Netherlands Holidays, Flights & Travel Guide
The complete Netherlands travel guide - Netherlands
holidays & Netherlands flights.
Top destination guides for Netherlands
holidays;
Amsterdam Holidays
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Netherlands Holidays
and Travel Overview
This country of tulips, windmills
and bicycles stretches out over a predominantly flat landscape of
reclaimed land. Sophisticated urban centres and sleepy rural towns
are contained within the expansive vistas broken here and there by
canals, castle walls and dikes. Europe's most densely populated
region is located within an area of the Netherlands called the
Randstad. This urban hub is spread in a circle from Amsterdam, and
includes The Hague, Rotterdam and Utrecht and the smaller towns of
Haarlem, Leiden and Delft. The metropolitan centres buzz with the
activity of seasonal festivals, cultural activities, vibrant art
scenes and excellent pubs and restaurants. The
cultural heritage that flavours much of Dutch life can be traced
back through time. During the 1600s the Netherlands dominated the
world both economically and culturally. The Dutch East India
Company established trading links with the East and West Indies
bringing back an abundance of merchandise and cultural influences.
The Golden Age reached its zenith in the artworks of the Dutch
Masters - Rembrandt, Frans Hals and Jan Vermeer. Today their
paintings hang from the walls of the cities' numerous museums and
galleries. Most people travelling to the
Netherlands head for the unique experience of its capital city,
Amsterdam. The other parts are largely unaffected by tourism,
particularly the areas outside the Randstad. The southern parts of
the country are transformed by undulating landscapes of shifting
sands and heath moors, best experienced within the Hoge Veluwe
National Park. Still south, tucked between the German and Belgian
borders, lies the historical city of Maastricht.
Since the collapse of Napoleon's empire in 1814, the
Netherlands has taken a neutral stance throughout most of the
world's conflicts, including the First World War in which it took
no part. In spite of this independent stance it still suffered
severely in World War II during the Nazi invasion of 1940. Its
neutral political position, combined with its tradition of
liberalism and tolerance has made the Netherlands the logical
choice for the establishment of the International Court of Justice,
which is situated in The Hague.
Tourist Offices - Netherlands Tourist Office, The Hague: +31
(0)70 3705 705 or www.holland.com
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Entry Requirements
for Netherlands Holidays & Netherlands Travel
The borderless region known as the Schengen
area includes the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, The
Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Sweden. All these
countries issue a standard Schengen visa that, in principal, allows
the holder to travel freely within the borders of
all.
- For Australians -
Australians must have a valid passport (must be valid
for at least three months after period of intended stay). No visa
is required for a stay of up to 90 days in a half-year
period.
- New Zealand citizens must have a valid passport (must
be valid at least three months after period of intended stay). No
visa is required for stays of a maximum of 90 days in a half-year
period, but proof of sufficient funds is needed.
- United States passport holders do not require a visa
for travel to the Netherlands, but proof of sufficient funds is
needed. Visas are valid for a maximum of 90 days in a half-year
period. Passports must be valid for three months after the intended
length of stay.
- United States passport holders do not require a visa
for travel to the Netherlands, but proof of sufficient funds is
needed. Visas are valid for a maximum of 90 days in a half-year
period. Passports must be valid for three months after the intended
length of stay.
- British passport holders do not require a visa for
travel to the Netherlands. Visas are valid for a maximum of 90 days
in a half-year period. Passports must be valid for the period of
intended stay.
Currency of Netherlands
Single European currency, or Euro (EUR), is the
official currency of the Netherlands, and is divided into 100
cents. Major credit cards and travellers cheques are widely
accepted. Foreign currency or travellers cheques can be changed at
banks, post offices or bureaux de change (usually indicated by the
letters GWK). Banks are closed on weekends. ATMs are widely
distributed and most are open 24 hours a day.
Netherlands
Telephone Access Codes and Communications
The international access code for the
Netherlands is +31. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the
relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the United Kingdom). City/area
codes are in use, e.g. (0)20 for Amsterdam. Five local mobile phone
operators have the Netherlands extremely well covered with GSM 900
and 1800 networks. Internet cafes are widely
available.
Netherlands
Duty Free Allowances & Restrictions
Travellers over 17 years arriving from non-EU
countries do not have to pay duty on 200 cigarettes or 100
cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250g smoking tobacco; 1 litre spirits
with alcohol volume higher than 22%, or 2 litres spirits or
aperitifs made of wine or similar beverages less than 22%, or 2
litres of sparkling wines, liquor wines, or still wine; perfume up
to 50g or 250ml eau de toilette; 500g of coffee; 100g tea; and
goods for personal use to the value of EUR175. Prohibited items
include the import of all birds.
Netherlands
Holidays - Tipping Information
Service charges are included in hotel rates,
restaurant bills and taxi fares, usually at 15%. Tips for good
service are always appreciated but not necessary. It is customary
to tip taxi drivers and waiters 10%.
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Netherlands Holidays Guide
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