North Holland

North Holland is one of the provinces of the Netherlands. It is located in the northwestern part of the country and consists largely of a peninsula situated between the North Sea to the west and the IJsselmeer lake to the east. The largest city is Amsterdam, which is also the capital of the Netherlands.

The provincial administrative centre is Haarlem. The province is governed by an elected assembly (Provinciale Staten) and an executive board, headed by a provincial governor. North Holland is one of the most densely populated provinces of the Netherlands, largely due to the presence of Amsterdam and surrounding cities.

Geography

The province's land is very low-lying, and much of it lies below sea level. This has necessitated the construction of dikes and water management systems; reclaimed lands known as polders are a visible feature of the landscape. The far north contains sandy beaches and dunes that hold back the sea. The island of Texel is part of the province.

Population and cities

Besides Amsterdam and Haarlem, other well-known cities include Zaanstad, Hilversum, Alkmaar, Hoorn and Den Helder. Amsterdam is a centre of finance, culture and tourism; Den Helder has strong ties to the Dutch navy.

Economy

The provincial economy is based on services, commerce, transport and tourism. Schiphol Airport, located near Amsterdam, is one of Europe's busiest aviation hubs. Agriculture is also important, particularly the cultivation and export of flowers and bulbs, and dairy processing.