SafekipediaSouth Holland
Adapted from Wikipedia · Discoverer experience
South Holland is a province in the Netherlands with over 3.8 million people. It is very crowded, with many people living in a small area. The province is next to the North Sea and has a lot of water, covering around 3,308 square kilometers, of which about 609 square kilometers is water.
South Holland touches several other places: North Holland is to the north, Utrecht and Gelderland are to the east, and North Brabant and Zeeland are to the south. The main city in South Holland is Rotterdam, which has Europe's busiest seaport. The capital city of the whole Netherlands, The Hague, is also in South Holland.
The big rivers called the Rhine-Meuse-Scheldt delta flow through South Holland and empty into the North Sea. This area is very important for trade and travel because of its big port and good location.
History
Early history
Archaeological discoveries in Hardinxveld-Giessendam show that people have lived in South Holland for about 7,500 years. They were likely hunters who moved around. Later, around 2,000 years after that, people began farming and building permanent homes, as found near Vlaardingen. During ancient times, South Holland was part of the land ruled by the Romans, called Germania Inferior. The Romans built forts along the border, such as near modern-day Valkenburg, Leiden, and Alphen aan den Rijn.
After the Romans left, the area became part of the Frisian Kingdom. Later, it was taken over by the Frankish king Dagobert I. In 690, a monk named Willibrord arrived and began spreading the Christian faith. Over time, the whole area became Christian. In 843, a treaty split up the land, and South Holland became part of East Francia. Lands were given to a man named Gerolf, who started what became the County of Holland. His successor, Dirk I, continued to rule the area.
The first city in South Holland to become officially recognized was Dordrecht in 1220. For many years, it was very important, but floods in the late 1300s caused problems. Also around that time, there were wars over who should be the leader of Holland. These conflicts ended in 1490 when one claimant won.
For a long time, South Holland was mostly rural. But around the year 1500, it began to grow with many towns and cities. During a big war called the Eighty Years' War, important events happened in South Holland, including battles and the death of a leader named William the Silent.
When the United Netherlands declared independence in 1581, Holland became very important. Cities like Leiden, Delft, Gouda, and Dordrecht became busy with trade. Leiden got the country’s first university in 1575, founded by William the Silent. The Hague became the political center. The 1600s were a time when many great scientists, thinkers, and artists lived and worked in South Holland.
As a province
The modern shape of South Holland began during the time when France ruled the area from 1795 to 1813. The government changed many times. In 1795, the land was divided into new groups, and South Holland was split three ways. But in 1801, things went back to how they were before. Then in 1807, it was split again, this time into two parts. The southern part was called Maasland. In 1810, when France took over, it was renamed Bouches-de-la-Meuse.
After the French were defeated in 1813, the old setup returned. In 1814, Holland was made one province again, but it was still thought of in two parts. In 1840, Holland was finally split into North and South Holland because it was too big and powerful. In recent years, a few towns moved from South Holland to another area called Utrecht.
The building of a waterway in 1863 helped the Port of Rotterdam grow. During World War II in 1940, the center of Rotterdam was damaged by bombing. After the war, in 1953, a big storm caused flooding that affected many people in South Holland. This led to the building of strong barriers along the coast, finished in 1997 with the Maeslantkering.
Geography
South Holland covers an area of 3,308 km2 (1,277 sq mi), of which 609 km2 (235 sq mi) is water. It borders the North Sea to the west, North Holland to the north, Utrecht and Gelderland to the east, and North Brabant and Zeeland to the south. The land is mostly flat and includes areas called polders.
The center and western coast of South Holland are busy urban areas, part of the big city region called the Randstad. The eastern part is more rural and known as the Groene Hart, meaning “Green Heart.” The southern part has many islands in the Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt delta.
The Duin- en Bollenstreek in the northwest is famous for its coastal dunes and flower bulb fields. Near Leiden and The Hague, the land changes from sandy pastures to more urban areas. The far east includes De Biesbosch, a large national park and one of Europe’s last freshwater tide areas. Other parks include Delftse Hout, Ackerdijkse Plassen, and the Kagerplassen lakes, popular for outdoor activities.
The southern islands, like Goeree-Overflakkee, Tiengemeten, Hoeksche Waard, and Voorne-Putten, are mainly rural. Northern islands such as Dordrecht, IJsselmonde, and Rozenburg are more urban and part of the Rijnmond area around Rotterdam. Together with Haaglanden around The Hague and Drechtsteden, they form the southern part of the Randstad.
Other regions in South Holland include Alblasserwaard, Gouwestreek, Krimpenerwaard, Rijnland, Rijnstreek, Vijfheerenlanden, and Westland.
Climate
South Holland has a temperate oceanic climate, influenced by the North Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. This means cooler summers and milder winters. Rain is common in fall and winter, and wind storms can happen in winter. Rain occurs throughout the year, but the first half of the year is relatively dry. Temperatures range from 2 °C to 6 °C in winter and 17 °C to 20 °C in summer.
Nature
The group Zuid-Hollands Landschap was created in 1934 to protect nature in the province. As of 2023, about 12.7% of South Holland is covered in natural areas.
Subdivisions and municipalities
Main article: List of municipalities in South Holland
South Holland is divided into 50 municipalities.
Northern South Holland
The northern subregions match the broadcast area of Omroep West.
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Hollands Midden
Southern South Holland
The southern subregions match the broadcast area of RTV Rijnmond.
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Rijnmond
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Southeastern South Holland
Economy
The Gross domestic product of South Holland was 163.8 billion € in 2018. This made up 21.2% of the Netherlands' total economy. For each person, the economy was strong, with 38,700 € per person after accounting for what money can buy.
South Holland has many important jobs and industries. One big area is growing plants, especially in places like Westland, where many big greenhouses cover lots of land. Other important areas include Port of Rotterdam, where many goods are moved, and the city of The Hague, which has many jobs with the government and big companies. People also enjoy visiting places like Delft for tourism, and there are jobs in fishing and taking care of animals, especially cows for milk.
Religion
In 2015, many people in South Holland had different beliefs. About 18% were part of the Protestant Church in the Netherlands, and around 15% were Catholic. Some people followed Islam or Hinduism. A little more than half of the people, about 52%, did not follow any particular religion.
Notable residents
South Holland has been home to many famous people throughout history. Some well-known scientists from this area include Christiaan Huygens, who made important discoveries in math and science, Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, who is called the father of microbiology and made the first microscope, and Desiderius Erasmus, a respected philosopher.
The province has also produced many famous painters, such as Rembrandt from Leiden, Jan Steen from Leiden, and Johannes Vermeer from Delft.
Images
Related articles
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