Netherlands Travel Guide

Language

Dutch is the official language. English is widely spoken. Fries (as well as Dutch) is spoken by the people of Friesland province.

Currency

Single European currency, or Euro (EUR), is the official currency of the Netherlands, and is divided into 100 cents. Major credit cards and travelers checks are widely accepted. To avoid additional charges take travelers checks in Euros, Pounds Sterling or US Dollars. Foreign currency or travelers checks can be changed at banks, post offices or bureau de change (usually indicated by the letters GWK). Banks are closed on weekends but bureau de change are open. ATMs are widely distributed and most are open 24 hours a day.

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Electricity

Electrical current is 230 volts, 50Hz. Two-pin round European-style plugs are used.

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.

Duty-Free

Duty free items for travelers to the Netherlands include 200 cigarettes, 100 cigarillos, 50 cigars or 250g smoking tobacco; 1 liter spirits, 2 liters spirits or aperitifs made of wine or 2 liters of sparkling wines, liquor wines or still wine; perfume up to 50g or 250ml eau de toilette; 500g of coffee; 100g tea. Prohibited items include the import of all birds.

Tourist Office

Netherlands Tourist Office, The Hague: +31 (0)70 3705 705 or www.holland.com

Embassies in Netherlands

• United States Embassy, The Hague: +31 (0)70 310 2209.
• British Embassy, The Hague: +31 (0)70 4270 427.
• Canadian Embassy, The Hague: +31 (0)70 311 1600.
• Australian Embassy, The Hague: +31 (0)70 310 8200.
• South African Embassy, The Hague: +31 (0)70 392 4501.
• Irish Embassy, The Hague: +31 (0)70 363 0993.
• New Zealand Embassy, The Hague: +31 (0)70 346 9324.

Netherlands Embassies Abroad

• Royal Netherlands Embassy, Washington DC, United States: +1 877 388 2443.
• Royal Netherlands Embassy, London, United Kingdom: +44 (0)20 7590 3200.
• Royal Netherlands Embassy, Ottawa, Canada: +1 877 388 2443.
• Royal Netherlands Embassy, Canberra, Australia: +61 (0)2 6220 9400.
• Royal Netherlands Embassy, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 425 4500.
• Royal Netherlands Embassy, Dublin, Ireland: +353 (0)1 269 3444.
• Royal Netherlands Embassy, Wellington, New Zealand: +64 (0)4 471 6390.

Emergency

Emergencies: 112

Language

Dutch is the official language. English is widely spoken. Fries (as well as Dutch) is spoken by the people of Friesland province.

Currency

Single European currency, or Euro (EUR), is the official currency of the Netherlands, and is divided into 100 cents. Major credit cards and travelers checks are widely accepted. To avoid additional charges take travelers checks in Euros, Pounds Sterling or US Dollars. Foreign currency or travelers checks can be changed at banks, post offices or bureau de change (usually indicated by the letters GWK). Banks are closed on weekends but bureau de change are open. ATMs are widely distributed and most are open 24 hours a day.

0.6887

Electricity

Electrical current is 230 volts, 50Hz. Two-pin round European-style plugs are used.

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.

Duty-Free

Duty free items for travelers to the Netherlands include 200 cigarettes, 100 cigarillos, 50 cigars or 250g smoking tobacco; 1 liter spirits, 2 liters spirits or aperitifs made of wine or 2 liters of sparkling wines, liquor wines or still wine; perfume up to 50g or 250ml eau de toilette; 500g of coffee; 100g tea. Prohibited items include the import of all birds.

Tourist Office

Netherlands Tourist Office, The Hague: +31 (0)70 3705 705 or www.holland.com

Embassies in Netherlands

• United States Embassy, The Hague: +31 (0)70 310 2209.
• British Embassy, The Hague: +31 (0)70 4270 427.
• Canadian Embassy, The Hague: +31 (0)70 311 1600.
• Australian Embassy, The Hague: +31 (0)70 310 8200.
• South African Embassy, The Hague: +31 (0)70 392 4501.
• Irish Embassy, The Hague: +31 (0)70 363 0993.
• New Zealand Embassy, The Hague: +31 (0)70 346 9324.

Netherlands Embassies Abroad

• Royal Netherlands Embassy, Washington DC, United States: +1 877 388 2443.
• Royal Netherlands Embassy, London, United Kingdom: +44 (0)20 7590 3200.
• Royal Netherlands Embassy, Ottawa, Canada: +1 877 388 2443.
• Royal Netherlands Embassy, Canberra, Australia: +61 (0)2 6220 9400.
• Royal Netherlands Embassy, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 425 4500.
• Royal Netherlands Embassy, Dublin, Ireland: +353 (0)1 269 3444.
• Royal Netherlands Embassy, Wellington, New Zealand: +64 (0)4 471 6390.

Emergency

Emergencies: 112

Language

Dutch is the official language. English is widely spoken. Fries (as well as Dutch) is spoken by the people of Friesland province.

Currency

Single European currency, or Euro (EUR), is the official currency of the Netherlands, and is divided into 100 cents. Major credit cards and travelers checks are widely accepted. To avoid additional charges take travelers checks in Euros, Pounds Sterling or US Dollars. Foreign currency or travelers checks can be changed at banks, post offices or bureau de change (usually indicated by the letters GWK). Banks are closed on weekends but bureau de change are open. ATMs are widely distributed and most are open 24 hours a day.

0.6887

Electricity

Electrical current is 230 volts, 50Hz. Two-pin round European-style plugs are used.

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.

Duty-Free

Duty free items for travelers to the Netherlands include 200 cigarettes, 100 cigarillos, 50 cigars or 250g smoking tobacco; 1 liter spirits, 2 liters spirits or aperitifs made of wine or 2 liters of sparkling wines, liquor wines or still wine; perfume up to 50g or 250ml eau de toilette; 500g of coffee; 100g tea. Prohibited items include the import of all birds.

Tourist Office

Netherlands Tourist Office, The Hague: +31 (0)70 3705 705 or www.holland.com

Embassies in Netherlands

• United States Embassy, The Hague: +31 (0)70 310 2209.
• British Embassy, The Hague: +31 (0)70 4270 427.
• Canadian Embassy, The Hague: +31 (0)70 311 1600.
• Australian Embassy, The Hague: +31 (0)70 310 8200.
• South African Embassy, The Hague: +31 (0)70 392 4501.
• Irish Embassy, The Hague: +31 (0)70 363 0993.
• New Zealand Embassy, The Hague: +31 (0)70 346 9324.

Netherlands Embassies Abroad

• Royal Netherlands Embassy, Washington DC, United States: +1 877 388 2443.
• Royal Netherlands Embassy, London, United Kingdom: +44 (0)20 7590 3200.
• Royal Netherlands Embassy, Ottawa, Canada: +1 877 388 2443.
• Royal Netherlands Embassy, Canberra, Australia: +61 (0)2 6220 9400.
• Royal Netherlands Embassy, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 425 4500.
• Royal Netherlands Embassy, Dublin, Ireland: +353 (0)1 269 3444.
• Royal Netherlands Embassy, Wellington, New Zealand: +64 (0)4 471 6390.

Emergency

Emergencies: 112

Language

Dutch is the official language. English is widely spoken. Fries (as well as Dutch) is spoken by the people of Friesland province.

Currency

Single European currency, or Euro (EUR), is the official currency of the Netherlands, and is divided into 100 cents. Major credit cards and travelers checks are widely accepted. To avoid additional charges take travelers checks in Euros, Pounds Sterling or US Dollars. Foreign currency or travelers checks can be changed at banks, post offices or bureau de change (usually indicated by the letters GWK). Banks are closed on weekends but bureau de change are open. ATMs are widely distributed and most are open 24 hours a day.

0.6887

Electricity

Electrical current is 230 volts, 50Hz. Two-pin round European-style plugs are used.

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.

Duty-Free

Duty free items for travelers to the Netherlands include 200 cigarettes, 100 cigarillos, 50 cigars or 250g smoking tobacco; 1 liter spirits, 2 liters spirits or aperitifs made of wine or 2 liters of sparkling wines, liquor wines or still wine; perfume up to 50g or 250ml eau de toilette; 500g of coffee; 100g tea. Prohibited items include the import of all birds.

Tourist Office

Netherlands Tourist Office, The Hague: +31 (0)70 3705 705 or www.holland.com

Embassies in Netherlands

• United States Embassy, The Hague: +31 (0)70 310 2209.
• British Embassy, The Hague: +31 (0)70 4270 427.
• Canadian Embassy, The Hague: +31 (0)70 311 1600.
• Australian Embassy, The Hague: +31 (0)70 310 8200.
• South African Embassy, The Hague: +31 (0)70 392 4501.
• Irish Embassy, The Hague: +31 (0)70 363 0993.
• New Zealand Embassy, The Hague: +31 (0)70 346 9324.

Netherlands Embassies Abroad

• Royal Netherlands Embassy, Washington DC, United States: +1 877 388 2443.
• Royal Netherlands Embassy, London, United Kingdom: +44 (0)20 7590 3200.
• Royal Netherlands Embassy, Ottawa, Canada: +1 877 388 2443.
• Royal Netherlands Embassy, Canberra, Australia: +61 (0)2 6220 9400.
• Royal Netherlands Embassy, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 425 4500.
• Royal Netherlands Embassy, Dublin, Ireland: +353 (0)1 269 3444.
• Royal Netherlands Embassy, Wellington, New Zealand: +64 (0)4 471 6390.

Emergency

Emergencies: 112