Holland is a region and former province on the western coast of the Netherlands. The name Holland is also frequently used informally to refer to the whole of the country of the Netherlands. This usage is commonly accepted in other countries, and sometimes employed by the Dutch themselves. However, some in the Netherlands, particularly those from regions outside Holland, may find it undesirable or misrepresentative to use the term for the whole country.
Clemens visited Holland briefly in 1879. He took his family through Belgium to Rotterdam in July and spent several days in Amsterdam, Haarlem, and The Hague before going to England from Flushing on July 19. His notebooks indicate he was favorably impressed with Holland's beauty and cleanliness.