Netherlands – arrival
Airplane: Numerous airlines offer thisDirect flightsto the Netherlands. Go from AmsterdamFlightsin almost every European capital. In addition to the country’s own KLM (KL), airlines that offer such flights include Ryanair (FL), Alitalia (AZ), British Midland (BD), Aer Lingus (EI), Austrian Airlines (OS), Lufthansa (LH), Air France (AF),British Airways(BA) and EasyJet (U2).
Airports: the Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS) is the main international airport of the Netherlands and the third largest in Europe. It is the seat of the Dutch airline KLM and is used by numerous other airlines around the world with direct flights to and from Shiphol. In contrast, Rotterdam Airport (RTM) is much smaller. From there, for example, flights to Germany, Great Britain and the Mediterranean area start.
The airports of Eindhoven, Groningen and Maastricht act as feeders for the Amsterdam airports. From Eindhoven (EIN), however, there are also flights to London, among others, Dublin, Milan and Paris.
Ship: various companies offer regular ferry connections between the Netherlands and Great Britain. The prices for ferry tickets often vary depending on the time of year and day of the week.
For example, Stenalline operates daily between Harwich and Hoek van Holland. P&O North Sea Ferries operates an evening ferry between Hull and Europoort near Rotterdam. DFDS Scandinavian Seaways also connects Newcastle and Ijmuiden near Amsterdam on a daily basis.
Rail: according to Allcitycodes, the Netherlands have good rail connections to Germany, Belgium and France. For example, trains run from Amsterdam via The Hague and Rotterdam to Antwerp, Bruges, Brussels and Luxembourg City. There are also train connections between Amsterdam and Antwerp and Paris, as well as between Amsterdam and Cologne, as well as Munich, Hanover and Berlin.
All Eurail, Inter-Rail, Europass and Flexipass tickets are valid on the train connections operated by the Dutch national railway company Nederlandse Spoorwegen. There are international ticket offices in the major train stations. However, tickets for trains to Belgium and Germany are also available at normal ticket offices. During the high season, travelers should reserve their seats in advance.
Automobile: Anyone traveling to the Netherlands with their own car or motorcycle should be able to show a vehicle registration document, liability insurance and, if possible, an international driver’s license. A green insurance policy is an advantage. The ANWB offers drivers who are members of an automobile club a wide range of information, maps, advice and other services.
Since traffic can flow unhindered within the EU countries, there are no longer any controls at the national borders. However, the customs officers carry out random checks.
The main roads to the Netherlands from Belgium are the E22 (Antwerp – Breda) and the E25 (Liège – Maastricht). The most important motorways between Germany and the Netherlands are the E40 (Cologne – Maastricht), the E35 (Düsseldorf – Arnhem) and the A2 (Hanover – Amsterdam).
Bus: Long-distance buses connect Amsterdam, Rotterdam and some smaller Dutch cities such as The Hague or Utrecht with numerous other European cities as well as North Africa. The most extensive long-distance bus network is managed by Eurolines, a consortium of various bus companies. There is one of special offers that vary according to the season. In general, however, if you book well in advance, you often pay less.
Another provider of bus tours is Gullivers Reisen. Buses from this company connect Berlin, Hamburg, Hanover and Amsterdam with each other on a daily basis. On request, travelers can reserve sleeping places.
Bicycle: Cyclists who like to travel long routes can choose from a variety of safe, easy and specially marked routes in the Netherlands that lead to Germany in Belgium. The cycle paths, the so-called Landelijke fietsroutes, for example, run over a distance of around 340 kilometers between Brussels, Ghent and Amsterdam (LF2). The LF4 extends over a length of around 300 kilometers and runs from Enschede to The Hague.
Netherlands – traveling in the country
Airplane: due to the limited size of the country, there are only a few domestic routes in the Netherlands, e.g. between Amsterdam and Maastricht. Domestic flights are mainly made of expensiveBusiness travelersutilized.
Ship: the Netherlands has numerous rivers and lakes ready for water sports. Cruising the waterways by boat is a popular way to explore the country.traveler have the option of renting boats of all shapes and sizes, from canoes to moth and sailing boats to former cargo ships. There are tons of rental companies across the country.
Ferries connect the Dutch mainland with the Frisian Islands and with parts of Belgium. Ferries are also frequently used on the country’s lakes and rivers.
Train: the longest train journey within the Netherlands (Maastricht – Groningen) takes around four and a half hours. Most train journeys, however, are significantly shorter. Trains run frequently and travelers can reach almost all Dutch cities by train. However, train travelers should be prepared for delays during rush hour. In rural regions there are often combined train and bus connections.
There are first and second class compartments on Dutch trains. The different train categories range from the so-called Stoptrein, with stops at all train stations, to the Sneltrein, the express train, to the even faster Intercity (IC). There are also the Intercity Express (ICE) and Thalys high-speed trains that connect the Netherlands with other European cities. There are numerous rail cards and passes for rail travel in the Netherlands. Information about the various options is available at the train stations, among others.
There are treintaxis at more than 100 train stations in the country that transport travelers to and from the train station. They are often located near regular taxi ranks or can be ordered over the phone.
Automobile: the Dutch motorway network is extensive but also prone to traffic jams. This applies particularly to the motorways around Amsterdam, the A4 south to Belgium and the A2 south-east to Maastricht during peak traffic and holiday periods. Smaller roads are well maintained, but are often provided with obstacles to calm the traffic.
Car rental
There are rental car agencies everywhere in the Netherlands. They are listed in the business directories under the keyword Autoverhuur.
Anyone wishing to rent a car must be at least 23 years old. Some car rental companies charge drivers under the age of 25. Often the car rental companies require a deposit or a credit card as a guarantee. Anyone who rents a car should urgently ensure that they have or take out comprehensive insurance.
buses are mainly used for regional traffic, while trains are more likely to be used on longer routes. Buses play an essential role in Dutch regional transport and are particularly important where there are fewer trains, for example in the north or east of the country. The national Strippenkaart is valid as a ticket on all buses. The strip card is also valid for trams and underground trains. It is available in different sizes (two, three or eight strips) and can for example be bought in train stations, tobacco shops, newsagents and post offices. In exceptional cases, it can also be purchased from the bus driver. However, it is more expensive there. Depending on the tariff zone and travel time, the corresponding number of strips will be stamped. Stamp machines are usually located on board the means of transport or at the subway entrances. If you drive without a stamp, you have to expect fines for driving illegally.
Local transport: in cities like Amsterdam and Rotterdam, in addition to buses and trams, underground trains are also part of the public transport system. The stripe card is valid there as well, as in the bus.
Bicycle: The Netherlands is very bicycle-friendly and has countless cycle paths with a total length of around 20,000 kilometers. The country is flat and therefore easy to explore by bike. However, there is often a rough wind. The ANBW issues cycling maps for all provinces on a regular basis. Additional information on interesting routes and tours is also available from the tourist offices.
It should be noted that some of the cycle paths are also used by mopeds and that the maximum speed is 40 km / h or 30 km / h in inhabited areas. There is no general obligation to wear a helmet. It is forbidden to take bicycles on trains on weekdays during peak hours between 6.30 a.m. and 9 a.m. and 4.30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
In the Netherlands there are a large number of bicycle repair shops and bike rentals, as well as bicycle shops at most train stations, where second-hand bicycles are also available cheaply.
