Nepedia
Back to Discover
Advanced Reader
🗺️

North Holland

geography Maturity 11-13 Next article →

North Holland is a province located in the northwestern part of the Netherlands.

North Holland, Friesland and Flevoland by Sentinel-2, 2018-06-30 (small version)
North Holland, Friesland and Flevoland by Sentinel-2, 2018-06-30 (small version)

It functions as a broad peninsula surrounded by several major bodies of water. To the west lies the North Sea, while the Wadden Sea sits to the north. The province is also bordered by the IJsselmeer and the Markermeer. Its land neighbors include the province of Friesland to the northeast. Flevoland lies to the east, Utrecht to the southeast, and South Holland to the southwest.

Amsterdam with North Sea Canal by Sentinel-2, 2018-06-30
Amsterdam with North Sea Canal by Sentinel-2, 2018-06-30

The geography of North Holland is defined by its relationship with water. More than half of the province consists of polder land. Polders are areas of land that have been reclaimed from the sea through draining. Because of this process, much of the land sits below sea level. The province also includes the West Frisian islands of Noorderhaaks and Texel.

DeHors-Texel-SjoerdMartens
DeHors-Texel-SjoerdMartens

One notable example of land reclamation occurred in 1855. During that year, the Haarlemmermeer was drained to create new arable land. This reclaimed area was subsequently incorporated into the province of North Holland.

The political boundaries of the province have shifted many times throughout history. From the 9th to the 16th century, the area was part of the County of Holland. During the 17th and 18th centuries, it was known as the Noorderkwartier, or the Northern Quarter. Significant changes occurred during the period of French rule from 1795 to 1813. The Batavian Republic was established in 1795, which swept away the old order. In 1798, a new constitution reorganized the land into eight departments. These departments, such as "Amstelland" and "Maasland," eventually provided the framework for modern divisions. In 1840, the province of Holland was officially split into North Holland and South Holland.

Today, North Holland is a densely populated and highly urbanized region. As of January 2023, the population reached approximately 2,952,000 people. This means about one in six Dutch citizens lives in this province. The population density in 2004 was over eight times the European average. The province is divided into 45 municipalities, which are local units of government. Amsterdam is the largest city in the province and the largest in the Netherlands.

Amsterdam, Netherlands (Unsplash 2Hs8zbwOLDA)
Amsterdam, Netherlands (Unsplash 2Hs8zbwOLDA)

It serves as the Dutch capital and has a population of 862,965 as of 2019. Haarlem serves as the provincial capital with 161,265 residents.

Economic activity is concentrated in major urban centers and transport hubs. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is located here and is very significant. It is the busiest airport in the Netherlands and the third-busiest in Europe. Many major international corporations maintain their headquarters within the province. For example, the international head office of Greenpeace is in Amsterdam. Companies like Heineken, ING Group, and ABN AMRO also operate from this region. Other organizations, such as Amnesty International, have settled their Netherlands branches in the province. This concentration of business makes the area a vital economic engine.

Nature and distinct regional identities also characterize the province. There are several famous nature reserves, including the Dunes of Texel National Park.

DeHors-Texel-SjoerdMartens
DeHors-Texel-SjoerdMartens

Another notable area is the Zuid-Kennemerland National Park, where visitors might see a Highland cow.

Schotse-Hooglander-NPZK-01
Schotse-Hooglander-NPZK-01

The province contains many regions that hold unique identities. Some are official administrative groupings, while others are unofficial. These include areas like Waterland, West-Friesland, and the Zaanstreek. Other regions include the Bollenstreek, which is known for its flower areas. These diverse landscapes range from coastal dunes to reclaimed agricultural fields like those in Waterland.

Broek in waterland 077
Broek in waterland 077

North Holland is also a place of cultural and religious diversity. In 2015, statistics showed that most inhabitants were not religiously affiliated. Approximately 62.9% of the population identified as non-religious. However, other faiths remain present, such as Roman Catholicism and Islam. Amsterdam and Amstelveen hold significant Jewish populations, with Amstelveen having the highest in the country. While Catholicism is usually more common in the south of the Netherlands, certain northern areas like Edam-Volendam remain highly Catholic. This mix of modern urban life and traditional regional identity connects North Holland to the broader Randstad urban area.

666 words

Where will your curiosity go next?

Keep exploring at your chosen reading level.

🖼️ Images & Media (11)
File:DeHors-Texel-SjoerdMartens.jpg
DeHors-Texel-SjoerdMartens.jpg
File:Amsterdam, Netherlands (Unsplash 2Hs8zbwOLDA).jpg
Amsterdam, Netherlands (Unsplash 2Hs8zbwOLDA).jpg
File:Hartekamp-2011.jpg
Hartekamp-2011.jpg
File:Binnenstad Hoorn, 1621 Hoorn, Netherlands - panoramio (71).jpg
Binnenstad Hoorn, 1621 Hoorn, Netherlands...
File:Boulevard zandvoort.JPG
Boulevard zandvoort.JPG
Paviljoen Welgelegen.tif
File:Broek in waterland 077.JPG
Broek in waterland 077.JPG
File:North Holland, Friesland and Flevoland by Sentinel-2, 2018-06-30 (small version).jpg
North Holland, Friesland and Flevoland by...
File:Amsterdam with North Sea Canal by Sentinel-2, 2018-06-30.jpg
Amsterdam with North Sea Canal by...
File:Schotse-Hooglander-NPZK-01.JPG
Schotse-Hooglander-NPZK-01.JPG
File:Waterland weg sloot.jpg
Waterland weg sloot.jpg
More to explore

🔬 Go deeper

More advanced topics to explore

🪜 Step back

Simpler topics to build understanding

What is Nepedia?

A free, ad-free encyclopedia for children. Every article is written at five reading levels, so the same page works for a five-year-old and a fifteen-year-old — use the level switcher above to see this one change. No account needed to read.