North Holland

Lore & Background

From the 9th to the 16th century, the area was part of the County of Holland, during which West Friesland was incorporated. In the 17th and 18th centuries, it was known as the Noorderkwartier ('Northern Quarter') within the province of Holland. The modern province traces its origins to the French period (1795–1813), when Holland was repeatedly divided into departments such as Amstelland and Maasland, foreshadowing the eventual split. After the defeat of the French in 1813, Holland was reunited but administered with two governors, one for the north and one for the south. The definitive division occurred in 1840, driven largely by Amsterdam's resentment of the 1838 relocation of the court of appeal to The Hague in South Holland.

In 1855, the Haarlemmermeer was drained and added to North Holland, while in 1864 South Holland received most of Leimuiden. The islands Vlieland and Terschelling, which had been part of Holland, were returned to Friesland in 1942, and Urk was ceded to Overijssel in 1950. In February 2011, North Holland, together with Utrecht and Flevoland, explored merging into a single Randstad province, a proposal supported by the national government and South Holland.

The province is a broad peninsula between the North Sea, Wadden Sea, IJsselmeer, and Markermeer, with more than half its land consisting of reclaimed polder below sea level. It includes the West Frisian islands of Noorderhaaks and Texel. Notable nature reserves include the Wadden Sea, Zuid-Kennemerland National Park, and Dunes of Texel National Park.

Reader's Guide

North Holland holds significant historical and economic importance as the province containing Amsterdam, the Dutch capital and largest city, and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, a major European aviation hub. Its creation in 1840 resolved long-standing tensions between the northern and southern parts of Holland, particularly Amsterdam's desire for greater autonomy from The Hague. The province's landscape, largely reclaimed from the sea, exemplifies Dutch engineering and land management. With a population density over eight times the European average, it is one of the most urbanized regions in the Netherlands, encompassing major cities such as Haarlem, Zaanstad, and Alkmaar. Religiously, it is notably secular, with 62.9% of inhabitants unaffiliated, though it hosts the largest Jewish population in the Netherlands, concentrated in Amsterdam and Amstelveen. The province's ongoing consideration of a merger with Utrecht and Flevoland reflects its central role in the Randstad conurbation, the country's economic heartland.

Did You Know?

• North Holland was created in 1840 when the province of Holland was split into North and South Holland.
• The province includes the West Frisian islands of Noorderhaaks and Texel.
• More than half of North Holland consists of reclaimed polder land below sea level.
• Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, located in North Holland, is Europe's third-busiest airport.