Google maps returning incorrect/weird results versus maps.google.com

Question

I'm using the Google Maps Geolocater API v3 for autocompleting of inputfields.

The results that get returned are not as I expect. For Example:

I try to search for "Leeuwarden" (city in Holland). After typing just 4 letters: "Leeu" it will provide the option for Leeuwarden.

If I try this with the google api: http://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/geocode/json?address=leeu&sensor=false

I won't get any Dutch results.

I tried to fix that with language & region: http://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/geocode/json?address=leeu,the%20netherlands&sensor=false&region=nl&language=NL

But still, It won't return Leeuwarden. What am I doing wrong?