurate than Google Maps for local transit.
- Buy a Museumkaart: If you’re staying for more than a few days and plan on seeing more than three museums, this card pays for itself. It grants "free" access to over 400 museums across the country.
- Check the "Agenda": Dutch people live by their calendars. If you have friends in the country, don't try to "drop by." You need to schedule that coffee at least two weeks out.