Netherlands_holiday

The Netherlands is situated on the Northern European coast between Germany and Belgium. Few other countries of this size have made such an enormous contribution to art, science, agriculture, publishing, technology, architecture, and design. The country's cities are among the most attractive in Europe, with their tree-lined canals and neat brick houses, while the transport system is one of the best in the world, providing an excellent network of trains, trams, and buses, not to mention 15,000 kilometres (9,300 miles) of cycle paths. Yet the Netherlands remains a precarious landmass, threatened on one side by the North Sea and on the other by the Rhine. It has suffered countless floods, from the Saint Elisabeth Day flood of 1421 to the Zeeland disaster of 1953. This prompted the ambitious Delta Plan of 1957, which protects the vulnerable coastline with a series of dams and storm-surge barriers.

The Netherlands emerged as an independent state in the 17th century after a bitter religious struggle against Philip II of Spain. By the end of the 80-year-long war in 1648, the country had become one of the great powers of Europe. This was also the age of the explorers, when Dutch ships chartered new routes to Asia and Australia, giving Dutch names to places as distant as New Zealand (after Zeeland), Cape Horn (after the port of Horn), and Harlem (after the Dutch town of Haarlem). At the same time, hydraulic engineers were working in the north of the country on major land-reclaiming schemes, using windmills to create drained land known as polder, which today supports a massive bulb-growing and dairy cattle industry.

Yet, apart from its successful national soccer side, it is for its 17th-century art that the Netherlands is best known, and Dutch artists such as Rembrandt, Frans Hals, Vermeer, Cuyp, and Hobbema now fill the world's great collections. Artistic creativity remains strong today, with exciting work flowing from artists such as Karel Appel and Jan Dibbets, from the architects Aldo van Eyck and Piet Blom, from novelists such as Harry Mulich and Ces Nooteboom, from the Nederlands Dans Theater, and from the experimental jazz workshops of Amsterdam.

Entry Requirements

Citizens of the European Union (EU) can enter the Netherlands with a valid passport and stay for a period of 90 days. Citizens of Schengen area countries need only carry a valid national identity card. Other nationals should consult the Netherlands' embassy or consulate in their country of residence before departure, for details of any visa requirements.

Emergency phone numbers

Emergency services: 06 11
Alternative pan-European emergency number for all services: 112

Time zones

Central European Time (GMT plus one hour). Clocks are put forward one hour from the last Sunday in March to the Saturday before the end of October.

Driving

Vehicle documents

Check with your motor vehicle insurance company regarding any insurance documents you will need and whether any additional insurance is required. Make sure you have a warning triangle in the car in case of an accident or breakdown. The international registration letters of your country of residence must be displayed at the rear of your car.

Rules of the road

Always carry your full valid driving licence or International Driving Permit, vehicle registration documents, and insurance documents with you in the car. Seat belts must be worn by both front- and back-seat passengers. Children under 12 are not allowed to travel in the front seat. The limit of alcohol permissible in the blood while driving is 50 mg per 100 ml (5g/l). Cars from the United Kingdom or Ireland must fit headlights with an anti-dazzle strip.

Roads, tolls and speed limits

Most roads in the Netherlands are toll free, although there are a few toll bridges and tunnels. The Netherlands has international motorways (marked with a green "E" symbol), national roads (indicated by a red "A") and other main roads (marked by a yellow "N"). Motorways which extend beyond the Netherlands' borders have an international European number (marked on signs with a green "E" symbol) and a national number (marked on adjoining signs with a red "A" symbol). Motorways which begin and end within the Netherlands have only a national number. The yellow "N" symbol stands for national roads. Speed limits are between 100 kilometres (60 miles) and 120 kilometres (75 miles) per hour on motorways, 100 kilometres (60 miles) per hour on dual carriageways, 80 kilometres (50 miles) per hour on other roads, and 50 kilometres (30 miles) per hour in towns and cities. You are expected to reduce your speed significantly on wet roads.

Driving tips

Motorways or dual carriageways tend to be crowded at peak periods. Note that cyclists have their own network of special lanes and frequently have absolute priority over motorised traffic in urban areas.

Assistance

In the event of a breakdown, contact the ANWB, The Royal Dutch Touring Club, tel: (070) 314 71 47. If an accident occurs, call the police, tel: 06 11.

Electrical devices

The electrical current in the Netherlands is 220 volts AC. Round, two-pin plugs are used. An adapter is essential for UK and Irish appliances.

Money

Notes and coins

Euro

Currency exchange

Travellers cheques are the safest way to carry money and you should buy these in your country of residence before departure. The credit cards accepted in the Netherlands include Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Diners Club. Most hotels, restaurants, and shops accept the major cards. You will find the current foreign exchange rate in most newspapers, or advertised in banks and bureaux de change. However, commercial bureaux de change in Amsterdam often charge excessive commission rates; the GWK (De Grenswisselkantoren) exchange offices are a cheaper and more convenient option. They are usually situated at train stations and stay open until late. The office in Amsterdam stays open 24 hours. Banks are open weekdays from 09.00 to 16.00. In larger towns, they may also open on Thursday or Friday (late-night shopping) from 19.00 to 21.00, as well as on Saturday mornings.

Tipping

A service charge of 15 percent is usually included in hotel, restaurant, and taxi bills, and further tips are not expected. However, if the service is particularly good in a restaurant, you can leave an additional tip of up to 10 percent. Leave some small change in cafés and bars.

Public holidays

1 January: New Year's Day
Good Friday
Easter Monday
30 April: The Queen's Birthday
5 May: National Liberation Day
Ascension Day
Whit Monday
5 December: Saint Nicholas' Day
25 and 26 December: Christmas

Travellers with disabilities

Many hotels, restaurants, and tourist sites are equipped with lifts, ramps, and special toilets for visitors with disabilities. Public transport is not always convenient for wheelchairs, although trains do have some railway carriages designed for travellers with disabilities. Organisations which can provide further information include ANWB (Royal Dutch Touring Club), travel information department, tel: +31 70 314 64 30, and the Netherlands Railways, tel: +31 30 33 12 53. The Netherlands Board of Tourism publishes the leaflet Holland for the Handicapped, which details hotel and camping facilities.

Transport

Metro, buses and trams

Most people use buses when leaving or entering a town or city and trams for getting around the streets. Tickets for trams and the metro can also be used on buses. The easiest means of travelling within cities is the tram. Tram drivers sell one-day travelcards. Strips of tickets can be bought at Transport Authority offices. Tickets are also available at post offices, railways stations and newsagents, where they are much cheaper than if bought from a bus or tram driver. The Amsterdam metro has only two lines and four stations in the centre. The strippenkaart, a strip card with 15 tickets, which are also valid on buses and trams, can be bought at post offices and railway stations. Rotterdam also has a metro. Most people use buses when leaving or entering a town or city, rather than for urban transport. Tickets for trams and the metro can also be used on buses.

The easiest means of travelling within cities is the tram. Tram drivers sell one-day travelcards. Strips of tickets can be bought at Transport Authority offices.

Ferries

A 20-minute car ferry runs twice an hour between Breskens and Vlissingen across the Westerschelde estuary. Ferries also run to Texel and the other islands in the Wadden Sea.

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