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Netherlands or Holland, which is correct?!

April 10, 2026

When browsing job openings, you often see “Netherlands” and “Holland” used almost interchangeably. Many people even think our country has two different names. Read on to find out why that is technically not true!

Some historical background

Between 1588 and 1795, the official name of the territory was the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands. It owes its name to the fact that the terrain was largely flat and lay close to sea level, which it still is today. The Dutch word Nederland literally means “low land.” With that in mind, “Nederland” is the only correct name when referring to the country as a whole.

What about the Netherlands, then?

The Netherlands consists of 12 provinces, including North Holland and South Holland. In these two provinces lie the famous cities of Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and many others. Together, North Holland and South Holland are simply called “Holland.” So when you use “Holland,” you are only talking about a small part of the country. When you are talking about the country as a whole, “the Netherlands” is the only correct name.

Why we sometimes use both

As a Dutch company, we naturally know that our country is called the Netherlands and not Nederland. Still, we understand and respect that not everyone knows that. We want to make sure everyone can find our offers and knows where they are located. Whether you call us the Netherlands or Nederland – you are more than welcome. join our team!

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