Geographical Categories
In English, we usually connect a geographical category and its name with the preposition "of" (like "the province of Utrecht" or "the continent of Europe").
In Dutch, simply place the category and the proper name right next to each other. Do not use the preposition van.
| We are visiting the province of Utrecht. | Wij bezoeken de provincie Utrecht. |
This rule applies to all kinds of geographical and political entities, such as a republic (de republiek) or a continent (het continent).
| The French Republic is the warmest. | De republiek Frankrijk is het warmst. |
| Is the French Republic located on the continent of Europe? | Ligt de republiek Frankrijk op het continent Europa? |
Addressing and Sending Mail
Let's practice these geographical categories while talking about sending mail.
| We dispatch the package to the Kingdom of the Netherlands. | Wij verzenden het pakket naar het koninkrijk Nederland. |
| You must address the envelope to the recipient. | Je moet de envelop aan de ontvanger adresseren. |
Whether you are sending a letter to a specific city (de stad) or a broader region (de regio), the rule remains the same: skip the "of"!
| The sender has a PO box in the city of Amsterdam. | De afzender heeft een postbus in de stad Amsterdam. |
| We send the package to the PO box in the region Amsterdam. | Wij sturen het pakket naar de postbus in de regio Amsterdam. |
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