What's the reason behind using two names for Holland-- Holland and Netherlands? - http://www.quora.com/The-Net...
In The Netherlands: Meryn Stol voted up this answer. Arnoud Blankenstein the Netherlands is the correct english name. Holland is in fact a region (two provinces called north and south Holland). In the past this was the most powerful region of the country. (And perhaps even today) The use of Holland is technically speaking wrong. See question on Quora - Meryn Stol