Planning a trip to the Netherlands, but don’t know where to start?
It can be overwhelming since there’s so much to do in the Netherlands, especially in Amsterdam.
Amsterdam was one of the highlights of our last trip abroad. We loved every minute of our time there and are still obsessing over all the amazing photos we got!
But if you’re planning a trip to Amsterdam there are a few things you should know, like any place really.
So here are all the things we learned during our Amsterdam travels. Enjoy!
This post may contain affiliate links. You can read more on our Disclaimer Page.
Netherlands Facts
National language: Dutch & Frisian. That’s right, the Netherlands officially has multiple national languages!
While, 90% of the population speaks Dutch, multiple other languages are spoken throughout the country and English is widely used. Check out our list of popular Dutch words and phrases to prepare for your trip!
Name of country in their language: Nederland
Currency: Euro
Religion: Most locals identify with being either Protestant or Catholic, although many other religions continue to grow as more people move in.
Main Regions: The Netherlands has 12 regions, each with it’s own unique character. Since Amsterdam is in Noord-Holland, most visitors stay in this region. But if you have the time, it’s worth it to get out and explore the rest of the country!
Netherlands Travel Documents
Since the Netherlands is a part of the Schengen Agreement, US citizens only need a valid passport that won’t expire for 3 months after your departure date.
Make sure you check that date, or you could be in trouble when you try to get back!
Is it safe to drink the water?
Of course!
The Netherlands is a very safe place to drink the tap water and we never got sick there from drinking from the faucet.
This means that we took our refillable water bottle with us so that we could fill up at the hotel and not have to pay for expensive bottled water!
Definitely a must when we travel! You can find a complete list of our travel essentials right here.
Is the Netherlands expensive?
We actually flew to Copenhagen and then hopped over to Amsterdam for about €45. (Via a flight we found on Skyscanner.)
In our experience, we found that the prices in Amsterdam were comparable to back home in Miami.
Food was more or less the same (maybe a tiny bit more expensive) and hotels seemed to be about the same as we would pay back home.
One way we managed to reduce our transportation costs was by renting a bike for €10 per day. Not only was it cheaper than public transportation, but it’s also faster to get around on bike than by car!
Traveling to Amsterdam?
Travel planning is hard. But it doesn’t have to be. Get access to our free travel resource library to start crossing things off your bucket list!
IT ONLY TAKES 5 SECONDS!
Tipping in Netherlands
Before our trip we did a bit of research on Dutch customs such as tipping.
We actually found mixed reviews on this one, though. Some places we found online said not to tip, and others mentioned that tipping is common practice.
Personally, we usually leave a tip (being from the US), and did see that some locals were in fact tipping at restaurants.
We decided to go about half-way in on this one, and leave a few Euro after each meal. But when I asked a local at one of the restaurants we were in, they said not to worry about it too much.
Netherlands Weather
We were there in September, and the weather was pretty nice, not too cold, but cold enough to need a jacket at night.
I did, however, spend a lot of time in shorts during the day.
On average, we had clear blue skies for some beautiful photos, with occasional cloudy afternoons, and one major rainstorm the very first day we got in.
Thankfully, though, the weather ended up being absolutely perfect for biking and walking around.
The Netherlands generally has a pretty mild climate throughout the year and never gets extreme weather, so even going in the off-season is a pretty safe bet!
10 Travel Tips for The Netherlands
- Always be on time! The locals are very punctual in general, and being from Miami (aka always late) we learned this one the hard way. They will definitely point it out!
- Rent a bike! So many people we know went to Amsterdam and only walked or took a taxi. Biking is how most locals get around. So not only will you save time and $$ but you’ll also get to experience the city as a true traveler!
- Biking can be scary at first, but if you’re good at cycling (or very, very brave) you can set your phone’s GPS to where you’re going and raise the volume so you don’t have to keep stopping to check the directions.
- Do not, and I repeat DO NOT, take photos in the Red Light District. The girls have absolutely no problem making a scene! And besides that, it’s super rude.
- Coffee shops are not the same as coffee houses. Know the difference 😉
- Get a new perspective of the city by renting a canal boat. We’ve written an entire post on how to rent a canal boat here.
- Get out of the city if you have some extra time. There’s so much more to The Netherlands than Amsterdam!
- Locals can be a bit sarcastic. So if you’re traveling there, be sure to bring your sense of humor and don’t take anything too personally.
- Learn a few Dutch words before you go and you’ll make new friends so much faster.
- Want to get the iAmsterdam sign photo, but don’t want to wake up super early? Walk to the end of the fountain and get a picturesque shot of the Rijksmuseum with the iAmsterdam sign right behind you – like the one below!
That wraps up everything you need to know before traveling to the Netherlands!
And don’t forget to subscribe for access to our free travel resource library! It will help you plan your Netherlands trip like a pro and it only takes 5 seconds!
Happy travels!
Pin me for later!
Add a Comment