Netherlands: Various travel information
How do you get to the Netherlands?
From Germany you can take the car or the train to get to the Netherlands quickly and comfortably. But if you are in a hurry, you can also use a (cheap) plane. The Netherlands is part of the Schengen area, so there are no regular controls at the borders.
Travel in the country
Airport Schiphol
About 18 km southwest of Amsterdam is the international airport Schiphol. From here there are scheduled flights to all major European and non-European cities. The best way to get to the city center is by train, which leaves every 15 minutes. This takes about 20 minutes from the airport to the central station.
Enschede Airport Twente
is only served by charter companies. From here you can reach the usual holiday destinations such as Mallorca, the Canary Islands, etc.
Maastricht Aachen Airport
also this airport serves mainly the charter traffic in addition to the freight traffic. However, the low-cost airline easyjet has also set up a daily line connection to Berlin.
Rotterdam Airport
is the second largest airport in the Netherlands. International connections are made via Berlin-Schönefeld, London Stansted, City and Heathrow. There is also a lot of charter traffic from here to the usual holiday destinations.
Bus
There is a long-distance bus network in the Netherlands, but you can usually get to your destination faster by train.
Rail
The Netherlands has a dense rail network. NS Nederlandse Spoorwegen (Internet: www.ns.nl) is the state railway company. Rail journeys are relatively inexpensive. Modern InterCity and suburban trains run at least every 30 minutes on the main routes between all parts of the country. Even at night there is a train every hour between Utrecht, Amsterdam, Schiphol, The Hague and Rotterdam. Express trains connect the big cities with each other. Train and bus timetables are coordinated, and the zone fare system is the same in all cities and rural regions. However, since frequent strikes and staff shortages affect the service, diversions and delays occur quite often. The ICE runs between Cologne and Amsterdam.
Roads
The Netherlands has a very good road network, which alone has 2,235 km of toll-free “autosnelweg” (motorway).
Since March 16, 2020, there has been a maximum speed of 100 km/h on all motorways between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m.
Rental cars
All major European car rental companies are represented – e.g. B. at airports and in hotels. Advance booking is recommended. It is more expensive to rent a car on site. There are different loan conditions. The minimum age is usually 21 or 23 years.
Ferry and water connections
The canals and canals are still an important connection network, especially for barges, but ferries and private pleasure boats also cavort on the water. There are regular ferry connections to the West Frisian Islands. Cars are not allowed to be taken to the islands and have to stay on the mainland.
Bicycles
It is advisable to conquer the cities by bike. Bicycles can be rented at all major train stations (around 100) and returned to the same train station after use. A security (sum of money or passport) must be deposited.
Traffic rules
It is well known that traffic in the Netherlands is on the right. The maximum speeds shown can of course be reduced or increased by traffic signs. Regardless of the information given here, it is advisable to obtain detailed information from the ADAC, the AvD or the traffic clubs in the Netherlands.
Maximum speeds
In addition to the general speed limits shown, the speed limits indicated by signs must be strictly observed.
- Urban: in built-up areas there is a speed limit of 50 km/h
- Country roads: there is a speed limit of 80 km/h on country roads
- Motorways: there is a speed limit of 130 km/h on motorways, but signs on large parts of the network limit it to 100 or 110 km/h. Since March 16, 2020, there has been a general speed limit of 100 km/h from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. for reasons of climate protection
Special regulations
- Unless otherwise indicated, trams have right of way.
- Yellow markings on the edge of the road and curbs mean: “No parking”.
Alcohol limits
- In the Netherlands there is a blood alcohol limit of 0.5 per mille for drivers of motor vehicles.
- There is also a limit of 0.5 per mille for drivers of motorcycles.
Emergency call
In the event of an accident or other problems with the car or motorcycle, you can get information and help at the following numbers:
Tel.: 0592 – 39 05 60
Mobile: 0031 – 592 39 05 60
You can reach the ADAC in Munich 24 hours a day at the following number: 0049 – (0) 89 – 22 22 22. In certain cases it also helps abroad.
International license plate
According to Abbreviationfinder, the international license plate of the Netherlands is:
NL |
Formalities and visas
Citizens of the EU only need a valid identity card or passport to enter the Netherlands. Travelers who need a visa can contact the following address:
Visa department at the Embassy of the Netherlands
Klosterstrasse 50
10179 Berlin
Tel: 0049- (0) 30-20956-0
Monday – Friday: 9 a.m. – 12.30 p.m.
Monday – Friday: 8.30 a.m. – 5.15 p.m.
Currency and shopping
National currency
The national currency of the Netherlands is the EURO (€).
1 € = 100 cents
Inexpensive or country-specific goods, souvenirs
Popular souvenirs include the famous Delft porcelain with its typical blue glaze. But also glazed tiles and the famous “Klomben”, traditional wooden shoes, are very well known. Since Amsterdam is one of the most famous places in the world for diamond cutting, jewelry is of course also a high-quality souvenir.
Of course, typical foods such as Dutch chocolate, cheese (Limburger, Gouda) or sweets such as drops and liquorice are also welcome.
Netherlands: Diplomatic missions
Visit Countryaah for a full list of Netherlands embassies and consulates in each country around the world.
Representations of the Netherlands in Germany
The embassy building of the Netherlands is located on the Spree near the Fischerinsel in Berlin-Mitte – not too far from Alexanderplatz. It was officially opened on March 2, 2004. The designs for the building come from the Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas, born in Rotterdam in 1944, and his office OMA/ AMO. In the center of the picture you can see part of the Berlin TV tower on Alexanderplatz. There is usually a parking space near the embassy. The S- and U-Bahn (underground) station (U 8) Jannowitzbrücke is a few 100 m away.
Embassy of the Netherlands
Klosterstrasse 50
10179 Berlin
Tel: 0049 – (0) 30 – 20956-0
Email: [email protected]
Web: https://www.niederlandeweltweit.nl/laender/deutschland/ueber-uns/niederlandische-botschaft- in Berlin
Consulate General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Kennedydamm 24
40476 Düsseldorf
Tel: 0049 – (0) 211 – 17 93 010
Consulate General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Nymphenburger Strasse 20a
80335 Munich
Tel: 0049 – (0) 89 – 206026710
E-Mail: [email protected]
You can find other honorary consulates in: Aachen, Bremen, Dresden, Emden, Hamburg, Hanover, Cologne, Münster, Schacht-Audorf, Zirndorf and Stuttgart.
German representations in the Netherlands
Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in The Hague
Groot Hertoginnelaan 18 – 20
2517 EG Den Haag
Tel: 0031 – (0) 70 – 342 06 00
Fax: 0031 – (0) 70 – 365 19 57
Email: [email protected]. de
Web: www.den-haag.diplo.de
Consulates
Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany
Honthorststraat 36 – 38
1071 DG Amsterdam
Tel: 0031 – (0) 20 – 574 77 00
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.den-haag.diplo.de
Honorary Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany
Heijplaatweg 4, Portnr. 2882
3089 JC Rotterdam.
Tel: 0031 – 10 – 494 95 55
E-Mail: [email protected]
You can find other honorary consulates in: Arnhem, Eindhoven, Enschede, Groningen, Maastricht, Middelburg and Rijperkerk.
Austrian representations in the Netherlands
Austrian Embassy in The Hague
van Alkemadelaan 342
2597 AS Den Haag
Tel: 0031 – (0) 70 – 324 54 70
Fax: 0031 – (0) 70 – 32 82 066
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.aussenministerium.at/denhaag
Consulates
Austrian Honorary Consulate General
c/o Fresacher Advocaten, Officia I, De Boelelaan 7
1083 HJ Amsterdam
Tel: 0031 – (0) 20 – 471 24 38
Email: [email protected]
Austrian Honorary Consulate
Weena 672
3012 CN Rotterdam
Tel: 0031 – (0) 10 – 404 21 06
Email: [email protected]
Austrian Honorary Consulate
Marijkelaan 1
5583AB Waalre
Tel: 0031 – (0) 40 – 221 28 40
E-Mail: [email protected]
Representations of the Netherlands in Austria
Royal Dutch Embassy in Vienna
Opernring 5/7
1010 Vienna
Tel: 0043 – (0) 1 – 589 39
Fax: 0043 – (0) 1 – 589 39 265
Email: [email protected]
Web: https: // www.netherlands-world-wide.nl/laender/osterreich/ ueber-uns/netherlands-embassy-in-wien
Consulates
Honorary Consulate of the Netherlands
Salurnerstrasse 1
6020 Innsbruck
Tel: 0043 – (0) 512 – 587 492
Fax: 0043 – (0) 512 – 587 492
Honorary Consulate of the Netherlands
Glacisstraße 27 2nd floor
8010 Graz
Tel: 0043 – (0) 316 – 71 15 65
Fax: 0043 – (0) 316 – 80 68 21
E-Mail: [email protected]
Honorary Consulate of the Netherlands
Johann Uve-Weg 5
9020 Klagenfurt
Tel: 0043 – (0) 4352 – 2365-22
Fax: 0043 – (0) 4352 – 2365-21
Honorary Consulate of the Netherlands
Nussdorferstrasse 4
5020 Salzburg
Tel: 0043 – (0) 662 – 828 970 -26
Fax: 0043 – (0) 662 – 828 970 -16
E-Mail: [email protected]
Honorary Consulate of the Netherlands
Kapuzinerstraße 84e
4020 Linz
Tel: 0043 – (0) 732 – 784 006
Fax: 0043 – (0) 732 – 784 007
Swiss representations in the Netherlands
Embassy of the Swiss Confederation in The Hague
Lange Voorhout 42
2514 EE The Hague
Tel: 0031 – (0) 70 – 364 28 31/-32
Email: [email protected]
Web: https: //www.eda. admin.ch/denhaag
Consulate General Rotterdam
Parklaan 22
2241 XN Wassenaar
Tel: 0031 – (0) 70 – 415 64 13
Fax: 0031 – (0) 70 – 399 79 01
Email: [email protected]
Representations of the Netherlands in Switzerland
Royal Dutch Embassy in Bern
Seftigenstrasse 7
3007 Berne
Tel: 0041 – (0) 31 – 350 87 00
Email: [email protected]
Web: https://www.botschaft-konsulat.com/ch/Schweiz/8574/Niederlande- in Bern
Consulates
Consulate General of the Netherlands
Rue de la Scie 4-6
1207 Geneva
Tel: 0041 – (0) 22 – 787 57 30
Fax: 0041 – (0) 22 – 700 03 40
Email: [email protected]
Consulate of the Netherlands
Via Chiosso 8
6948 Porza
Tel: 0041 – (0) 91 – 966 12 74
Email: [email protected]
Consulate General of the Netherlands
Binzstrasse 18
8045 Zurich
Tel: 0041 – (0) 44 – 455 60 02
Fax: 0041 – (0) 44 – 455 60 04
Email: [email protected]