Holland images

Image of Holland at home and abroad

The predominance of Holland in the Netherlands has resulted in regionalism on the part of the other provinces. This is a reaction to the perceived threat that Holland poses to the identities and local cultures of the other provinces. The other provinces have a strong, and often negative,^[9] image of Holland and the Hollanders, to whom certain qualities are ascribed within a mental geography.^[10]

Hollanders themselves, however, have a weak self-image.^[10] They take Holland's cultural dominance for granted. To them, the concepts of "Holland" and the "Netherlands" coincide. Consequently they see themselves not primarily as "Hollanders", but simply as "Dutch" (Nederlanders).^[11] This phenomenon is called "hollandocentrism".^[12]

Holland tends to be associated with a particular image. The stereotypical image of Holland is an artificial amalgam of tulips, windmills, clogs, cheese and traditional dress (klederdracht). As is the case with many stereotypes, this is far from the truth and reality of life in Holland. This can at least in part be explained by the active exploitation of these stereotypes in promotions of Holland and the Netherlands. In fact only in a few of the more traditional villages, such as Volendam and locations in the Zaan area, are the different costumes with wooden shoes still worn by some inhabitants.

Rare Aquatic Animals

Turtles, Tortoises and Box Turtles :) Red Ear Sliders:

Description:

This is the most common species kept in captivity as a pet. Nicknamed the \"dime\" turtle because they used to be sold at that price many years ago in pet stores. They are highly recognizable thanks to their distinctive orange/red tinged stripe or \"spot\" behind each eye. Their skin is dark green in color and they have irregular light yellowy lines running down the sides of their necks and their limbs. Their shells are very bright apple green as hatch-lings but soon becomes dark green around 6 to 7 months of age. They also have a faint irregular brown pattern on their shell. The plastron is usually a light tan to yellow color with distinctive brown and light brown spots on each \"section\". Red ear sliders can grow up to 8 or 9 inches for males and up to 12 inches for females.

Aquatic Animals

King crabs, also called stone crabs, are a superfamily of crab-like decapod crustaceans chiefly found in cold seas. Because of their large size and the taste of their flesh, many species are widely caught and sold as food, the most common being the red king crab, Paralithodes camtschaticus.

King crabs are generally thought to be derived from hermit crab-like ancestors, which may explain the asymmetry still found in the adult forms. Although some doubt still exists about this theory, king crabs are the most widely quoted example of carcinisation among the Decapoda. The evidence for this explanation comes from the asymmetry of the king crab's abdomen, which is thought to reflect the asymmetry of hermit crabs, which must fit into a spiral shell. Although formerly classified among the hermit crabs in the superfamily Paguroidea, king crabs are now placed in a separate superfamily, Lithodoidea