Netherlands
Capital: Amsterdam
Type of Government: Constitutional Monarchy
Time Zone: is 1 hour behind Kiev time
Public Holiday: Independence Day from Spain
Currency: Euro
Geography
Climate
Population
Language
Religion
Currency
Imports and Exports
Transport
Electricity
Shopping hours
Tipping
Sights
Geography
The Netherlands is located in Northwestern Europe with total area 42 000 sq km. The country borders with Germany to the east, Belgium to the south and washed by North Sea to the north and west.
The Netherlands is low-lying country,
with about 40% of its area located below sea level. Areas reclaimed from the sea, known as polders, are extremely fertile. The landscape is broken by the forest of Arnhem, the bulb fields in the west, and the lakes of the central and northern areas, and coastal dunes that are among the most impressive in Europe.
Climate
Climate is mild, maritime, with warm summers and soft winters. The average daily temperature in January is +4C and in august is +21 C.
Population
Population around 15.6 million with ethnic division Dutch 83%, other 17% (of which 9% are non-Western origin mainly Turks, Moroccans, Antilleans, Surinamese, and Indonesians)
Language
Dutch is the official language and Frize, although Dutch people are well known for their broad knowledge of languages. Most Dutch speak at least some English and most speak German. French is also a popular language
Religion
The majority of the population is Protestant, but large percentages are non-religious. The country as a whole is very tolerant of different religious beliefs.
Currency
Euro (€) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of €500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are
in denominations of €2 and 1, and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cents.
There are many places to change money in town: banks, hotels, airports etc. Post offices usually give the best rates. The GWK at Central station is also good. Compare rates carefully at the exchange offices in town. Hotels are usually an expensive way to change money. Banks can be slow.
Credit cards and traveler’s checks are most often accepted, however, they may not be as widely accepted in provincial areas. GWK is a national organization with currency exchange offices.
Currency exchanges may charge exorbitant fees (sometimes as high as 13 percent). The exception is American Express traveler’s checks, which can be exchanged commission-free with Amex agents. ATM cash machines are located in most major tourist centers.
Banks are open between 0900 and 1600 Mondays through Fridays. GWK offices work from 8:00 to 20:00 and on Sundays from 10:00 to 16:00.
Imports and Exports
Prohibitions and restrictions on drugs, medicines, weapons, and animals are covered by national legislation.
Visitors over the age of 17 can import up to the designated amounts of the following non-commercial items
200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250 grams of tobacco;
A total of one liter of spirits exceeding 22 percent volume or indentured ethyl alcohol of 80 percent volume (or greater) or a total of 2 liters of alcoholic beverages under 22 percent volume;
Four liters of still wine;
16 liters of beer; and
Other items up to a value of 430 Euro for air and sea travelers (this amount is reduced to 300
Euro for other travelers).
There are no restrictions on the amount of foreign currency that can be imported into the European Union. However, travelers entering or leaving the EU with more than 10,000 Euro (or the equivalent in other currencies) must make a declaration to the customs official.
Transport
The Netherlands Railways (“NS”) is the national train company running between all main
cities
Long-distance buses run along the numerous motorways.
The Netherlands counts about three fourth people of the country who own bicycles.
The Netherlands have a very high amount of well-constructed bicycle lanes, and near public buildings, shops, museums there are bicycle parking’s. You can rent a bicycle and cycle around the countryside or the city.
Currently, strip tickets are used for travel on buses, trams and metro services throughout the Netherlands. These are available in various multiples of strips, from 2 or 3 for a single journey up to 45 strips, and can be purchased at a range of outlets including newsagents, department stores, post offices and railways stations or at higher prices from public transport drivers. Other types of discounted season tickets and passes are also available for regular travel on the buses, trams and metro services.
The whole of the Netherlands is divided into transport zones with standard fares corresponding to numbers of strips on the card. A single journey within one zone costs two strips, with an additional strip payable for each additional zone crossed. Most towns and smaller cities are within a single
zone, while larger cities are divided into several zones. The costs of strip tickets currently range from €1.60 for a single journey within one zone, to €20.10 for 45 strips for use on multiple journeys across unlimited zones. Discounted fares are available for children and senior citizens.
When you travel on public transport, the driver stamps the relevant strips to indicate the time and zone of travel, or you do so yourself using one of the automated machines provided. Multiple journeys within the same zone are allowed on a single stamp within a specified timescale shown on the card.
The new “OV chipkaart”, also often referred to as a “chipknip” is a card that has a digital chip and has to be loaded with credit in advance of travel. Cards can either be for use by one person only, with reloads made automatically from a registered bank account or topped up with cash at a rail or bus station or other outlet, or they can be purchased and loaded with cash for use by anyone, either for a single or multiple journeys. Cards can be purchased at charges ranging from €2.50 for a single journey, disposable card, to €7.50 for a five year card. Under the new system, fares are associated with the specific distances traveled rather than zones crossed, with credit being deducted from the card via a card reader as the passenger enters and leaves a public transport service
Electricity
Standard voltage is 220 volts AC, 50Hz. Most plugs have two round pins. Adapters are widely available if necessary.
Shopping hours
Mon 1200-1800,
Tues-Fri 0830 (900)-17:30 (1800) and Sat 0900-1700. Some city centers also have late-night shopping on Thursdays or Fridays until 2100.
In Amsterdam, Rotterdam and other big cities, supermarkets are open 0800-2000/2100. In large city centers, shops are open Sunday 1200-1700. Shopping malls are also open on Sunday.
Tipping
In restaurants, a 15-percent service charge is included in all bills; most patrons round up to the nearest Euro. For exceptional service, tip an additional 10 percent; otherwise, no further tipping is expected.
Taxi drivers are generally tipped one Euro.
Sights
Amsterdam is a city of hundreds channels with more than 600 bridges, most beautiful of which is Blauburg and Mahere-brjug.
Channels are indispensable attribute of all excursions in the city - from water it is possible to examine the majority of sights of Amsterdam, hundreds picturesque bridges, to feel spirit of a city and its inexpressible atmosphere.
In Amsterdam there is large variety of churches among which are the oldest church of a city - Gothic Ude-Kerk, where organ concerts are usually taking place, the greatest in the Netherlands Renaissance church - Vesterkerk with tomb of Rembrandt, the first Protestant church of the country - Zjudkerk, Norderkerk and the greatest in the world the Portuguese synagogue, and also one of the greatest Catholic cathedrals of Europe – Amstelkring, where the museum is located now.
Amsterdam is one of the largest art and museum centres of the world. It is possible to visit the largest art museum of Holland and one of the best in Europe - Rijksmuseum, the Dutch historical museum in east wing of Rijksmuseum, a museum of the modern art Stedelijk, Van Gogh's museum with the biggest in the world collection of its products (about 200 pictures and 580 drawings), a museum of Rembrandt in a XVII-th century building, the Historical museum of Amsterdam, the well-known Museum of tropics, Anna Frank's museum, numerous museums of diamond factories.
Except historical and cultural monuments, a lot of visitors are involved by well-known «quarter of red lanterns» opposite to the Central station.
Much attention of tourists is involved by magnificent shops of city - from "flea markets" of Vatreluplejn and the area of Spejn, «flower markets» lengthways the Single and the monetary area, to smart jeweler shops. Traditional places for shopping are Calverstrat, Nive-Vendijk, Rokin, Damstrat, Lejdsestrat and Vijzelstrat, and also areas of Jordan and Magna Plaza. The market complex of Tsvarte Markt is located in 15 kilometers to the north from city, and is considered to be the greatest market in Europe.
Zaandam is a town in 20 km to the north of Amsterdam. In the city you can find the Czar Peter House. To the north of Zaandam located Alkmaar. Alkmaar is well-known for its traditional cheese market. For tourists, it is a popular cultural destination.
Rotterdam is the biggest port of Europe and the second-large city of the country; it lies on one of northern sleeves of extensive delta of Rhine – the Leck River. Rotterdam attracts by well-known architecture in style of avant-garde and a cultural life.
There is also the first "skyscraper" in Europe - Het Vitte Hejs In city centre, at the Sea museum of Prince Hendricks there is bronze monument "Shout" («the devastated city») in memory of the old city destroyed by fascists. Near the Historical museum of XVII-th century palace, building of Kunsthal (an exhibition of artworks XIX - XX centuries) and building in the form of a tower with a beacon - the well-known museum of Bojmana Van Byoningena with the best in Holland collection of Flemish masters XV - XVI centuries.
Utrecht is one of the finest cities, located in the centre of Holland, on crossing of the cores automobile and railways. It is an ancient university city.
Channels, unlike Amsterdam’s, have two circles, and their quays are connected by transitions with the adjoining houses which cellars served as warehouses, and cargoes rolled over directly from barges on warehouses.
"Card" of Utrecht is the oldest Gothic cathedral of the country with the highest in the Netherlands spike - Domkerk and one of the collections of medieval art largest in the country in a Christianity Museum.
Maastricht is one of the most ancient cities of the country and an administrative centre of province of Limburg, lies in the south of the country, on border with Belgium.
One of the basic sights of city are the rests of defensive line of Van Dyu Mullin (walls, bastions, underground mine galleries etc.) and Saint Pieter Hill is a maze of tunnels. The Efteling is situated a few kilometres to the north of Tilburg. It is the biggest amusement park in the Netherlands.
[Tags: Tours to Netherlands]
Туры в Нидерланды (Russian version)
Type of Government: Constitutional Monarchy
Time Zone: is 1 hour behind Kiev time
Public Holiday: Independence Day from Spain
Currency: Euro
Geography
Climate
Population
Language
Religion
Currency
Imports and Exports
Transport
Electricity
Shopping hours
Tipping
Sights
Geography
The Netherlands is located in Northwestern Europe with total area 42 000 sq km. The country borders with Germany to the east, Belgium to the south and washed by North Sea to the north and west.
The Netherlands is low-lying country,
with about 40% of its area located below sea level. Areas reclaimed from the sea, known as polders, are extremely fertile. The landscape is broken by the forest of Arnhem, the bulb fields in the west, and the lakes of the central and northern areas, and coastal dunes that are among the most impressive in Europe.Climate
Climate is mild, maritime, with warm summers and soft winters. The average daily temperature in January is +4C and in august is +21 C.
Population
Population around 15.6 million with ethnic division Dutch 83%, other 17% (of which 9% are non-Western origin mainly Turks, Moroccans, Antilleans, Surinamese, and Indonesians)
Language
Dutch is the official language and Frize, although Dutch people are well known for their broad knowledge of languages. Most Dutch speak at least some English and most speak German. French is also a popular language
Religion
The majority of the population is Protestant, but large percentages are non-religious. The country as a whole is very tolerant of different religious beliefs.
Currency
Euro (€) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of €500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are
in denominations of €2 and 1, and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cents.There are many places to change money in town: banks, hotels, airports etc. Post offices usually give the best rates. The GWK at Central station is also good. Compare rates carefully at the exchange offices in town. Hotels are usually an expensive way to change money. Banks can be slow.
Credit cards and traveler’s checks are most often accepted, however, they may not be as widely accepted in provincial areas. GWK is a national organization with currency exchange offices.
Currency exchanges may charge exorbitant fees (sometimes as high as 13 percent). The exception is American Express traveler’s checks, which can be exchanged commission-free with Amex agents. ATM cash machines are located in most major tourist centers.
Banks are open between 0900 and 1600 Mondays through Fridays. GWK offices work from 8:00 to 20:00 and on Sundays from 10:00 to 16:00.
Imports and Exports
Prohibitions and restrictions on drugs, medicines, weapons, and animals are covered by national legislation.
Visitors over the age of 17 can import up to the designated amounts of the following non-commercial items
200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250 grams of tobacco;
A total of one liter of spirits exceeding 22 percent volume or indentured ethyl alcohol of 80 percent volume (or greater) or a total of 2 liters of alcoholic beverages under 22 percent volume;
Four liters of still wine;
16 liters of beer; and
Other items up to a value of 430 Euro for air and sea travelers (this amount is reduced to 300
Euro for other travelers). There are no restrictions on the amount of foreign currency that can be imported into the European Union. However, travelers entering or leaving the EU with more than 10,000 Euro (or the equivalent in other currencies) must make a declaration to the customs official.
Transport
The Netherlands Railways (“NS”) is the national train company running between all main
cities
Long-distance buses run along the numerous motorways.
The Netherlands counts about three fourth people of the country who own bicycles.
The Netherlands have a very high amount of well-constructed bicycle lanes, and near public buildings, shops, museums there are bicycle parking’s. You can rent a bicycle and cycle around the countryside or the city.
Currently, strip tickets are used for travel on buses, trams and metro services throughout the Netherlands. These are available in various multiples of strips, from 2 or 3 for a single journey up to 45 strips, and can be purchased at a range of outlets including newsagents, department stores, post offices and railways stations or at higher prices from public transport drivers. Other types of discounted season tickets and passes are also available for regular travel on the buses, trams and metro services.
The whole of the Netherlands is divided into transport zones with standard fares corresponding to numbers of strips on the card. A single journey within one zone costs two strips, with an additional strip payable for each additional zone crossed. Most towns and smaller cities are within a single
zone, while larger cities are divided into several zones. The costs of strip tickets currently range from €1.60 for a single journey within one zone, to €20.10 for 45 strips for use on multiple journeys across unlimited zones. Discounted fares are available for children and senior citizens. When you travel on public transport, the driver stamps the relevant strips to indicate the time and zone of travel, or you do so yourself using one of the automated machines provided. Multiple journeys within the same zone are allowed on a single stamp within a specified timescale shown on the card.
The new “OV chipkaart”, also often referred to as a “chipknip” is a card that has a digital chip and has to be loaded with credit in advance of travel. Cards can either be for use by one person only, with reloads made automatically from a registered bank account or topped up with cash at a rail or bus station or other outlet, or they can be purchased and loaded with cash for use by anyone, either for a single or multiple journeys. Cards can be purchased at charges ranging from €2.50 for a single journey, disposable card, to €7.50 for a five year card. Under the new system, fares are associated with the specific distances traveled rather than zones crossed, with credit being deducted from the card via a card reader as the passenger enters and leaves a public transport service
Electricity
Standard voltage is 220 volts AC, 50Hz. Most plugs have two round pins. Adapters are widely available if necessary.
Shopping hours
Mon 1200-1800,
Tues-Fri 0830 (900)-17:30 (1800) and Sat 0900-1700. Some city centers also have late-night shopping on Thursdays or Fridays until 2100.
In Amsterdam, Rotterdam and other big cities, supermarkets are open 0800-2000/2100. In large city centers, shops are open Sunday 1200-1700. Shopping malls are also open on Sunday.
Tipping
In restaurants, a 15-percent service charge is included in all bills; most patrons round up to the nearest Euro. For exceptional service, tip an additional 10 percent; otherwise, no further tipping is expected.
Taxi drivers are generally tipped one Euro.
Sights
Amsterdam is a city of hundreds channels with more than 600 bridges, most beautiful of which is Blauburg and Mahere-brjug.
Channels are indispensable attribute of all excursions in the city - from water it is possible to examine the majority of sights of Amsterdam, hundreds picturesque bridges, to feel spirit of a city and its inexpressible atmosphere. In Amsterdam there is large variety of churches among which are the oldest church of a city - Gothic Ude-Kerk, where organ concerts are usually taking place, the greatest in the Netherlands Renaissance church - Vesterkerk with tomb of Rembrandt, the first Protestant church of the country - Zjudkerk, Norderkerk and the greatest in the world the Portuguese synagogue, and also one of the greatest Catholic cathedrals of Europe – Amstelkring, where the museum is located now.
Amsterdam is one of the largest art and museum centres of the world. It is possible to visit the largest art museum of Holland and one of the best in Europe - Rijksmuseum, the Dutch historical museum in east wing of Rijksmuseum, a museum of the modern art Stedelijk, Van Gogh's museum with the biggest in the world collection of its products (about 200 pictures and 580 drawings), a museum of Rembrandt in a XVII-th century building, the Historical museum of Amsterdam, the well-known Museum of tropics, Anna Frank's museum, numerous museums of diamond factories.
Except historical and cultural monuments, a lot of visitors are involved by well-known «quarter of red lanterns» opposite to the Central station.
Much attention of tourists is involved by magnificent shops of city - from "flea markets" of Vatreluplejn and the area of Spejn, «flower markets» lengthways the Single and the monetary area, to smart jeweler shops. Traditional places for shopping are Calverstrat, Nive-Vendijk, Rokin, Damstrat, Lejdsestrat and Vijzelstrat, and also areas of Jordan and Magna Plaza. The market complex of Tsvarte Markt is located in 15 kilometers to the north from city, and is considered to be the greatest market in Europe.
Zaandam is a town in 20 km to the north of Amsterdam. In the city you can find the Czar Peter House. To the north of Zaandam located Alkmaar. Alkmaar is well-known for its traditional cheese market. For tourists, it is a popular cultural destination.
Rotterdam is the biggest port of Europe and the second-large city of the country; it lies on one of northern sleeves of extensive delta of Rhine – the Leck River. Rotterdam attracts by well-known architecture in style of avant-garde and a cultural life.
There is also the first "skyscraper" in Europe - Het Vitte Hejs In city centre, at the Sea museum of Prince Hendricks there is bronze monument "Shout" («the devastated city») in memory of the old city destroyed by fascists. Near the Historical museum of XVII-th century palace, building of Kunsthal (an exhibition of artworks XIX - XX centuries) and building in the form of a tower with a beacon - the well-known museum of Bojmana Van Byoningena with the best in Holland collection of Flemish masters XV - XVI centuries.
Utrecht is one of the finest cities, located in the centre of Holland, on crossing of the cores automobile and railways. It is an ancient university city.
Channels, unlike Amsterdam’s, have two circles, and their quays are connected by transitions with the adjoining houses which cellars served as warehouses, and cargoes rolled over directly from barges on warehouses.
"Card" of Utrecht is the oldest Gothic cathedral of the country with the highest in the Netherlands spike - Domkerk and one of the collections of medieval art largest in the country in a Christianity Museum.
Maastricht is one of the most ancient cities of the country and an administrative centre of province of Limburg, lies in the south of the country, on border with Belgium.
One of the basic sights of city are the rests of defensive line of Van Dyu Mullin (walls, bastions, underground mine galleries etc.) and Saint Pieter Hill is a maze of tunnels. The Efteling is situated a few kilometres to the north of Tilburg. It is the biggest amusement park in the Netherlands.
[Tags: Tours to Netherlands]
Туры в Нидерланды (Russian version)
