Money

The currency in the Netherlands is Euro (1 Euro = 100 cents).
Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Diners Club and Maestro are accepted in big hotels, bigger restaurants, shops and in some museums. In the small shops and restaurants are no credit cards accepted.
You can find ATM’s (in Dutch geldautomaten or pinautomaten) on the busy streets, in banks and in the larger hotels. Some of them also accept American Express. Normal bank opening hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Monday to Friday, with some staying open later on Thursday or Friday evenings. Some banks are also open on Saturday mornings.

Weather

Climate in Amsterdam is oceanic due to the fact that the city lays by the North Sea. Winters are mild. January and February are the coldest months with the average temperature around -1°. In summer it is not unbearably hot and humid in Amsterdam, rain is fairly common (even if it’s only a little bit). July and August are the warmest months, with an average temperature of 22°.

Time difference

Amsterdam and the whole Netherlands is in the Central European Time Zone that means a time difference of -1 hours comparing to the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Visa

No Visa are required for travellers from European Union (also the United Kingdom and Ireland), the USA, Canada, Australia, Switzerland. Visa is required from the citizens of the United Arab Emirates.

Public Holidays

  • 1 January – New Year’s Day
  • 6 April – Good Friday (not an official public holiday)
  • 8 April – Easter Sunday
  • 9 April – Easter Monday
  • 30 April – Queens Day
  • 4 May – National Remembrance Day (not an official public holiday)
  • 5 May – Liberation Day (official public holiday every 5 years, next in 2015)
  • 17 May – Ascension Day
  • 27 May – Pentecost Sunday
  • 28 May – Pentecost Monday
  • 5 December - Sinterklaas (not an official public holiday)
  • 25 December - Christmas Day
  • 26 December - Boxing Day
  • 31 December - New Year's Eve (not an official public holiday)

Embassies

The United States of America Consulate
Museumplein 19, 1071 DJ Amsterdam
Phone: +31 0 20 575 5309, Office hours are 01:30 pm – 04:30 pm from Monday to Friday

British Consulate
Koningslaan 44 , 1075 AE Amsterdam
Phone: +31 0 20 676 4343, Office hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 09:00 - 13:00 pm

Voltage

The voltage in the Netherlands is 230 V which is the same voltage used as in France, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands and the United Kingdom. The plugs are the fairly standard European two-pin model. A plug adapter is required for non-European appliances.

Telephone

The international phone code for the Netherlands is 0031.
The phone contact to the medical emergency is 112.

Language

The official language is Dutch, spoken by almost all people in the Netherlands. As in many other countries, the younger people have a much better English level than the older generation. People working in the tourist industry have mostly a good English knowledge. Other languages spoken are German, French and Spanish.

Amsterdam Travel Guide

Orientation

The Netherlands was one of the founding members of the European Union in 1957. It is located between Belgium, Germany and the North Sea. The people who live in the Netherlands are called the Dutch. Amsterdam is the capital of the Netherlands and was founded back in the 13th century by two Frisian fishermen who landed with their boat on the shores of the river Amstel.

The city population is approximately 773 000 in the city centre and 1,5 million on the outskirts of the town. The typical features of Amsterdam city are its riverside houses, the river Amstel with approximately 2000 bridges crossing it and about 30 parks.

Sightseeing

Amsterdam is called the Venice of the North. When in Amsterdam, you should definitely visit tourist attractions such as Rijksmuseum (the biggest museum and gallery in the Netherlands), Van Gogh Museum, Anne Frank house (the house where Anne Frank and her family were hidden and later transferred from to the concentration camps during the World War II.), Rembrandt house, Madame Tussaud's and of course the Royal Place.

Nightlife

You can find many bars, pubs, dance clubs and casinos in Amsterdam. Those who are more interested in the erotic industry can visit many strip clubs and of course the infamous Red Light District with its hundreds of red illuminated windows.

Opening Hours

Opening hours for museums and galleries are from 9 - 10 am to 6 pm, some of them can be open until 10 pm on Fridays. Bars and pubs are open to 1 am on weekdays and until 3 - 4 am on weekends. Dance clubs are open from 10 - 11 pm until 4 am on weekdays and 5 am on weekends.

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