1: It's easier to pronounce 2: Because it's easier to pronounce all foreigners use it 3: Because it's easier to pronounce and all foreigners use it, it is easier to use (If I introduce myself as being "from the Netherlands" I get blank looks. What I nowadays do is "I'm from Holland, Amsterdam, Ajax" and 90% of all people I know exactly where I am from). 4: Holland covers about 50% of the population, and about 70% of the economy 5: In Holland there is Amsterdam, Schiphol & Rotterdam basically the places that tourists go to or have heard about

PS The official name is "Kingdom of the Netherlands", I guess that solidifies my point about Holland being easier :)