The name Holland is frequently used to informally refer to the whole of the country of the Netherlands. It is a small, densely populated country lying in Western Europe. Amsterdam is the the country's capital, while The Hague holds the Dutch seat of the governement and parliament.

The Netherlands' name literally means 'Low Country', inspired by its low and flat geography, with only 50% of its land exceeding one meter above sea level. Most areas below sea level are man-made. Since the late 16th century, large areas (called polders) have been reclaimed from the sea and from lakes, amounting to nearly 17% of the country's current land mass.