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[Opinions] Re: Ireland and Holland
I think it's kinda silly, even though some country names are quite beautiful. India is lovely I think, but as a GP, not to actually use. Exceptions are Chad and Georgia which are commonly used as names. Ireland isn't pretty soundwise to me. Holland is odd for meas a name bc I am Dutch. And to me my country's name is The Netherlands. Holland is used as the country's name mostly by foreigners, but were originally only two provinces in The Netherlands (North and South Holland). The only thing I like about people using Holland as a name is that maybe then people will understand that our country isn't called 'Amsterdam' (which happens too often). If you were to use Ireland or Holland etc. I'd say as a MN only.
Oddly enough I feel less iffy about using city names as FN than country names...


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I did a short course on Middle Dutch poetry once, which I loved. And we weren't allowed to shorten Nederland to Ned - it had to be Ndl, or we heard all about it! Then there was the 2010 World Cup, and the Dutch team was based in my home town. They were wonderful: so many, so happy and excited - just the best kind of visitors. But ... all those orange t-shirts! Some of the ladies were very large and well nourished, and across their chests the word Holland appeared, which is fair enough, you can't fit Nederland on a t-shirt, but I had to fight not to giggle: after all, the country might be 'hol', but not those ladies!
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The exception that proves the rule!Holland is allowed when playing football! I take it you mean NLD? :P
I quite like the atmosphere when everyone is dressed in bright orange. I live in Frisia (Friesland / Fryslân) now and I swear the people are about 10 cm on average taller than in the South! I'm 163 cm and here I have to look up to most other women and so does my husband at 170 cm!
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Haha That probably is annoying. I am aware that it's The Netherlands and not Holland, I guess I still mix it up. I'll edit it.
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And to me my country's name is The Netherlands. Holland is used as the country's name mostly by foreigners, but were originally only two provinces in The Netherlands (North and South Holland).It's the same for me as well! :) Also, I have to say that as a Limburgian, deep down I feel a tinge of annoyance when people refer to our country as Holland, because Holland was historically those two provinces (like you said) and so everyone who lives outside of those provinces doesn't feel connected to Holland at all. Not to mention that life and culture is quite different outside of North and South Holland, which makes it extra weird to have my place of origin be referred to as part of Holland. It's kind of like saying to a Scotsman or a Welshman that their countries are all part of England, heh. ;) So all in all, I much prefer the term The Netherlands, since it is not only neutral, but also correct.Oh, and bonus annoyance points when fellow countrymen refer to the country as a whole as Holland, since the people that do that are often from North or South Holland and as such tend to come across as having a hollandocentric outlook to me. Extra annoyance points when I see this reflected on TV with shows such as Holland's Next Top Model, Heel Holland Bakt and The Voice of Holland... ughhh! -_- Good thing I barely watch TV anymore these days. :P
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Hear, hear!Bonus annoyance points indeed when fellowcountrymen do this, comming from a Brabantse currently living in Friesland.
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