Originally Posted by Ivo

Holland is a name in common usage given to two regions in the western part of the Netherlands. The name 'Holland' is also often mistakenly used to refer to the whole of The Netherlands. From the 10th century to the 16th century it was a unified political region ruled by the Count of Holland. By the 17th century, Holland had risen to become a maritime and economic power, dominating other parts of The Netherlands. Today, the former County of Holland consists of the two Dutch provinces of North Holland and South Holland.

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