The Netherlands - Alankomaat

The Kingdom of the Netherlands, in short Netherlands (in Dutch Nederland) is located In Western EuropeBelgian and German between. The country is also referred to concurrently as the Netherlands, although in reality the provinces of North Holland and South Holland make up only part of the country.

Regions

The Netherlands is divided into 12 provinces:

• Drenthe
• Groningen
• Overijssel
• Flevoland
• Limburg
• Utrecht
• Friesland
• North Brabant
• Zeeland
• Gelderland
• North Holland
• South Holland

Cities

• Amsterdam - the country's well-known capital, with its beautiful architecture, canals, museums and wild nightlife attracting millions of tourists every year.
• Hague - the administrative capital of the country, where Parliament, the Queen's Residence, the International Court of Justice and the Criminal Court, as well as all foreign embassies. The Hague is also home to Scheveningen, the most famous beach resort in the Netherlands.
• Rotterdam - The second largest city in the Netherlands, with the world's second largest port. Bombed during World War II, the city today is full of modern architecture as well as a vibrant nightlife.
• Maastricht - the country 's southernmost, beautiful medieval university town on the German - Belgian border, which claims to be the oldest in the country.
• Utrecht - a lively historic student city half an hour's train ride from Amsterdam.
• Eindhoven - Philips hometown between Amsterdam and Maastricht. So far, Eindhoven Airport is the only one in the Netherlands to which, for example, Ryanair currently flies.
• Groningen - A Dutch hidden gem in the north. A relaxed university town of 180,000 inhabitants with a very young population. This can be seen e.g. in that the city is the only one in the Netherlands where bars have virtually no fixed opening hours, which guarantees a very lively nightlife in the Amsterdam region at lower prices.

Other items

• Keukenhof[1] The world’s largest flower garden in the city of Lissen near Amsterdam, whose tulips and other flowers attract millions of tourists to the site every spring. Note! Open for only a couple of months, usually in March-May.
• Afsluitdijk[2], A 32-kilometer-long dam that separates the North Sea and the former Gulf of North Sea into Lake Zuidersee (IJsselmeer). There is a motorway on top of the dam and the dam has stops where you can stop to watch.
• Efteling[3] The largest in the Netherlands and one of the oldest amusement parks in the world. Fantasy and fairy tale theme.
• Kinderdijk[4] UNESCO World Heritage Site, a village full of traditional Dutch windmills in South Holland.
• Texel - The largest and most populated island in Friesland, with dunes and beautiful scenery well suited for swimming trips, cycling, horse riding, etc.
• Dierenpark Emmen[5] - One of the largest zoos in the country Drenthen in the province. Open daily.
• Apenheul Primate Park[6] - Zoo dedicated exclusively to monkeys in Apeldoorn, which can be reached by train directly from eg Amsterdam and Schiphol Airport. More than 30 different species of monkeys run freely in the woods of the shelter, grabbing hats and sunglasses from careless tourists in between.

Understand

Culture

Although the Netherlands is widely known abroad for social liberalism (for example, soft drugs, prostitution, sexual minorities, and euthanasia) and for postcard windmills and clogs, this geographically small country is much more. It is one of the most densely populated areas in the world (401 inhabitants / km2!), Which is also very international, so there are great regional differences and different cultures within the country.

Ideology and religion

Until the 1970s, the country has been socially well divided, even at the institutional level, to Catholics, Protestants (Calvinists), and alternately to socialists, atheists, liberals, and others who did not experience identification with religious groups.[7] The differences between Protestants and Catholics, for example, have diminished considerably with the development of modernization and secularization, but they have by no means disappeared. There are still strongly religious areas in the country. This Calvinist so-called Bible Belt mainly comprises villages in the provinces of Zealand, South Holland, Gelderland and Utrecht. However, the majority of Dutch people do not practice any religion in public.

Values ​​and attitudes

Visiting or living in the Netherlands does not usually cause a major cultural shock to a Nordic traveler at first. In both areas, society shares similar mentalities, which are a mixture of welfare state principles as well as individual-centered values. In the Netherlands, however, the latter is perhaps more emphasized than in the Nordic countries: locals are often individualistic and strongly believe in individual freedom.

Many things are tolerated, but this does not mean that they are unanimously accepted, let alone liked. Any kind of debate as well as loud complaints are the part of Dutch culture that can startle a tourist. Things are often formed in a strong opinion even at the stage when the theme is known as a pinch.

The country’s central location in Europe, as well as the presence of the sea, has had a significant impact on the Dutch character by putting technical challenges to life (such as the country’s influential dam structures and other water-related engineering) rather than providing a basis for shipping, expeditions and colonialism.

Multi-culture

The past of the Netherlands as one of Europe's main traders, as well as a colonial state, has left behind a large number of people from the former submarines, especially Indonesia and the Netherlands Antilles. The country’s liberal immigration policy since the 1960s has brought together a number of ethnic minorities, such as Turks and Moroccans.

Most immigrants have adapted well and embraced Dutch values. However, attitudes towards immigration have intensified in recent years, as some of these ethnic minorities may not be integrated into Dutch society as desired, leading to social problems and political tensions and even violence in the early 2000s (most notably the assassination of Pim Fortuyn in 2002 and film director Murder of Goghin 2004).

Come

By plane

Finnair and KLM fly directly From HelsinkiTo Amsterdam. Low cost airlines Ryanair and Wizzair fly from other European destinations (eg Stockholm) to Eindhoven. The easiest way to get to Groningen and other parts of the north of the country is to fly from Tampere with Ryanair Bremen In northern Germany, with a direct bus connection Groningen several times a day.

By train

From Germany, From France and From Belgium there are good train connections to the Netherlands. Examples of travel times from Amsterdam to different cities:

• Brussels 3h
• Paris 4.5h
• Frankfurt 4h
• Hamburg 5-6h
• Berlin 6h

International train tickets are sold within the Netherlands, for example by NS Hispeed.[8]

By road

Neighboring countries From Germany and From Belgium well accessible by car to the Netherlands. Numerous car rental companies can be found in every medium-sized city.

By bus

Eurolines [9] is the largest international bus company operating between the Netherlands and other countries. Buses run to the Netherlands from, for example, Poland, Milan, Paris and Brussels, and they are quite cheap, especially for those under 26 years of age.

Semi Tours [10] operates from Bosnia and Herzegovina several times a week to the Netherlands and Belgium. Return costs about 160 €.

Bremen from the city center and the airport in northern Germany is by Public Express [11] direct bus service to Groningen several times a day. A one-way ticket costs about € 23, return € 33 (summer 2011).

By boat

From Holland, you can take a ferry to England, Denmark and Norway, for example. Rotterdam and Amsterdam.

In Amsterdam and other big cities, it is possible to explore the landscape from a different perspective in the form of canal cruises. Also, especially on Queen’s Day (a national holiday at the end of April), the canals are full of Dutch-dressed Dutch in their boats celebrating and playing music.

Sailing is a popular pastime in the Netherlands and the country's windy climate as well as the ubiquitous sea provide good conditions for this.

Move

Walking

It is easy and comfortable to walk around the cities of the Netherlands, as the city centers are often quite compact. The traveler does not need to be more careful than cars, but the cyclists are. In the Netherlands, the cyclist is king and it is worth staying away from the bike lanes. Amsterdam in particular is known for its kamikaze-like florists, who may not even ring the bell to warn a careless tourist of their approach.

By bike

The bicycle is the number one game in the Netherlands, not least on the longest trips. A cheap and convenient outbound game proves to be a better and faster solution than a car in practice in cities, where driving a car is a real nightmare in many. Many places have their own lanes and even traffic lights for cyclists. Even in the countryside, it is often possible to follow guided cycling routes on landscape tours.

A few notes on cycling in the Netherlands:

• Cyclists follow the same traffic rules as motor vehicle drivers.
• The bike lanes are marked with a blue and white traffic sign, a sign painted on the street or red asphalt. The use of wheel lanes is mandatory. Note! Always drive on the right side of the road even if you see bike lanes on both sides of the road and you are going to the left yourself.
• If there is no bike lane, cyclists are expected to drive among other traffic, not on the sidewalk.
• Turning is good to indicate by hand.
• Always lock your bike with two locks! Also, always lock it to something preferably in the frame, never just the front tire. Wheel theft is extremely common in the Netherlands; in Amsterdam alone, several hundred bikes are stolen a day.
• Cyclists must use functional lights in the dark, both front (white light) and rear (red light). A small LED lamp attached to your own clothes, for example, can be considered sufficient light. Driving without light is a risk to yourself and the environment and you also take the risk of getting a € 40 fine. The Dutch police are known to be quite relaxed, but offenses related to cycling are severely punished.
• Never buy a bike from a street man, even if the cheap price is tempting. If you get caught in this, you will be fined and you will have a criminal record.

By road

The countryside is easily accessible by car, but in major cities (especially Amsterdam) it is often really difficult to get around by car. Ranstad in particular (the urban area formed by Amsterdam and other major cities) is very densely populated and therefore even the worst traffic jams are an everyday sight in this area as well as elsewhere in the country.

Car rentals can be found in every little bigger city.

By train

Train connections in the Netherlands are operated by Nederlandse Spoorvegen [12].

With a thumb ride

The Netherlands is an average lift country. However, folding short distances can be quite slow, especially outside cities. Gas stations along motorways outside the big cities are good hopping places.

The largest lift can be found in the largest city (liftershalte) from the city center or the city limits, for example:

Amsterdam

• For those heading east or inland, there is a lift at Prins Bernhardplein, before Amsterdam Amstel Train Station (on the left side of the Amstel River). Leads to the S1012 ramp of the A10 in the direction of E231-A1 / E35-A2.

Utrecht

• De Galgewaard football stadium nearby near the gas station and the Waterlinieweg ramp, north on the A27 / A28, south on the A2 / A12 / A27.

Groningen

• On the Emmaviaduct road (200m west of the central train station). The cars go south, east or west (towards Germany), so it is a good idea to make a lift sign so that cars going in the wrong direction will not be stopped.

Maastricht

• Near the De Geusselt football stadium at the beginning of the A2 road. E25-A2 to Eindhoven and A79 to Heerlen.

Talk

The Netherlands is officially bilingual. The majority of the population speaks Germanic languages Netherlands mixed In Friesland part of the local population speaks Frisian, the closest living cognate language of English. In addition, there are several local dialects spoken in the country that can be difficult to understand even for compatriots.

The tourist can do practically everywhere in English. Dutch are among the best non-native English speakers in the world and generally do not hesitate to show their skills in other languages ​​as well (although often the accent is well recognizable). For older people, English proficiency may not be so twofold but many of them speak German or French.

However, even if you do not know Dutch in the country, the mastery of a few local expressions shows courtesy as well as an interest in the local culture.

The Dutch ‘g’ is your throaty voice and therefore difficult for many to pronounce. 'R' is also pronounced differently than in Finland. The back vowels also don’t sound very natural in the mouth either, but written in Dutch is somewhat understandable to English, German or Swedish speakers.

Tea

Events

• The whole country is confused about football every two years during either the European Championships or the World Cup. Football is by far the most important sport in the Netherlands, and during major fixture matches in major cities, large screens are often erected in bars and central squares, such as Rembrandtplein in Amsterdam. The next time the European Championships will be played in the summer of 2012 and the World Championships in 2014. Watching the Eredivis games of the country’s national league is also a popular pastime.
• Queen's Day (Koninginnedag) Every year on 30.4. unless this day happens to be a Sunday; in this case, the day is already celebrated the previous Saturday. The country’s most important national holiday, with the whole country dancing the night before (koninginnenacht) in every town and village. On the actual Queen’s Day, the city centers and Neighborhoods are filled with flea markets, concerts, and games and games dressed in orange.
• A Campingflight to Lowlands Paradise, in short Lowlands[13] The most popular festivals in the country, with a music offer of about 200 artists ranging from alternative to hip hop. In addition, street art, theater, etc.
• Pinkpop Festival[14] Another popular summer rock festival at the southern tip of the country.

Electronic music is very popular in the Netherlands. The country will have a lot of well-known DJs as well as club offerings for lovers of House, trance, dubstep, drum'n'base, etc. You will probably find better than any other European country besides England. Party calendar for Partyflock [15] is listed daily for the largest club nights around the country. In addition to these, the country hosts several dance music events, for example:

• Sensation[16] (Formerly known as Sensation White) One of the largest dance events in the world, where 40,000 people gather dancing to the beat of house music dressed in white every July at Amsterdam Arena. Touring international versions of the Sensation are held every year around the world. The sister event, Sensation Black, which focuses on hardstyle music, is currently held in Belgium.
• Dance Valley[17] Every summer electronic music festival in Spaarnwoud. More than 40,000 visitors every year.
• Mystery Land[18] The country’s oldest dance music-focused festival in Haarlemmermeer every last Saturday in August. About 60,000 visitors.

Buy

Price level

The price level in the Netherlands is somewhat lower than in Finland, especially for food. However, other basic foods and clothing, for example, are quite in the same price range. Taxation of alcohol and especially beer in the Netherlands is considerably lighter than in Finland.

Rents can rise really high in major cities. For this reason, living in Finnish-style studios and one-bedroom apartments is not a real option for students, especially (and it is not really desired), but most students live in shared rental rooms.

Eat

Dutch cuisine does not show off world fame but tasty, unpretentious food is sure to get a tourist to eat. The typical food portion consists of potatoes, meat and vegetables in the Finnish type. The most well-known traditional Dutch dishes are e.g. stamppot (mashed potatoes seasoned with vegetables and sometimes bacon with meat or sausage), Haring (raw herring with raw onion) and gehaktballen (meatballs).

The food culture has been much influenced by the country’s former colonies such as Indonesia as well as Suriname. The country is also famous for its wide selection of delicious cheeses, which include e.g. Gouda, Edam, Leerdammer mixed Maasdam. In addition, the Dutch food culture includes sweet delicacies, of which it is definitely worth tasting at least syrup waffles (stroopwafel) and sweets very similar to Finnish salmiak, known as drop (je).

Every Dutchman has also grown up eating peanut butter, which differs quite a bit from its American version and also has fiery versions. Peanut butter is also central to Dutch-Indonesian cuisine satésauce.

The country does not typically eat a hot lunch, but for lunch a sandwich is usually enough, which can be filled with both savory side dishes and, for example, chocolate truffles (hagelslag).

Juo

In the Netherlands, 16-year-olds are allowed to buy soft drinks (less than 15%) and 18-year-olds are stronger.

The country is known for its elite camps, the most famous of which is probably one of the best-selling beers in the world, Heineken. As a beer country, the Netherlands may not be comparable to its neighbor Belgium, but there is still a wide range of alcohol products, the best known of which is probably jenever or genever, the base form of English gin.

Coffee is drunk in the country almost as much as in Finland, and biscuits are often enjoyed with it (koekje).

Burn

Cafés and bars in the Netherlands have been officially non-smoking for a few years, but in practice about half of the bars are no longer enforcing the ban.[19]

The Netherlands is known for its permissive drug policy. In practice, however, cannabis is not completely legal but only decriminalized, ie its use, possession of small quantities or limited home education is not penalized. Small amounts (max. 5 grams at a time) of cannabis can be bought by adults for their own use. coffees silver, most of which can also be smoked as well as enjoy non-alcoholic refreshments inside. Ironically, smoking tobacco in these cafes is forbidden.

Although marijuana and hashish are freely available, that doesn’t mean it’s worth smoking freely everywhere. In practice, this is not punished on the street either, but rushing outside the coffeeshops or your own home is widely disapproved and is considered a nuisance for stupid tourists. Namely, only a much lower proportion of the Dutch than the European average themselves smoke regularly, and this hobby usually tends to stay there as a teenager.

Sleep

Accommodation is generally quite expensive for the budget traveler in the Netherlands. The prices of even the cheapest hostels start at about 20 € / night. High seasons also affect prices really a lot, especially in big cities.

Hostels usually do not have a kitchen but meals take place either in their own restaurants or elsewhere.

Another accommodation option is bed and breakfast inns, where breakfast is included in addition to the price. There is plenty of B&B accommodation in the biggest cities and also in the countryside the supply is usually quite good, especially along the popular outdoor and cycling routes. Prices generally vary between 40 and 100 euros / night. They may not offer all the same amenities as hotels, but the service is personal and friendly and at the same time the traveler usually gets a chance to get to know the locals.

Study

There are many universities in the Netherlands. The country's education system now follows a pan-European division of master's and bachelor's degrees (bachelor's and master's degrees). In the Netherlands, degrees can be obtained at both polytechnics (Hogeschool, HBO) as well as in universities (Universiteit). There is an ever-increasing supply of English-language teaching and scholarships and grants can be awarded to foreign students.

It is also possible to study as an exchange student in the Netherlands, as the country is covered by many international exchange agreements (e.g. Erasmus) and also has direct bilateral agreements with many Finnish universities. A lot of foreign students are studying in the country on a temporary basis.

Work

For an EU citizen, working in the Netherlands should be fairly easy in terms of bureaucracy, but in practice it is quite difficult to find work in the country unless you speak at least moderate Dutch. The different thing, however, is international companies operating in big cities or jobs in the tourism business, where Dutch skill is not so necessary.

Stay safe

The Netherlands is generally considered a safe travel destination. In the biggest cities, however, you should be on the lookout for pickpockets. Bicycle thefts are also extremely common: thousands of bikes are stolen in the country every day. Your Fillari should be protected with two locks and always locked in something, for example a fence (preferably from the frame, not just the front ring).

Stay healthy

• Crane water is drinkable throughout the Netherlands.
• Prostitution is legal in the Netherlands (under certain conditions) but remembering sex protection is absolutely essential in sex outlets, as sexually transmitted diseases are a constant problem in the industry.
• The general emergency number is 112.
• Healthcare is at a pan-European level. In most hospitals, the staff speaks English. It is good for Finns to carry the European Health Insurance Card (Kela card's international equivalent) when traveling.
• In the Netherlands, medical treatment is usually provided free of charge. If you follow the instructions and still have to pay the full price for the treatment, you can claim compensation from the national health insurance fund while you are in the Netherlands on the basis of receipts and a European Health Insurance Card. [20]

Respect

The Dutch are generally a very relaxed people with few social taboos. On the contrary, they are often accused of excessive outrightness as well as transparency, which may startle those from elsewhere. Locals may also use their thoughtlessness to use terms that would be considered offensive elsewhere.

However, there are generally topics to avoid, such as personal wealth, income levels and other monetary issues. Nor does the strong expression of one's own religious position or the curiosity or, in particular, the criticism of another religious position necessarily make the interviewer popular, as the Dutch strongly believe in personal freedom in these matters.

As elsewhere, no one wants to hear their own country offended too much, even if they themselves say something less flattering about it. So refrain from putting all your negative observations on the counter for your interlocutor as well as you would probably want a task for yourself.

The Dutch are also skeptical of strong nationalism, even though they themselves suck orange a few times a year (which is the color of the royal house). However, it is more likely to be a general carnival-spirited gesture related to football or the Queen’s birthday than a real expression of national feeling.

The monarchy as well as the Orania-Nassau ruling family divide opinions within the country, but so far it has had the support of the majority of the people and the queen has much national symbolic significance for the Dutch. Also the future crown heir Willem-Alexander as well as his Argentine wife Princess Máxima are very popular among the people.

Sexual minorities

The Netherlands is generally very liberal in terms of attitudes towards sexual minorities. The country is considered one of the most gay-friendly countries in the world, which is also a political forerunner of the rights of sexual minorities. It is one of the first states to allow same-sex marriages (2001). Public expressions of their own sexual orientation also do not usually shock fellow human beings.

While there is also room for criticism and opposition to gays (especially among the country’s Muslim population), in general, the Netherlands is a safe and pleasant country to travel for LGBT tourists.

Take contact

• The Dutch country code when calling is 31 (or 0031).
• Finnish mobile phones work well in the Netherlands.
• Payphones can be found mainly at train stations, and some of them only accept card payments.
• Internet cafes can be found in most cities. The wireless network is starting to become more widespread and can be found, for example, at Schiphol Airport and on all NS trains.

this is useful article. It could be used, but it doesn’t compare to a travel guide. Dive in and help make it recommended!