Travel Tips
Netherlands
Canals, cycling, great art and spring tulips make the Netherlands easy and fun to explore.
- Capital
- Amsterdam
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Language
- Dutch
- Best overall
- April to May and June to September
- Emergency
- 112
- Electricity
- 230V, plug types C and F
This country is in the Schengen Area. Many visitors can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa, while others need a Schengen visa. Check the current rules for your passport, including the EES and ETIAS entry systems. Passport validity rules vary, so check the requirements before you book.
Read about visa on arrival, e-visas and online registration →
Still have specific visa questions?
Tulip season peaks from mid-April to early May. Summer is pleasant and popular, and winter is cool and rainy.
Not sure which month suits your trip?
Amsterdam
Canals, the Rijksmuseum and the Anne Frank House. Book ahead.
Keukenhof
Vast spring flower gardens, open only for a few weeks.
Utrecht
Quieter canals with waterside cellars.
Rotterdam
Bold modern architecture and a busy port.
Kinderdijk
A UNESCO landscape of historic windmills.
Need help choosing where to go?
- Days 1 to 4 Amsterdam
- Day 5 Keukenhof in spring, or Haarlem
- Day 6 Utrecht
- Days 7 to 8 Rotterdam and Kinderdijk
Want a route planned around your dates?
- Trains are frequent. Tap a contactless card or OV-chipkaart to pay.
- Rent a bike, and stay out of the bike lanes when walking.
Not sure how to get between places?
- Cards are nearly universal, and some places do not accept cash.
- Buy an eSIM before you fly or a local SIM on arrival, so maps work from day one.
Questions about costs, cash or SIM cards?
- Stroopwafels: thin caramel waffles.
- Herring with onions, if you are brave.
- Bitterballen: fried beef snacks.
Want tips on what and where to eat?
- Watch carefully for bicycles, the main hazard for visitors.
- Keep your phone and bag safe in crowded areas of Amsterdam.
Planning a trip to the Netherlands?
Book a one-on-one call and bring your questions about your route, costs and visa.
Information on this page may change, so please confirm the latest visa and entry requirements and your government travel advice on official websites before you travel.