The province of North Holland is one of the historical regions of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which gave the unofficial name to the whole country. It is located in the west of the state, occupies the second place in terms of area and its capital is the city of Haarlem. North Holland is considered their home by almost three million people, which makes it the second largest in the country in terms of population.
On a geographic map
The peninsula, where North Holland is located, reminds many of its outlines of a human head. It juts out into the North Sea and is half land reclaimed from a stubborn struggle with the sea. There are many such lands in Holland. In addition to Haarlem, the major cities of the province are Zaandam, Hoor and Helder. Amsterdam is also located in North Holland.
Throughout the history of the province, it was sometimes united with South Holland, then again isolated, divided into departments and reorganized. The modern administrative division of North Holland envisages 58 communities. Three from the Netherlands Antilles in the overseas territories are also invited to join the province.
A little about Haarlem
The capital of North Holland, Haarlem is not a big city by world standards. Harlem, New York, once named by Dutch settlers in his honor, is home to much more people than in the Netherlands. Every day, about 155 thousand people leisurely, as is customary among the Dutch, go about their Haarlem business, past sights and historical buildings, thanks to which there are always a lot of tourists in the city.
Haarlem appeared on the map of Holland in the 10th century, and its favorable geographical position provided the small settlement with rapid growth and economic development. The earl's dynasties set up fortifications and made Haarlem their residence in the XII century, and then the city's knighthood took part in the crusades and conquests, for which it received the right to depict knightly shield and sword on the city's coat of arms.
Harlem was repeatedly destroyed by fires and plague epidemics, he took part in the War of Hooks and Cod, he was besieged and plundered by the Spaniards.
The Golden Age caused a surge in the cultural development of Haarlem and the names of the painters who worked in the city at that time make the city one of the largest artistic centers of the kingdom.
What to see?
The main architectural landmarks of North Holland date back to the XII-XIX centuries. The town hall on the central square of Haarlem and the Meat Rows, the churches of St. Baon and St. Anne, the Railway Station and the Andrian's mill - for the curious traveler, the province will open many interesting pages and give a lot of aesthetic pleasure.
