en
Holland
/ˈhɒlənd/
Definition
1
A geographical region and former province on the western coast of the Netherlands, encompassing major cities like Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and The Hague.
2
A common, albeit technically inaccurate, synecdoche used to refer to the entire Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Examples
I told the tourist he was actually in North Holland, not just 'Holland,' and now he looks at me as if I just corrected his theology.
If you ask a local from Friesland if they live in Holland, be prepared for a polite but firm lecture on regional autonomy and geography.
People treat the word Holland the same way they treat the word 'Coke' for all sodas; it is linguistically lazy, but practically efficient.