North Holland

Low-lying coastal province of the Netherlands occupying the peninsula jutting northward between the North Sea and the IJsselmeer, bounded on the south by the provinces of South Holland and Utrecht, and includes the island of Texel to the north; area 2,670 sq km/1,031 sq mi; population (1997) 2,474,800. The capital is Haarlem. There are iron and steel works in the province, and agriculture includes dairying and the growing of flower bulbs, grain, and vegetables.

The province is mostly below sea level, protected from the sea by a series of sand dunes and artificial dykes. The urban concentrations and dormitory towns include Amsterdam, Hilversum, and Den Helder; Alkmaar and Edam are centres of the cheese-making industry. There are canals in the region, including the North Holland Canal and the North Sea Canal.

The province was part of the former county of Holland that was divided into two provinces (North and South) in 1840.