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Travellers Essentials
Money Matters
The Dutch currency unit is the guilder, or gulden. The exchange
rate of the guilder is closely tied to that of other major
Western European currencies, particularly the German Deustche
Mark. Amsterdam is the leading center of Dutch banking and
insurance and the home of the country's principal stock exchange.
The international commodity exchange for petroleum operates
in Rotterdam. In May 1998, the Netherlands and ten other members
of the European Union officially adopted a new, single currency,
the euro, for all transactions. The new currency as of January
1, 1999, for electronic transfers and for accounting purposes
is the Euro. Euro coins and bills will be issued in 2002,
at which time the currency of the Netherlands will cease to
be legal tender.
Time Zone
GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from the last Sunday in March to Saturday
before the last Sunday in October).
Telephone Facilities
The telephone country code is 31 (followed by 20 for Amsterdam,
10 for Rotterdam and 70 for The Hague). Telephone information
is given in French, English and German.
Calls can be made from public booths or post offices. Most
booths only accept cards, which can be bought at post offices,
VVV offices, and shops displaying the PTT-telephone card poster;
and sometimes coins (25 cent, G1 and G2.5).
Duty Free
The following goods may be imported into The Netherlands without
incurring customs duty:
(a) Travellers arriving from EU countries with duty-paid
goods:
800 cigarettes and 400 cigarillos and 200 cigars and 1kg of
tobacco; 90 litres of wine including up to 60 litres of sparkling
wine; 10 litres of spirits and 20 litres of fortified wine
and 110 litres of beer.
(b) Travellers from non-EU European countries with goods
purchased in non-EU countries:
200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 100 cigarillos or 250g of
tobacco; 1 litre of alcoholic beverages stronger than 22°
proof or 2 litres less than 22% or 2 litres of fortified wine;
2 litres of wine; 8 litres of non-sparkling Luxembourg wine;
60g of perfume and 250ml of eau de toilette; other goods to
the value of G125 if bought duty free.
(c) Travellers originating from outside Europe:
400 cigarettes or 100 cigars or 500g of tobacco; wine, spirits
and perfume as for non-EU European countries; other goods
to the value of G125.
These allowances are only for travellers aged 17 years and
above.
Credit Cards
Cards that are in use are MasterCard, American Express, Diners
Club and Visa are accepted. Check with your credit card company
for details of merchant acceptability and other services which
may be available.
Travellers Cheques
Travellers cheques are widely accepted. To avoid additional
exchange rate charges, travelers are advised to take travelers
cheques in Dutch Guilders.
Passports
Passports for all visitors must be valid for at least 3 months
after the last day of the intended visit except:
(a) 1. nationals of EU countries, Andorra, Liechtenstein,
Malta, Monaco, San Marino and Switzerland holding a valid
national ID card.
(b) holders of Certificate of Identity issued by the Government
of Cyprus to nationals of Cyprus.
It is advisable to have a return ticket, but not obligatory.
Proof of sufficient funds for the duration of stay may be
required.
Visas
Required by all except the following, for stays of up to 3
months:
(a)Nationals of Argentina, Brazil, Brunei, Chile, Costa
Rica, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala,
Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Korea (Rep. of), Malaysia,
Mexico, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay,
Poland, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Uruguay, Venezuela
and Vatican City.
(b)Transit passengers continuing their journey by the same
or first connecting aircraft, provided holding onward or return
documentation and not leaving the airport. Nationals of some
countries always require a visa, even when not leaving the
airport.
Getting There
By Air: The Netherlands' national airline is
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (KLM). KLM flies direct to all major
European, North American and Asia-Pacific cities. KLM UK flies
to London Stansted and several regional airports in the UK.
By Sea: The major ferry ports are Vlissingen,
Rotterdam and Hook of Holland. Regular car and passenger ferries
are operated from the UK to The Netherlands via the following
routes and shipping lines.
By Rail: There are regular Eurostar trains
from London to Brussels where a direct connection to a number
of destinations throughout the Netherlands can be caught after
a 30-minute wait.
By Road: The Netherlands are connected to
the rest of Europe by a superb network of motorways. All roads
are well signposted with green 'E' symbols indicating international
highways, red 'A's indicating national highways, and smaller
routes indicated by yellow 'N's. The national speed limit
is 120 kph (75mph).
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