Rijnland

1681 map of "Rhenolandia, Amstelandia". Rijnland is roughly the area on the left side of the map.

The nameRijnland(alternative historical spellings:Rhijnland,Rhynland,Rynland;LatinRhenolandia) means "Rhineland" in Dutch. When referring to the Rhine in Germany, "Rijnland" has the same meaning as "Rhineland" in English or "Rheinland" in German. However, "Rijnland" has a specific, different meaning in a Dutch context - the area along theOude Rijn.

Special Dutch sense

When used in the specific Dutch context, "Rijnland" generally refers to the area around theOude Rijn,the lower reaches of a minor branch of the Rhine river in the Netherlands. This river is referred to as "Rijn" (Rhine) in the Netherlands for historical reasons. This small, heavily-canalised and remote branch of the Rhine was, in fact, the river that the Romans used to call the Rhine and the northern limit of the Roman Empire in this area. The term "Rijnland" is itself ancient.

Relationship between Rhine, Rijn and Rijnland

Today, when theRhineriver enters the Netherlands from Germany, most of it becomes the riverWaaland is no longer called the Rhine. However, some of it flows north (through a canal) after which it splits into theNederrijn(Lower Rhine) and theIJssel.The Nederrijn eventually becomes theLek,but a branch of it flows through a canal toUtrechtwhere it is further canalised and directed west. The names for this minor waterway as it flows through the provinces ofUtrechtandSouth Hollandchange, but all the names still include the name "Rijn" and it is not unusual for it to be referred to as the "Rijn". Its varying names areKromme Rijn( "Crooked Rhine" ),Leidse Rijn( "Leiden Rhine" ) andOude Rijn( "Old Rhine" ). TheOude Rijnends as it flows into a sluice atKatwijk aan Zee,where its waters can be discharged into theNorth Sea.It is the area around theOude Rijnthat is referred to as "Rijnland".

Usage

The name "Rijnland" is the name of several administrative areas, both current and historical, and it can also be used in a more vaguely defined sense:

• the area along theOude Rijn,extending roughly from around Utrecht toKatwijk aan Zee;
• the region aroundLeiden;
• the jurisdiction of theHoogheemraadschap van Rijnland(Rijnland District Water Control Board), a Dutchwater boardbased in Leiden;
• the area covered by "Holland Rijnland", an administrative "regional collaboration" (samenwerkingsverband) of various municipalities in theDuin- en Bollenstreekand theLeidenarea;
• Rijnland, agau(gouw) that was absorbed around 900 A.D. into the County of Holland, and that was (along with Schieland and Maasland) at the heart of the medieval County of Holland.

The word "Rijnland" is also used in several historicalDutch units of measurement:

• units of length called the "Rijnlandse roede"(Rijnland rod) and"Rijnlandse voet"(Rijnland foot);
• units of surface area called the "Rijnlandse Roede"(Rijnland square rod) and the"Rijnlandse voet"(Rijnland square foot).