Netherlands Travel Information, Tips and More

Passport and Visa Requirement

The Netherlands is a party to the Schengen Agreement. This means that U.S. citizens may enter the Netherlands for up to 90 days for tourist or business purposes without a visa. Your passport should be valid for at least three months beyond the period of stay. You need sufficient funds and a return airline ticket.

If you are a citizen from any other country we suggest you check the Visa website to see if a visa is needed.

Currency & Credit Card Payments
The Netherlands is one of 19 countries in the European Union that's adopted the euro as its official currency.

Major credit cards and debit cards, such as Visa, MasterCard and American Express are widely accepted in the Netherlands at restaurants, hotels, and tourist destinations.

Language
The Netherlands (Holland) - Speaking the Language. The official language of the Netherlands is Dutch, which is spoken by nearly everyone in the Netherlands – approximately 90% of the population.
The Netherlands is Top English-Speaking Country. The Dutch have overtaken Sweden as the most proficient English speakers in the world outside the Anglosphere.

Water
Tap water is safe to drink. The Netherlands (and especially Amsterdam which has the best water in the country) has the safest and cleanest tap water in Europe.

Time
The Netherlands Time zone is in the Central European Time Zone, (GMT+2). Central European Standard Time ( CET ) is 1 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time ( GMT+1 ). Netherlands is 6 hours ahead of New York, NY, USA.

Electric Plugs
The Netherlands (Holland) uses two types of electrical plugs: Type C and Type F:
Type C
Also known as the Europlug, this plug has two round pins that are 4–4.8 mm wide and spaced 19 mm apart. Type C plugs fit into sockets that conform to these dimensions, as well as Type E, F, J, K, or N sockets.

Type F
Also known as the Schuko plug, this plug has two round pins that are 4.8 mm in diameter and spaced 19 mm apart. Type F plugs also have two earth clips on the side.

The Netherlands' standard voltage is 230 volts at a frequency of 50 Hz. Some hotels have special plugs for 110 or 120-volt shavers.
If you're traveling to the Netherlands, you can bring a European adapter from home or buy one at Schiphol. You may also need a voltage converter if your equipment doesn't run on 220 volts.
You can check the label on your devices to see if they can be used in every country in the world. If the label states "INPUT: 100-240V, 50/60 Hz", you can use the device in the Netherlands with a power plug adapter.

You can purchase one on Amazon here - Travel Converter

Weather

The Netherlands enjoys a moderate maritime (or oceanic) climate. This type of climate generally features mild winters and cool summers. Precipitation, such as rain, is common throughout the year, which means there is no dry season.

What to Pack for Your The Netherlands Vacation

My Complete The Netherlands Packing Checklist

What to wear in the Netherlands in summer

Important Local Customs
Meeting and Greeting

* The common greeting in the Netherlands is a handshake along with a nod of the head. This form of address is usually short.
* Among friends and family, it is common to greet one another by kissing on alternating cheeks three times.
* Take both your hands out of your pockets if you shake someone’s hand. It is rude to leave the left hand in your pocket while you shake with the right.
* The use of given names is usually reserved for close friends and relatives. One exception is among the youth, who will address each other by their given names.
* The most common way to address someone is with their first name, though sometimes people will address the older generation with their title followed by their last name.
* Common questions that accompany greetings are “Hoe gaat het?’’ (How are you?) or “Alles goed?” (Is everything alright?). These questions are usually only asked if the person genuinely wishes to know the answer.

Shopping
Great Souvenirs to Buy in Netherlands

* Tulips is a souvenir in Holland that is a must to buy! I mean, you simply cannot think of Holland without thinking of the beautiful tulips fields. All around the country you can buy tulip souvenirs. Tulip bulbs are a favorite souvenir, but also tulip seeds and different kinds of souvenirs with tulips painted on them
* The Netherlands (or Holland) may be a small country, but it's packed with world famous icons. Discover our bulb fields, windmills, cheese markets, wooden shoes, canals of Amsterdam, masterpieces of Old Masters, Delft Blue earthenware, innovative water-management and millions of bicycles.

Local Foods

Delicious & Famous Dutch Food

1. Haring 'Hollandse Nieuwe' Haring or 'Hollandse Nieuwe' (Dutch new herring) is probably the most famous Dutch food.
2. Stroopwafel.
3. Kroket.
4. Patat.
5. Poffertjes.
6. Bitterballen.
7. Drop.
8. Kaas.

Don’t Leave Home without your Passport!