The Netherlands

Planning ahead? See typical weather for your travel dates.

The Netherlands has a mild maritime climate with cool summers and mild, wet winters. Spring (April to May) is peak season for tulip fields; summer has the warmest, driest weather overall. Best time to visit: April to May for tulip season, or June to August for the warmest, driest weather.

Amsterdam's trams, buses, and metro cover the city well, and cycling is the local norm. Trains connect Amsterdam efficiently to Utrecht, Rotterdam, The Hague, and other cities.

Excellent 4G/5G coverage nationwide. Free Wi-Fi is standard in hotels, cafes, and most public spaces.

The Netherlands uses the Euro. Cards, including contactless, are the preferred payment method almost everywhere; some smaller vendors don't accept cash at all.

The Netherlands is known for Delftware ceramics, wooden clogs, cheese, and tulip bulbs. Most shops operate daily, with some closures or shorter hours on Sundays outside central Amsterdam.

The Netherlands applies a standard VAT rate of 21% on most goods. Non-EU visitors can claim a refund on purchases over 50 EUR from a single store, processed at the airport on departure.