The Netherlands
Amsterdam's canals, polder countryside, the cities of Rotterdam and The Hague, and the Wadden Sea islands make up most trips here.
The Netherlands is a low, flat country in northwestern Europe. Its European part borders Belgium and Germany and has North Sea coasts. Amsterdam is the capital and largest city, while The Hague is the seat of government, parliament and the Supreme Court. Rotterdam and Utrecht complete the four largest cities, which form the Randstad around the Green Heart, an open green area. Roughly 27% of the land lies below sea level.
Much of that land is polder, reclaimed from water with windmills and dykes. The rail network has more than 400 stations and connects the major cities, so several can fit into one trip. Plan Amsterdam and one or two nearby cities for a short trip, and give the Wadden islands, the Veluwe forests and the hills of Zuid-Limburg extra days. Cycling is part of daily life, and busy roads have about 35,000 km of dedicated cycle tracks. Spring is the season for tulip fields, and summer suits coastal walks and cycling.
Five things to know before The Netherlands
- Book Anne Frank House tickets as soon as they open
Tickets are never sold at the door. Every Tuesday at 10am CEST, tickets for visits six weeks later go on sale on the museum site. Amsterdam
- Tap a contactless card on NS trains
NS accepts foreign contactless Maestro, V PAY, Mastercard and Visa cards, but not the Revolut digital debit card. If you cannot check out, NS debits a €33.30 correction fee you can reclaim. NS: paying by card
- Pick a Wadden island by its ferry harbor
Texel sails from Den Helder, Terschelling and Vlieland from Harlingen, Ameland from Holwerd and Schiermonnikoog from Lauwersoog. Choose the harbor you can reach before the island. Frisian Islands
- Visit Keukenhof in its spring window
Keukenhof is open Thursday 18 March to Sunday 9 May 2027, 8:00 to 19:00. The South Holland and Zeeland planner shows what else fits a bulb-season trip. South Holland and Zeeland
- Compare the Amsterdam tourist tax when booking
Amsterdam's hotel tax is one of the highest in Europe and is charged as a percentage of the room rate. Check the final total in Amsterdam against Haarlem, Utrecht or Rotterdam. Tourist taxes in Europe
The Netherlands travel guides
Practical guides from writers who live there.
Canals, museums, booking ahead and where to stay.
Read the guideThe HagueMauritshuis, Peace Palace and a city beach.
Read the guideRotterdamArchitecture, the port and the Markthal.
Read the guideUtrechtCanals with wharves, the Dom tower and a calmer base.
Read the guideHaarlemFrans Hals, Teylers and an easy day from Amsterdam.
Read the guideFriesland and the northLakes, eleven historic cities and a slow pace.
Read the guideThe southeastMaastricht, Eindhoven and Nijmegen by rail.
Read the guideVisa checkerYour passport's entry rule, checked against official sources.
Read the guide
Destinations in The Netherlands
Hostel beds, cheap eats, buses and free sights.
- Bed a night
- €45
- Food
- €25
- Transport
- €9
- Sights
- €15
A 3-star room, casual restaurants, public transport and one paid sight a day.
- Bed a night
- €100
- Food
- €60
- Transport
- €25
- Sights
- €25
A 4-star room, good restaurants, taxis and a guided tour.
- Bed a night
- €180
- Food
- €110
- Transport
- €70
- Sights
- €60
When to go
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Best
- JanuaryRain15 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh7°Low3°Cold, grayJanuaryRain
- High
- 7°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 82 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, gray
- FebruaryRain13 rainy daysHigh8°Low3°ColdFebruaryRain
- High
- 8°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 76 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold
- MarchPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh10°Low4°CoolMarchPartly cloudy
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 62 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool
- AprilRain12 rainy daysHigh13°Low6°TulipsAprilRain
Best
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 62 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Tulips
- MayPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh17°Low9°Tulips, mildMayPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 64 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Tulips, mild
- JuneRain12 rainy daysHigh21°Low13°Long daysJuneRain
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 79 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Long days
- JulyRain14 rainy daysHigh22°Low14°Busy, warmJulyRain
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 83 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Busy, warm
- AugustRain13 rainy daysHigh23°Low15°Busy, warmAugustRain
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 72 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Busy, warm
- SeptemberRain12 rainy daysHigh20°Low13°MildSeptemberRain
Best
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 75 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild
- OctoberRain15 rainy daysHigh15°Low10°Wet, windyOctoberRain
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 103 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, windy
- NovemberRain14 rainy daysHigh10°Low6°WetNovemberRain
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 76 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet
- DecemberRain14 rainy daysHigh8°Low4°LightsDecemberRain
- High
- 8°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 77 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Lights
Average daily high and low in Amsterdam, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in The Netherlands
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
10
- Feels like
- 9°
- Humidity
- 92%
- Wind
- 7 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 100%
The Netherlands
09:05 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today13°8°100%Monday: Drizzle. High 13°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Tue10°3°4%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 10°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 4%.
- Wed10°2°0%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 10°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu9°2°0%Thursday: Clear. High 9°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri9°1°2%Friday: Clear. High 9°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Sat8°0°8%Saturday: Drizzle. High 8°, Low 0°. Chance of rain 8%.
- Sun9°4°10%Sunday: Drizzle. High 9°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 10%.
Updated 05:32 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Festivals by month
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- AprKing's Day in AmsterdamAmsterdam
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
On tour in The Netherlands: Westlife 25: The Anniversary World Tour Amsterdam, Nov 23, 2026 · Muse The Wow! Signal Tour Amsterdam, Nov 29 – 30, 2026 · Rush Fifty Something Tour Amsterdam, Feb 23, 2027 · ENHYPEN World Tour 'BLOOD SAGA' Amsterdam, Mar 2, 2027 · Olivia Rodrigo The Unraveled Tour Amsterdam, Mar 23 – 28, 2027 · Sabaton The Legendary Tour Part 2 Rotterdam, Apr 24, 2027 · Rod Stewart The Final Encore Amsterdam, May 28, 2027 · Nickelback Everything Under the Sun Tour 2027 Amsterdam, Jun 7, 2027 · Karol G Tropitour Amsterdam, Jul 10, 2027 · Oasis Live '27 Amsterdam, Jul 16 – 17, 2027
Before you go to The Netherlands
The Netherlands FAQ
How far ahead should I book Anne Frank House?
Tickets are sold online only, never at the door. Each Tuesday at 10am CEST, tickets go on sale for visits six weeks later, so set a reminder for the day your dates open.
Can I use my bank card on Dutch trains?
Yes, if it is a contactless Maestro, V PAY, Mastercard or Visa card. Tap at the gates or poles to check in and out. NS does not accept the Revolut digital debit card.
Should I stay outside Amsterdam?
It can work. Haarlem, Utrecht and Rotterdam are about 15 to 40 minutes from Amsterdam by train. Compare the final price including each city's tourist tax before you decide.
When do the tulips bloom?
Mostly in spring, depending on the weather. Keukenhof is open only from 18 March to 9 May in 2027, so match your dates to the park, not to a bloom forecast.
Is the Netherlands in Schengen?
Yes. Non-EU visitors register under EES at their first Schengen border, and days count toward the shared 90 days in 180. ETIAS is not in operation yet.