Netherlands Overview

Fast Facts

Main Languages: Dutch (more Netherlandish than Standard Dutch) and English. German, French, and all the Scandinavian languages are also spoken and understood by many.

When to Go: The climate of the Netherlands is a moderate marine climate, and is considered to be good all year round, though the winters can be quite cool, with temperatures sometimes dropping below zero (quite rare). Summers, from May to September, are an excellent time to visit, when the shining sun and balmy air is truly refreshing. The Netherlands is affected by rain and wind all-year-round however, and July to August is the wettest and hottest period, and March is the driest. Mid-March to May and September to mid-October are the months most recommended to enjoy moderate weather and to avoid the crowds of the tourist high season falling in between. However, if you want to enjoy the Netherlands with virtually no tourists and truly experience the country with the company of locals, then visit in the winter months of mid-October to mid-March, when it is quite cool, but tolerably, in fact, invigoratingly so.

Local Transport: A very well-connected country, you can get anywhere by train, bus, and ferries. Cycling is another very popular option, and as the country is very flat, not much motive power is required. Hiring cars or motorcycles is not recommended, as the country is not very car friendly, and the petrol is quite expensive, and the congestion is quite bad.

Bicycles: Mostly flat (but also very windy), the Netherlands is great place to cycle in, and almost every spot across the country can be accessed without a motor, on 20,000 km of dedicated bike paths. Cycling maps of each province are easily available, and bicycles are easy to rent and buy. Beware of bike theft however, and keep your cycle locked with two types of locks when unattended.  You can also take your cycle on most ferries and trains.

Trains: Trains are the next best method to travel in the Netherlands, and are efficient and comfortable, serving domestic destinations at frequent intervals. There are several types of train passes available, and the Holland Rail Pass is best for domestic destinations.

Boats: Boats can be rented as well, and the country has many thousands of kilometres of waterways, in the form of rivers, canals, lakes, and inland seas.

Buses: Buses provide excellent inexpensive regional transport, and are generally better for short distances than trains. The national strippenkaart (strip card - bus and tram pass - also for metros in Amsterdam and Rotterdam) can be used on almost all buses.

Cars/Motorcycles: It is not recommended to use a car or motorcycle, as the petrol is very expensive, and there is much road congestion.

Planes: Air travel is almost non-existent, and usually only used for international transfer flights, common flights include: Amsterdam Schiphol to Eindhoven, and Amsterdam Schipol to Maastricht.

Phone code: +20

Currency: Euro (EUR) 1 EUR is approximately 80 Indian Rupees (INR)

Voltage: 220V - 240V

Time Zone: GMT+1 hour. IST -4:30 hours. Summer (Daylight Savings): GMT+2 hours