Anyone who says that a trip to the Netherlands is monotonous is anything but an adventurer. This flat country of polders, with its vast green meadows where fat cows graze, interspersed with canals and dotted here and there with mills, is a land of battle. The Battlefields people have exhausted themselves to push back the sea to extend their territory, witnessing this historic struggle : the land of Zeeland which suffered the cataclysm of floods in 1953. A small country with crazy ambitions that has conquered the world and from Maastricht in the south, through Delft, to Groningen in the north, its beautiful cities offer many faces. The beautiful Maastricht, Breda the fortified one, the ancient Nijmegen, the : disconcerting and dynamic Rotterdam and especially the bewitching Amsterdam combine tradition and modernity with the image of the country. From east to west, from north to south, the traveller never gives in to boredom and keeps in mind the dreamy countryside of the province of Gelderland, the peninsulas of Zeeland where sky, land and sea merge around Middelburg, the beautiful historic city, the laughing valleys of Limburg, the immense flat expanses of Friesland dotted with bogs, ponds and swamps. As for Amsterdam, the Venice of the North, it is impossible not to succumb to the charm of this capital set on the waves, a tangle of canals with changing waters, like so many veins that flow towards its heart.
Early spring (April and May) is undoubtedly the best time to visit the Netherlands: if the air can be fresh then it is usually the driest time of the year and Holland is adorned with flowers in a thousand colours. The high season is in summer, but Amsterdam is a city that can be visited all year round. So plan to book your hotel nights before you leave! On the other hand, you will then be very numerous to visit the city and the queues of museums and attractions will sometimes seem endless.
However, the Netherlands can be visited very well in all seasons. In autumn and winter, the weather can be very variable, but the photogenic landscapes and the atmosphere in the cafés are unique and inescapable. Spring and summer probably seem like the ideal seasons to visit, but as everyone seems to agree, downtown is crowded and museums are under attack. The fields are then in bloom, the cultural activities outside are starting again.
The weather can change very quickly. In general, the Netherlands has a temperate ocean climate with high winds and short, unpredictable showers. There are rainy July months when the temperature does not exceed 20°C, but with a clear sky we reach 25°C and, as in any city in the south, people walk around in shirt arms. In winter, temperatures fluctuate between -1°C and 5°C on average.
Since 2002, the euro has been the currency used in the Netherlands. In recent years, the Netherlands has experienced inflation, particularly in the catering sector. From now on, the cost of living is roughly comparable to that of Paris, even if hotels are generally more expensive than in France. Note that drinks (alcoholic or non-alcoholic) are rather cheap.
Access to the European territory of the Netherlands requires a valid national identity card or passport (to the exclusion of any other document). Anyone aged 14 and over in the European territory of the Netherlands must be in possession of a valid identity document (passport, national identity card, Dutch residence permit, driving licence), which they must be able to present to the Dutch police forces at their request.
No vaccination is mandatory and no disease is to be feared. However, make sure your vaccinations are up to date. The Netherlands is renowned for being a clean, healthy country with a complete medical infrastructure. Moreover, the proximity of France makes repatriation easy and quick. Be careful, however, here you don't go to the doctor for a small bump or flu and prescriptions for drugs are not automatic.
The offer is diverse and varied to discover the Netherlands. Discover the Dutch countryside by bike, city escapades in Amsterdam, Maastricht or The Hague, romantic and cultural stays, a tour in the footsteps of Van Gogh: the possibilities are numerous. The destination lends itself to several types of stay. Given the variety of offers, prices are adapted to small budgets, but also to those who are looking for a charming stay.
Discover our selection of travel agencies for this destinationIt is very easy to go to the Netherlands alone, the transport networks ñ road, rail and air being very developed and the means to get there are numerous (plane, train, coach, car...). However, beware of pickpockets in tourist areas and large cities. Remember to book well in advance during the summer or during the holidays.
As far as air travel is concerned, the distances are so short in Holland that this mode of transport is unsuitable. But apart from flying, the main transport modes are easily accessible: train, bus, boat, car and bicycle. In large cities, the transport network is so developed that the car is not of much interest
Amsterdam in one weekend
Three weeks in the Netherlands, from south to north
Early spring (April and May) is undoubtedly the best time to visit the Netherlands: if the air can be fresh then it i...
Read more about it
The weather can change very quickly. In general, the Netherlands has a temperate ocean climate with high winds and sh...
Read more about it
Since 2002, the euro has been the currency used in the Netherlands. In recent years, the Netherlands has experienced...
Read more about it
Access to the European territory of the Netherlands requires a valid national identity card or passport (to the exclu...
Read more about it
No vaccination is mandatory and no disease is to be feared. However, make sure your vaccinations are up to date. The...
Read more about it
It is very easy to go to the Netherlands alone, the transport networks ñ road, rail and air being very developed and...
Read more about it
The offer is diverse and varied to discover the Netherlands. Discover the Dutch countryside by bike, city escapades i...
Read more about it
As far as air travel is concerned, the distances are so short in Holland that this mode of transport is unsuitable. B...
Read more about it
Seeing works of art from his sofa, comfort or heresy? A visit to the museum to admire the masterpieces is always preferable, but when this is not possible, a one-to-one meeting with Botticelli's Mona Lisa or Venus in his living room is now permitted! Several museums offer to visit their collections online before going there, so that you can pass the time in a useful way before your next trip! We have selected 10 of these 2.0 visits to help ...
At any time of the year, weekends with friends are the best way to unwind and enjoy a little break from the stress of the day. With your feet in the sand, in the snow, sitting on the terrace of a restaurant or partying in the best nightclubs in the world, get away from the daily routine for a few days with your faithful allies. From Prague to Berlin via Barcelona and Dubrovnik, here is our ranking of the best destinations in Europe for a ...
The Government of the Netherlands has announced guidelines for the reopening of cultural venues and as a result, the Rijksmuseum, the national museum of the Netherlands, is preparing to welcome visitors once again. For the director of the renowned Amsterdam museum, it is essential that the public can access art in these turbulent times, and the museum will put in place a range of measures to ensure the safety of all. Good news also for those ...
Since the opening of the Fairytale Forest in 1952, the Efteling has become one of the most important theme parks in Europe. The lushly green park transports visitors to a fairytale world where famous fairy tales, including those of the Grimm brothers and Charles Perrault, are set in a fairytale setting. While it has had to close its doors to the public as part of the fight against the coronavirus that is currently hitting the world, the ...
