Visit the world-famous 17th century capital of Holland. Enjoy the historic buildings, beautiful museums and pleasant ambiance. Go for a boat tour on the canals, stroll through Vondelpark, and go shopping in the inner city. Amsterdam is a unique city!
Holland, with its long North Sea coast, has a typically moderate marine climate. The sea’s influence ensures that we are not too cold during winter, not too hot during summer, and there is always sufficient moisture in the air for a shower. So if you plan to visit Holland, it would be wise to keep this in mind. Put the right clothing in your suitcase so you are covered if there’s an afternoon rainfall and make sure you always have a critical opinion about the weather... Just like the Dutch do!
Amsterdam boasts several Michelin star restaurants as well as many great bistros and terraces. Go for a tour on the Pannenkoekenboot (Pancake Boat), enjoy a vegan snack, or grab a quintessentially Dutch frikandel 'from the wall' at Febo. Where to eat in Amsterdam? This city has it all!
Holland is a small and densely populated country with an excellent public transport system. Wherever in Holland you want to go, you can get there easily and in comfort by train, bus, tram or ferry.
Explore Holland while travelling comfortably by train. The excellent railway network, with some 400 stations, takes you from A to B without any hassle.
Railway travel is a comfortable way to get around in Holland. The country boasts an extensive railway network, and the trains are modern and perfectly comfortable. Since Holland is a relatively small country, you can travel from Amsterdam to Utrecht in just 30 minutes and from The Hague to Amsterdam Central Station in just 50 minutes. And even traveling all the way up north (Groningen) and down south (Maastricht) takes just 2 hours from Amsterdam Central. In other words, travelling by train is a perfect way to discover many beautiful places in Holland!
Holland boasts some 400 stations. There are historic stations like Haarlem, small stations like Soestdijk, and big stations like Amsterdam and Utrecht. Station facilities vary, but every station has an NS ticketing machine to buy your ticket. Bigger stations also have a service desk and an information desk, which can answer any questions and offer advice. Service desks also sell tickets. Bigger stations usually also contain a range of food shops as well as shops for buying flowers, books, perfumes and clothes.
You can take your bicycle with you on the train outside peak hours (9:00 – 16:30 and after 18:00). You need to buy a bicycle day ticket at an NS ticketing machine, which costs 6 euros. Your bicycle can be stored in the indicated areas on the train, which you can recognise by the bicycle label on the train’s side.
The bus, tram, and metro are great ways to travel in Dutch cities. They are highly affordable, and Holland’s excellent infrastructure allows you to get from A to B easily and comfortably.
Bus
There are extensive city and regional bus lines in Holland. This means that, wherever you are in Holland, there are bus services that will take you to most places, quickly and affordably. While bus companies vary per region, the connections are generally excellent, so you can reach your destination quickly. You will need a valid ticket to travel by bus: a single-use chip card or an anonymous OV-chipkaart (smart card). Single-use chip cards can also be bought on the bus, but that usually costs more.
Tram
The tram is a perfect means of transport in big cities. It is easy to get on and off and takes you to your destination quickly and affordably. Another advantage is that you can do some sightseeing on the way. Did you know that tram line 2 in Amsterdam is one of the world’s best tram rides? With 16 tram lines, Amsterdam is also the city with the greatest number of trams in Holland, but Rotterdam, Utrecht and The Hague also offer excellent tram connections. The ride from The Hague Central Station to Scheveningen boulevard, for instance, takes just 15 minutes! Tram services usually start at 6 AM and run until midnight; check the service schedules at the tram stop for precise times. You will need a valid ticket to travel by tram: a single-use chip card or an anonymous OV-chipkaart. Single-use chip cards can also be bought on the tram, but that usually costs more.
Metro
In addition to trams and buses, the cities of Amsterdam and Rotterdam also offer a metro service. These are usually affordable as well and generally faster than trams. The metro takes you from Duivendrecht railway station to the very centre of Amsterdam within minutes, for instance. In Rotterdam, you can travel to Blijdorp Zoo or the port of Rotterdam. The Randstadrail network (a combination of metro, train and tram) even takes you to The Hague Central Station. You will need a valid ticket to travel by metro: a single-use chip card or an anonymous OV-chipkaart. You can also buy a single-use chip card from a ticket machine at the metro stations.
The official language is Dutch. The population of the province of Friesland has a choice between Dutch and Frisian, the only officially recognised regional language. The Netherlands also include the regional languages of West Low German and Limburgs. In other parts of the Netherlands, people often speak a dialect besides Standard Dutch. Many Dutch people also speak German and English.
Eat at Amsterdam’s best restaurants
Have you already picked where you are going to have your meals while staying in Amsterdam? The city has lots of great places and top chefs who will prepare the most delicious meals for you.
Special restaurants
Would you like to eat something special? It’s possible in Amsterdam. Pick a Michelin-starred restaurant, for instance. If you would prefer to have a less formal dinner, take your pick from the list of great cafes and terraces and let a wonderful view of the canals or IJ river surprise you.
Experience Dutch food and drinks
Would you like to discover how Dutch food and drinks are prepared? You will learn all about the brewery at the Heineken Experience. House of Bols shows how original liqueurs are distilled. Don’t forget to bring a tasty piece of cheese home with you. Read more about cheese shops and where to find them here. And in the evening, you will of course be going on a pub crawl.
Holland has a number of outlet centers offering up to 70% discount on designer fashion and luxury products. Do you live outside the EU? Outlet shopping will be even better because in addition to the discounts, you can also apply for a tax refund. The outlet centers are located throughout the country: Bataviastad in Lelystad, Designer Outlet in Roermond, and Rosada Outlet in Roosendaal.