Netherlands

Introduction

Holland Tulips

© gag

The Netherlands is a flatter than flat country most commonly associated with tulips, windmills, clogs and cheese. While such clichéd images of the Netherlands still hold true, this country offers travellers much more than the stereotypical national quirks. It's a small, vibrant nation that can be traversed in a few hours - but it begs a longer stay than that. If you can, try and fit in at least a week outside the capital.

The country is commonly referred to as Holland, but this name refers only to two of its twelve provinces and is unpopular among Dutch people who aren't from North or South Holland.

After the Eighty Years' War (1568-1648) that led to the country's de facto independence from Spain in 1581, the Netherlands became a great naval power and one of the world's most powerful nations in a period known as the Dutch Golden Age. Because of its naval and trading history, this small nation boasts a wealth of cultural heritage visible in many towns across the country. This period also constituted a cultural peak that produced renowned painters like Rembrandt and Vermeer. Their works and many others fill the top-class Dutch museums that attract hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.

Over the course of centuries, the Netherlands has gained a reputation for tolerance and progressivism: the country was the first in the world to legalize same-sex marriage and Dutch people generally have an open attitude to cannabis and prostitution. As a founding member of the EU and NATO and host to the International Court of Justice in The Hague, the Netherlands is at the heart of international cooperation.

With its international airport Schiphol and its advanced network of motorways and international high speed train lines, the Netherlands is easy to reach from anywhere. Its small size, welcoming attitude and interesting sights make it a unique and easy to discover destination and a great addition to any European trip.

Amsterdam is the notorious capital, known for everything from its liberal approach to drugs and prostitution, to its network of canals, world-famous museums and historic architecture. But it's not only Amsterdam that deserves a visit, although for many travellers it's the only stop in the Netherlands. There are dozens more historical cities and although the country is rather flat, it also offers the curious traveller an insight into one of the most challenging landscapes in Europe, one with many parts of the country below sea level.

Brief History

Early History

The Low Countries (current-day Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg) have been inhabited by Germanic tribes since 600 BC when the Romans conquered it around 10 BC. The cities of Utrecht, Nijmegen and Maastricht were the Netherlands' first major cities. built during the Roman occupation.

The Middle Ages

The Low Countries passed in and out of foreign hands during the Middle Ages, going through a Burgundian period and a spell under the Austrian Habsburgs, before Phillip II of Spain took control in the middle of the 16th century. His suppressive regime sparked a revolt in 1568, the declaration of a republic and led to the 80 Year War, which eventually ended in 1648 with the Treaty/Peace of Münster, where Dutch independence was recognized by Spain. After independence, the new republic became one of the leading countries on the world seas with a colonial presence in Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Japan in Asia, Angola and South Africa in Africa and parts of Brazil, and the settlement of New Amsterdam, now known as New York. Due to the wealth in that period of the 17th century, it was dubbed the Golden Age. This lasted until the end of the 17th century. At the end of the 17th and the beginning of the 18th century, France invaded the Netherlands three times.

In 1795 France again invaded the Netherlands, this time under command of Napoleon. After his defeat in 1813, a new Dutch Kingdom was declared by William VI of Orange. During the French occupation the Netherlands gave its colonies in 'safekeeping' to the United Kingdom but most of them were never returned. Only the colonies of the West-Indies (now Indonesia) were returned to the Netherlands in 1824.

The Netherlands and Belgium separated and became independent countries in 1830. Both are constitutional monarchies. The split was a result of the division in religion between the protestant North, and the Catholic South. It was only in 1839 that the Netherlands recognised the independence of Belgium.

20th Century

The Netherlands was neutral during the 1st World War, and apart from a blockage which caused a restriction on imports, didn't suffer from military action.

At the beginning of WWII the Netherlands hoped to remain neutral but the country was invaded on the 5th of May, 1940. After four days of resistance, the Luftwaffe bombed the centre of Rotterdam, and almost the entire centre was reduced to rubble. After the Germans threatened to do the same to Utrecht, the Netherlands surrendered. Out of 140,000 Jews living in the Netherlands before the war, only 40,000 survived. Among the victims was Anne Frank, whose diary has become one of the most-read books in literature.

During the war, the Netherlands also lost control of Indonesia, when Japan invaded the colony in 1942. After the war in Europe had ended, the Netherlands launched military actions in Indonesia, which by than had declared independence, to try to regain control of the country. However by 1949 it had become clear that this was a pointless goal, and also due to mounting international pressure, the Netherlands had to withdraw and recognise Indonesia as an independent country. In 1975 Suriname also gained independence from the Netherlands, but in a more peaceful way.

In February of 1953 a storm caused flooding and huge devastation, mainly in the province of Zeeland. The flood resulted in 1,800 deaths, and left many more homeless. In the wake of this disaster the Dutch government launched the "Delta Works", which is designed to protect the vulnerable lowland from the Northsea.

The second half of the 20th century saw the resurrection of the Dutch economy and the Netherlands started to play an active role in international organisations such as NATO and the EEC (which later became the European Union), the signing of the Schengen treaty, and the introduction of the Euro.

Recent history

Recent Dutch history has been marked by two notorious killings, both of which had a political and religious aspect: the murder of politician Pim Fortuyn and film director Theo van Gogh.

For more information, read the full article on Dutch history.

Geography

The Netherlands' surface, as its name indicates ("nether" means low), is mostly below sea level and protected by dikes. Where it rises above sea level, the land is still rather flat and generally only rises several meters above sea level. Only a very small portion of this already small country is hilly. This is in the southeast, in the province of Limburg, where the Vaalserberg on the border with Belgium and Germany ("berg" means mountain) is the Netherlands' highest point at about 320 metres above sea level. Much of the land in the Netherlands has been reclaimed from the sea - like the entirety of Flevoland, the 12th province. Flevoland is now in the IJsselmeer ("meer" means lake), but used to be submerged in the Zuiderzee ("zee" sea).

Mud Walking - Sunrise no People

© rencous

The Netherlands is bordered by Belgium to the south and Germany to the east. The North Sea lies to the north and west, home to the Wadden Islands, the Wadden Sea is a unique ecosystem that is part of the provinces of North Holland (Noord-Holland), Friesland and Groningen. At low tide it is possible to walk from the mainland to the islands with a guide.

Regions

The provinces of the Netherlands are:

• Groningen - Located in the north with the capital Groningen. It also includes some of the Wadden Islands, like Rottumeroog.
• Friesland - West of Groningen, this province has its own language (Frisian) but Dutch is understood as well. Several Wadden Islands belong to Friesland, like Terschelling and Ameland.
• Drenthe - South of Groningen this province is mostly famous because of its hunebedden, or dolmen. More detailed information about these dolmen can be found on the Dolmen in the Netherlands website.
• Flevoland - This is the youngest province of the country and it is totally reclaimed from the sea.
• Overijssel - South of Friesland and Drenthe, this province is less known but has some nice quiet nature to enjoy and a few old hanze cities as well, like the capital Zwolle and Kampen.
• Gelderland - Here you can find one of the major nature reserves in the Netherlands, called the Veluwe. Als the oldest Dutch city, Nijmegen and Arnhem are located in this province.
• Utrecht - This province is in the centre of the country, with the city of Utrecht as its capital.
• North Holland - In the northwest of the country, Amsterdam is located here but the capital is Haarlem.
• South Holland - Although the north of this province is part of the green hart of the Netherlands, the south is mostly urban, with The Hague and Rotterdam being the biggest cities.
• Zeeland - In the southwest, this province is less densely populated and has always been struggling with the sea. You can experience this struggle at the Delta Works.
• North Brabant - Being one of the biggest provinces and having one of the largest populations, this province has much to offer, both for nature and culture lovers. Cities to enjoy are Breda and 's Hertogenbosch and several nature parks like the Biesbosch are a nice way of getting away from the Dutch crowds.
• Limburg - In the southeast, Maastricht is located here and the south is the only part of the country which is not totally flat.

You can see why the Netherlands is nicknamed Holland by the names of both North Holland and South Holland, where the cities of Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague are based.

In addition to the provinces, another important region is Randstad, which is roughly the triangle between Amsterdam, Utrecht and Rotterdam. With half of the Dutch population living in this area, it is of considerable economic and cultural significance.

Cities

Market in Maastricht

© Utrecht

Amsterdam

Amsterdam, the vibrant capital of the Netherlands, is relatively small compared to other cities in Europe but has much to offer for the traveller, with a wide range of museums and beautifully restored old buildings along its canals. It's also the place to visit if you like museums, whether classical ones with great pieces of art, or quirky ones about sex and drugs.

The Hague

Located in the southwest of the country, The Hague is the political heart of the Netherlands. It also plays an important role in international law, as the International Court of Justice is located here along with another 150 international legal organisations. Its centre is a nice mix of squares, little shopping streets and of course 'Het Binnenhof', the political centre of the city.

Utrecht

Centrally located in the country, Utrecht is a city of some 300,000 inhabitants with a great atmosphere. Just like its bigger counterpart, Amsterdam, it enjoys a system of canals with old Dutch buildings on both sides. As it is just half an hour from Amsterdam by train, you can easily enjoy 1 or 2 days in this city and see the famous Dom tower yourself.

Rotterdam

Almost totally destroyed in the Second World War, this second biggest city in the country is quite different to cities like Amsterdam, Utrecht or The Hague which still have a historical heart. But still, with its many museums, Erasmus bridge and large shopping district, the city deserves a visit when you have some spare time. Rotterdam also has one of the biggest ports in the world and a visit to the massive Maasvlakte by car could be one of your highlights as well if such things interest you.

Other cities

• Maastricht, in the country's southeast, just a stone throw away of Belgium, is one of the most popular cities in the Netherlands for Dutch, Belgian and German visitors, but less so for other travellers. A pity, because it is one of those cities where enjoying good food and drinks is one of the highlights, all in again a beautifully historic heart along the shores of the Maas river.
• Groningen - The biggest city in the north, Groningen is a very cosy student city with the Martini Tower as its most important building. Like many other cities outside the west of the country, few foreign visitors come here, despite the fact that it is only a couple of hours by train from Amsterdam or Utrecht. Another highlight of the city is the Groninger Museum.
• Eindhoven - Being the fifth biggest city in the country, it actually has less to offer for the tourist than other major cities. There is the Van Abbemuseum of modern art, the DAF and Philips museums. One other thing to enjoy though are the many pubs and great nightlife, partly because of the fact that it is a real student city, with a technical university among others. The Dutch football team and multiple champion, PSV, has its home base here and you might be able to squeeze in a soccer game.
• Zwolle - As the 19th of the twenty largest cities in the Netherlands, one would easily overlook Zwolle. Which would be a shame, as this quiet provincial capital has much to offer if you want to get away from bustling Randstad for a few days. Conveniently located 90 minutes by train from Amsterdam, Zwolle features a medieval city centre, some museums and several good bars and restaurants. The markets on Friday and Saturday offer a unique outlook on quickly disappearing Dutch folklore, when people from the villages in the Bible belt surrounding Zwolle come to town for their weekly shopping. Also, the city is a good base for cycling trips, as it is located on the divide between various geographical and cultural regions.
• Breda - With about 170,000 inhabitants it is around the 10th largest city in the country, located in the southwest of the province of North Brabant. A great old centre, good restaurants and nightlife and enough for culture enthusiasts as well.

Sights and Activities

Delta Works

One of the most striking things in the history of Zeeland occurred in early February 1953, when, after severe northwestern storms, coastal areas were flooded and around 1,800 people got killed. Nowadays, the huge Deltaworks, which prevents the sea from rising too much when storms occur, is the most important tourist attraction in Zeeland. The Neeltje Jans Expo displays history of the flooding and explains how the Deltaworks work.

Waddling

Waddling is the act of walking on the bottom of the sea at low tide and can be done in the north of the Holland, mainly in the provinces of Friesland and Groningen. Routes will last for approximately 3-4 hours. The Wadden Islands do not only exist in the Netherlands, but also are found in Germany and Denmark. Apart from this activity, the Wadden Islands are a great place to explore one of the only true bigger natural areas of the country. For more information about this environment check the Wadden Islands homepage, or read more about waddling here.

National Parks

Despite the fact that the Netherlands is very small, it boasts about 20 national parks. In these national parks, which are almost all in the less densely populated areas of the north, east and southwest, you can cycle, walk and watch birds and other animals. On the National Parks Website of the Netherlands you can find lots of details about routes, flora, fauna, where it is located and how to get there in the first place.

Historic cities

The Netherlands have an impressive number of historical cities, both big and small. Amsterdam and Utrecht are the most impressive bigger ones, with beautiful canals, old restored trading houses and several museums to be admired as well. But there are also several smaller ones, like Delft, Leiden, Gouda, Haarlem, Deventer and 's Hertogenbosch which are worth a visit.

There are also even smaller places with an almost complete defensive structure (walls) including the surrounding water around it. You can walk on these walls and enjoy the historical town from any viewpoint. The most impressive ones are at Willemstad, Hulst and Brielle.

For a more Burgundian way of life, visit Maastricht, a city in south eastern Netherlands, near Belgium. There are many terraces where you can enjoy good food and drinks, while soaking in the historical setting of churches, squares and beautiful restored buildings.

Kinderdijk Mills and other windmills

Mill Network at Kinderdijk-Elshout

© Utrecht

A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997, the Mill Network at Kinderdijk-Elshout consists of 19 windmills, built in 1740. If you want to appreciate the windmills, it is best to go on foot or better; rent a bicycle and take a ride along all of the windmills. Sometimes, it is possible to visit one inside. For more detailed information visit the Kinderdijk website.

Of course, there are more windmills than the ones in Kinderdijk. Actually, when visiting smaller towns in the Netherlands, you are likely to see lots of them and a visit to one of them often is a possibility. For more general information about windmills and locations in the Netherlands, check the Windmill website.

Madurodam

If you are only in the Netherlands for a few days and aren't sure whether to visit the countryside, other cities, islands or anything else, a visit to
Madurodam will enable you to see it all in one day! Madurodam is the Netherlands on a 1:25 scale. You can enjoy most major cities and important buildings in the country by visiting this park in The Hague. For detailed information about prices, getting there and things to see, visit the Madurodam website.

Keukenhof

The Keukenhof gardens are the world's largest flower garden and if you are visiting the Netherlands between late March and mid-May and enjoy flowers, then this is an attraction you won't want to miss. Around 7 million bulbs are planted on an area of some 32 hectares. The gardens are located near the town of Lisse in South Holland. Although the history of the gardens goes back several hundred years, its current incarnation goes back to 1949 when it was set up to provide a place for Dutch flower growers to showcase their blooms to the world.

Castles

The Netherlands have a lot of beautifully located and restored castles. Many of these castles are in the central parts of the country and in the southeastern province of Limburg. One of the most beautiful castles is Castle De Haar. You can have a look at this Castles in the Netherlands map, with links to most castles.

Events and Festivals

Tour de France 2015

In 2015, the Tour de France will start in the Netherlands. It is scheduled to start in Utrecht, Netherlands, on Saturday 4 July 2015, with a short time trial of about 14 kilometres. The second stage on Sunday 5 July, starts in Utrecht en ends in the province of Zeeland after 166 kilometres. It will be the sixth time the Tour de France starts in the Netherlands, after 1954 (Amsterdam), 1973 (Scheveningen), 1978 (Leiden), 1996 ('s-Hertogenbosch) and 2010 (Rotterdam). This is a record for a country that has no direct border with France.

Koningsdag

Koninginnedag

© ddougherty

In 2013, the Dutch throne was passed on to King Willem-Alexander and what used to be Koninginnedag (Queen's Day) will from 2014 become Koningsdag (King's Day). The date will be changed to the 27th of April, which is the king's birthday. In 2014 however it will be on the 26th of April because the 27th falls on a Sunday. On this day the streets of almost every sizable town in the country come alive with activity. The centre of the action is in Amsterdam, but, if you prefer things a little less crowded, Utrecht is also a popular destination. Both cities have canals and it's just perfect to watch a boat parade with music while you are drinking a beer along the canal side terrace. There are also large outdoor concerts throughout the country, though the one in Amsterdam is the most popular. Several cities have night-markets which actually start the night prior to Koningsdag and last for about 24 hours.

Sinterklaas

Sinterklaas is the original Santa Claus. He arrives in the Netherlands in November each year on a steamboat from Spain and is then paraded through the streets, much to the excitement of Dutch children. The event is shown live on TV. On the 5th of December, the eve of Sinterklaas Day, people sit around the fireplace (or the modern equivalent) and sing songs before a bag of gifts is delivered by Sinterklaas or one of his helpers, the Zwarte Pieten. Traditionally, the holiday celebrates the name day of Saint Nicholas, patron saint of, among other things, children.

Elfstedentocht

The Elfstedentocht (Eleven cities tour) is an outdoor speed skating competition held in Friesland when the ice is thick enough. The tour is almost 200 kilometres in length and takes place on frozen canals, rivers and lakes. Because of the large number of participants, the race requires a minimum ice thickness of 15 centimetres. As a result and because of generally warmer winters, the event only occurs irregularly. In the last 100 years, the race has been held only 15 times. The last time it was staged was in 1997, though it was a tough call in 2012 after a few weeks of seriously cold weather. If it takes place, the start and finish are in Leeuwarden and the race travels clockwise through places like Sneek, Stavoren, Hindeloopen, Harlingen, Bolsward and Dokkum.

Other events and festivals

• Open Monuments Day - every second weekend of September, over 4,000 monuments, historical buildings and sites are open to the public free of charge.
• The 4th of May is the day when the Dutch people honour those who died in the 2nd World War, and in other wars.The 5th of May is the day when the Liberation is actually celebrated. On the 5th of May there are 13 Liberation Festivals throughout the country, for example in Utrecht, Groningen and Haarlem.
• North Sea Jazz Festival. Every year in July, this is one of the biggest jazz festivals in Europe. It used to be in The Hague but the last couple of years Rotterdam was the city of action. Have a look at the North Sea Jazz Website for more information about dates and who is playing.
• Pinkpop Festival, one of the biggest pop festivals in the country.
• Being the biggest free pop festival in Europe, Parkpop in The Hague is a festival not to miss.
• Other pop festivals include Lowlands in Biddinghuizen and Dynamo Open Air.
• International Film Festival Rotterdam
• The Deventer Book Fair is one of the biggest in Europe. More information in Dutch here.
• Every year in July, the Four Days Marches in Nijmegen is one of the biggest events in the country. You have to arrange tickets for joining months before, but if you can't or won't be able to arrange it in time, there are also lots of side events during the whole week in which the Four Days Marches are. For more information about tickets and events, check the Vierdaagse Nijmegen Website.

Weather

Although Dutch people complain a lot about the weather in their country, it is actually not that bad. There are no real extremes, like excessive heat or cold, hurricanes or extreme snow- or rainfall. That said, summers are relatively cool with average daytime temperatures around 20-23 °C. Winters, on the other hand, are mild, and temperatures below 0 °C during the day do not occur that often. A snow carpet lasting for more than a few days is relatively rare. The best months to travel around the Netherlands are probably May to July, when days are long and apart from occasional showers, rainfall is lowest.

Although it is a small country, summer temperatures can vary from one place to another enormously. The coast is always nice with a breeze, but the east can be hot at certain times when a heatwave strikes the country and temperatures can be 35 °C. Usually, this kind of heat is ended with sometimes severe thunderstorms and rainfall. Most of the annual precipitation in the Netherlands falls during the warmer 6 months of the year, though autumn and winter have more days with some precipitation, usually less mm.

But most of the time, weather in the Netherlands is nothing special, so complaining about it like the Dutch really is not necessary. For current conditions, you can check the official KNMI website.

Getting There

By Plane

• Amsterdam Schiphol International Airport, (external link: Schiphol), near Amsterdam is one of the largest airports in Europe and functions as a major international hub. There are direct flights with the national airline, KLM, to destinations as far away as Shanghai, Lima or Johannesburg to name just a few. There are also numerous other carriers operating flights to and from Schiphol.
• Rotterdam/The Hague has a small airport called Rotterdam The Hague Airport, formerly Zestienhoven. It's mostly used by Transavia, Correndon and VLM airlines. The first two are specialised in holiday destinations, and the last services a lot of the smaller airports in the Netherlands and Begium, and connects from Rotterdam to for example London City Airport, Manchester Airport, the Isle of Man, Hamburg Airport and Jersey. Skywork Airlines has a weekly flight to Bern in Switzerland (winter only).
• Eindhoven Airport is one of the smaller airports in the Netherlands, but has connections to various cities in Europe. Transavia and Ryanair are the major airlines that operate from Eindhoven Airport. But also other smaller airlines like Wizz Air, Tailwind Airlines and Correndon operate from Eindhoven Airport. Air France flies to London City Airport. In the holiday season, there are also additional charter flights to/from popular holiday destinations.

The airport is located to the north east of the city along the A2 motorway. The airport is connected to the centre of the city by busline 401.

• Groningen has international and domestic flights leaving from Groningen Airport Eelde, about 10 kilometres from the city centre. Destinations include Aberdeen, Antalya, Corfu, Dalaman, Faro, Heraklion, Kos, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Malaga, Palma de Mallorca, Rhodes and Tenerife.
• Maastricht has an international airport, shared with the German city of Aachen, the Maastricht Aachen Airport (MST), which lies just north of the city along the A2 highway. Ryanair flies to/from Alicante, Pisa and Girona, Sky Airlines flies to/from Antalya, Transavia to/from Dalaman (Turkey), Faro, Heraklion (Crete), Kos, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Malaga, Palma de Mallorca, Rhodes and Tenerife-South, and Amsterdam Airlines to/from Ankara and Kayseri.

By Train

The most important international connection is the east corridor from Amsterdam via Utrecht towards Duisburg in Germany. The luxurious and faster ICE train also uses this line. To the south, there are connections to Antwerp, Brussels and from there to Paris and London. The Netherlands is about to connect with a High Speed Train system which shortens travel times even further. What's more, if you book months before you travel, train travel can be a better bargain than flying, and takes less time as well.

By Car

Excellent roads lead into the country from the neighbouring countries of Belgium and Germany. You are unlikely to face any delays at border crossings as frontier formalities between the Netherlands and Belgium and Germany are gone now. The most important roads into the country are the E19 from Antwerp to Breda, the E34 from Antwerp to Eindhoven and on to Venlo for crossing into Germany again, the E25 from Maastricht to Liege in Belgium, the E35 from Utrecht to Oberhausen in Germany, the E30 and the E22 in the north from Groningen to Bremen in Germany.

By Bus

Eurolines has cheap and reliable connections from several places in the Netherlands as far as Turkey and Morocco. In the Netherlands there are stops in Amsterdam, Arnhem, Breda, Den Bosch, Den Haag, Deventer, Eindhoven, Enschede, Groningen, Heerlen, Hengelo, Maastricht, Rotterdam and Utrecht.

By Boat

There are connections from the Netherlands, mainly to the United Kingdom.

United Kingdom

• DFDS Seaways between IJmuiden and Newcastle.
• Stenaline between Harwich and Hoek van Holland.
• P&O Ferries between Rotterdam and Hull.

There are also daily services between Eemshaven in the north of the province of Groningen and the German Wadden Island of Borkum with Borkumlijn (in dutch).

Iceland
The Icelandic cargo ship Eimskip has two vessels, the Dettifoss and Goðafoss which travel the route Rotterdam-Hamburg-Göteborg-Århus-Fredrikstad-Tórshavn-Reykjavík. It takes 8 days in total and the return trip goes via eastern Iceland and Tórshavn only. The vessel can take a maximum of 3 passengers but only between mid-April and mid-October.

Belgium
Not the long trip as the ferries above, but you can enter the Netherlands on a cable-ferry across the river Meuse (Maas) in the South-East of the country. Only the cable-ferry between Berg and Meeswijk carries cars. There are 4 other ferries (Ohe en Laak - Ophoven, Grevenbicht - Rotem, Geulle - Uikhoven and Eijsden - Lanaye) that will only take on bikes, and persons.

Getting Around

Public transport is quite well developed, especially around and between the bigger cities. Utrecht is the main centre of the train transport in the Netherlands. If you know how to ride a bike, then cycling in and around the cities of the Netherlands is a great way to enjoying Dutch life. You can rent a bike at almost any train station or bike shop. If you want to see more than just cities and surroundings, renting a car is also a great option though relatively expensive.

By Bicycle

Bicis en Amsterdam

© malmazan

Thanks to the flat Dutch landscape and relatively small distances, getting around by bike is an enjoyable (and cheap) option. Bike paths are plentiful and often take you through beautiful peaceful settings that could not be reached otherwise. You can spend the night in one of the many camping sites scattered throughout the country if you have a tent. Youth hostels are also a feasible option, or homestays which cater specifically to cyclists. To arrange the latter, you need to sign up with Vrienden op de Fiets (Cycling Friends). Membership fees are currently €9 (2007). A night at someone's home will cost no more than €17 (breakfast is included, dinner is an extra €8). There are over a thousand addresses throughout the Netherlands and Belgium in the system, so this can be a great way not only to move around cheaply, as well as providing a nice way to meet some welcoming locals.

By Boat

The only parts of the Netherlands to which no overland travel is possible are the Wadden Islands. To visit them, you need to take a ferry. These leave from Den Helder (to Texel), Harlingen (to Vlieland, Terschelling and Schiermonnikoog), and Holwerd (to Ameland). In summer, there is an additional ferry between Texel and Vlieland.
For more information on getting to Texel, check the Teso website. Rederij Doekse provides ferries between Terschelling and both Vlieland and Harlingen, while Wagenborg has boats to the Wadden Islands of Amerland and Schiermonnikoog.
Veolia Transport (dutch only) provides ferries (passengers and bikes only) between Vlissingen and Breskens in the province of Zeeland.

On the larger Dutch rivers, there are numerous smaller ferries especially for cyclists and pedestrians, howevre some of them also take on cars, and even trucks, which enable you to plan a tour through the country without having to include each and every major bridge. On this website, you can find more information about them.

By Taxi

Taxis in the Netherlands are not a feasible means of transport. They are ridiculously expensive, most drivers are incredibly rude and will try to rip you off, plus there are good alternatives with public transport on almost every conceivable route.

By Car

Amsterdam - Mini Car

© Natassia

As the Netherlands is a relatively small country with good roads, renting a car is a good option to get around, although it's not cheap. Bear in mind that in most cities you have to pay to park your car, which can be a nightmare, especially in Amsterdam. Prices can be as high as €6 an hour, but most of the time prices are around €2 an hour. Parking is more expensive on streets than in designated parking garages, especially in major cities. During rush hour (roughly 7:00-9:00am and 4:00-6:00pm), traffic usually comes to a standstill nationwide, so that's not the best time to go sightseeing in a car.

Major car rental agencies include Avis and Hertz. For a good comparison of agencies and car rental prices, check the Easyterra website.

Hitchhiking is very uncommon in the Netherlands, and you will have a hard time finding people willing to take you along. Hitching rides is not permitted at highway exits.

Road Rules
Unless signposted otherwise, the maximum speed on highways is 120 km/hour, while the maximum speed in built-up areas is 50 km/hour. The latter automatically applies when entering a built-up area, usually signposted with the city's or town's name. In most residential areas, a maximum speed of 30 km/hour applies, while on some main roads within cities the limit could be 70 km/hour. On provincial roads, the maximum speed is 80 km/hour and sometimes 100 km/hour, while in rural areas the limit is generally 60 km/hour or sometimes still 80 km/hour. Note that many highways in the urban west of the country and near other large cities is generally 100 km/hour, but since 2011 some roads have increased the maximum speed to 130 km/hour. For more information about roadworks, check the Van A Naar Beter website and for current traffic situations including traffic jams, see the official Traffic Information Service website.

Drinking and driving is strictly enforced and you are allowed up to 220 micrograms per litre of exhaled breath or 0.5 grams of alcohol per litre of blood (0.05%). If a driver has held their licence for under five years the alcohol blood limit is 88 micrograms per litre of exhaled breath, or 0.2 grams per litre of blood (0.02%).

Other important rules include the following:

• Drive on the right, overtake on the left; keeping left or overtaking right means fines up to €150;
• Minimum age to drive a car or motorcycle is 18 years; 16 is the legal minimum age to drive a moped;
• Motorcycle and trike drivers and passengers must wear crash helmets;
• It is compulsory to carry a driving licence, car registration papers and insurance documents in the car (Dutch, EU and International Driving Licences are accepted);
• Mobile cellular telephones may only be used with a hands-free system while driving. Even holding a mobile in a moving vehicle is considered an offence;
• Seatbelts are compulsory in the front and rear of the vehicle;
• Children younger than 18 and shorter than 1.35m must sit in an approved car seat or raised, booster seat;
• Unless otherwise signposted, vehicles coming from the right have priority, including at the many roundabouts;
• Buses have priority when pulling out, but only in built-up areas;
• Trams have priority except where signposted at major junctions.

By Public transport

OV Chipcard
From mid-2011, almost all public transport (bus, metro, tram, train) in the Netherlands has to be paid by the OV-Chipcard (OV = Open Vervoer, meaning Public Transport). Only train tickets can be bought as paper tickets at least until the end of 2012. There are 3 types: the personal card, anonymous card and disposable card. The latter one is the one which are only used for certain travel legs and for tourists and are thrown away afterwards. This is the one visitors to the Netherlands should buy, unless they regularly visit the country. In that case, the anonymous card is the best. The personal card is especially interesting for people who can travel with a discount (children, elderly, disabled etc.) or people with a monthly or annual season ticket. For more information, visit the official website mentioned above or for a quicker and better overview visit the wikipedia website about the OV-Chipcard.

Public transport hubs in the Netherlands typically combine local and long-distance traffic in one location. Regional and local public transport use a single tariff system nationwide, where you pay for your journey by stamping zones on a (blue) strippenkaart (soon to be replaced by more modern forms of payment). Bear in mind that after midnight, your options of getting from A to B are limited if you're in Randstad and the large cities, and non-existent if you're anywhere else.

Most of the larger Dutch cities have excellent local public transport systems, which often also connect to commuter destinations nearby.

Regional buses are a pain, because they run infrequently and are relatively expensive. If you have a choice, going by train will be quicker and cheaper almost without exception.

Despite what locals may tell you, Dutch trains are reliable, reasonably priced, relatively comfortable and by far the best way to travel between cities. The various operators use a single tariff system, and jointly participate in EUrail and Interrail. Fares are based on distance; no peak fare system is currently in place. It is not possible to make seat reservations on national trains.

Train tickets can be bought easily from machines at the station. Try this excellent online simulation if you want to avoid a long queue of disgruntled Dutchmen waiting for you to complete your transaction. As of June 2009, Dutch Railways also offers e-ticketing on its website (currently only available to Dutch account holders).

More information and integrated door-to-door itinerary advice for all public transport can be obtained for free from 9292OV (Dutch only). The Dutch Railways website is available in English and provides information on train timetables and fares.

By Plane

There are a few domestic flights in the Netherlands, but they are of little use to travellers as prices are soaring. Since the country is so small, there is not much of a time advantage flying domestically around the Netherlands anyway.

Red Tape

If you are a European Union (EU) citizen, you may enter without any restriction as per your EU citizenship rights. If you are not an EU citizen, you will need to obtain a Schengen Visa. This visa is valid for any country in the Schengen zone.

If you want to stay longer than 3 months, other rules apply and citizens from some countries need an Authorisation for Temporary Residence, particularly those who want to study and/or work in the country.

For more information about details about visa and other requirements for your home country, check this website about visas for the Netherlands.

• See IND for more (official) information on dutch visa and immigration policy.

Money

See also: Money Matters

The Netherlands, like many other European countries, uses the Euro (€) for payments. The euro comes in coins of 1 and 2 cents (not used any more for payments in cash in the Netherlands), 5 cents, 10 cents, 20 cents, 50 cents, 1 and 2 euro. On all the coins is the same portret of Queen Beatrix. Also there are banknotes of €5, €10, €20, €50, €100, €200 and €500. The banknotes of €200 and €500 are very difficult to pay with, as there might not be enough change. Sometimes it is not allowed to pay with these banknotes (like in supermarkets).

Throughout the country, there are lots of ATMs using the CIRRUS and PLUS networks and most shops, restaurants and hotels accept credit cards like Visa and Mastercard as well.

Work

If you want to work in the Netherlands you will almost definitely need some sort of visa or permit. Just like working holidays for Dutch people in other countries (like Australia), it's possible for travellers from several countries to obtain a similar arrangement when visiting the Netherlands. Unfortunately, this is not possible for every country, including the United States. For more information and details about this go to the Work Permit website.

In general, finding a job in the Netherlands is not that easy compared to other countries and you might want to learn some Dutch first. English is only used at major international companies, so you need to be lucky to find a temporary job with one of these companies. For jobs requiring multiple languages you can check the Undutchables website for more information about finding one in the Netherlands.

A website used a lot for finding jobs is Monsterboard.

Study

Dutch higher education and research generally is of good quality. Several universities rank among the top twenty worldwide in a number of fields; teaching staff are very accessible, and student facilities (except accommodation) are usually very good.

The Dutch higher education system distinguishes between hogescholen (lit. 'high schools') and universities. The former only award Bachelor's degrees, usually in applied sciences, and have lesser entry requirements. Traditionally, they are considered a lesser form of education than universities, even though their programmes generally are of high quality.

The Netherlands have 11 public universities, five of which award Science degrees only (in Rotterdam, Delft, Eindhoven, Enschede, Wageningen); the other six (in Amsterdam, Leiden, Utrecht, Groningen, Tilburg, Maastricht) are general and award Arts degrees as well. Also, there are three 'private' universities, (a protestant one in Amsterdam, a Catholic one in Nijmegen, and a private business university in Breukelen called Nijenrode); the former two are only private in name, and subject themselves voluntarily to the same regime that governs public universities.

A new phenomenon in the higher education system are Colleges. While the Netherlands has no campus universities, boarding is obligatory in these institutions. They cater specifically to wealthy foreigners whom they attract with highly competitive Bachelor programmes. Currently, there are three of these (in Middelburg, Utrecht and Deventer), with several others (notably, one in Amsterdam) starting soon.

The Study In website will give you more information about studying in the Netherlands, including information about visas and other documents you need to arrange.

Language

National languages

Dutch is the national language of the Netherlands. The standard variety originates from a dialect formerly spoken around the city of Leiden; this variety, officially known as Standard Dutch, is also one of the official languages of Belgium and Luxembourg. The second official language of the Netherlands is Frisian, exclusively spoken in the northern province of Friesland. All Frisians nowadays also speak Standard Dutch, although not all of them are equally willing to as regional pride is high.

Besides Standard Dutch, the Netherlands boast a remarkable number of local dialects for such a small territory, possibly due to the many bodies of water that made frequent interaction between the various settlements rather difficult. Furthermore, a number of regional dialects can be distinguished, of which Flemish, spoken in the northern Belgian provinces, and Twents, spoken in the eastern parts of the Netherlands, are examples you are likely to encounter.

For tourists, a special note about the Amsterdam dialect, occasionally referred to as Jordanees, is in order. Because of strong jewish presence, Jordanees features a variety of Jiddish words and expressions which, combined with the odd sense of humour that many Amsterdamians have, tend to make it a rather difficult tongue to understand. Furthermore, original Amsterdamians have a somewhat peculiar pronunciation of standard Dutch; in particular, they are unable to differentiate between /s/ and /z/, viz. the typical Amsterdam expression de son in de see sien sakke ('to see the sun set in the sea'), whereas this would be De zon in de zee zien zakken in Standard Dutch.

Foreign languages

Most Dutch people speak at least some English; in larger cities, the command is such that you won't have difficulties to be understood at all. German is also widely understood, although traditionally met with considerable spite. Many Dutch would like to believe they speak the language as well, but this is hardly ever the case outside the eastern provinces. French, a language traditionally taught in high school, is spoken even less frequently, while command of Spanish is virtually absent.
Because of the fact that there are many foreigners from Morocco and Turkey living in the country, the Arabic and Turkish languages are spoken a lot as well, though hardly not by Dutch people themselves.

Learning Dutch

It will not be easy for you to acquire some knowledge of Dutch, mostly because locals will resort to English the minute they find out that it isn't your native tongue. Knowing how to say some basic things may help you make clear that you take a serious interest in learning. Depending on your own language background, proper pronunciation will probably be the most difficult aspect of the language to get to grips with. On this website, you can listen what your input is supposed to sound like. Another useful resource is DutchGrammar.com.
Also, check the Dutch Phrasebook article to know some basic words.

Eat

Lovers of food won't find much sensation in the Dutch cuisine, which traditionally is rather rustic. One should, however, sample the national dish, Boerenkool met worst ("Borecole with sausage"), which consists of green cabbage, potatoes, bacon and smoked sausage. Dutch cheese, beer and dairy products are considered of the highest standard and will provide much joy to the connoisseur.

Make sure you don't forget to try the special pancake restaurants, a real Dutch specialty. They produce delicious pancakes that are large enough to be considered a whole dinner. You can choose from a great variety of toppings for your pancake.

Sleep

The Netherlands is well built-up for tourism, so there is ample variety of selection when it comes to finding accommodation. As with most Western cities, both budget and top class accommodation can be found. Camping is also a good alternative in the summer season, as well as youth hostels.

One of the hostel chains is Stayokay, which has about 30 hostels all over the Netherlands in the most beautiful places and in characteristic buildings. Most of the time, bed linen and breakfast is available and there is a choice of doubles and a wide range of beds in dorms up to 12 beds. You can visit the Stayokay website which has an English and German version as well.

Drink

Dutch beer (Heineken, Grolsch and Amstel) is famous all over the world. You can buy it at supermarkets, petrol stations, or have a nice beer in a bar. Also the so called whitebeer is very popular in the Netherlands and surrounding countries. One of the best is Korenwolf from the southern province of Limburg.

Some regional specialties include "jenever" and "brandewijn", drinks with high levels of alcohol, usually only drunk by a small group of (older) people. A special liqueur to enjoy with some cream is "advocaat"; it is based on eggs. For sale at supermarkets, so give it a try!

Dutch people are very keen on coffee and you will find it in lots of varieties on most menus, with cappuccino and cafe au lait being the most popular, after regular coffee.

Note that the legal age for buying alcohol is 18 years! The legal age used to be 16 years for drinks with a low alcohol content, but this was changed in 2014.

Marijuana

Although abundant in coffee shops marijuana, or cannabis, is still a controlled substance. Possession and production for personal use are misdemeanors and can be punished by a fine. Although officially illegal, possession for personal use up to 5 grams won't lead to fines.

Even though the coffee shops have been a growing industry the new conservative government in the Netherlands plans to crack down^[2]. By the end of the end of the year, for the southern provinces of Limburg, North Brabant and Zeeland, the new government wants to ban non-Dutch residents from using the coffee shops and only allow each coffee shop to have 1,500 members. These measures will then be extended to all of the Netherlands by 2012. The cities of Maastricht and Terneuzen have already restricted the sale of cannabis to foreigners.

Importing or exporting any type of classified drug is a serious offense. The penalty is 12 to 16 years for a hard drug and a maximum of 4 years for the import or export of large amounts of cannabis. It is also against the law to operate a car while under the influence of any drug and the police have the right to test anyone they suspect of being under the influence.

Health

See also: Travel Health

The Netherlands have a very high standard of health care, both for citizens and travellers. People from other EU countries and Morocco, Cape Verde Islands, Serbia, Montenegro, Tunisia and Turkey, are covered by reciprocal health agreements. As a traveller from those countries, the availability of medical care is subject to the same conditions that apply at home. Travellers from countries other than those mentioned above are strongly recommended to obtain full medical insurance.

There are no legal requirements regarding vaccinations to travel to the country. There is no specific risk of any disease in the Netherlands, although vaccination for tetanus is recommended. Also, be wary of ticks, as a growing number of incidents of Lyme disease have been recorded recently. As for every destination, though, you should exercise sexual hygiene to avoid contracting sexually transmitted diseases. Condoms are widely available in supermarkets, drugstores, pharmacies and vending machines, in all sizes, shapes and flavours. Although they are technically prohibited from doing so, most pharmacies will sell you the Pill without problems if you show them an original strip or your own GP's prescription.

The national emergency number is 112. For less urgent matters, any pharmacy will be able to get you in touch with a doctor.

Safety

See also: Travel Safety

Though it's been on terrorist alert over the past few years, nothing has happened so far. That said, travellers are advised to read about current safety situations at all times.

In general the Netherlands is a very safe country, and with the usual precautions you won't experience any problems while travelling. You are advised not to wander around certain neighbourhoods alone late at night. Although nothing worse will probably happen to you than being the victim of a pick pocket, this is never something you would like on your holiday so be sure to keep your belongings somewhere close to your body.

Violent robberies and other crimes are rare and you are unlikely to be confronted with these forms of crime. If you are, you can always call 112 for immediate help.

Trafficwise, the Netherlands is one of the safest countries in the world. The country is known for its network of bicycle lanes, which greatly improves the safety for cyclists.

The country does not experience many natural disasters other than occasional floods. Hurricanes and earthquakes are almost non existent and few people die because of any other natural disaster like heavy rains, thunder, hail, heat or cold.

Legal matters

Discrimination

All discrimination based on gender, race, religion and sexual preference (as well as some other grounds) is illegal. When discriminated against, you can file charges with the local police, who will usually take this very seriously. Obviously, homosexuality is not a crime of any kind under Dutch law.

Identification

The Netherlands have a general identification policy, meaning that everyone over sixteen must at all times be able to show valid ID. Photocopies are not sufficient. Failure to produce ID when requested by the police (they can only do this when they have a reasonable suspicion of a criminal offense) will get you a fine.

Narcotics

In the Netherlands, the legal age for buying alcohol and tobacco is 18 years; shops selling either are required to check your age (which is why vending machines require the use of an age coin, to be collected from your friendly bartender). Currently, only the vendor can be penalized with a stiff fine when caught selling to minors; there are plans to extend liability to underage consumers as well.

Smoking is prohibited in all public buildings. As of July 1st, 2008, it has also been banned from bars and restaurants.

Fresh psychedelic mushrooms (fresh only!) are not currently on the narcotic substances list, and as such are fully legal and subject to no restrictions. They will be shortly, however.

Possession of cannabis products for personal use (everything less than 5 grams) is not actively prosecuted. Counter to common understanding, this does not mean that it is legal; it is condoned, and only when used at home or in a coffeeshop. Elsewhere, you run the risk of incurring a fine of at least €50.

Possession of greater quantities (as well as commercial growth) is prosecuted; when caught it will land you in a police cell, awaiting deportation and extradition to your domestic law enforcement system. Possession, trade and trafficking of all other drugs (cocaine, heroin, all synthetic drugs including MDMA) is illegal. High penalties apply.

Redlight District, Amsterdan

© Zhou

Prostitution and porn

Having sex for a living is legal in the Netherlands. Any individual over eighteen that has a working permit can set up a legitimate prostitution business. Obviously, forced sex constitutes rape, and is actively prosecuted when charges are filed. Even more obviously, sex with individuals under eighteen is child molest and gets you in BIG trouble. When visiting a prostitute, it is your responsibility to make sure of his/her age, and to make sure the sex is consensual.

Porn depicting adults is legal, except when it involves animals. Be wary of what you buy, as your next destination may not be as liberal.

Traffic

The usual rules apply. Foreigners must pay their fines on the spot, and face jailtime if they cannot do so. Illegal parking with a foreign car in bigger cities (esp. Amsterdam) will get you towed or wheelclamped, to be removed only after you paid your fine. In most parts of the country, spending the night in your vehicle is not allowed.

Miscellaneous

Abortion until the 24th week of carriage is legal; euthanasia is as well, if the procedure is in compliance with legal requirements. The Netherlands acknowledge same sex marriages.

Keep Connected

Internet

Internet cafés are not as widespread as you would expect, but you can easily find one in the popular cities. Most hostels, hotels and camp sites have several computers, so you can keep connected with folk at home. Here is a list of internet cafés that could come in handy for travellers. Otherwise, most libraries have lots of computers and prices are around the €2-3 per hour range, although sometimes it can be even more expensive.

Wireless internet access using wifi is becoming more popular and is usually available at most hotels and increasingly at train stations. Also in trains (at least in most first class wagons, but also more and more in second class) and some buses you can use wifi. Finally, places like McDonald's and Starbucks have free wifi, and smaller individual business like cafés and restaurants are on the rise too offering these services. More often than not, these service tend to be free of charge, though there might be a limited time you can use the internet.

Phone

See also: International Telephone Calls

The country code for the Netherlands is 31. The outbound international prefix is 00. The general emergency number is 112, like many other countries.
0800 numbers are toll-free and for 09xx numbers are charged at premium rates. Mobile phones have numbers in the 06 range, and calls to cell phones are also priced at higher rates.

From internet cafés, it is also usually possible to make long distance international calls. Like in other countries, telephone booths have almost disappeared, though some are still found around public transport stations, where you can use a few coins to make calls. It is only recommended for local calls.

The cellular phone network in the Netherlands is GSM 900/1800. The main providers of cell phone networks are KPN (Dutch only), T-mobile and Vodafone, who cover the whole country. Other operators, like Hollandsnieuwe, Simyo or Tele2, use one of these 3 networks basically.

It is best to buy a SIM card when in the Netherlands for use in your cellphone, as this usually works out cheaper than using the one from home. If you are planning to study or work in the country and stay for several months, buying a cellphone is the best option. A simple one, sometimes with €10 worth on it, can be bought from around €25. The simplest smartphones are around €75.

Post

The rate for sending a postcard or letter up to 20 grams within the Netherlands is €0.64 (2014). Since 2010 there are stamps available for domestic post which no longer include the value in €. Instead, there are stamps available with either a '1' or a '2' as a substitute for value. The '1' can be used for letters and postcards up to 20 grams, while 20-50 grams require you to use the '2'-valued stamps (or two '1'-valued stamps of course).

Sending items to other EU countries and the rest of the world (there is one price since 2014) will cost €1.05. Stamps are sold at post offices, supermarkets and smaller shops/kiosks; often the place where you buy your postcards can also supply you with stamps.

Sending parcels abroad is more costly. A standard-sized parcel between up to 2 kilograms will cost you €9 for destinations within the EU and €18 (both without Track & Trace) to the rest of the world. Prices with Track & Trace start at €13 and €24.30 respectively. Parcel service is available from major post offices only; standard-size boxes are on sale there as well. For sending parcels, it might be just as competitive and fast to use a company like TNT, UPS or DHL.

If you need to receive mail while moving around, you can have it sent poste restante (to be called for) to a post office of your choice, where it will be kept for a month. If you come to claim it, bring a valid ID, and make sure to have told the sender that the name on the envelope must be an exact match with that in your passport. For addresses of post offices, as well as more information, consult the TNT website.

External Links

• Official Government Portal
• Dutch Governmental Website in English
• Official Tourism Website in English