The Netherlands consists of 12 provinces. Two of them are South-Holland and Noth-Holland. South- and North- Holland are the economic, political, cultural (and basicly anything else) center of the Netherlands. Technically Holland is a part of the Netherlands.
However, in a lot of cases Holland and the Netherlands are used as synonymes, especially when introducing yourself outside the country. Holland/Hollanda/Hulanda seems to be recognized more than "the Netherlands". Holland also has a more "warrior-like" meaning because of the past. During international sports matches you will never hear somebody yell "go Netherlands", but always "go Holland".
Inside the country saying you are from Holland to another Dutch person does mean that you are from South- or North-Holland, whose inhabitants are deemed arrogant in other provinces. To call somebody "Hollander" might be used with a slight negative tune. However, when speaking to another Dutch person outside the country, Holland means the Netherlands again and does a positive ring to it (even to those not living in South- or North-Holland).
Never mind, just make sure you never confuse "Dutch" with "Deutsch"!!!!!
-- Sun Mar 20, 2011 7:53 pm --
sage & onion wrote:Historically the English did not distinguish inhabitants of the Low Countries by 'nationality'. In the 15th and the first half of the 16th century, all persons from Germanic lands were called Flemings, Theotonici, Doch, or sometimes Germani. In the second half of the 16th century, all Germanic speakers or inhabitants of the Holy Roman Empire were called Dutch or Douch.
What did I just say? Boo to you!