From Wikitravel

The Netherlands (also popularly, though inaccurately, called Holland in English, in Dutch Nederland) is a Benelux country in Western Europe, facing onto the North Sea and the United Kingdom and bordered on land by Germany and Belgium. The people, language, and culture of the Netherlands are referred to as "Dutch".

Contents 1 Regions 2 Cities 3 Understand 3.1 History 3.2 Culture 3.3 Geography 4 Get in 4.1 By boat 4.2 By bus 4.3 By plane 4.4 By train 4.4.1 from France and Belgium 4.4.2 from Germany 4.5 By car 5 Get around 5.1 By bicycle 5.1.1 Bike theft 5.2 By train 5.2.1 Discount rail pass 5.3 Other public transport 5.4 By car 5.5 By taxi 6 Talk 7 Buy 7.1 Costs 7.2 Shop 8 Eat 9 Drink 10 Smoke 11 Sleep 12 Do 12.1 Events 13 Learn 14 Work 15 Stay safe 16 Stay healthy 17 Respect 18 Contact

Regions

The Netherlands is administratively divided into 12 provinces (provincies). The western part (Holland) is the most industrialized and about half of the population lives in and around this area. It consists of

• North-Holland
• Flevoland
• Utrecht
• South-Holland
• Zeeland

The southern Netherlands have a distinct cultural identity because the population is (or was) largely Catholic. The two provinces are

• North-Brabant
• Limburg

The northern Netherlands is the least densely populated region:

• Friesland
• Groningen
• Drenthe

The eastern provinces are

• Gelderland
• Overijssel

The Wadden Islands, five inhabited islands off the north coast, lie in three provinces (North-Holland, Friesland, Groningen).

Cities

The Netherlands has many cities and towns of interest to travelers. Below is a list of the most notable.

• Amsterdam - capital and main tourist destination.

• Alkmaar - historic city north of Amsterdam.
• Groningen - capital of the province of Groningen.
• Haarlem - historic city and capital of the province of North-Holland.
• The Hague- seat of the national government, seat of the International Court of Justice and capital of the province of South-Holland.
• Maastricht - historic city, capital of the province of Limburg.
• Rotterdam - Port city, second largest in the world, after Shanghai.
• Utrecht - historic city, capital of the province of Utrecht
• Zutphen - ancient medieval city in the central-eastern part of the country, very well preserved center.
• Breda - historic city, with beautiful historic buildings but also pretty modern architecture.

Groningen won the award of 'best city center' in the category of 'large cities' for 2006; Zutphen won the same award in the category of 'medium-sized cities'.

Understand

History

The country was part of the Holy Roman Empire until it was acquired piece by piece by the Burgundians. At the end of the middle ages, it became a Spanish possession (together with what is now Belgium). Little survives from this period, except a few historic city centers, and a few castles.

Following a revolt led by national hero Willem van Oranje (William of Orange), the father of the currently ruling House van Oranje (of Orange), the Spanish were kicked out as part of the Thirty Years' War (known as the Eighty Years' War in the Netherlands: 1568-1648). The split with Belgium came when the northern provinces signed the Union of Utrecht in 1579.

It grew to become one of the major economic and seafaring powers in the world during the 17th century, which is known as the Gouden Eeuw, or Golden Age, in the Netherlands. During this period, many colonies were founded or conquered, including Indonesia and New York, which was later traded with the British for Suriname.

In 1815 it became a kingdom (its status being somewhat ambiguous before that) together with Belgium. In 1830 Belgium seceded and formed a separate kingdom. Avoiding the liberal revolutions of 1848, The Netherlands quietly became a constitutional monarchy and remained neutral in World War I but suffered a brutal invasion and occupation by Germany in World War II. A modern, industrialized nation, the Netherlands is also a large exporter of agricultural products. The country was a founding member of NATO and the EC, and participated in the introduction of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) in 1999.

Culture

Quite a few travellers visit the Netherlands to enjoy its famously tolerant attitude: prostitution is legalized and licensed and the sale, possession and consumption of small quantities of cannabis or magic mushrooms, while technically still illegal, is officially tolerated by the authorities under a policy of gedogen (tolerance). Harder drugs (eg. ecstasy or cocaine) remain illegal both in theory and practice. In the same open minded atmosphere is the Dutch ease towards homosexuality, making the Netherlands one of the most gay-friendly countries on the planet. To experience these freedoms, you're best off in Amsterdam with coffeeshops and clubs. On a note unrelated to tourism—but still relating to its liberal culture—Euthanasia, abortion, wearing traditional wooden clogs (klompen) and same-sex marriage are also legal.

Geography

The Netherlands is one of the most densely populated countries on the world. No matter where you go, you are never far away from civilization. Cities can be crowded especially in the Randstad area. Much of the country is flat and at or below sea level, and much of countryside is dominated by highly industrialised farming - despite its population density, The Netherlands is a net exporter of food. Though there are some beautiful spots scattered across the country, the tourist expecting a countryside full of picturesque villages, tulips and windmills may be in for a bit of a shock.

The Netherland's geography is dominated by water features. The country is criss-crossed with canals and dykes, and the beach is never far away.

Get in

By boat

There are three ferry services from the UK

• Stena Line between Harwich and Hoek van Holland (Hook of Holland)

• DFDS Seaways between Newcastle upon Tyne and IJmuiden

• P&O Ferries between Kingston Upon Hull and Rotterdam Europoort.

More information, timetables and ticket prices for the North Sea ferries is available at Ferries To Amsterdam. Rotterdam is also the second largest port in the world, and (in theory) a good place for Freighter travel.

By bus

Eurolines are the main 'operator' for international buses to the Netherlands. (In fact the name Eurolines is a brand used by different operators). Services are limited: only a few main routes have a daily direct service.

By plane

Schiphol Airport ( http://www.schiphol.nl ), near Amsterdam, is a European hub, although not as important as London or Paris. It is by far the biggest international airport in the country, and a point of interest in itself, being 4 metres below mean sea level. From Schiphol there are excellent railway connections: The Hague, Amsterdam, Utrecht and most large cities have a direct train service. The train station at Schiphol is located underground, under the main airport hall. The train is the quickest and cheapest way to get to Amsterdam, or indeed anywhere else outside the vicinity of the airport. Taxis are expensive: legal taxis have blue number plates, others should be avoided. Some hotels in Amsterdam, and around the airport, have a shuttle bus service.

Other international airports are Rotterdam Airport, Eindhoven Airport, Maastricht/Aachen Airport and Groningen-Eelde Airport.

By train

from France and Belgium

The Thalys high-speed train ( http://www.thalys.nl ), which connects the Netherlands with France and Belgium, is a bit expensive, but if you book a return in advance or if you're under 26 or over 60 you can get good deals. It is also faster, normally cheaper and more convenient than flying.

For trips to Brussels or Antwerp it is usually cheaper - and almost as fast - to catch the Benelux train, which runs hourly from Amsterdam, via Schiphol, The Hague, Rotterdam, Dordrecht and Roosendaal. No seat reservations are required - just buy your ticket and get on board.

Trains from Maastricht to Liege in Belgium run hourly, and take around 30 minutes.

from Germany

The ICE high-speed train, runs from Frankfurt to Amsterdam, via Cologne, Düsseldorf, Arnhem, andUtrecht.

Intercity trains run from Berlin and Hannover to Amsterdam, via Osnabrück, Hengelo, Deventer, and Amersfoort.

There are also a number of regional trains from and to Germany:

• Between Groningen and Leer trains run every two hours.
• There are trains between Enschede and Münster every hour, also between Enschede and Dortmund every hour (two-hourly on Sundays).
• Trains run hourly between Venlo and Hamm, via Mönchengladbach and Düsseldorf.
• Trains run every hour between Heerlen and Eschweiler / Stolberg (Rheinland) via Aachen.
• There is a limited service on the route Aachen-Vetschau (not main station) - Bocholtz - Simpelveld (- Spekholzerheide - Kerkrade - Landgraaf - Heerlen) / (- Eys-Wittem - Wijlre-Gulpen - Schin op Geul). For details see [1].

By car

The Netherlands borders on Belgium and Germany, and road access is very good. These borders are open, under the terms of the Schengen Accords. Cars can be stopped behind the border for random checks. There are car ferry services from the United Kingdom, see above. The UK is not part of the Schengen zone, and full border checks apply.

Get around

By bicycle

Cycling in the Netherlands is much less hazardous than in other countries, because of the infrastructure - cycle paths, cycle lanes, and signposted cycle routes. However, the proliferation of bicycles also means that you're seen as a serious part of traffic - motorists will hate you if you don't keep by the rules. Some things to know:

• Cycle lanes and cycle paths are indicated by a round blue sign with a white bike icon, an icon on the asphalt, or by red asphalt. Using them is mandatory.
• Cyclists must obey the same traffic signs as motorists, unless exempted. For example, a cycle icon under a no-entry sign, usually with the text 'uitgezonderd' (except), means cyclists may use the street in both directions.
• Where there is no cycle lane or path, use the regular road. This is unlike the rule in Germany and Belgium, where you are supposed to use the footpath in many places.
• On some narrow streets that do have a cycle path parallel to them, mopeds may be required to use the cycle path, rather than the main street (as is usual).
• Bicycles must have working front (white) and rear (red) lights. Reflectors are not sufficient. You may be fined (€ 40) for cycling in the dark without a light, and you seriously endanger yourself and other traffic by doing so. Small, battery-operated LED lights attached to your person do not officially satisfy the regulations, but are usually allowed by police.

There are four ways to use a bicycle:

• if you are staying in a city, you can use the bike as a means of transport, to get from A to B. This is the way local people use it, for short journeys it is faster than car, bus or tram. You can use the bike to get to places near the city, which may not be accessible by public transport.
• you can cycle around on the bike, in a city, or in the surrounding area. The bike is then a means to see places and landscapes. The many signposted cycle routes are designed for this, most of them are circular and take you back to the starting point. Some rural routes go through areas inaccessible by car. Signs for bicycle tours are usually white, with a red border and lettering.
• you can take the bike on a train, for a day trip to another city or region. It costs € 6, and you may not travel with a bike in the rush hour. As an alternative, you can easily hire bikes at (or near) stations. You must carry a supplementary ticket, which is easily obtained from the automated kiosks.
• you can load your tent on the bike, and set off across the country. For this you do need to be fit, and not afraid of rain. The national long-distance cycle routes are designed for this type of holiday, see Cycling in the Netherlands Long-distance routes.

Bike theft

Bike theft is a serious problem in the Netherlands, especially around train stations, and in larger cities. Never park a bike near a station, use the guarded bike parking ('stalling'). In general, use 2 locks of different kinds (for example, one chain lock and one tube lock). This is because most bike thieves specialize in a particular kind of lock, or carry equipment best suited to one kind of lock. Ideally, you should lock the bike to a lamppost or similar. Bike thieves have been known to simply pickup unattached bikes and load them into a pickup truck, so they can crack open the locks at leisure.

In cities, most bikes are stolen by drug addicts, and they sell most stolen bikes too. In fact they simply offer them for sale to passers-by, if they think no police are watching. Buying a stolen bike is itself illegal, and police do arrest buyers. If you buy for a suspiciously low price (e.g. € 10 to 20), or in a suspicious place (in general, on the street), the law presumes you "know or should have known" the bike was stolen. In other words actual ignorance of the bike's origins is no excuse.

Bike shops are the best place to buy a second-hand bike legally, but prices are high. Some places where you can rent bikes will also sell their written off stock, which is usually well maintained. Most legal (and often cheap) second-hand bike sales now go through online auction sites like marktplaats.nl - the Dutch subsidiary of Ebay.

By train

The country is densely populated and urbanised, and train services are frequent. The train itself consists mostly of clean, double-deck cars. In the western Netherlands, the rail network is more like a large urban network, with up to 10 trains per hour on main routes. Main lines to the rest of the country usually have 2 Intercity trains and 2 local trains per hour, until about midnight. Some local lines in more rural areas have an hourly service, others every 30 minutes.

Because of the high train frequency, delays are quite common but there will be always a announcement and/or a visual indictaion that your train is delayed, still the Dutch think that their train system is worse then that of a poor African country, while in fact its one of the best run. Still trains can be quite crowded during the rush hour, especially in the morning, though this problem is slowly being solved by introduction of new rolling stock (double deck trains).

The Nederlandse Spoorwegen [2] is the main company, with some local lines in the north and east operated by other companies, mainly Syntus and Arriva. Through tickets are available between all stations, NS and non-NS, and there is only one national tariff system. Tickets can be purchased from machines in stations using coins, debit card, or credit card. (Only credit cards with the Maestro symbol work). Only larger stations have a ticket counter - it costs €0.50 extra, per ticket. Ticket machines come in two kinds; an older version with an 2-line greenish LCD display, and a new version with a big touch screen. The latter has English-language menus available. If you have trouble using the ticket machine, ask someone else for help; almost everyone speaks English and will help you out.

You must buy a ticket before travelling - since 2005, you can no longer simply buy a ticket from the conductor, as in some other countries. If you buy a ticket onboard, you will have to pay the normal price plus a € 35 fine. If you have a valid reason (e.g. the ticket machines were defective), the fine might be refunded, but only by written application to the NS offices. The conductor is not allowed any discretion on this matter. If you do not have enough cash on you to pay for the ticket and fine, you will be arrested. If you argue with the conductor, you may also be arrested, and the train may be stopped. The new policy has drawn much ire, and is hotly debated, but is still in place.

There is a convenient night train service meant for party-goers and airport traffic running between Rotterdam, Delft, Leiden, Schiphol, Amsterdam and Utrecht, which runs all night long, once an hour in each direction. Travelling from Rotterdam to Utrecht this way takes nearly two hours, however.

Discount rail pass

Visitors planning to travel by train in the Netherlands should consider the Eurail pass with the Benelux package. This allows for unlimited train travel within Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg over multiple days. Europeans, not being eligible for Eurail passes, should look into Interrail Passes for their discount train travel.

If two or three people want to travel around the Netherlands together for a few days during the summer, the Zomertoer may be used. This pass gives them two, not necessarily consecutive, days of unlimited travel. An add-on also allows you to travel on all other public transportation in the country. In autumn weekends, the Herfsttoer also gives some discounts.

If you're thinking of staying a longer time in the Netherlands it can be a good deal to get the "Voordeelurenkaart" (Off-Peak Discount Pass), which gives the cardholder (and up to three additional persons travelling with him or her) 40% off during one year, outside of rush hours - at weekends, on weekdays after 9:00 am, and on national holidays and in the summer months July and August also before 9:00 am. Price 55 euro for one year. The voordeel-urenkaart must be applied for in advance and can take some weeks to process. The card does not contain a photograph of the cardholder, opening avenues for fraud; but you may be asked to provide photo ID when using it.

If you're only for one day in the Netherlands and want to see much of the country by train, then perhaps you want to buy a "OV-Dagkaart". It's on all-inclusive ticket for all public transportation for € 40 (2005). Keep in mind however, that it might sometimes be cheaper to just buy a ticket. For example: to get your money's worth on the OV-dagkaart would require about 6 hours train travel in one day.

Other public transport

In the cities you can use the tram, bus and metro, outside the cities you can use the bus and train. Travel plan information can be found at 9292OV Reisinformatie. Information about the trains can be found at Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS). Both of these sites can plan a trip for you using public transport, but 9292OV includes almost all public transportation types. The NS website only has the trains, but it is able to display up to date infomation about train delays and detours.

For information about the strippenkaart, the ticket used in bus, tram and metro (but not trains), go to OV-Info. Note that, although many travellers tend to buy them in buses when boarding, it is much cheaper to buy them elsewhere. You can get these tickets in many places, including bus stations, post offices, cigar/magazine shops and some supermarkets (at the service desk or from a vending machine). If you are eligible for discount (due to the fact that you are a Dutch student, or under 12 or over 65) you can buy special - cheaper - pink ones, which will get you the same mileage for a better price. Some towns and cities have special cheaper bus tickets, for outside rush hours, usually a return ticket (to the centre and back).

When using the strippenkaart, it is often most convenient to tell the bus driver your destination, and he will stamp the card in the right place.

The strippencard will be phased out in favor of a contactless chip-card. Despite the fact that in some places the vendingmachines and tourniquets for this chipcard have already been built, the scheme is not in operation yet.

Amsterdam and some other big cities offer public transport at night.

By car

A car is a good way to explore the countryside, especially places not connected by rail, such as Veluwe, Zeeland and The North Sea islands. Driving in the Netherlands is normally quite pleasant - the motorway network is dense, roads are well-signposted, and Dutch drivers are among the least aggressive in Europe. However, this one of the most densely populated countries in the world, so be prepared for heavy traffic and congestion in all but the northern part of the country. When driving in cities, always give priority to cyclists when turning across a cycle lane. If you are involved in a collision with a cyclist, you will be automatically assumed to be guilty (until proven innocent). If you only wish to see cities a car is not the best option. Due to limited road capacity and parking, cars are actively discouraged from entering most bigger cities.

Drive on the right. The speed limit in build up areas is 50 km/h, sometimes there are zones where there's a maximum of 30 km/h. Outside of towns speed is limited to 80 km/h (this includes most N-roads). On some local roads the speed limit is 60 km/h. On the highways the limit is 120 km/h except on some roads where the limit is 100 km/h. On a few highways in the west of the country the speed limit has been reduced to 80 km/h since 2005. During rush hour signs above many roads indicate the current speed limit. On semi-highways and some of the N-roads the speed limit is 100 km/h.

Your speed will be checked nationwide by the police. Drinking & driving is not allowed and there are many breath controls nationwide. A unbroken yellow line next to the sidewalk means no stopping, a broken yellow next to the sidewalk means no parking. Some crossings have "shark teeth" painted on the road, this means you have to give way to the other traffic. Note that police also use unmarked traffic surveillance cars, especially on the highways.

If your car breaks down on the highway you might go to the nearest roadside emergency telephone; these "praatpalen" can be recognized as they are about 1.5m high, yellow and have a rounded bunny-eared cap on top. This is the direct connection to the emergency and assistance services. Alternatively, you might use a mobile phone to recht the ANWB autoclub via toll-free number 0800-0888; your membership of a foreign autoclub might entitle you to discount rates on their services. Leased (business) cars and rental cars are usually serviced by the ANWB services included in the lease/rental price; but you may want to check any provided booklets.

If you are involved in an accident, both drivers need to complete and counter-sign a statement for their respective insurance companies (damage form/"schadeformulier"). You are required to have this form on hand. The police need to be notified if you have damaged (public) property (especially along the highways), if you have caused any sort of injury, or if the other driver does not agree to sign the insurance statement. It is illegal to hit and run. If the other driver does this, call the police and stay at the scene. The emergency telephonenumber is 112 (tollfree, will even work from disconnected mobile phones); the telephonenumber for non-emergency police presence is 0900-8844.

Road signs with directions are plenty, but having a map is useful, especially in cities where there are many one way streets, and getting from one part of the city to another is not always so straightforward. Be careful not to drive on buslanes, often indicated with markings such as Lijnbus or Bus, nor on cycling paths, marked by the picture of a bicycle, or by a reddish color of asphalt.

Fuel is easy to come by. Along highways many gas stations are open 24/7. More and more unmanned gas stations can be found, even along highways, selling petrol for a lower rate. These unattended stations accept all common debit and creditcards. All gas stations sell both petrol and dieseloil; the "premium" brands have the same octane level (they alledgedly contain compounds that improve fuel efficiency to offset the higher price). Liquid Petroleum Gas is sold at relatively many gas stations along the high ways, but it is never sold in built-up areas. The symbol for LPG gas is a green-colored gaspump-icon, set beside the general case black-colored gaspump-icon. LPG fueled cars need regular petrol to start the motor, and can also be operated using strictly petrol, though it is more expensive. Do not use diesel oil pumps meant for trucks to fuel your cars; while the diesel oil is the same, the pressure is much higher.

Parking fees within cities can be pretty hefty. When considering to go to bigger cities, especially Amsterdam, but also cities such as Utrecht, Rotterdam or even Groningen, seriously consider going there by public transport to avoid traffic jams and the great difficulties involved in finding a parking spot. Many cities use clamps or will tow away your car if it is parked too long (or in a handicapped spot). P+R park and ride facilities are available at the outskirts of bigger cities; you can park your car cheaply there, and continue your journey via public transport. Note that Amsterdam is the only city that offers public transport at night, apart from the night trains.

By taxi

Taxi service was traditionally a tightly guarded monopoly. In recent years, the market was deregulated, but prices are still high. Taxi drivers are licensed, but they do not, as of yet, have to pass a proficiency exam, proving they know the streets. This is planned in future, since the taxi market is being re-regulated.

Some taxi drivers refuse short rides (e.g. under EUR 10). This is illegal, but it's hard to enforce this prohibition. There is a maximum tarriff, and it's built into the taxi meters. If you negotiote a price before you get in, the price you have to pay is the negotiated price, or the metered price, whichever is lower. Getting in a cab without enough money to pay for the ride is illegal, so it's wise to negotiate a price.

All legal taxis have blue license plates. So do some other vehicles for group transport, such as minibus services for the handicapped.

Talk

The national language in the Netherlands is Dutch. It's a charming, lilting language punctuated by phlegm-trembling glottal g's and sch's (also found, for example, in Arabic). Written Dutch might be semi-intelligble to someone who knows other germanic languages (English, German, Scandinavian languages), but the spoken language sounds rather different from English. Near the southern border, and in Belgium, the dialect is markedly different.

Officially the Netherlands is bilingual, as Frisian is also an official language. When travelling through Frysland you will come across many roadsigns in two languages (simmular to that of Wales). Everybody speaks Dutch, but the Frisians are so protective of the minority language that ordering a beer in it might just get you the next one free.

The hackneyed phrase "They all speak English there" is in fact pretty accurate for the Netherlands. Education from an early age in English and other European languages, makes the Dutch some of the most fluent polyglots on the continent. Oblivious travelers to the major cities should be able to make their insensitive way without learning a word of Dutch -- if that's the kind of travel that you want.

Dealing with seniors however or finding yourself in a family athmosphere, will probably require learning a bit of the native tongue.

A bit of German could help you as well, in communication, however do not make the mistake of adressing a Dutch person in German first; always adress them first in either Dutch or any language other than German, even if German is your native tongue. Many Dutch people are very sensitive about being confused with Germans. (simular as a Australian being confused as a New Zealander or visa versa)

• Dutch for English speakers (from Wikibooks)

Buy

Costs

Accommodation and food is on the expensive side. Rail travel, museums, and attractions are relatively cheap. Retail prices for clothing, gifts, etc. are similar to most of Western Europe; consumer electronics are a bit more expensive.

Shop

The Netherlands is a good place to buy flowers. Outside florists, you can buy them pre-packaged in most supermarkets.

Eat

Dutch traditional cuisine is basic. However, due to influences from Indonesian, Surinam, Chinese and (North) African immigrants there is an abundancy of foodcultures to choose from.

In the big cities you can eat good Thai food (on the Nieuwmarkt in Amsterdam for instance) for a bargain price, and in the Chinese quarters you can get authentic Chinese food, though of a basic nature. You will also be able to find a restaurant from every corner of the world (especially in Amsterdam).

Every village has its own Chinese restaurant where you can eat a lot for a little money, but the taste is aimed at the Dutch citizen with little 'taste' for adventure (no herbs, a lot of sugar). These restaurants often advertise as "Chin.Ind." for "Chinese/Indonesian". Some restaurants do have a separate menu with specialties from a specific region, like Schezuan.

Also around every corner is a 'frietboer', also known as 'snackbar' or 'cafetaria', which mainly sells french fries (also known as Patat). You can have a lot of things added to your french fries: apple sause, mayonaise, ketchup, curry, pinda sauce (peanut sauce or sate sauce), onions etc. They also sell all kinds of other fried snacks, like kroketten and frikandellen. Snacks you should try are; "broodje kroket" (a breadroll with a ragout-filled, crispy covered kroket snack), "frikandel speciaal" (a long cylinder of spiced meat, cut open and adorned with mayonaise, ketchup or currysauce, and optionally sprinkled with onion) and "patatje oorlog" (french fries, mayonaise, pinda sauce , optionally sprinkled with onion). Note that "mayonaise" in the context of french fries is distinctly different from french mayonaise, and is more accurately described as "frietsaus" (fries sauce); it is firmer, sweeter and contains less fat, whilst remaining just as unhealthy. The snacks listed here are very much the antithesis of high cuisine, but among with other "typically dutch" foodstuffs some of the things Dutch expats miss most about their country.

Modern Dutch restaurants and cafés serve better food lately, mostly meat, vegetables, served with fries and salad. If you eat in a café then food is affordable, you can also go to upscale restaurants where prices go up equally. Most of the time profit is made from the drinks, so be careful there if you're on a budget.

Traditional highlights are pancakes (available in 'pannenkoekenhuizen'), mashed potatoes with carrots and bacon (hotch-potch 'hutspot') and pea soup ('erwtensoep' or 'snert'). You'll have to go to a traditional restaurant to find this however.

Other "typically dutch" foodstuffs are;

• Chocolate sprinkles ('Hagelslag'), used to sprinkle on top of buttered slices of bread (much like jam),
• Chocolate spread on bread,
• Bars of unadorned chocolate,
• Dutch peanut butter on bread, which is considerably different from e.g. US peanut butter. Sometimes topped with chocolate sprinkles,
• A bread roll with butter and a slice of cheese for lunch, rather than more elaborate lunches,
• Dutch coffee (dark, high caffeine grounds, traditionally brewed),
• Oranjebitter (orange, bitter liquor drunk only on Koninginnedag), jenever (a sort of gin), Dutch beers
• Rookworst (literally "smoked sausage"), available to go from HEMA outlets,
• "Limburgse vlaai" (predominantly in the South) a kind of cold pie, usually with a fruit filling.

Some of these "typically dutch" foodstuffs taste significantly different from, but do not necessarily improve upon, specialties from other countries. For example, while Dutch coffee and chocolate can instill feelings of homesickness in expats and might be seen as "soulfood", fine Belgian chocolate and Italian coffees (espresso, etc.) are considered to be delicacies.

Drop (liquorice) is something you love or hate, you can buy all kinds of varieties. You can get it from sweet to extremely salty (Double salt).

Drink

• Beer

Although the Dutch beer "Heineken" is one of the most prestigious beers in the world, it is just one of the many beer brands in Holland. You can get all kind of beers from white beer to dark beer. Popular brands are Heineken, Grolsch, Brand, Bavaria etc.

Traditional beers come from monasteries in South Holland (Braband and Limburg) or Belgium. You can visit a traditional beer brewer in for instance 'Moergestel' at the 'Trappistenklooster'. It needs to be said that the brewery is now owned by the big brewer Bavaria, so it's not so traditional anymore.

• Tea

Dutch drink black tea, and they keep it as watery as possible and comes in many diffrent tastes, from traditional to fruit infusions etc. Luckily, if you're English, you get the teabag served with a cup of hot (but never boiling!) water, so you can make your own version. Milk in your tea is almost unheard of and only given to children.

• Coffee

Coffee is almost compulsary when your going to visit people. The first question when coming through the door is "Koffie?" and is served in small cups (halve a mug) with cookies.

If you're from the States or Canada, you can drink one cup of Dutch coffee in the morning and add water the rest of the day! If you order 'koffie verkeerd' (which literaly means a "wrong coffee") you get the French 'café au lait' which is less strong with fresh milk.

• Hot chocolate

Hot chocolate with whipped cream is a winter tradition in Holland. It really fills you after a cold walk. In summer you can also get it in every decent bar, however sometimes it's made from powder and doesn't taste that good.

• Bitters

Also popular in winter are alcoholic bitters. Every city has it's own version. Amsterdam has 'Beerenburg', Tilburg has 'schrobbelear' etc.

Smoke

The Netherlands are renowned for their liberal drug policy. While technically still illegal, mostly to comply to international treaties, personal use of (soft) drugs are regulated by the Ministry of Justice under an official policy of gedogen; literally this means to accept, legally it is a doctrine of non-prosecution on the basis that action taken would be so highly irregular as to constitute selective prosecution.

You are allowed to buy and smoke small doses (under 5 grams) of cannabis or hash. For this you have to visit a coffeeshop. These are abundant in most larger towns. Coffeeshops are not allowed to sell alcoholic beverages, and minors are not allowed inside. They are also prohibited from advertising, so many use the Rastafari red-yellow-green colors to hint at the products available inside.

Fresh (but not dried) hallucinogenic ("magic") mushrooms are entirely unregulated, on the basis that these occur readily in natural forests. These may be bought at a smartshop, along with other natural highs and smart drugs. The latter are drugs that are designed to have the same effect as illegal substances (such as extacy) by using chemically similar substances. Often, effective smart drugs are outlawed after a while.

Beware that cannabis sold in the Netherlands is generally much stronger than varieties outside, so be careful when you take your first spliff, and be particularly wary of cannabis-laced pastries ("space cake") as it's easy to eat too much by accident. Magic mushrooms have even greater potential to trip up the unaccustomed, so be sure to consult the staff concerning proper dosage and other precautions.

It is forbidden to drive while impaired, which includes the use of legal drugs.

Buying soft drugs from dealers in the streets is always illegal. The purchase of other (hard) drugs, eg. ecstasy, cocaine, or processed/dried mushrooms, is still dealt with by the law. However, often people who are caught in possession of small amounts of illegal drugs for personal use are not prosecuted.

Consumption of all drugs is legal, even if possesion is not. If you are seen taking drugs, you may theoretically be arrested for possesion, but not for use. This has one important effect; do not hesitate to seek medical help if you are suffering from bad effects of drug use, and inform emergency services as soon as possible of the specific (illegal) drugs you have taken. Medical services are unconcerned with where you got the drugs, and they will not contact the police.

At some parties, a "drug testing desk" is offered, where you can have your (synthetic) drugs tested. This is mainly because many pills contain harmful chemicals in addition to the claimed ingredients; for example, many pills of "extacy" (MDMA) will also contain speed (amphetamines) or even poisons such as strychnine. Some pills don't even contain any MDMA at all. The testing desks are not meant to encourage drug use, since venue owners face stiff fines for allowing drugs in their venues, but they are 'gedoogd' since they mitigate the public health risks.

Please note that there are significant risks associated with drug use, even in The Netherlands' liberal climate

• while marihuana bought at coffeshops is unlikely to be hazardous, hard drugs like cocaine and heroin, and synthetic drugs like extacy are still illegal, and not regulated well. These hard drugs are likely to be in some way contaminated, especially when bought from street dealers.
• some countries have legislation in place that make it illegal to plan a trip for the purpose of commiting illegal acts in another jurisdiction, so you might be apprehended in your home country after having legally smoked pot in The Netherlands.

Sleep

A wide range of accomodation is available, concentrated on the major tourist destinations. They include regions popular for internal tourism, such as the Veluwe. In non-touristed areas, accomodation may be very limited.

Prices are generally high. Budget accomodation starts at around € 20 per night and prices go upwards from there. Seasonal demand affects availabilty, especially in Amsterdam.

If you are travelling by bicycle or by foot, there is a list of addresses where you can stay at private homes with bed and breakfast for no more than € 16 per person per night, although you must also pay € 9 for membership of this scheme. It is called Vrienden op de fiets.

Do

Events

• Three-day Pinkpop popfestival every year with withsun ("Pinksteren") in Landgraaf, Limburg.
• Dutch acrobatics fesitval, on different locations each year with Whitsun, 2007 probably in Nijmegen.
• Lowlands popfestival - every last weekend of August at Biddinghuizen, Flevoland.
• SummercarnavalA big parade trough the center of Rotterdam.One of the biggest events in The Netherlands.

Learn

Work

Work opportunites for those from outside the European Union are very restricted. Only when an employer can prove they've searched in the EU, they are allowed to hire a non-EU citizen. Official policy is to deter all non-EU immigration, unless there is an economic necessity.

Students from other European countries are only eligible for study financing when they have a fixed 32 hour/month work contract, or when they have lived for five years in the Netherlands.

Stay safe

The Netherlands is generally considered a safe country. However, be alert in Amsterdam, Rotterdam , The Hague and other large cities for pickpockets and bicycle theft (the latter almost being a national sport). In the larger cities, certain areas are unsafe at night. A small number are also unsafe in daylight.

• Police, ambulance and fire brigade have one general emergency number 112. There is one police force, organised in 25 police regions. Mostly visitors will deal with the regional police. Some specialised forces, such as the railway police and the highway police on main roads, are run by a separate national force (KLPD: Korps Landelijke Politie Diensten).

• Border controls, and port and airport security, are handled by a separate police force, the Marechaussee. They are an independent service of the Netherlands Armed Forces, and have among their duties the mentioned security tasks.

• In cities, there are municipal services (Stadswacht, Toezichthouder) with some police tasks, e.g, parking and litter fines. They often have police-style uniforms to confer some authority, but their powers are limited. Only the police carry a gun.

Stay healthy

Respect

The Dutch are among the most informal and easy-going peoples in Europe, and there are few social taboos to speak of. It is unlikely that Dutch people will be offended simply by your behaviour or appearance. (Xenophobia is another matter, but that does not affect most short-term visitors). In fact it is more likely that visitors will be offended by overly direct conversation. Neverthless, the standards for overt rudeness and hostility are similar to those in other western European countries. If you feel you are deliberately being treated offensively, then you probably are.

The Dutch people suffered a great deal under Nazi occupation during WWII. Many members of the older generation (and some younger people too) still hold grudges against Germany. Avoid overt comparisons between Dutch and German culture, as they are likely to offend. A common faux-pas is to refer to the Dutch language as a "German dialect". Don't do it. It will not be appreciated by most Dutch people.

Contact

The international calling code for the Netherlands is 31. The outbound international prefix is 00, so to call the US, substitute 001 for +1.

The cellular phone network in the Netherlands is GSM 900/1800. The cell phone networks are operated by KPN, Telfort (owned by KPN), Vodafone, Orange and T-Mobile; other operators use one of these 5 networks. The networks are high quality and cover every corner of the Netherlands. With the exception of some low-end service providers, all mobile operators support GPRS. KPN and Vodafone offer UMTS service in some parts of Holland.

There are few public phone booths left in the Netherlands. They are mostly found at train stations. Telfort booths accept coins, whereas most KPN booths only accept prepaidcards or creditcard.

Directory Inquiries can be reached on 118. Rates differ by operator, but are usually rather high, more than 1 euro per call, as well as per-second charges. Beginning 2007, 118 will be phased out by 18xy numbers (in a transitional period, a taped message on 118 will refer to the new numbers, yet to be announced).

Phone numbers can also be found on the internet, free of charge, on De Telefoongids.nl or Nationale Telefoongids.nl.

0800 numbers are toll-free and for 09xx numbers are charged at premium rates. Mobile phones have numbers in the 06 range, and calls to cell phones are also priced at higher rates.

If you're bringing your own (GSM) cell phone, using your existing plan to call (or receive calls) whilst in The Netherlands can be very expensive due to "roaming" charges. It's cheaper to buy a pay-as-you-go SIM card to insert into your GSM phone, or even to buy a very cheap pay-as-you-go card+phone bundle. lebara and ortel are providers that specialize in cheap rates to foreign countries. [3] targets those traveling through multiple countries.

Receiving phone calls on a cell phone using a Dutch SIM card is free; charges apply if you're using a foreign SIM card, as the call is theoretically routed through your country of origin.

Internetcafés can be found in most cities, usually they also provide international calling booths. Many public libraries provide internet access. Wireless internet access using wifi is becoming increasingly popular and is available in many hotels, pubs, stations and on Schiphol, either for free, or at extortionate prices through one of the national "networks" of hotspots.

To enjoy cheap international calls from the Netherlands you can use low-cost dial-around services such as BelBazaar, pennyphone, telegoedkoop or beldewereld. Dial-around services are directly available from any landline in the Netherlands. No contract, no registration is required. Most dial-around services offer USA, Canada, Western Europe and many other countries at the price of a local call so you can save on your phone expenses easily. They also work from public payphones.

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