| Utrecht |
Utrecht borders the IJsselmeer in the north. The capital is Utrecht, known for its university, wharves and canal side terraces. The other main city is Amersfoort. |
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| Drenthe |
Drenthe borders Germany and is situated south of Groningen. The province consists mainly of farmland. The capital is Assen and Emmen is the main industrial center. |
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| Groningen |
Groningen borders on Germany in the east and the North Sea in the north. The capital is Groningen, home to a respected university. |
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| Gelderland |
Gelderland borders on Germany in the east. Gelderland is known for Holland's first and largest nature reserve 'De Hoge Veluwe' where the world-renowned Kroller-Muller Museum is located. The capital is Arnhem known for its role in World War II. |
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| Flevoland |
This youngest province was finalised in 1986 and is a creation of 5 new polders and a dam on the northern part of the IJsselmeer. The province gives populated Holland enough new space for large scale agriculture, modern towns and villages, such as Lelystad and Almere, natural landscape and many recreational facilities. |
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| Zuid-Holland |
Zuid-Holland borders the North Sea in the west, east are the provinces Utrecht and Noord-Brabant and Zeeland in the south. The capital is The Hague, residence of Queen Beatrix, as well as the seat of government. Other cities are Rotterdam, Leiden and Delft (famous for its delftware). |
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| Limburg |
Limburg borders on Belgium in the west and south and Germany in the east. The province is known for its beautiful landscape with castles, green hills, picturesque villages and great hiking and biking facilities. The capital is Maastricht, a beautiful medieval city with a Burgundian atmosphere. Other cities are Venlo, Heerlen, Roermond, Sittard & Valkenburg. |
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| Friesland |
Friesland borders on the IJsselmeer in the west and the province of Groningen in the east. The province is a cattle and dairy raising region with beautiful landscapes with numerous canals, small rivers and picturesque lakes. The region is a perfect place for water sport lovers. Leeuwarden is the capital and the Frisians even have their own language. |
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| Noord-Brabant |
Noord-Brabant borders Belgium in the south and Germany in the east. The province has a most varied landschape and offers many choices of outdoor activities and attractions, such as the amusement park, the Efteling. The capital is 's-Hertogenbosch, and other known cities are Eindhoven, Tilburg and Breda. Vincent van Gogh was born in the village of Nuenen. |
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| Noord-Holland |
Noord-Holland is a peninsula between the North Sea in the west and the IJsselmeer in the east. The province has picturesque landscapes and villages, with drawbridges, windmills, and tulip fields as well as the historic harbor villages such as Volendam and Marken, where Dutch traditional costumes are still worn. The capital is the beautiful city Haarlem, other cities are Amsterdam, Zaandam and Alkmaar. |
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| Overijssel |
Overijssel borders Germany in the east and the IJsselmeer in the west. The province has a lovely landscape with forests, ancient towns and beautiful castles. The capital is Zwolle and other known cities are Deventer, Enschede and Zutphen. Also located in Overijssel, is the picturesque Giethoorn, called 'Venice of the North' for its amazing network of narrow waterways, sugar-loaf houses, thatched cottages and wooden footbridges. |
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| Dutch Islands |
The Wadden Islands are located north of Noord-Holland and Friesland in the east. The Island group consists of Texel, which is the largest island, Vlieland, Terschelling, Ameland and Schiermonnikoog. They are known for their unspoiled nature reserves, wildlife, beautiful beaches and charming villages. Many tourists go to the islands to enjoy the peace and quietness (there are no cars allowed on Vlieland and Schiermonnikoog) and to go bird watching, sailing, cycling and walking. |
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| Amsterdam |
Amsterdam is one of Europe's great cities with an unique character and its own individual style. Built on a network of canals, along which are the beautiful tall houses, the centre of Amsterdam is compact and largely pedestrian friendly. Amsterdam is renowned for its historical monuments and has more than 40 museums. The beautiful architecture, the fleet of bicycles, the three lined romantic canals and scattered parks all contribute to the mood of the city. What really makes Amsterdam so attractive is the historic atmosphere of its 17th century centre, combined with the character of a metropolitan city. |
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| Zeeland |
Zeeland is bounded by the North Sea in the west and borders on Belgium in the south. The coast and its hinterland is fascinating because of the rich history and the province is well known for its water sport and fishing activities. The capital is the historic Middelburg with over 1100 monuments. |
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Provinces