Netherlands

Netherlands
Netherlands🇳🇱

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Traveling to the Netherlands? Land Connected.

The Netherlands runs on bikes, trains and canal maps — station platforms, bike rentals and museum time slots all live on your phone. Install your CGOO eSIM before you fly and you connect the moment you land at Schiphol, with your own number still reachable for calls and texts back home.

Choose the Plan That Fits Your Trip

  • Fixed data: 1 GB to 100 GB, valid 3 to 90 days — from light maps-and-messaging trips to heavy streaming and hotspot use.
  • Unlimited & Unlimited Plus: 1 to 30 days at full 5G speeds. A fair usage policy applies — in rare cases speeds may be reduced after 1 GB of use in a day, and full speed resumes the next day.
  • Networks: plans run on major local carriers including KPN (5G), Odido (5G) and Vodafone (5G). The exact carrier and speed for each plan are listed in its Plan details, right on the plan.
  • Instant delivery: your QR code and installation link are emailed within minutes of checkout. Install before your flight; validity starts on the day you activate.
  • Good to know: your phone must support eSIM (dial *#06# and look for an EID), and your 15-digit IMEI is required at checkout so your eSIM can be provisioned.

Travel Highlights

  • Amsterdam: the canals by bike, the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum, and the Jordaan lanes.
  • Keukenhof and tulips: the spring flower fields near Lisse, best in April.
  • Rotterdam: modern architecture, the Markthal, and harbour tours.
  • The Hague and Delft: the Mauritshuis, Delft blue pottery, and Scheveningen beach.
  • Giethoorn: the car-free water village, explored by whisper boat.

Getting Around

  • Airport to the city: Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS) connects to Amsterdam Centraal by direct train, plus buses. Use the official taxi rank at the terminal and ignore anyone offering a ride inside the terminal.
  • City transport: trams, buses, metro and trains cover Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague and Utrecht well, and cycling is a normal way to get around — rent a bike only if you are confident in city traffic and follow the cycle lanes. Buy tickets at a station or in the transit app before you travel.
  • Ride-hailing — yes, in major cities: Uber and Bolt operate in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague and Utrecht, with upfront prices in the app; FreeNow books licensed, metered taxis in Amsterdam. Lyft does not operate in the Netherlands. Outside the major cities, app coverage falls away, so use trains or local taxis.
  • Driving: if you rent a car, check whether your licence needs an International Driving Permit before you arrive, and expect expensive parking in Amsterdam city centre. Full rental details will have their own card later.

Safety and Practical Tips

The Netherlands is generally safe for travelers. The main risks are bike theft and pickpockets around Amsterdam Centraal station and in crowded trams — lock your bike properly and keep your phone out of back pockets.

Watch for bike lanes when walking: cyclists have priority and move fast. Most places take cards, and many no longer take cash at all, so a card or phone payment is the safer bet.

Entry and Visa

Visa rules depend on your passport. Many passports enter the Netherlands visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period under Schengen rules; other nationalities need a Schengen short-stay visa applied for before travel. Check the latest requirements for your passport before you book, and make sure your passport is valid for at least three months beyond your planned departure from the Schengen area.

Official information: Netherlands and You (Government of the Netherlands) and the Travel to Europe (EU).

Weather and Climate

  • Climate zones: temperate oceanic throughout — mild winters, cool summers, and rain spread through the year, with wind a constant factor, especially near the coast.
  • Amsterdam at a glance: January averages around 3°C (highs near 6°C, lows near 1°C); July averages around 18°C (highs near 22°C, lows near 13°C). Rain totals around 850 mm a year and is spread through the year, so a shower is possible in any month.
  • Best months: April, May, September and October are generally the best for sightseeing — mild, with tulip season in April and fewer crowds than summer. July and August are the warmest and busiest. December is Christmas-market season and can be cold, wet and windy.
  • What to pack: layers all year, plus a waterproof jacket and comfortable walking shoes — and a windproof layer, as Amsterdam is windy even in summer. Winter: a warm coat, scarf and gloves, and shoes that handle wet pavements.

Money and Payments

  • Currency and cards: euros (EUR). Cards are widely accepted in shops, restaurants, hotels and transport; contactless is common, with a €50 limit per tap without a PIN in most places. Note that some Dutch shops prefer debit cards and may not accept all credit cards, so keep a debit card or some cash as a backup.
  • WISE and similar travel cards — yes, supported: the Wise card works in the Netherlands wherever Visa or Mastercard is accepted, and a Wise EUR balance means you spend euros without converting each time. Wise also provides an EU IBAN for SEPA transfers. Similar multi-currency cards, such as Revolut, work the same way on the Visa/Mastercard network. Check the card app for current ATM limits and fees before you travel, as these change.
  • Tipping: service is not normally added as a separate charge, and tipping is optional — rounding up, or 5–10% for very good service in restaurants, is appreciated but not expected. Taxi drivers are usually rounded up to the nearest euro.
  • Cash tips: use ATMs in town rather than airport exchange counters, which usually give worse rates, and always choose to pay in euros (local currency) if a terminal or ATM offers to convert to your home currency — that conversion is almost always worse.