Isn´t it quite special that the Netherlands (without Holland ) have got more members than countries like France and Germany.

Netherlands: 16,7m
Germany and France: 81m+

Country	Members	Percent	Avg. Rating	Top Rated
United States	560553	43.41%	1320	chapo60 (2859)
India	85980	6.66%	1341	arunabi (2652)
United Kingdom	68906	5.34%	1341	sproates (2877)
Canada	61604	4.77%	1353	Jeff18 (2730)
Philippines	45827	3.55%	1490	TANDO (2707)
Australia	34802	2.7%	1322	ChatChat (2722)
Egypt	15156	1.17%	1379	moh_ya1010 (2771)
Malaysia	15040	1.16%	1382	amingo (2735)
Brazil	13091	1.01%	1403	gbsalvio (2673)
England	12625	0.98%	1395	NoElo (2764)
Turkey	12123	0.94%	1405	D3V1L (2769)
Mexico	11766	0.91%	1354	athanasiuspernath (2410)
Indonesia	11513	0.89%	1515	brains_ari (2502)
Romania	11116	0.86%	1505	sorinel (2818)
Netherlands	9283	0.72%	1450	Henk_Van_Oosten (2689)
Greece	8835	0.68%	1454	G-CARS (2760)
Iran	8708	0.67%	1477	KEK (2752)
France	8482	0.66%	1493	loper10 (2785)
Ireland	8183	0.63%	1321	carlosd6 (2509)
Germany	7949	0.62%	1488	Gonnosuke (2837)

What is the difference between netherlands and holland? I thought they were same!

Controversial topic!

Holland... I think a part of the Netherlands.

I'm sure one of our Dutch friends could shine better light on the subject, but according to Wikipedia, North and South Holland are just two of the twelve provinces of the Netherlands. Others include Zeeland, Gelderland, Utrect, etc.

I believe i was right Kacparov

If Kacparov was an INTERNATIONAL Master, you probably wouldn't be!

Roughly... to people living in the provinces of Holland, Netherlands = Holland. Outside of those provinces, people sometimes have a different opinion (don't tell a Frisian he's living in Holland).

don't s'pose anybody noticed, but Ireland only just below Netherlands/Holland on the list an' their population is tiny in comparison

Not all Irish are leprechauns.

We used to have a herd of Frisians - and we certainly never told them that.

You had a herd of "an ethnic group of the Germanic people living in coastal parts of The Netherlands, Denmark and Germany"??
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frisians

BTW, we have some Texels around the house.

It is quite clear that the English-speaking countries have a comparative preponderance of the membership, this being an English-language site. Beyond that, the leanings of a country to have a large number of speakers of English as a second language plays a large role.   

You'll be needin' a mighty big field to hold them thar Texans.

=) Nice discussion!

I live in North Holland, and I agree that Holland in the Netherlands is just ´a part of´, but in English-speaking countries there isn´t any difference between the Netherlands and Holland. So Kacparov is (of course) right, but I think the others have got it right as well

And, how about my fantastic English? 

Your English is too perfect ...