Prepare your visit
Banks & Post Offices
Climate
Holland has a mild, maritime climate. The summers are generally warm with changeable periods, but excessively hot weather is rare. The winters can be fairly cold with the possibility of some snow. Rainfall is prevalent all year.
Credit Cards
Emergency Numbers
Emergency services (police, fire services and ambulance): 112
Currency
Holland is one of the seventeen euro countries. Even though all of these countries issue their own euro coins, all coins and notes are legal tender in all euro countries. There are six coins (€0.05, €0.10, €0.20, €0.50, €1 and € 2) and seven notes (€5, €10, €20, €50, €100, €200 and €500). Very few shops, restaurants, etc., accept the €500 note. Small shops and supermarkets do not accept the €200 and €100 notes either. When you pay in cash, the amount is rounded off to the nearest €0.05.
Electricity
Health Care Insurance System
Holidays in Holland
Every country has its own holidays. The most famous holidays in Holland are Sinterklaas (December 5th) and King’s Day (April 27th). Sinterklaas is celebrated in December, with children receiving presents when they have been ‘good’. King’s Day is when the Dutch celebrate their king’s birthday. It is a national holiday celebrated mainly in the streets with many music acts and draws many tourists every year
Internet
Holland has numerous places where you can use a computer with internet access, including internet cafés, libraries and almost any hotel. Nowadays many restaurants, lunch rooms, coffee shops and cafes also offer free WiFi services. Travelers from the European Union can use their own data plan without roaming costs
Landscape
Water dominates the Dutch landscape. Three big European rivers (Rhine, Meuse and Scheldt) reach the ocean via the Netherlands and create an important delta. 26% of the Netherlands is under sea level. During an age-long battle against the water, the Dutch constructed a water system consisting of dykes, polders and weirs. However, the Netherlands offers more variation than the familiar green, flat polder landscape with black and white cows.
Language
The official language is Dutch. The population of the province of Friesland has a choice between Dutch and Frisian, the only officially recognized regional language. 90% of Dutch population speaks English, many also speak German and French.
Shopping
Things to try
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Zoute haring (salt herring), eaten raw, purchased at the local market. Grab it by the tail and drop it in your mouth. To be eaten with chopped raw onions. -
Kroket (Croquette). Ground meat and herb stew in a bread crumb crust and then deep-fried, usually eaten with mustard. -
Snert/Erwtensoep (Pea soup). Traditionally served with a very dark rye bread and bacon. -
Stroopwafels (syrup waffels). A type of cookie that can be purchased at any supermarket but best eaten warm from a market stall. -
Drop (licorice). Candy! Avaialable in many different flavors and shapes. Try both the zoete (sweet) and zoute (salty). -
Poffertjes (miniature pancakes). Traditionally served with butter and icing sugar. -
Stamppot (Meshed pot). A potato and vegetable mash, to be had as dinner with a rookworst (smoked sausage), bacon or some stew. Typically served in the winter in rustic venues or cafes. -
Hagelslag (chocolate sprinkles): Children in the Netherlands are among the happiest in the world according to UNICEF, and I totally understand, because do you know what they eat for breakfast? Chocolate sprinkles!
Time
Useful words
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Good Morning = Goedemorgen -
Good Day = Goedemiddag -
Good Evening = Goedenavond -
Good Night = Goedenacht -
Hi / ByeHoi = Hallo / Daag / Doei -
Goodbye = Tot ziens -
Please = Alstublieft / Alsjeblieft -
Thank you = Dank u wel / Dank je wel -
You're welcome (don't mention it) = Graag gedaan -
Yes / No = Ja / Nee -
How are you? = Hoe gaat het? -
What's your name? = Hoe heet je? -
My name is (I'm called)... = Ik heet... -
Nice to meet you. = Aangenaam (kennis te maken) -
Where are you from? = Waar kom je vandaan? -
I am from the Netherlands. = Ik kom uit Nederland. -
Do you speak English? = Spreek je Engels? -
I (don't) understand. = Ik begrijp het (niet). -
I'd like... = Ik wil graag... -
Cheers! = Proost! -
Have fun! = Veel plezier! -
Good luck! = Veel succes!
Water
The tap water in Holland is of excellent quality and you can drink from any tap, unless explicitly stated otherwise. Bottled water is available at all supermarkets, snack bars and kiosks.
Weights & Measures
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Kilometers & miles:1 mile = 1.609 kilometers / 1 kilometer = 0.621 miles -
Liters & gallons: 1 gallon = 4.546 liters / 1 liter = 0.220 gallons -
Kilos & pounds: 1 pound = 0.453 kilos / 1 kilo = 2.204 pounds
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