OVERVIEW

The Netherlands is renowned for being unremittingly flat, with traditional images of canals, windmills and tulips complementing its new face as a modern European nation, so impressively demonstrated when The Netherlands co-hosted Euro 2000 with Belgium. Its eclectic past reads like a ‘who’s who’ of European nations as everyone from the Romans and the Gauls, right through to the Hapsburgs and the Spanish, influenced its destiny before the country finally emerged with its current borders in 1830.

It is easy to imagine The Netherlands as just Amsterdam; the nation’s capital city is one of the most visually stunning in the world, where you can also delve through centuries of history aboard a canal boat or explore the array of excellent museums. The Netherlands is far more than just its capital, though, with a string of impressive cities including Arnhem, The Hague and Rotterdam. Rotterdam has picked itself up from almost total devastation in World War II to emerge as Europe’s (and indeed one of the world’s) biggest port and a leader in urban regeneration.

Out in the countryside, any sense of monotony you may have is soon broken by stunning medieval towns like Utrecht and Delft. Holland’s main natural attraction is its wide swathe of coastline, much of it peppered with artificial sea walls and inland seas, as The Netherlands fights its never-ending battle with the North Sea.

Geography
The Netherlands shares borders to the south with Belgium and to the east with Germany, while the North Sea lies to the north and west. Large areas of The Netherlands have been reclaimed from the sea and consequently one-fifth of the country lies below sea level. The country is flat and level and is criss-crossed by rivers and canals. Areas reclaimed from the sea, known as polders, are extremely fertile. The landscape is broken by the forest of Arnhem, the bulb fields in the west, the lakes of the central and northern areas, and coastal dunes that are among the most impressive in Europe.

Social Conventions
It is customary to shake hands. English is spoken as a second language by many and is willingly used; many Dutch people will also speak German and French. Hospitality is very much the same as for the rest of Europe and the USA. It is customary to take a small gift if invited for a meal. Casual wear is widely acceptable. Men are expected to wear a suit for business and social functions. Formal wear may be required for smart restaurants, bars and clubs. Evening dress (black tie for men) is generally specified on invitation.

Tipping
All hotels and restaurants include 15 per cent service and VAT. It is customary to leave small change when paying a bill. &Euro;0,5-1,00 is usual for porters, doormen and taxi drivers. Hairdressers and barbers have inclusive service prices.

International Travel:

Air
The Netherlands’ national airline is KLM-Royal Dutch Airlines (KLM) (website: www.klm.com). KLM flies direct to all major European, North American and Asia-Pacific cities. KLM Excel flies between London Stansted and Maastricht. Most major international airlines, and some low-cost carriers fly to Amsterdam.

Approximate flight times
From Amsterdam to Belfast is one hour; to London is one hour 20 minutes; to Manchester is one hour 15 minutes and to New York is seven hours (including stopover in London).

International airports
Amsterdam (AMS) (Schiphol) (website: www.schiphol.nl) is 15km (9 miles) southwest of the city (travel time by train – 20 minutes). KLM buses provide a daily service from 0600-0000 departing every 15 to 30 minutes, stopping at a selection of major hotels and returning to Schiphol. There is a direct rail link between the airport and Amsterdam Centraal Station, with trains every 15 minutes from 0600-0000 and every hour through the night. Trains to Zuid Station (Amsterdam South) run every 15 minutes from 0525-0015; return is from Zuid Station, Parnassusweg/ Minervalaan (via tram no. 5 from the city center) from 0545-0040. There is also a service to the RAI Congress Center every 15 minutes from 0525-0012. Return is from RAI station (via tram no. 4 from the city center) from 0545-0040. Plentiful taxis are available to the city. Airport facilities include restaurants, duty free shops, currency exchange machines (able to convert 17 different currencies), banks, an art gallery, baby rooms, showers, a business center (with fax, personal computer and telephone facilities), conference rooms and car hire.
Rotterdam (RTM) (Zestienhoven) (website: www.rotterdam-airport.nl) is 8km (5 miles) northwest of the city (travel time – 15 minutes). Bus no. 33 departs every 10 minutes. Return is from Central Station (travel time – 20 minutes). Taxis to the city are also available. Airport facilities include restaurant, bank, outgoing duty free shop and car hire.
Eindhoven (EIN) (Welschap) (website: www.eindhovenairport.nl) is 8km (5 miles) from the city. Coaches run every 15 minutes and taxis to the city are also available. Airport facilities include car hire, ATMs, restaurants and outgoing duty free shops.
Maastricht (MST) (Aachen) (website: www.maa.nl) is 8km (5 miles) from the city. Airport facilities include outgoing duty free shop.
Groningen (GRQ) (Eelde) (website: www.groningenairporteelde.nl) is 9km (6 miles) from the city.
Enschede (ENS) (Twente) (website: www.enschede-airport.nl) is 8km (5 miles) from the city.

Departure tax
None.

Sea
The major ferry ports are Hook of Holland (Hoek van Holland), Rotterdam and Vlissingen. Regular car and passenger ferries are operated from the UK to The Netherlands via the following routes and shipping lines:
Stena Line (tel: (08705) 707 070; website: www.stenaline.co.uk): Harwich to Hook of Holland; travel time – three hours 40 minutes (day), six hours 15 minutes (night); two sailings daily.
P&O Ferries (tel: (08705) 202 020; website: www.ponsf.com): Hull to Rotterdam (Europoort); travel time – 12 hours; one sailing nightly.
DFDS Seaways (tel: (08705) 333 000 (within the UK) or (01255) 240 240 (outside the UK); website: www.dfdsseaways.co.uk): Newcastle to Amsterdam; travel time – 16 hours.
Note: Hoverspeed UK and P&O European Ferries run services to The Netherlands via Belgium. French ports also provide connections.

Rail
Eurostar operates direct high-speed trains from London (Waterloo International) to Paris (Gare du Nord) and to Brussels (Midi/Zuid). It takes three hours from London to Paris and it takes two hours 40 minutes from London to Brussels. Local trains run between Brussels and Amsterdam (travel time – approximately two hours 45 minutes). Eurostar operates eight daily services to Brussels and Thalys International runs six daily trains (seven in summer) onwards to Amsterdam and other Dutch destinations.
The Eurostar trains are equipped with standard-class and first-class seating, buffet, bar and are staffed by multilingual, highly trained personnel. Pricing is competitive with the airlines, and there is a large range of different tickets and prices. Children aged between four to 11 years benefit from a special fare in first class as well as in standard class. Children under four years old travel free but cannot be guaranteed a seat. Wheelchair users and blind passengers together with one companion get a special fare. For further information and reservations, contact Eurostar (tel: (0870) 600 0792 (travel agents) or (08705) 186 186 (public; within the UK) or (+44 1233) 617 575 (public; outside the UK only); website: www.eurostar.com); or Rail Europe (tel: (08705) 848 848). Travel agents can obtain refunds for unused tickets from Eurostar Trade Refunds, 2nd Floor, Kent House, 81 Station Road, Ashford, Kent TN23 1PD, UK. Complaints and comments may be sent to Eurostar Customer Relations, Eurostar House, Waterloo Station, London SE1 8SE, UK (tel: (020) 7928 5163; e-mail: new.comments@eurostar.co.uk). Rail travelers not using the Channel Tunnel link need to make some form of sea crossing, usually by ferry or hovercraft; for details on sea crossings, see also under Sea above. The cost of the crossing is usually included in the price of the rail ticket.
There are plenty of rail passes on offer to travelers visiting The Netherlands, including discounts for young and senior citizens. For further details, contact Rail Europe (website: www.raileurope.com).

Road
The Netherlands is connected to the rest of Europe by a superb network of motorways. All roads are well signposted with green ‘E’ symbols indicating international highways, red ‘A’s indicating national highways, and smaller routes indicated by yellow ‘N’s. The national speed limit is 120kph (75mph). Although frontier formalities between The Netherlands, Germany and Belgium have now all but vanished, motorists – particularly on smaller roads – should be prepared to stop when asked to do so by a customs official. The yellow cars of the ANWB/Wegenwacht (Royal Dutch Touring Club) (tel: (70) 314 1420) patrol major roads 24 hours a day with qualified mechanics equipped to handle routine repairs. In case of emergencies, assistance is available (tel: 60888 within The Netherlands only).
The Channel Tunnel: All road vehicles are carried through the tunnel in Eurotunnel shuttles running between the two terminals, one near Folkestone in Kent, with direct road access from the M20, and one just outside Calais, with links to the A16/A26 motorway (Exit 13). Each shuttle is made up of 12 single- and 12 double-deck carriages, and vehicles are directed to single-deck or double-deck carriages depending on their height. There are facilities for cars and motorcycles, coaches, minibuses, caravans, campervans and other vehicles over 1.85m (6.07ft). Bicycles are provided for. Passengers generally travel with their vehicles. Heavy goods vehicles are carried on special shuttles and drivers travel in a separate carriage. Terminals and shuttles are well equipped for disabled passengers, and Passenger Terminal buildings contain a variety of shops, restaurants, bureaux de change and other amenities. The journey takes about 35 minutes from platform to platform and about one hour from motorway to motorway. Services run every day of the year, and there are between two and five an hour, depending on the time of day. There is a reservation system and a turn-up-and-go service. Motorists pass through customs and immigration before they board the shuttle without further checks on arrival. Fares vary according to length of stay, time of day and time of year and whether you have a reservation or not. The price applies to the car, regardless of the number of passengers or size of the car. The fare may be paid in cash, by cheque or by credit card. For further information, contact Eurotunnel Customer Services UK (tel: (08705) 353 535; website: www.eurotunnel.com).
Coach: Eurolines run coach services from the UK to The Netherlands and from The Netherlands to various destinations throughout Europe. They have an office in Amsterdam at Julianaplein 5, 1097 DN (tel: (20) 560 8788; fax: (20) 560 8717; e-mail: info@eurolines.nl; website: www.eurolines.nl). Further information can also be obtained by calling Eurolines in the UK (4 Cardiff Road, Luton, Bedfordshire L41 1PP; tel: (08705) 143 219; fax: (01582) 400 694; website: www.eurolines.com or www.nationalexpress.com). Car hire: Major companies can be found in all the main cities; among them are Avis, Budget, Europcar and Hertz.

The following goods may be imported into The Netherlands without incurring customs duty by travelers from non-EU European countries and countries outside of Europe:
200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 100 cigarillos or 250g of tobacco; 1l of liquor or 2l of sparkling wine or liqueur wines and 2l of non-sparkling wine; 50g of perfume and 250ml of eau de toilette; 500g of coffee or 200g of coffee extract; 100g of tea or 40g of tea extract; other goods to the value of &Euro;56.72 (if bought outside Europe) and &Euro;172.44 (if bought inside Europe).

Note
(a) Goods must be purchased in non-EU countries. (b) The above allowances are only for travelers aged 17 years and above. (c) Enquiries concerning current import regulations should be made to the Royal Netherlands Embassy in the country of departure, or to the national Chamber of Commerce. (d) The import of firearms and ammunition requires a license.

Abolition of duty free goods within the EU
On June 30 1999, the sale of duty free alcohol and tobacco at airports and at sea was abolished in all of the original 15 EU member states. Of the 10 new member states that joined the EU on May 1 2004, these rules already apply to Cyprus and Malta. There are transitional rules in place for visitors returning to one of the original 15 EU countries from one of the other new EU countries. But for the original 15, plus Cyprus and Malta, there are now no limits imposed on importing tobacco and alcohol products from one EU country to another (with the exceptions of Denmark, Finland and Sweden, where limits are imposed). Travelers should note that they may be required to prove at customs that the goods purchased are for personal use only.

Internal Travel:

Air
KLM Cityhopper (WA) (website: www.klmcityhopper.nl) operates between Amsterdam and Eindhoven. Transavia Airlines (HV) (80 per cent of which is owned by KLM) also run scheduled flights. Martinair Holland (MP) operates passenger and cargo charter services. Enquire at KLM offices or at The Netherlands Board of Tourism for further information (see General Info section).

Sea
There are ferry services to the Wadden Islands (Ameland, Schiermonnikoog, Terschilling, Texel and Vlieland) across the Ijsselmeer (former Zuyder Sea) and Schelde Estuary. There is also a service to the Frisian Islands across the Waddenzee. Boat Tours runs excursions from Amsterdam, Arnhem, Delft, Giethoorn, Groningen, Maastricht, Rotterdam and Utrecht. Stena Line operates a daily service for private cars, freight and trailers.
Wadden Ticket: For travelers wanting to visit any of the five Wadden Islands, the Wadden Ticket allows return travel by bus, train and ferry to an island of choice. The pass is valid for one day of the departure journey and one day of the return journey, although the period between the two must not exceed one year. Contact The Netherlands Board of Tourism for further details (see General Info section).

Rail
The highly developed rail network, of which about 70 per cent is electrified, is efficient and cheap, and connects all towns. Both Intercity and local trains run at least half-hourly on all principal routes. Rail and bus timetables are integrated, and there is a common fare structure throughout the country. NV Nederlandse Spoorwegen (website: www.ns.nl) is the state-owned rail company and operates all lines within the country.

Cheap fares
Holland Rail Pass allows unlimited travel in the Netherlands for either three or five days within one month. Reduced rates exist for senior citizens (over 60), travelers under 26 years and children. Every second person travels half-price. Tickets must be purchased from International Rail before travel.
Summer Trip Passes are available between 1 July to 9 September and give two people three days of unlimited travel within a period of 10 days for only a single fare. Summer Trip Plus Passes cover unlimited travel on all public transport buses and trams in town and country, and on the underground system in Amsterdam and Rotterdam. Tickets cost between &Euro;45-72.50.
Euro Passes are available for travel in The Netherlands, or The Netherlands and Belgium. Three- to eight-day passes are available. The Benelux Tourrail Card allows unlimited travel for any five days within a one-month period, covering The Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg. Inter-Rail passes are also valid in The Netherlands.
Children under four years of age travel free on all journeys within The Netherlands. Child’s Railrunner tickets, which cost &Euro;1, are available for children aged between four and 11 years traveling with a fare-paying adult (19 years or older), and include up to three children traveling with any one adult. Contact the Railway Authority of any of the participating countries for prices and further information.

Road
There is an excellent road system. Visitors to The Netherlands may use credit cards when obtaining petrol. The motoring association in The Netherlands is the ANWB (Royal Dutch Touring Club), PO Box 93200, 2509 BA The Hague (tel: (263) 860 249). Bus: Extensive regional bus networks exist. Long-distance coaches also operate between the cities, but costs are generally on a par with trains. Taxi: Taxis have an illuminated ‘taxi’ sign on the roof and there are taxi ranks at railway stations and at various other points in the cities. Rather than hailing taxis in the street, it is more usual in The Netherlands to order a taxi by phone. Taxis should have meters inside to indicate the fare, including the tip. Car hire: Available from airports and main hotels. All European car hire companies are represented. Bicycle hire: Bicycles can be hired from all main railway stations, but must be returned to the station from which they are hired. A refundable deposit is required. Driving regulations: Driving is on the right. Drivers should be particularly aware of cyclists; often there are special cycle lanes. There is a chronic shortage of parking space in central Amsterdam, and the rush hours (0700-0900 and 1700-1900) should be avoided throughout the whole country. Parking fines are severe. Headlights should be dipped in built-up areas, but it is prohibited to use sidelights only. Children under 12 years of age should not travel in the front seat. Seat belts are compulsory. Speed limits are 80kph (50mph) on major roads, 120kph (75mph) on motorways and 50kph (30mph) in towns. Documentation: An International Driving Permit is not required, as long as a driving license from the country of origin is held. EU pink format licenses are accepted. However, it is sometimes advised for non-members of the EU. Trailers and caravans are allowed in without documents. A Green Card is advisable, but not compulsory. Without it, drivers with motor insurance policies in their home country are granted only the minimum legal cover in The Netherlands; the Green Card tops this up to the level of cover provided by the driver’s own policy.

Urban
Public transport is very well developed in the cities and large towns. A strippenkaart national fares system exists – strips of 15 tickets each are widely available at railway stations, post offices and some tourist offices. These are accepted anywhere in payment of standard zonal fares. There are also individual and multi-day tickets for the cities. For more detailed information on travel within Amsterdam, The Hague and Rotterdam, see below.

Amsterdam
Amsterdam has an extensive network of buses, trams and underground (GVB), with frequent services from early morning to about midnight. There are less frequent services throughout the night at a higher fare. Full information on services (including a map), day tickets and strippenkaart (strip-tickets) can be obtained from the GVB office in front of the Central Station (0700-2230 daily) or the GVB Central Office at Prins Hendrikkade 108-114. Tram: Amsterdam’s 17 tram lines provide a fast, frequent and reliable service, making the tram the best way to travel around the capital. Trams operate from Mon-Fri 0600-2400 (from 0630 Saturday and 0730 Sunday). The tram system (as well as the buses and the underground) enables reasonably quick travel even during the busiest periods of the day. Trams leave from Central Station: 1 and 2 traverse the main canals, 19 takes a route to Museumplein and Concertgebouw and 9 and 14 to the Muziektheater and Waterlooplein market. The Circle Tram operates through central Amsterdam, taking in major attractions and hotels. Underground: Amsterdam’s underground lines all originate at the Central Station and serve the southeastern business district and the suburbs. Trains run from Mon-Fri 0600-0015, from Sat 0630 and from Sun 0730. The GVB is easy to use. Taxi: These are fairly expensive. Taxis can be ordered by phone or picked up at taxi ranks (Central Station, Leidseplein and Rembrandtplein). Fares are indicated by the meter; a small tip will be appreciated. Car hire: The major European firms, including Avis and Hertz, are represented. Cars can also be hired through most hotels. Parking regulations are quite strict and failure to park in prescribed areas or to pay the parking fee can result in a fine and the prospect of the car being clamped or towed away. Water travel: Canal Buses (every 25 to 45 minutes between Central Station and Rijksmuseum; children under the age of five travel free); Watertaxis (Mon-Sun 0900-0100, carrying eight to 25 passengers); Museum Boats (departing from Prins endrikkade every 30 minutes in summer and every 45 minutes in winter) and Waterbikes (for two to four people, with a route map provided) are all available. Boat hire: Visitors can hire pedalos (also known as canal bikes) and boats to explore the canals. Bicycle hire: This is an excellent way to travel around Amsterdam, and it seems nearly everyone is doing it. Cycle lanes are clearly marked by white lines – but visitors are advised to watch out for trams, cars and pedestrians. There are numerous companies hiring out bikes.

Rotterdam
The city has excellent bus and tram services and a two-line underground network, which all work on a zonal system. Information is available from the Central Station. Car hire: The major European firms, including Avis, Hertz and other international agencies are represented.

The Hague
The Hague has bus and tram services. Information is available from the Central Station, Koningin Julianaplein. Car hire: Avis and Hertz, and other international agencies, are represented.

Travel Times
The following chart gives approximate travel times (in hours and minutes) from Amsterdam to other major cities in The Netherlands.