- published: 16 Aug 2008
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Holland is a region and former province on the western coast of the Netherlands. The name Holland is also frequently used to informally refer to the whole of the country of the Netherlands. This usage is commonly accepted in other countries, but in the Netherlands and particularly in other regions of the country it could be found undesirable or even insulting.
From the 10th to the 16th century, Holland proper was a unified political region within the Holy Roman Empire as a county ruled by the Counts of Holland. By the 17th century, Holland had risen to become a maritime and economic power, dominating the other provinces of the newly independent Dutch Republic.
The area of the former County of Holland roughly coincides with the two current Dutch provinces of North Holland and South Holland, which together include the Netherlands' three largest cities: the capital city of Amsterdam; Rotterdam, home of Europe's largest port; and the seat of government of The Hague.
Johnny Ray Holland (born March 11, 1965) is the linebackers coach for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League and a former linebackers coach for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League, and the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League. He played linebacker for the Green Bay Packers from 1987-1993. He is an inductee into the Texas A&M Hall of Fame, the Cotton Bowl Hall of Fame, and the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame.
Holland is a graduate of Hempstead High School in Hempstead, Texas. While attending Hemsptead High, Holland was a letterman in several sports. He became an All-State player in both football and basketball while simultaneously becoming a top-10 student. Holland is the first of only two Hempstead High School alumni to play in the NFL, the other being Harvey Williams.
Prior to his pro-football career, Holland was a four-year letterman at Texas A&M University in College Station Texas. While at Texas A&M, he was a three-year starter, and was Texas A&M's all-time leading tackler until his record was broken in 1998 by Dat Nguyen.