South Holland

South Holland Dutch Zuidholland, province (1994 pop. 3,313,200), c.1,085 sq mi (2,810 sq km), W Netherlands, bounded by the North Sea in the west. The Hague is the capital; other cities include Rotterdam , Dordrecht , Leiden , Delft , Schiedam , and Gouda . A fertile lowland, protected by dunes and dikes along the coast, its physical geography is similar to that of North Holland , with which it was united until 1840 as Holland . In 1953 a flood seriously damaged the province's soil.

Holland, Edwin Clifford (c.1794–1824), Charleston poet, whose Odes, Naval Songs, and Other Occasional Poems (1813) are considered to mark the beginning of romantic poetry in South Carolina. He dramatized Byron's Corsair (1818).

Hague, The ('s-Gravenhage, Den Haag) City in the w Netherlands; capital of South Holland province. It is the seat of the Dutch government. Founded in the 15th century, the Hague has been an intellectual and political centre since the 17th century. Notable buildings include the medieval Hall of Knights and the Mauritshuis. The Hague has been the seat of the International Court of Justice since 1945. Much of the city's economy depends on its diplomatic activities. Industries: textiles, pottery, furniture, chemicals. Pop. (1996) 443,000.