Are Holland and Netherlands the same country? Here's why Virgil van Dijk's team are called by two names

Are Holland and Netherlands the same country? Here's why Virgil van Dijk's team are called by two names

The Netherlands are hoping to improve their recent tournament record as Ronald Koeman's side head to Euro 2024 this month.

A quarterfinal exit at the hands of eventual champions Argentina at the 2022 FIFA World Cup came in between failing to qualify for Euro 2016 and bowing out in the Round of 16 at Euro 2020.

Koeman has been tasked with bringing his team back to challenging Europe's elite, but his squad has been hit by some frustrating injury news ahead of the tournament, specifically with star midfielder Frenkie de Jong set to miss out.

Neutral fans will be curious over whether Koeman can deliver at Euro 2024 and lead the Oranje to a first major trophy since Marco van Basten inspired them to glory at Euro 88, but some may be wondering why his team are referred to by more than one name by commentators and pundits.

So, are they the Netherlands, Holland, or both? The Sporting News explains.

MORE: Full schedule of Euro 2024 matches and results | FIFA Rankings for all Euro 2024 teams

Are Holland and Netherlands the same country?

Despite being commonly referred to as the same single country, Holland and the Netherlands are different. More specifically, one is part of the other.

The correct name for the nation is the Netherlands. As part of a wider push to correct the misconception, the national government stopped using Holland in official communication in 2020, specifically in relation to tourism.

For years, the perception from the wider world has often been that the names are interchangeable and refer to the same place. However, Holland is actually part of the name given to provinces in the north and south of the wider country, Noord Holland and Zuid Holland, with capital city Amsterdam situated in the former.

So, in a nutshell, Holland is part of the country called the Netherlands.

Netherlands Euro 2024 schedule, matches

The Netherlands begin their Euro 2024 campaign on June 16, when they take on Poland in Hamburg.

They face France in a huge match five days later before concluding the group phase against Austria on June 25.

How to watch Euro 2024 matches

Broadcasters from across the world will be showing the best action from Euro 2024. Below are the key details on how to watch and stream matches in some of the major territories.

USA: Fox Sports will broadcast matches via their network of channels including FS1. Fubo is the place to go for US based fans looking to stream matches with the platform offering a FREE trial ahead of the tournament to new users.

TUDN and Univision are the places to go for Spanish listeners looking for TV coverage, with Fubo and ViX live streaming options.

Canada: TSN will broadcast matches with streaming options available on TSN+.

French language channel TVA Sports will be providing the coverage this summer on both TV and streaming services.

Australia: Fans in Australia can follow all the Euro 2024 action live and on demand on Optus Sport.

UK: Matches will be available on free-to-air services in the UK split between the BBC, ITV and STV in Scotland. Streaming is on the BBC iPlayer, ITVX and the STV player.

India: Euro 2024 matches will be available on Sony LIV in India.

If Euro 2024 is not available to watch live in your location or if you’re traveling abroad, you can use a Virtual Private Network (VPN). VPNs offer a secure and private online connection, allowing you to bypass geographical restrictions to access your favorite streaming services from any device anywhere in the world.