| Netherlands ((nl)Nederland) | |
 | |
| Canal in Amsterdam | |
| Flag | |
 | |
| Information | |
| Capital city | Amsterdam, The Hague is the seat of government. |
|---|---|
| Area | 41 500 km² |
| Population | 17 282 163 hab. (2019) |
| Density | 416,44 inhab./km² |
| Minimum altitude | −6,74 m (Zuidplaspolder) |
| Maximum altitude | 222,4 m (Vaalserberg) |
| Form of State | parliamentary monarchy |
| Change | euro (EUR) |
| Electricity | 230 V/50 Hz, European plug |
| Telephone prefix | 31 |
| Internet suffix | .nl |
| Flow direction | Right-hand drive |
| Spindle | UTC 1 |
| Location | |
 52 ° 19 ′ 0 ″ N 5 ° 33 ′ 0 ″ E | |
| https://www.government.nl/ Official site | |
The Netherlands is a country ofEurope, member ofEuropean Union.
Understand
- The Netherlands is known for its cheeses, beer, mills, canals, clogs, bikes and tulip fields.
- The polders (land reclaimed from the sea, or old lakes) have been the pride of the inhabitants of the country. A new province has even appeared: Flevoland.
- A flood from the sea forced the Netherlands to protect itself behind gigantic dikes visible among other things on the delta dam.
- Commerce is an essential part of Dutch culture. The port of Rotterdam is its current emblem.
- The country was a land of asylum for Protestants and Jews who were persecuted by Catholics. The religious era is now well over: churches are closing to become homes, museums or nightclubs, or are demolished. However, religious tolerance is still the order of the day.
- The discovery of gas in the north of the country in the 1980s launched a great movement of social renewal. There are still traces of this today in the form of high taxes on the one hand, but also significant redistributions on the other, thanks to the multiple allowances available.
- In recent years the economic crisis of the German neighbor has slowed down the development of the country. Painful reforms and budget cuts were adopted with resignation while waiting for better days. Unemployment remains low and the budget deficit is lower than the 3% set in the Euro zone.
- The Dutch will surprise you with their gift of languages. Dutch is a Germanic language with a lot of Latin influences. Trade was an excellent vehicle for learning other languages. Today tourism is the explanation for this effort.
Regions
 Netherlands provinces map |
|
Cities
- 1 Amsterdam – the capital
- The Hague – (Den Haag or 's Gravenhage), a city that offers culture, beach and politics at the same time
- Haarlem – city very close to Amsterdam.
- Eindhoven
- Rotterdam
- Utrecht – University campus
- Gouda
- Maastricht
- Leyden – (Leiden): university and picturesque city.
- Delft – university city and known for its earthenware (Delft blue)
- Groningen (Groningen), university campus
To go
Formalities
- See as well: Traveling in the Schengen area
The Netherlands is part of theSchengen area. The citizens of the Swiss and the European Economic Area which includes theEuropean Union, theIceland, the Norway and the Liechtenstein only need a national identity card or a passport valid. They don't need any Visa to enter or circulate in the Schengen area and are generally allowed to stay as long as they wish.
Remarks (1) Nationals of these countries need a biometric passport to enjoy visa-free travel. (2) Serbian nationals with passports issued by the Serbian Coordination Directorate (residents of Kosovo with Serbian passport) need a visa. (3) Taiwanese nationals need their ID card number (a letter followed by nine digits) written in their passport to enjoy visa-free travel. |
Nationals of the following countries do not need a visa to enter the Schengen area: Albania(1), Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Bosnia and herzegovina(1), Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Colombia, South Korea, Costa Rica, Dominica, El Salvador, United Arab Emirates, United States, Grenade, Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, Japan, North Macedonia(1), Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova(1), Monaco, Montenegro(1), New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Saint Kitts and Nevis, St. LUCIA, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia(1,2), Seychelles, Singapore, Taiwan(3) (Republic of China), East Timor, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Vatican City, Venezuela as well as holders of a passport of Hong Kong SAR, of Macau SAR and all nationals British (including those who are not citizens of the European Union).
- The visa-free travelers mentioned above and not members of theEEE or from Swiss cannot stay more than 90 days out of a 180-day period in the Schengen area in general and, in general, cannot work during their stay (although some countries in the Schengen area allow certain nationalities to work). The counting of days begins once you enter one of the Schengen countries and does not return to zero when you leave one Schengen country for another.
- New Zealand citizens can stay longer than 90 days, but without working if they do not have a work permit, in some countries of the Schengen area, namely Germany, Austria, the Benelux, Denmark, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Italy, Iceland, Norway, Portugal, Sweden and Switzerland
If you are not a national ofEEE or from Swiss, even if you are exempt from a visa, unless you are Andorran, Monegasque, San Marino or Vatican, make sure your passport is stamped both when entering and leaving the Schengen area. Without an entry stamp, you may be treated as having exceeded the length of your stay when trying to leave the Schengen area. Without an exit stamp, you may be refused entry the next time you seek to enter the Schengen area as you may be assumed to have exceeded the time allowed on your previous visit. If you cannot get a stamp in the passport, keep documents like boarding passes, transportation tickets, etc. which can help convince border control personnel that you have stayed in the Schengen area legally.
By bus
The French company Eurolines serves the Netherlands: (http://www.eurolines.fr) It offers prices among the lowest on the market and in any case often cheaper than airlines
By plane
Amsterdam Airport is Schiphol. It is hardly 15 min from downtownAmsterdam. It is easily accessible by train or car. You could also consider taking a taxi, but they are quite expensive to Amsterdam. The train is fast, offers direct access to Amsterdam city center and price level is interesting since you will only pay 2 or 3 €Ask at the airport reception for other transport, you can also take the bus, a shuttle that will take you to Amsterdam itself.
- KLM – The national airline.
On a boat
Ferries link Great Britain to the Netherlands.
- The most important traffic is at Hoek van Holland (often spelled Hook of Holland by English speakers) between Rotterdam and The Hague.
- Rotterdam Europoort also offers a connection.
- IJmuiden near Amsterdam offers in addition to the connection with Great Britain, a connection to Norway.
By train
Since Paris and Brussels, speak Thalys, which happens to Amsterdam and goes through Rotterdam. The high-speed line ended in 2007. However, the train is still a rather expensive way to come to Amsterdam, plan ahead !!
By car
- From Paris you have to follow the road to Amsterdam: Lille then (1) Ghent (Gent), Antwerp (Antwerp), Breda, Rotterdam, The Hague (den Haag), Amsterdam.
(1) Be careful at Lille you must choose the road to Villeneuve d'Ascq then Ghent otherwise you will get lost in Mouscron in Belgium. But if you know the route well, by Mouscron the journey is faster.
It is still very difficult to park in cities, especially in Amsterdam. All car parks are chargeable, sometimes up to 4,6 € of the hour for the Centrum. It is still best to leave your car in a parking lot outside the city and take tram passes or even rent a bike for the duration of your stay. [1] to park your car cheaply and not far from Amsterdam city center. This place is very well served by trams (n ° 16 and 24 which will take you quickly to the Centraal station, Amsterdam centrum) and for having parked your car there you will be provided with a free return ticket in tram.
Circulate
By plane
Domestic air links exist but are of little interest. The country is small and the train or the car is often faster than the plane. The airports:
By train
The NS (Dutch Railways) have stations in all towns. A return ticket between Amsterdam and The Hague costs € 17.40.
Rail transport is highly developed in the Netherlands. In general, getting around is not a problem when you arrive at each station; you can always find other means of transport that will take you where you want (bus, bicycles, taxis, trams, rental cars, etc.)
By car
Many motorways and expressways in good condition, all free except in the tunnel under the Westerschelde and at the Kiltunnel near Dordrecht.
Service stations are spread across the country including on the many motorway rest areas, these sometimes have a catering establishment and are always equipped with a shop where you can find snacks and items useful for journeys. National and international oil companies are present there.
Beware of automatic radars and "section radars" (traject control) on a few busy highways. These are cameras that capture registration numbers and measure the time between two points to calculate the average speed. Traffic light radars are also appearing in the city.
Speed limits:
- Highway: 130 km / h very often reduced to 100 km / h
- Route: 80 km / h
- City : 50 km / h or 30 km / h (watch out for signs ...)
Around the cities of Rotterdam, The Hague and Amsterdam the speed is limited to 80 km / h to fight against air pollution. The crossing of Maastricht not yet under motorway status, its speed is limited to 50 km / h and traffic lights punctuate the course. Always take this into account when calculating routes.
In cities, bicycle paths and trams make it difficult to drive. Beware of bicycles that sneak around and ignore signs. So take a good look in your right mirror before you turn right or when parking.
In the event of a violation, it is preferable to have a sufficient amount of cash. In theory, law enforcement can immobilize your vehicle pending full payment. As for the practice, it is necessary for us to be escorted to a cash dispenser in order to finalize the settlement of the contravention.
Reassuring ... No?
Parking is problematic in cities, regulations and high costs make people prefer to avoid them. Not paying can be worth the installation of a "Denver shoe" or the impoundment (very fast here ...). It is best to preferably reach a park-and-ride (located near the highways ...) indicated by the words "transferium" or "Park en Ride" on the signs, then continue your journey by public transport.
By bike
It is possible to rent bicycles at many stations. Be careful, it is not uncommon to have your bike stolen, it is also advisable to have several locks in large cities. Attach the bike to something solid!
It is possible to travel the Netherlands using cycle paths.
Walk
In town, walking can be confusing due to the narrowness of the sidewalks. Even for short distances, the Dutch use their bicycles and the urban road network is therefore organized primarily on the basis of cyclist traffic. In the many streets closed to vehicular traffic, the central part of the road is reserved for cyclists and pedestrians must circulate on the sides.
Speak
The official language is Dutch. The majority of people speak English. There are also francophones, especially among older people.
Frisian is the language of the province of Frieze but the inhabitants of Friesland also speak Dutch.
Buy
Change
The Netherlands uses theeuro. It is one of the many European countries that use this common currency. Euro banknotes and coins are legal tender throughout the country.
Countries which have the euro as official currency:
These countries are collectively referred to as the "euro area". |
One euro is divided into 100 eurocents or euro cents abbreviated cents or cents.
The official euro symbol is €, and its ISO code is EUR. There is no official symbol for Eurocents.
.jpg/220px-Euro_Series_Banknotes_(2019).jpg)
- Tickets
- Euro banknotes are the same in all countries.
- Ordinary parts
- All euro area countries have issued coins with a distinctive national side on one side, and a common standard side on the other side. Coins can be used in all countries, regardless of the country of origin of the coin used, for example a one euro coin from Finland can be used in Portugal.
- Two euro commemorative coins
- They differ from normal two euro coins only on their "national" side and circulate freely as legal tender. Each country can produce a certain quantity of it as part of their normal parts production. There are also commemorative two euro coins "at European level". They are produced to commemorate special events, such as the anniversary of important treaties.
- Withdrawal of money
- Cash withdrawals from ATMs are billed at the same price as cash withdrawals in the home country for holders of a bank card from an account in a country in the euro area. Money transfers between two accounts are also considered by banks as a transfer between two accounts in the same country.
Purchases
- chain store Hema offers articles for the home at very reasonable prices
- Albert Heijn is a supermarket chain identifiable by its brand ah in stations for example.
- A new car. You benefit from a very significant tax refund on export because the BPM tax of around 15% is no longer applied.
- Diamonds at Amsterdam (they are not cheaper but it is one of the activities of the city).
- 18th century Delft blue tiles from an antique dealer in Amsterdam, Leyden, Delft or The Hague.
- A painting in the style of the Flemish painters.
- Tulip bulbs.
Eat
Some suggestions
- raw herring
- the Stroopwafels, waffles with butter and molasses, energy
- cheese : Gouda or Edam with cumin
- the Vla, a dessert cream that is sold in UHT bricks.
- apple pastries
- frikandelles, "crockets", fried meat specialties with sauce, which are sold in chip shops or even "from the wall", by putting a coin in a sort of distributor on the wall (at the back is a kitchen ).
Local cuisine:
- Hutspot
- Stamppot
- Boerenkool
- Erwtensoep (pea soup)
What expatriates Dutch lack:
- Hagelslag: Chocolate chips to eat on bread
- Beschuit met muisjes: rusks with mice (little aniseed candies served during a birth)
- Poffertjes: Pancakes five centimeters in diameter.
- Dropjes: Salted liquorice-like candies.
- Pindakaas: Peanut butter
- Oliebollen: Donuts to enjoy between Christmas and New Year.
- Pepermunt: Mint lozenges
- Pindasaus: peanut-based sauce used in Indonesian cuisine (Indonesia is a former Dutch colony)
To drink
- The national beer is Heineken
- Other popular Dutch beers are Amstel (also from the Heineken company), Grolsch, Brand, Bavaria ...
- Also taste the juniper, young or old (juggle jenever or oude jenever) which is deemed.
- The water is served "sparkling" or "still". We are talking about Spa blauw (Spa blue, it's flat) or Spa rood (Spa red, it's carbonated), as Spa is the most famous brand.
- Avoid drinking and driving or you will be taken to the police station if you test positive.
- at lunch, the Dutch drink milk or tea
- advocaat: an egg-based liqueur cream that is eaten with a teaspoon as an aperitif or poured over vanilla ice cream topped with chocolate sauce.
Housing
- The hotels are of good quality but charge high prices.
Cheap
- The 30 Youth hostels are often of high quality, [2], site in Dutch, English and German.
- The VVV (tourist offices) can help you find accommodation in the best conditions. * Dutch breakfasts are often royal and delight tourists.
Learn
Dutch can be learned relatively easily, especially if you already master another language. The French encounter difficulties linked to their very "soft" pronunciation which is not as contrasting as the Dutch language wants it to be. Another complication is that many Dutch people spontaneously speak English when they find out you are a foreigner. If you persist in speaking Dutch, the Dutch will appreciate your determination.
To work
- For European Union nationals, you still need a five-year residence permit if your contract is for a fixed term. The duration of your residence permit is shorter in the event of a fixed-term contract of less than five years.
- A SOFI nummer is mandatory. This is a social and fiscal number. Businesses and taxes identify you by this number. You will have to register at the town hall to obtain it.
- Taxes and social charges are high. There are preferential tax regimes for foreigners who are engaged in sectors where recruitment is difficult in the Netherlands.
- Many Poles come to the Netherlands during the asparagus picking season. This difficult job is shunned by the Dutch because it is rather poorly paid. Poles stricken by unemployment in their country are appreciated for their voluntarism and the quality of their work.
Communicate
European roaming
Since June 15, 2017, "European roaming" has been introduced. It allows all SIM card holders belonging to one of the European member countries to maintain the same pricing conditions as in the country of origin.
Telephone calls and Internet browsing are valid at no additional cost in all European countries, unless authorized by national authorities (generally minor operators) or when a data Gbit threshold is exceeded, which increases year by year. To use this service, simply activate the roaming option on your mobile phone.
The participating countries are those ofEuropean Union (Germany, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, Denmark, Spain, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary , Ireland , Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Czech Republic, Romania, UK, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden), those ofEuropean Economic Area (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) and some Oversea territories (Azores, Canary Islands, Gibraltar, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Madeira, Martinique, Mayotte, The meeting, Saint-Martin).
Manage the day-to-day
Health
European citizens
Citizens ofEuropean Union (EU), who fall unexpectedly ill during a temporary stay, studies or a professional stay, are entitled to the same medical care as in their country of residence. It is always useful to take the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) which constitutes physical proof of your insurance in an EU country. However, if you do not have the card with you or if you cannot use it (as in the case of private assistance), you are still entitled to treatment, but you are obliged to pay the costs on the spot. , then you will ask for a refund on your return.
The countries in which health coverage is provided are all those that are members of theEuropean Union (Germany, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, Denmark, Spain, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary , Ireland , Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Czech Republic, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden), those ofEuropean Economic Area (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway), the Swiss, the UK and the Oversea territories member of the European Union (Azores, Canary Islands, Gibraltar, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Madeira, Martinique, Mayotte, The meeting, Saint-Martin).
security
 | Emergency telephone number: All emergency services:112 |
On the A16 motorway between Breda and Rotterdam, drug dealers sometimes try to get your attention. They are of course looking for foreign cars with young people, don't get angry, stop at a gas station and ask the manager what you need to do. The police are familiar with this kind of illegal activity and are used to monitoring petrol stations and motorway areas along the way.
The tourist areas and the tram attract pickpockets. Frequently signs indicate problem areas. Stay vigilant.
Some quieter tourist areas attract petty crooks: A man appears "bloody" in a quiet street near a tourist hotel and asks you to give him money (a small sum) to pay for transport to the hospital. Your hotel will inform you about this kind of practice.
Government travel advice
.svg/20px-Flag_of_Belgium_(civil).svg.png)
Belgium (Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation) 
Canada (Government of Canada) 
France (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) 
Swiss (Federal Department of Foreign Affairs)
.svg/20px-Flag_of_Belgium_(civil).svg.png){kind=small}
Respect
- Drug tolerance. The Dutch have found a solution which is not perfect. They are well aware of this but have not found anything better so far. Do not smoke your firecracker anywhere, instead stay within coffee-shop, otherwise find a remote corner of a park.
- Dutch is not a dialect of German, any more than Spanish is a dialect of French: the two languages only belong to the same linguistic family, the Germanic languages, hence grammatical turns and expressions. sometimes similar vocabulary elements. It has given rise to a rich literary production over the centuries, from the pen of authors such as Joost van den Vondel (one speaks moreover of the "Language of Vondel" as well as of the "Language of Molière" for French.
- The Dutch have, for some reason, a reputation for stinginess. It is, however, one of the countries where the most is given to charities or to developing countries.
- Remnants of the Calvinist tradition are still visible, such as the absence of curtains on the windows. However, remain discreet.
- Traditional Dutch cuisine, rustic and invigorating, emphasizes simple foods, cooked without flair. Sino-Indonesian cuisine (theIndonesia is a former Dutch colony) is greatly appreciated by all. There are also several Michelin starred restaurants.
