Holland
Holland is surrounded by the North Sea, Germany and Belgium. The country is administratively divided into twelve provinces: Groningen, Friesland, Drenthe, Overijssel, Flevoland, Gelderland, Utrecht, Noord-Holland, Zuid-Holland, Zeeland, Noord-Brabant and Limburg. The Dutch capital is Amsterdam, and the seat of government is in The Hague. The Dutch flag comprises three horizontal stripes in red, white and blue and for special occasions it has an additional orange ribbon.
Holland houses more than 16 million inhabitants, making it one of the most densely populated countries in the world. A considerable part of the country is below sea level. The government has therefore taken many measurements to protect the inhabitants from the water. The landscape is characterised by many dikes, polders and other water works. There are also numerous (protected) nature reserves, such as the national park De Hoge Veluwe and the Waddenzee.
The Netherlands is often regarded as a liberal country by people from other countries, due to its liberal legislation on euthanasia, gay marriage and drugs. Many tourists visit Amsterdam on their European trip. Other popular attractions and towns are the spring garden Keukenhof, the mills of Kinderdijk and the picturesque village of Volendam.
