Field guide

Netherlands

Europe • Western EuropeAmsterdamEuro (EUR) · €

NL, Holland, Nederland, The Netherlands

This page stitches together our stored feeds—expect warm, human-readable snippets rather than dry data tables.

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Last generated December 24, 2025 at 2:14 AM

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Names & aliases

NetherlandsKingdom of the NetherlandsNLHollandNederlandThe Netherlands

Quick facts

Need-to-know at a glance

Capital

Amsterdam

Currency

Euro (EUR) · €

Languages

Dutch

Population

18,100,436

Area

41,865 km²

Calling code

+31

Driving side

Right-hand

Pre-trip intel

Safety & entry

Advisories and border basics from our stored feeds.

Safety outlook

Netherlands - Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution

Reissued after periodic review without changes. Exercise increased caution in the Netherlands due to  terrorism. Country Summary:  Terrorists continue plotting possible attacks in the Netherlands. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, local government facilities, hotels, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, parks, major sporting and cultural events, educational institutions, airports, and other public areas. Read the  country information page  for additional information on travel to the Netherlands.   If you decide to travel to the Netherlands:    Be aware of your surroundings. Stay alert in locations frequented by large crowds. Follow the instructions of local authorities including movement restrictions related to any ongoing police action. Monitor local media for breaking events and adjust your plans. Enroll in the  Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)  to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency. Follow the Department of State on  Facebook  and  X/Twitter .  Review the  Country Security Report  for the Netherlands. Visit the CDC page for the latest  Travel Health Information  related to your travel. Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the  Traveler’s Checklist . (Updated August 9, 2024 at 12:00 AM)

Be aware of your surroundings.
Stay alert in locations frequented by large crowds.
Follow the instructions of local authorities including movement restrictions related to any ongoing police action.
Monitor local media for breaking events and adjust your plans.
Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
Follow the Department of State on Facebook and X/Twitter .

Full advisory

Source: U.S. Department of State

Entry & Docs

Visas, customs & paperwork

The Netherlands is a member All non-EEA/Swiss travellers must register their residence within 5 business days of entering the Netherlands with the Aliens' Police (Vreemdelingenpolitie) or the municipality responsible for your place of residence. Hotels normally will handle the registration formalities for their guests. Applications for visas and long-term residence permits are handled by the [http://www.ind.nl/nl/index.asp IND]. Travellers from Australia, Canada, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, Vatican City, the UK, the US, South Korea, and Switzerland can enter the Netherlands without a provisional residence permit (MVV) to stay for more than 90 days for any purpose, but must complete registration formalities with the IND and obtain a residence within 90 days of entering, while all other foreign nationals will likely need a provisional residence permit visa to stay for longer than 90 days. Dutch territories in the Caribbean are not part of the Schengen Area and have slightly different visa requirements from the European Netherlands, but in short, if you do not need a visa to visit the Netherlands, you can also visit these territories without a visa. You may visit the Dutch Caribbean with a valid Schengen visa, but Dutch Caribbean visas are not valid for visits to the European Netherlands.

All non-EEA/Swiss travellers must register their residence within 5 business days of entering the Netherlands with the Aliens' Police (Vreemdelingenpolitie) or the municipality responsible for your place of residence. Hotels normally will handle the registration formalities for their guests.
Applications for visas and long-term residence permits are handled by the [http://www.ind.nl/nl/index.asp IND]. Travellers from Australia, Canada, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, Vatican City, the UK, the US, South Korea, and Switzerland can enter the Netherlands without a provisional residence permit (MVV) to stay for more than 90 days for any purpose, but must complete registration formalities with the IND and obtain a residence within 90 days of entering, while all other foreign nationals will likely need a provisional residence permit visa to stay for longer than 90 days.
Dutch territories in the Caribbean are not part of the Schengen Area and have slightly different visa requirements from the European Netherlands, but in short, if you do not need a visa to visit the Netherlands, you can also visit these territories without a visa. You may visit the Dutch Caribbean with a valid Schengen visa, but Dutch Caribbean visas are not valid for visits to the European Netherlands.

Source: Wikivoyage

On the ground

Getting around & connectivity

Practical notes from Wikivoyage sections.

Transport

Getting around

Rail travel in the Netherlands The cheapest train tickets are often sold out early and reservations are generally possible three to six months in advance depending on the company, type of ticket and booking channel. Bookings can be made via [https://www.nsinternational.nl/ NS International] (Dutch railways) or its [http://www.bahn.de German] and [http://www.sncb.be Belgian] counterparts. NS International also sells combined tickets for their trains and Eurostar to get you to the Netherlands from London.

The cheapest train tickets are often sold out early and reservations are generally possible three to six months in advance depending on the company, type of ticket and booking channel. Bookings can be made via [https://www.nsinternational.nl/ NS International] (Dutch railways) or its [http://www.bahn.de German] and [http://www.sncb.be Belgian] counterparts. NS International also sells combined tickets for their trains and Eurostar to get you to the Netherlands from London.

Source: Wikivoyage

Connectivity

Wi-Fi, SIMs & staying online

The country code for the Netherlands is 31. The outbound international prefix is 00 (e.g. to call the US, substitute 00 1 for +1 and for the UK 00 44 for +44.) The cellular phone networks in the Netherlands are operated by KPN, VodafoneZiggo and Odido; other operators use one of these 3 networks. All providers offer 4G coverage in almost every corner of the Netherlands, and 5G is at almost the same level. Note that 3G networks have been turned off, and 2G is only available at KPN and VodafoneZiggo, mainly for business purposes. If you're bringing your own (GSM) cell phone to call (or receive calls) whilst in the Netherlands, make sure to check the relevant "roaming" charges for your provider, as they vary substantially. Receiving phone calls on a cell phone using a Dutch SIM card is free in most cases; charges may apply if you're using a foreign SIM card, as the call is theoretically routed through your country of origin. It may be cheaper to buy a pay-as-you-go SIM card to insert into your GSM phone, or even to buy a very cheap pay-as-you-go card+phone bundle. Providers that specialise in discount rates to foreign countries include [http://www.lycamobile.nl/en/ Lyca] and [http://www.lebara.nl/ Lebara]. As of January 2023, there are no public phone booths left in the Netherlands. 0800 numbers are toll-free while 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. (National) Directory Inquiries can be reached via 1888, 1850 and various other 'Inquiry-operators'. Rates differ by operator, but are usually rather high, more than €1 per call, as well as per-second charges. International Directory Inquiries can be reached on 0900 8418 (M-F 08:00-20:00, €0.90 per minute). Phone numbers can also be found on the Internet, free of charge, on [http://www.telefoonboek.nl/ Telefoonboek.nl], [http://www.detelefoongids.nl/ De Telefoongids.nl] and for opening times visit [http://www.openingstijden.nl/ Openingstijden.nl] or [http://www.openingstijdengids.nl/ OpeningstijdenGids.nl].

The country code for the Netherlands is 31. The outbound international prefix is 00 (e.g. to call the US, substitute 00 1 for +1 and for the UK 00 44 for +44.)
The cellular phone networks in the Netherlands are operated by KPN, VodafoneZiggo and Odido; other operators use one of these 3 networks. All providers offer 4G coverage in almost every corner of the Netherlands, and 5G is at almost the same level. Note that 3G networks have been turned off, and 2G is only available at KPN and VodafoneZiggo, mainly for business purposes.
If you're bringing your own (GSM) cell phone to call (or receive calls) whilst in the Netherlands, make sure to check the relevant "roaming" charges for your provider, as they vary substantially. Receiving phone calls on a cell phone using a Dutch SIM card is free in most cases; charges may apply if you're using a foreign SIM card, as the call is theoretically routed through your country of origin. It may be cheaper to buy a pay-as-you-go SIM card to insert into your GSM phone, or even to buy a very cheap pay-as-you-go card+phone bundle. Providers that specialise in discount rates to foreign countries include [http://www.lycamobile.nl/en/ Lyca] and [http://www.lebara.nl/ Lebara].
As of January 2023, there are no public phone booths left in the Netherlands.
0800 numbers are toll-free while 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. (National) Directory Inquiries can be reached via 1888, 1850 and various other 'Inquiry-operators'. Rates differ by operator, but are usually rather high, more than €1 per call, as well as per-second charges. International Directory Inquiries can be reached on 0900 8418 (M-F 08:00-20:00, €0.90 per minute). Phone numbers can also be found on the Internet, free of charge, on [http://www.telefoonboek.nl/ Telefoonboek.nl], [http://www.detelefoongids.nl/ De Telefoongids.nl] and for opening times visit [http://www.openingstijden.nl/ Openingstijden.nl] or [http://www.openingstijdengids.nl/ OpeningstijdenGids.nl].

Source: Wikivoyage

Local wisdom

Etiquette, tipping & staying well

Etiquette & respect

For many foreigners, nothing captures the idea of the Netherlands more vividly than windmills, wooden shoes, tulips, and remarkably flat lands. Although some of these characteristics have evolved into stereotypes far off from the daily lives of Dutch people, there's still a lot of truth to them and plenty of authenticity to be found. The Dutch have preserved many elements from this part of their past, both for tourism and for historic reasons. The Dutch monarchy has several palaces. Kinderdijk boasts a network of 19 windmills, once used to drain the adjoining polder. The Zaanse Schans has windmills as well, and a nice museum with tr…

For many foreigners, nothing captures the idea of the Netherlands more vividly than windmills, wooden shoes, tulips, and remarkably flat lands. Although some of these characteristics have evolved into stereotypes far off from the daily lives of Dutch people, there's still a lot of truth to them and plenty of authenticity to be found. The Dutch have preserved many elements from this part of their past, both for tourism and for historic reasons.
The Dutch monarchy has several palaces.
Kinderdijk boasts a network of 19 windmills, once used to drain the adjoining polder. The Zaanse Schans has windmills as well, and a nice museum with traditional crafts and old Dutch houses on display. Schiedam, world-famous for its jenever, has the tallest windmills in the world, and they're right in its lovely old town centre.
Thinking about the Dutch countryside, you might imagine wide, flat, grasslands with black and white cows. If you do, you're not that far off. A large swathe of the country, especially the western part of it, consist of polders; reclaimed land separated by ditches. These rural areas are dotted with picturesque villages, old farms, impressive summer estates, and of course, windmills; the Zaanstreek-Waterland is especially scenic. For a touch of folklore, see the traditional clothing and fishermen boats in Volendam or Marken. You can go to the Zuiderzeemuseum in the city of Enkhuizen, or Openluchtmuseum in Arnhem for a touch of traditional Dutch life in bygone times. They are not nearly as overcrowded as Zaanse Schans, are specifically made for tourists and offer more. Both are open air museums, so don't forget to check the weather before you go.
The Netherlands is a major international player in the flower industry. The tulip fields are seasonal, and are specific to the Bulb Region and some areas in North Holland. Tulip fields offer great scenery for a bicycle tour. They are a lovely Dutch alternative to the lavender fields you could find in France. The famous Keukenhof, the world's largest flower garden, only opens between March and May. It is a great way to see what the Dutch flower industry has to offer.
They make great destinations for a recreational bike trip or can serve as a laid-back base, from where you can explore cities in the area. The rolling hills of South Limburg have characteristic timber-framed houses and a lot of castles. The province of Gelderland combines its many castles (Palace 't Loo in Apeldoorn being the highlight, having been thoroughly restored) with the natural scenery of the Veluwe. Don't worry if you're headed elsewhere: you'll find a beautiful countryside in every Dutch province.

Source: Wikivoyage

Tipping guidance

Dutch law requires that all service charges and taxes are included in the prices that hotels, bars and restaurants publish. Tipping is therefore not necessary, but it is always appreciated as a reward for good service and it's increasingly common. Especially in tourist areas and large hotels, increased tipping is not uncommon. Many Dutch customers will leave €1 or €2, also in bars and simple diners, unless service was poor. For good service in a restaurant, feel free to leave what you feel is appropriate. A 5-10% tip on a restaurant bill is considered a generous reward for good service.

Dutch law requires that all service charges and taxes are included in the prices that hotels, bars and restaurants publish. Tipping is therefore not necessary, but it is always appreciated as a reward for good service and it's increasingly common. Especially in tourist areas and large hotels, increased tipping is not uncommon. Many Dutch customers will leave €1 or €2, also in bars and simple diners, unless service was poor. For good service in a restaurant, feel free to leave what you feel is appropriate. A 5-10% tip on a restaurant bill is considered a generous reward for good service.

Source: Wikivoyage

Health & wellness

The Netherlands has some of the best tap water in the world. It is even considered to be of similar or better quality than bottled natural mineral or spring water due to high standards that are strictly enforced and are even more strict than the already high food standards. Due to the high quality of both the water production and the distribution network, there is no need to add chlorine. At the majority of the train stations and even in some natural reserves, there is a water tap point, where the water is also of very good quality. Food (either bought in a supermarket or eaten at a restaurant) shouldn't pose any problems either. The health care system of the Netherlands is up to par with the rest of Europe. Hospitals are mostly situated in larger cities, and all have English-speaking medical staff. General practitioners can be found in almost all towns, except for small villages, and they can typically speak English too. In case of a potential life-threatening emergency: call 112 and if necessary an ambulance will be sent and bring you to the most suitable emergency department (Dutch: Spoedeisende Hulp/SEH) of a hospital. In case of a non-life-threatening emergency call the local GP (Dutch: Huisarts) during office hours or the night GP (Dutch: Huisartsenpost) after office hours. If necessary the GP will send an ambulance or make a referal to the most suitable emergency department. If you have a non-life-threatening emergency do not go to the emergency department without referral as you will be denied access until a GP has seen you first. Two health risks are particularly relevant for travellers: When walking or camping in forests and dunes, be aware of ticks and tick-carrying diseases. It is advisable to wear long sleeves and to put trousers into your socks. If you discover a red ring on your body in the following weeks, be sure to visit a doctor to check for Lyme disease, which can be lethal without proper medical care. In summer, open air recreational (mainly fresh water) swimming areas might suffer from the notorious blue algae, a rather smelly cyanobacteria which when it dies, releases toxins into the water. When these occur, a signpost at the entrance to the area or near the water should tell you so by stating something like "Waarschuwing: blauwalg". If in doubt, ask someone.

The Netherlands has some of the best tap water in the world. It is even considered to be of similar or better quality than bottled natural mineral or spring water due to high standards that are strictly enforced and are even more strict than the already high food standards. Due to the high quality of both the water production and the distribution network, there is no need to add chlorine.
At the majority of the train stations and even in some natural reserves, there is a water tap point, where the water is also of very good quality. Food (either bought in a supermarket or eaten at a restaurant) shouldn't pose any problems either.
The health care system of the Netherlands is up to par with the rest of Europe. Hospitals are mostly situated in larger cities, and all have English-speaking medical staff. General practitioners can be found in almost all towns, except for small villages, and they can typically speak English too. In case of a potential life-threatening emergency: call 112 and if necessary an ambulance will be sent and bring you to the most suitable emergency department (Dutch: Spoedeisende Hulp/SEH) of a hospital. In case of a non-life-threatening emergency call the local GP (Dutch: Huisarts) during office hours or the night GP (Dutch: Huisartsenpost) after office hours. If necessary the GP will send an ambulance or make a referal to the most suitable emergency department. If you have a non-life-threatening emergency do not go to the emergency department without referral as you will be denied access until a GP has seen you first.
Two health risks are particularly relevant for travellers:
When walking or camping in forests and dunes, be aware of ticks and tick-carrying diseases. It is advisable to wear long sleeves and to put trousers into your socks. If you discover a red ring on your body in the following weeks, be sure to visit a doctor to check for Lyme disease, which can be lethal without proper medical care.
In summer, open air recreational (mainly fresh water) swimming areas might suffer from the notorious blue algae, a rather smelly cyanobacteria which when it dies, releases toxins into the water. When these occur, a signpost at the entrance to the area or near the water should tell you so by stating something like "Waarschuwing: blauwalg". If in doubt, ask someone.

Source: Wikivoyage

Scams & street smarts

No summary available.

No bullet notes stored.

Source: Wikivoyage

Tempo & rhythm