Enjoying yourself Netherlands
Timetable Netherlands
Hours may vary from place to place and should always be checked, especially due to staff shortages. Usually, restaurants open for lunch from 12:00 to 14:00 and in the evening from 18:00 to 22:00. The kitchens close early compared to France. Reservations are required for the most popular addresses. Some restaurants are so popular that you will have to reserve them before your departure
Kitchens close earlier in the Netherlands than in France and it will sometimes be difficult to find a restaurant open at 10pm on weekdays. Think about it!
Budget & Tips Netherlands
The Netherlands is a country that can be experienced at many different speeds and on a budget. However, prices have risen dramatically in recent years and restaurants will be a major expense if you want to eat properly seated.
Doggy bags are not mandatory, but many restaurants do have them
We have sometimes included all-you-can-eat places in cities, which can be interesting, especially if you are traveling with your family
If you are very hungry and have a small budget, why not succumb to Febo, a fast-food machine where you can pull food from a wall.
What costs extra Netherlands
Officially, service is included in the price, but it is still a good idea to leave a tip in cafés, restaurants and with cab drivers. 10% of the price is a good indication. While service is often rough and slow in the Netherlands, keep in mind that many waiters are students making ends meet. The French don't always get good press and don't have a reputation for generosity, so make a small gesture!
Restaurants normally serve free water, but it would be a bit inappropriate not to take mineral water in a star restaurant. Bread baskets are not a tradition in the Netherlands and you will only find them in high-class restaurants
The local way Netherlands
Fish stalls are probably the most local way to eat healthy and like the locals. In addition, the fish and herring trays are cheap options to eat. Good plan and typical option of the country.
To be avoided Netherlands
We don't recommend any address named after a famous Italian spread. These are the tasteless addresses found in the ultra-touristy neighborhoods that serve fatty and sweet food, often already presented in the stalls.
Kids Netherlands
Children are welcome in many restaurants and there is often a special menu for them. For them, the ideal is to look for the creperies that will delight them!
Smokers Netherlands
All cafés and restaurants have been non-smoking for several years and fortunately. Smokers are welcome on the terrace
Tourist traps Netherlands
It's simple, touts will never take you to a good restaurant, so avoid following them!
Take a break Netherlands
Timetable Netherlands
The hours vary depending on the establishment but, in general, bars and cafés open from 11am and close at 1am. On Friday and Saturday nights, they close at 2am, sometimes at 3am. Some establishments have 24-hour permits and can stay open very late. Bars are very busy from 5pm onwards, the time of the famous borrel, the little drink when you get off work.
Budget & Tips Netherlands
The places that offer it are often the ones to avoid: no happy hour in the good Dutch bars..
If you are on a tight budget, we advise you to avoid drinking wine during your stay, which is often expensive, and to prefer beer, preferably local, which is more affordable.
Age restrictions Netherlands
If binge drinking, especially among students, is a real problem, alcohol is officially prohibited for minors and to buy and consume it you will have to prove that you are over 18.
What's very local Netherlands
The Borrel. It is the famous drink at the end of the working day around 5pm! It is customary to meet around a lager with a tray of snacks (pieces of cheese and meatballs).
Kids Netherlands
Minors will not be allowed to consume alcohol in the cafes and restaurants, but they will be allowed to enter. Some bars do not allow children, but we have specified this in the description.
Smokers Netherlands
We only smoke on the terrace! Electronic cigarettes are also forbidden inside cafés.
Tourist traps Netherlands
Here, you don't order a pint. Beers are drunk in halves or not drunk at all
We recommend caution when it comes to some of the signs in Amsterdam's Red Light District.
