Charming waterways, extensive picturesque biking routes, world-class museums, quaint cheese factories, and lost-in-time windmills make the Netherlands one of Europe’s most sought-after destinations. Our Netherlands travel guide will tell you all you need to know about this remarkable country, including the best time to visit the Netherlands and how many days you should spend in the Netherlands.

You can do a whirlwind Netherlands tour in five days, but to do justice to the variety of experiences, we recommend at least 10 days. To avoid the summer rush, you can visit the Netherlands in April during spring. For excellent discounts on hotels, the Netherlands in November is a tempting option — it’s officially winter but not the coldest month of the year.

While Amsterdam is the country’s most popular destination, there are many more things to do in the Netherlands beyond the capital, like visiting the port city of Rotterdam.Check out the Markthal, a shopping arcade and office building with a cool, modernist look; climb up the Euromast Tower for panoramic views; and walk the Westersingel Sculpture Route. To get a glimpse of the Netherlands’ Golden Age in the 17th century, visit the charming town of Delft. If the weather is good, you can cycle in the Netherlands’ beautiful 13,590-acre De Hoge Veluwe National Park or enjoy a lovely day at a beach in Bloemendaal aan Zee.

Top Destinations in the Netherlands

Discover the highlights of the Netherlands.

Explore Amsterdam

Explore Amsterdam

Enjoy an evening drink with bitterballen (crispy meatballs) at a cafe overlooking one of Amsterdam’s many delightful canals; admire the beautiful paintings on the ceiling of the 17th century Royal Palace of Amsterdam; visit the Rijksmuseum, which has masterpieces by Dutch masters like Rembrandt and Frans Hals; walk the haunting hallways of the Anne Frank house. View Tours

Discover Dutch history in The Hague

Discover Dutch history in The Hague

Visit the Madurodam, a miniature world with replicas of the Netherlands’ greatest cities and cultural landmarks, and learn about the country’s history. Check out the National Monument Oranjehotel. See the Binnenhof complex in the city center, where the country’s lawmakers meet. Discover the story of the Hague through art and objects at the Haags Historisch Museum. View Tours

The Netherlands at a Glance

Quick facts about the Netherlands.

CAPITAL CITY

Amsterdam is the capital of the Netherlands. Built in swampland in the 12th century, this small fishing village became one of the most powerful cities in Europe over the next 500 years. Amsterdam was at the heart of the Dutch Golden Age from 1588 to 1672. The city has over 160 canals that join 90 different islands. Biking is a passion for Amsterdam residents, with over 70% biking to and from work and school.

SIZE

220 square kilometers. Central Amsterdam can be easily explored on foot or bike, with over 400 kilometers of dedicated cycling lanes. The city is also well-connected by buses, trams, metros, trains and ferries.

COUNTRY CODE

+31. Add an area code after it for specific cities, such as 10 for Rotterdam.

CURRENCY

Like much of Europe, the Netherlands uses euros (symbol €) as its currency. The most commonly used euro banknotes come in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100. ATMs are found in every city, town and big village. Shops accept all major credit and debit cards, including Visa, American Express and MasterCard. You can easily change foreign currency into euros at most banks.

MAIN AIRPORT

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is the main airport for international flights and Europe’s third busiest airport. There are direct flights from all the world’s major cities to Schiphol. KLM and Delta operate non-stop flights from the US to Schiphol. A 20-minute taxi ride will take you from the airport to the center of Amsterdam. Alternatively, a train is much cheaper and takes just 15 minutes. CODE: AMS CLOSEST CITY: AMSTERDAM

VISAS

Citizens of the EU, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, the US and Canada do not require a visa to enter the Netherlands if they stay for 90 days or less. For longer stays most foreigners need a visa and other permits. If you’re from a country that does not have a visa liberalization agreement with Schengen states, you will need a visa. Check your country’s travel advisories before booking a trip.

LANGUAGE

Dutch is the official language of the Netherlands and is spoken by almost everyone. But Dutch has many dialects, such as the Flemish dialect more common in the south. Other dialects include Limburgish and Zeelandic. Most Dutch nationals are also fairly comfortable with English, and many can speak German and French.

EMERGENCY CONTACT

Dial 112 to access emergency services such as police, ambulance and fire service.

WHAT'S UNIQUE

Cannabis is generally legal in the Netherlands but there’s a catch: it has to be purchased and consumed (in small amounts) at a coffee shop. You cannot have it wherever you please. Also, note that a coffee shop in the Netherlands is different from a cafe. The latter is where you get a harmless cup of coffee!

When to visit the Netherlands

Read the below travel guides to find the best time to visit the Netherlands.

Sustainable travel — How to travel through the Netherlands responsibly

In line with Bookmundi’s vision, we wish to provide our travelers with a sustainable travel experience through the Netherlands. As part of this effort, we carbon offset any Netherlands tour that you purchase through us. Read more details about our carbon offsetting program.

Here’s what you can do to travel to the Netherlands more responsibly:

  • Carbon offset your transport to the Netherlands via Trees for All. The moment your tour starts in the Netherlands, and provided that you have purchased your tour through Bookmundi, we will carbon offset your tour from its starting point to its ending point.
  • Donate to organizations like Natuur & Milieu and GreenSwapp to aid their green efforts.
  • Travel more sustainably in the Netherlands by renting a bike instead of using other forms of transport while touring cities like Amsterdam, visiting the country in the low tourist season and not contributing to overtourism, rejecting single-use items while eating and shopping, and choosing vegan/vegetarian restaurants.

Netherlands travel tips and insights

  • Dutch people can be direct, which can come off as rude to some people.
  • Cheese is very popular in the Netherlands. Be sure to visit the cities of Gouda, Edam and Alkmaar to try some of their namesake cheese.
  • If you plan on touring museums, consider getting the Netherlands Museum Pass to save money. The Netherlands is an epicenter of center of art and the country has several of well-known museums. The card covers entrance to over 400 museums! If you are preparing to tour multiple cities in the country, this card is a must!

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