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Netherlands 
The Netherlands is situated on the Northern European coast between and . Few other
countries of this size have made such an enormous contribution to art, science,
agriculture, publishing, technology, architecture, and design. The country's cities are
among the most attractive in Europe, with their tree-lined canals and neat brick houses,
while the transport system is one of the best in the world, providing an excellent network
of trains, trams, and buses, not to mention 15,000 kilometres (9,300 miles) of cycle
paths. Yet the Netherlands remains a precarious landmass, threatened on one side by the
North Sea and on the other by the Rhine. It has suffered countless floods, from the Saint
Elisabeth Day flood of 1421 to the Zeeland disaster of 1953. This prompted the ambitious
Delta Plan of 1957, which protects the vulnerable coastline with a series of dams and
storm-surge barriers.
The Netherlands emerged as an independent state in the 17th century after a bitter
religious struggle against Philip II of Spain. By the end of the 80-year-long war in 1648,
the country had become one of the great powers of Europe. This was also the age of the
explorers, when Dutch ships chartered new routes to Asia and Australia, giving Dutch names
to places as distant as New Zealand (after Zeeland), Cape Horn (after the port of Horn),
and Harlem (after the Dutch town of ). At the same time, hydraulic engineers were working
in the north of the country on major land-reclaiming schemes, using windmills to create
drained land known as polder, which today supports a massive bulb-growing and dairy cattle
industry.
Yet, apart from its successful national soccer side, it is for its 17th-century art that
the Netherlands is best known, and Dutch artists such as Rembrandt, Frans Hals, Vermeer,
Cuyp, and Hobbema now fill the world's great collections. Artistic creativity remains
strong today, with exciting work flowing from artists such as Karel Appel and Jan Dibbets,
from the architects Aldo van Eyck and Piet Blom, from novelists such as Harry Mulich and
Ces Nooteboom, from the Nederlands Dans Theater, and from the experimental jazz workshops
of .
Entry Requirements
Citizens of the European Union (EU) can enter the Netherlands with a valid passport and
stay for a period of 90 days. Citizens of Schengen area countries need only carry a valid
national identity card. Other nationals should consult the Netherlands' embassy or
consulate in their country of residence before departure, for details of any visa
requirements.
Emergency phone numbers
Emergency services: 06 11
Alternative pan-European emergency number for all services: 112
Time zones
Central European Time (GMT plus one hour). Clocks are put forward one hour from the
last Sunday in March to the Saturday before the end of October.
Driving
Vehicle documents
Check with your motor vehicle insurance company regarding any insurance documents you
will need and whether any additional insurance is required. Make sure you have a warning
triangle in the car in case of an accident or breakdown. The international registration
letters of your country of residence must be displayed at the rear of your car.
Rules of the road
Always carry your full valid driving licence or International Driving Permit, vehicle
registration documents, and insurance documents with you in the car. Seat belts must be
worn by both front- and back-seat passengers. Children under 12 are not allowed to travel
in the front seat. The limit of alcohol permissible in the blood while driving is 50 mg
per 100 ml (5g/l). Cars from the United Kingdom or Ireland must fit headlights with an
anti-dazzle strip.
Roads, tolls and speed limits
Most roads in the Netherlands are toll free, although there are a few toll bridges and
tunnels. The Netherlands has international motorways (marked with a green "E"
symbol), national roads (indicated by a red "A") and other main roads (marked by
a yellow "N"). Motorways which extend beyond the Netherlands' borders have an
international European number (marked on signs with a green "E" symbol) and a
national number (marked on adjoining signs with a red "A" symbol). Motorways
which begin and end within the Netherlands have only a national number. The yellow
"N" symbol stands for national roads. Speed limits are between 100 kilometres
(60 miles) and 120 kilometres (75 miles) per hour on motorways, 100 kilometres (60 miles)
per hour on dual carriageways, 80 kilometres (50 miles) per hour on other roads, and 50
kilometres (30 miles) per hour in towns and cities. You are expected to reduce your speed
significantly on wet roads.
Driving tips
Motorways or dual carriageways tend to be crowded at peak periods. Note that cyclists
have their own network of special lanes and frequently have absolute priority over
motorised traffic in urban areas.
Assistance
In the event of a breakdown, contact the ANWB, The Royal Dutch Touring Club, tel: (070)
314 71 47. If an accident occurs, call the police, tel: 06 11.
Electrical devices
The electrical current in the Netherlands is 220 volts AC. Round, two-pin plugs are
used. An adapter is essential for UK and Irish appliances.
Money
Notes and coins
The official monetary unit in the Netherlands is the Dutch guilder (fl). There are 100
cents in a guilder. Notes come in denominations of fl1,000, 250, 100, 50, 25, and 10.
Coins are in denominations of fl5, 2.5, and 1, as well as 25c, 10c, and 5c. Netherlands is
one of 11 European Union countries which will adopt the Euro (€) as its currency on 1
January 2002. Prices and bills are increasingly quoted in both guilders and Euros. The
fixed exchange rate is €1=fl2.20371. Guilder notes and coins will cease to be legal
tender on 1 July 2002.
Currency exchange
Travellers cheques are the safest way to carry money and you should buy these in your
country of residence before departure. The credit cards accepted in the Netherlands
include Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Diners Club. Most hotels, restaurants, and
shops accept the major cards. You will find the current foreign exchange rate in most
newspapers, or advertised in banks and bureaux de change. However, commercial bureaux de
change in Amsterdam often charge excessive commission rates; the GWK (De
Grenswisselkantoren) exchange offices are a cheaper and more convenient option. They are
usually situated at train stations and stay open until late. The office in Amsterdam stays
open 24 hours. Banks are open weekdays from 09.00 to 16.00. In larger towns, they may also
open on Thursday or Friday (late-night shopping) from 19.00 to 21.00, as well as on
Saturday mornings.
Tipping
A service charge of 15 percent is usually included in hotel, restaurant, and taxi
bills, and further tips are not expected. However, if the service is particularly good in
a restaurant, you can leave an additional tip of up to 10 percent. Leave some small change
in cafés and bars.
Public holidays
1 January: New Year's Day
Good Friday
Easter Monday
30 April: The Queen's Birthday
5 May: National Liberation Day
Ascension Day
Whit Monday
5 December: Saint Nicholas' Day
25 and 26 December: Christmas
Travellers with disabilities
Many hotels, restaurants, and tourist sites are equipped with lifts, ramps, and special
toilets for visitors with disabilities. Public transport is not always convenient for
wheelchairs, although trains do have some railway carriages designed for travellers with
disabilities. Organisations which can provide further information include ANWB (Royal
Dutch Touring Club), travel information department, tel: +31 70 314 64 30, and the
Netherlands Railways, tel: +31 30 33 12 53. The Netherlands Board of Tourism publishes the
leaflet Holland for the Handicapped, which details hotel and camping facilities.
Transport
Metro, buses and trams
Most people use buses when leaving or entering a town or city and trams for getting
around the streets. Tickets for trams and the metro can also be used on buses. The easiest
means of travelling within cities is the tram. Tram drivers sell one-day travelcards.
Strips of tickets can be bought at Transport Authority offices. Tickets are also available
at post offices, railways stations and newsagents, where they are much cheaper than if
bought from a bus or tram driver. The Amsterdam metro has only two lines and four stations
in the centre. The strippenkaart, a strip card with 15 tickets, which are also valid on
buses and trams, can be bought at post offices and railway stations. Rotterdam also has a
metro. Most people use buses when leaving or entering a town or city, rather than for
urban transport. Tickets for trams and the metro can also be used on buses.
The easiest means of travelling within cities is the tram. Tram drivers sell one-day
travelcards. Strips of tickets can be bought at Transport Authority offices.
Ferries
A 20-minute car ferry runs twice an hour between Breskens and Vlissingen across the
Westerschelde estuary. Ferries also run to Texel and the other islands in the Wadden Sea.
Haarlem
The handsome town of Haarlem is famous as the home of the painter Frans Hals. The Frans
Hals Museum, a former almshouse, houses some of the 17th-century artist's greatest works.
Other important sights are the Grote Markt, the soaring Grote Kerk and the Teylers Museum,
which contains an exceptional collection of scientific instruments and Dutch paintings in
a well-preserved 19th-century interior. Haarlem is an attractive town to explore on foot,
with its narrow canals and cobbled lanes leading to almshouses and quiet churches. Its art
deco railway station is the pride of the city.
Amsterdam
Amsterdam, is a fascinating maritime city built on a network of canals. Its Rijksmuseum
is world famous for its paintings by the great 17th-century Dutch Masters such as
Rembrandt and Vermeer. The Van Gogh Museum contains many of Van Gogh's greatest paintings
and the Stedelijk Museum has an extensive collection of modern works. Other important
sights are Anne Frank's House, where she hid from the Nazis and wrote her famous diary,
the baroque Koninklijk Paleis and Rembrandt's House. With its gabled canal houses,
houseboats and specialised shops, the city is wonderful to explore on foot or bicycle.
Amsterdam is famed for its tolerance of soft drugs and sex, but it also offers higher
pursuits such as classical music in the renowned Concertgebouw, home of Amsterdam's
orchestra.
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