Netherlands Travel Guide

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Shopping

Special purchases include Delft (an area between The Hague and Rotterdam) blue pottery and pottery from Makkum and Workum, costume dolls, silverware from Schoonhoven, cheese from Gouda, glass and crystal from Leerdam and diamonds from Amsterdam.

Shopping hours: Mon 1100-1800, Tues-Fri 0900-1800 and Sat 0900-1700. In Amsterdam, Rotterdam and other big cities, supermarkets are open 0800-2000/2100. In large city centers, shops are open Sunday 1200-1700. Shopping malls are also open on Sunday. Some city centers also have late-night shopping on Thursdays or Fridays until 2100.

Note: Bulbs and plants may not be exported except by commercial growers, or by individuals with a health certificate from the Plant Disease Service. A reasonable number of bulbs for personal use are allowed.

Currency

Euro (EUR; symbol €) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of €500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of €2 and 1, and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cents.

Currency Exchange

Exchange offices are indicated by the letters GWK. GWK is a national organization with currency exchange offices at major railway stations, at Schiphol Airport and at the border crossings with Germany and Belgium. Hotels tend to charge high commissions. Verkoop means sell, while Koop means buy.

Credit Cards, Debit Cards, and ATMs

American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are accepted. ATMs are widely available.

Travelers Checks

Widely accepted. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travelers are advised to take traveler's checks in Euros, Pounds Sterling or US Dollars.

Currency Restrictions

There are no restrictions on the import or export of local or foreign currency. However, amounts exceeding €10,000 or equivalent must be declared if traveling from or to a country outside the European Union.

Banking Hours

Mon 1300-1600; Tues-Fri 0900-1600. GWK offices are open seven days a week.

Exchange Rate