Europe · Western Europe

Netherlands

Kingdom of the Netherlands

Flag of Netherlands
Local Time
--:--:--
UTC+01:00
🏛️ Capital
Amsterdam
👥 Population
18,100,436
📐 Area
41,865 km²
💱 Currency
euro (€)
🗣️ Languages
Dutch
📞 Calling Code
+31
🕐 Time Zones
UTC+01:00
🌐 Region
Europe / Western Europe

About Netherlands

The Netherlands is a country that defies expectations at every turn — a small nation that punches far above its weight in art, culture, engineering, and sheer livability. As you cycle past tulip fields flushing pink and gold in spring, or glide along Amsterdam's seventeenth-century canals lined with elegant gabled townhouses, you quickly understand why this flat, water-managed land captures the imagination of travelers worldwide. The Dutch have spent centuries in a creative dialogue with nature, turning swamps and sea into one of the world's most prosperous and innovative societies.

Amsterdam is a world-class city where world-class museums — the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, the Anne Frank House — sit alongside vibrant street markets, cozy brown cafés, and a legendary nightlife scene. But the Netherlands rewards those who venture beyond the capital. The Hague is home to grand political architecture and Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring; Rotterdam dazzles with audacious modern architecture rising from postwar ashes; and Delft enchants with its blue-and-white pottery tradition and picturesque canals.

Life in the Netherlands moves at a pleasantly brisk pace — by bicycle. With more bikes than people and a dense network of dedicated cycle paths connecting every city, town, and village, two wheels are genuinely the best way to explore. You'll find the Dutch to be direct, friendly, and effortlessly multilingual. Whether you come for the flowers, the art, the food, or simply to experience one of Europe's most open and tolerant societies, the Netherlands will leave you wanting to return.

History & Background

The Dutch Republic that emerged in the late sixteenth century after the Eighty Years' War of independence from Spanish Habsburg rule became one of the world's first true republics and a pioneer of free trade, religious tolerance, and financial innovation. The seventeenth-century Dutch Golden Age saw Amsterdam become the epicenter of global commerce and finance, the Dutch East India Company establish a trade empire stretching from Brazil to Japan, and Dutch artists produce masterworks that still define Western painting. This era of dizzying prosperity left an architectural and cultural legacy still visible across every Dutch city.

The Napoleonic Wars brought temporary annexation into France, before the Kingdom of the Netherlands was established in 1815. The neutral Netherlands was occupied by Nazi Germany from 1940 to 1945, a trauma that claimed the lives of 75 percent of the country's Jewish population including Anne Frank, and left deep scars on the national psyche. Postwar reconstruction — epitomized by Rotterdam's near-total rebuilding after wartime bombing — and the creation of the European Union, of which the Netherlands was a founding member, launched a new era of prosperity and international leadership in diplomacy and international law.

Culture & People

Dutch culture is shaped by a heritage of merchant pragmatism, Calvinist frugality, and a fiercely guarded tradition of personal freedom and tolerance. The Golden Age of the seventeenth century — when the Dutch East India Company made Amsterdam the richest city on earth — produced a cultural flowering that gave the world Rembrandt, Vermeer, and Spinoza. That spirit of inquiry and openness still defines Dutch society today, making the Netherlands one of the world's most progressive countries in areas from social policy to sustainable urban design.

Everyday Dutch culture centers on gezelligheid — a word roughly translated as coziness or conviviality — felt most strongly in a warm brown café (bruine kroeg) over a glass of Heineken or jenever gin. King's Day on April 27 transforms every city and village into an orange-clad street festival of music, flea markets, and canal parties that is utterly infectious. Windmills at Kinderdijk, clogs, Delftware tiles, and wooden tulip bulbs may feel like clichés, but each represents genuine historical craft traditions that Dutch artisans continue to celebrate and preserve with evident pride.

Food & Cuisine

Dutch cuisine is honest, hearty, and deeply rooted in the country's agricultural and maritime heritage. Stroopwafels — two thin waffle cookies sandwiching a layer of caramel syrup — are the nation's snack ambassador, best enjoyed warm from a street market stall with the caramel softened by a cup of coffee balanced on top. Haring, raw salted herring eaten whole with chopped onions and pickles, is a quintessential Dutch street food debated passionately between traditionalists and the uninitiated. Stamppot, mashed potato combined with kale, sauerkraut, or other vegetables and topped with rookworst sausage, is the winter comfort food that sustains Dutch families through grey northern European months.

Beyond traditional fare, the Netherlands reflects its colonial history through the prominence of Indonesian cuisine, a legacy of the Dutch East Indies. Rijsttafel — a feast of rice accompanied by dozens of small Indonesian dishes — remains a beloved restaurant experience in Amsterdam and across the country. Dutch cheese culture is equally celebrated: Gouda and Edam are world-famous exports, but local markets in Gouda and Alkmaar still host traditional cheese-weighing ceremonies where rounds of aged cheese are carried on wooden stretchers by white-clad porters, keeping centuries of trade tradition delightfully alive.

Top Attractions

  • Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam — The Netherlands' greatest museum houses Rembrandt's Night Watch and an unparalleled collection of Dutch Golden Age masterpieces in a stunning neo-Gothic palace.
  • Anne Frank House, Amsterdam — The preserved secret annex where Anne Frank hid during World War II is a profoundly moving memorial to the Holocaust and a testament to human courage.
  • Keukenhof Gardens — Open only in spring, this 32-hectare park near Lisse displays over seven million flowering bulbs in breathtaking landscaped displays.
  • Kinderdijk Windmills — A UNESCO World Heritage site featuring nineteen iconic eighteenth-century windmills still standing in the polder landscape southeast of Rotterdam.
  • Delft Old Town — A perfectly preserved medieval city of canals, cobblestones, and blue-and-white pottery workshops that inspired Johannes Vermeer's masterpieces.
  • Rotterdam Architecture — Europe's largest port city showcases cutting-edge modern architecture including the Cube Houses, Markthal, and the iconic Erasmus Bridge.

Practical Travel Tips

  • Rent a bicycle as your primary mode of transport — it is the fastest, cheapest, and most authentic way to explore Dutch cities and countryside alike.
  • Purchase an OV-chipkaart (public transit card) for seamless travel on trains, trams, buses, and metros; it saves money compared to single-journey tickets.
  • Book Amsterdam museum tickets well in advance online, especially for the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, and Anne Frank House, which sell out days or weeks ahead.
  • The Dutch weather is famously unpredictable — pack a waterproof jacket regardless of the season and consider it your most important travel item.
  • Respect cycling infrastructure: never walk in cycle lanes (usually marked in red) and look both ways for bikes before stepping off any kerb.
  • Tipping is appreciated but not obligatory; rounding up the bill or leaving 5–10% at restaurants is standard practice.

Visa Overview

The Netherlands is a member of the Schengen Area, meaning EU and EEA citizens enter freely with a national identity card. Citizens of the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, and many other countries may visit visa-free for up to 90 days within any 180-day period. From 2025, non-EU visitors from visa-exempt countries need to register under the ETIAS system before travel. Travelers requiring a Schengen visa should apply at the Dutch embassy or consulate in their home country well in advance of travel dates.

Getting Around

The Netherlands has one of Europe's most efficient and extensive public transport networks. High-speed Intercity Direct trains connect Amsterdam to Rotterdam in under 45 minutes, while intercity trains reach virtually every town. Amsterdam has an integrated metro, tram, and bus network. The national railway (NS) runs frequently and punctually. Cycling infrastructure is world-class — rental bikes are available in every city. Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam is a major international hub with direct connections worldwide and a fast train link to Amsterdam Centraal.

Safety Notes

The Netherlands is one of Europe's safest destinations. Petty theft — particularly bicycle theft and pickpocketing in busy Amsterdam areas like Dam Square and Centraal Station — is the main concern. Secure your bike with two locks, keep valuables hidden, and stay aware in crowded tourist areas. The red-light district in Amsterdam is generally safe but exercise normal urban caution. Emergency services are highly reliable; dial 112 for police, fire, or ambulance. Water from the tap is safe to drink throughout the country.

Live Exchange Rates

Current exchange rates for currencies used in Netherlands.

euro (EUR) €
Updated: 2026-07-06
⌕
Currency CodeRate
1INCH 15.949281
AAVE 0.012938
ADA 6.090330
AED 4.198644
AFN 72.687638
AGIX 14.653548
AKT 1.822806
ALGO 12.771407
ALL 93.715249
AMD 420.687823
AMP 2,563.140894
ANG 2.061699
AOA 1,049.968938
APE 8.155490
APT 1.828050
AR 0.572736
ARB 14.293563
ARS 1,706.397805
ATOM 0.723000
ATS 13.760300
AUD 1.650375
AVAX 0.165594
AWG 2.046446
AXS 1.132201
AZM 9,717.759386
AZN 1.943552
BAKE 1,521.521968
BAM 1.955830
BAT 12.981393
BBD 2.286532
BCH 0.004737
BDT 140.934392
BEF 40.339900
BGN 1.955830
BHD 0.429868
BIF 3,403.510590
BMD 1.143266
BNB 0.001956
BND 1.477679
BOB 7.919585
BRL 5.908495
BSD 1.143266
BSV 0.077435
BSW 3,415.845850
BTC 0.000018
BTCB 21.573515
BTG 3.962033
BTN 108.924484
BTT 4,310,778.202359
BUSD 1.142293
BWP 15.430353
BYN 3.319956
BYR 22,410.177604
BZD 2.302612
CAD 1.624558
CAKE 0.789485
CDF 2,637.792313
CELO 17.016964
CFX 25.554029
CHF 0.919689
CHZ 63.326984
CLP 1,053.176301
CNH 7.764348
CNY 7.761272
COMP 0.068216
COP 3,821.401247
CRC 520.971136
CRO 19.127055
CRV 5.347923
CSPR 588.668145
CUC 1.143376
CUP 30.299475
CVE 110.2700
CVX 0.950574
CYP 0.585274
CZK 24.186247
DAI 1.143807
DASH 0.032500
DCR 0.102993
DEM 1.955830
DFI 1,376.082887
DJF 203.607530
DKK 7.474915
DOGE 14.794151
DOP 67.757151
DOT 1.310575
DYDX 8.656942
DZD 152.047465
EEK 15.646640
EGLD 0.413647
EGP 56.159478
ENJ 39.503862
EOS 15.783994
ERN 17.148990
ESP 166.3860
ETB 182.871710
ETC 0.160971
ETH 0.000643
EURC 1.000728
FEI 1.143672
FIL 1.447925
FIM 5.945730
FJD 2.567212
FKP 0.856850
FLOW 40.795582
FLR 164.477041
FRAX 1.155714
FRF 6.559570
FTT 4.799680
GALA 499.043181
GBP 0.856850
GEL 3.002840
GGP 0.856850
GHC 129,886.186361
GHS 12.988619
GIP 0.856850
GMD 84.309381
GMX 0.192922
GNF 10,023.628542
GNO 0.010875
GRD 340.750000
GRT 60.259003
GT 0.168638
GTQ 8.726603
GUSD 1.144776
GYD 239.303057
HBAR 15.140623
HKD 8.966681
HNL 30.607777
HNT 4.770791
HOT 3,168.153681
HRK 7.534500
HT 31.909137
HTG 149.647394
HUF 353.603071
ICP 0.518628
IDR 20,570.209465
IEP 0.787564
ILS 3.433987
IMP 0.856850
IMX 8.274737
INJ 0.234012
INR 108.924484
IQD 1,499.043340
IRR 1,573,228.768594
ISK 144.001544
ITL 1,936.270000
JEP 0.856850
JMD 181.119145
JOD 0.810576
JPY 185.037303
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KAVA 25.338993
KCS 0.158357
KDA 196.152856
KES 147.813810
KGS 99.994876
KHR 4,584.303728
KMF 491.967750
KNC 10.256361
KPW 1,029.039168
KRW 1,752.466471
KSM 0.324446
KWD 0.354755
KYD 0.951107
KZT 540.471024
LAK 25,848.153325
LBP 102,669.185320
LDO 4.232248
LEO 0.122148
LINK 0.143176
LKR 382.874215
LRC 93.050064
LRD 207.644501
LSL 18.582404
LTC 0.025327
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LUNA 23.280219
LUNC 18,621.432255
LVL 0.702800
LYD 7.333327
MAD 10.705136
MANA 16.430289
MBX 45.458621
MDL 20.122768
MGA 4,851.480259
MGF 24,257.401295
MINA 24.115095
MKD 61.601743
MKR 0.000798
MMK 2,400.088668
MNT 4,097.623598
MOP 9.235681
MRO 456.586497
MRU 45.658650
MTL 0.429300
MUR 53.741133
MVR 17.674192
MWK 1,983.150655
MXN 19.983511
MXV 2.265944
MYR 4.661391
MZM 73,016.400614
MZN 73.016401
NAD 18.582404
NEAR 0.573792
NEO 0.577989
NEXO 1.486114
NFT 4,313,881.267151
NGN 1,566.593611
NIO 42.084613
NLG 2.203710
NOK 11.245652
NPR 174.360867
NZD 2.009463
OKB 0.014333
OMR 0.440020
ONE 914.672172
OP 10.634304
ORDI 0.352191
PAB 1.143266
PAXG 0.000275
PEN 3.893144
PEPE 419,153.813525
PGK 5.029557
PHP 70.325608
PI 10.106348
PKR 318.067727
PLN 4.292661
POL 15.545695
PTE 200.482000
PYG 6,954.060930
QAR 4.161488
QNT 0.017075
QTUM 1.608321
ROL 52,260.095818
RON 5.226010
RPL 0.564664
RSD 117.291974
RUB 88.097412
RUNE 2.764439
RVN 299.982382
RWF 1,675.880331
SAND 22.914164
SAR 4.287247
SBD 9.251377
SCR 16.337036
SDD 68,623.992676
SDG 686.239927
SEK 11.035756
SGD 1.477679
SHIB 261,122.105549
SHP 0.856850
SIT 239.640000
SKK 30.1260
SLE 26.112138
SLL 26,112.137915
SNX 4.992721
SOL 0.014169
SOS 652.851438
SPL 0.190544
SRD 43.037810
SRG 43,037.810297
SSP 5,429.582653
STD 24,681.801703
STN 24.681802
STX 6.685931
SUI 1.530284
SVC 10.003577
SYP 126.379793
SZL 18.582404
THB 38.002477
THETA 8.149578
TJS 10.597256
TMM 20,059.689343
TMT 4.011938
TND 3.370278
TOP 2.753336
TRL 53,522,506.924889
TRX 3.481290
TRY 53.522507
TTD 7.746755
TUSD 1.145661
TVD 1.650375
TWD 36.687679
TWT 3.325665
TZS 3,004.055907
UAH 50.950323
UGX 4,178.083222
UNI 0.361742
USD 1.143266
USDC 1.143620
USDD 1.144428
USDP 1.146724
USDT 1.144500
UYU 46.015386
UZS 13,682.375462
VAL 1,936.270000
VEB 73,676,464,017.7850
VED 736.699046
VEF 73,669,904.620052
VES 736.699046
VET 242.347559
VND 30,068.135851
VUV 137.411341
WAVES 4.302368
WEMIX 4.415912
WOO 96.554813
WST 3.162059
XAF 655.957000
XAG 0.018516
XAU 0.000275
XAUT 0.000275
XBT 0.000018
XCD 3.094677
XCG 2.061699
XCH 0.725428
XDC 40.687825
XDR 0.843258
XEC 215,226.956128
XEM 2,670.609044
XLM 5.726679
XMR 0.003533
XOF 655.957000
XPD 0.000900
XPF 119.331742
XPT 0.000698
XRP 0.998686
XTZ 4.594649
YER 270.946532
ZAR 18.582404
ZEC 0.002510
ZIL 370.612584
ZMK 20,978.141068
ZMW 20.978141
ZWD 413.747954
ZWG 30.666484
ZWL 76,627.085634

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Cities in Netherlands 368
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's-Gravenzande 's-Hertogenbosch 't Harde Aalsmeer Aalten Aarle-Rixtel Aerdenhout Alkmaar Almelo Almere Alphen aan den Rijn Amersfoort Amstelveen Amsterdam Anna Paulowna Annen Apeldoorn Appelscha Appingedam Arnhem Assen Asten Baarn Bakkeveen Barendrecht Barneveld Bedum Beilen Bennekom Bergen Bergen op Zoom Berkel en Rodenrijs Best Beuningen Beverwijk Bilthoven Bladel Blauwestad Blerick Bodegraven Bolsward Borculo Borger Borgercompagnie Borne Boskoop Bovensmilde Boxmeer Boxtel Breda Brielle Brunssum Buitenpost Bunschoten-Spakenburg Burgh-Haamstede Burgum Bussum Capelle aan den IJssel Castricum Coevorden Cuijk Culemborg Dalfsen Damwâld De Bilt De Knipe De Lier De Lutte De Meern De Rijp Dedemsvaart Delft Delfzijl Den Burg Den Haag Den Helder Den Horn Denekamp Deurne Deventer Diemen Doesburg Doetinchem Dokkum Dongen Dordrecht Drachten Drachtstercompagnie Driebergen-Rijsenburg Dronten Drunen Druten Duiven Duivendrecht Easternijtsjerk Edam Ede Eelde Eemshaven Eibergen Eijsden Eindhoven Elburg Emmeloord Emmen Enkhuizen Enschede Epe Erica Ermelo Etten-Leur Franeker Geldermalsen Geldrop Geleen Gemert Gennep Gieten Goes Goirle Goor Gorinchem Gorredijk Gouda Grave Groenlo Groesbeek Groningen Haaksbergen Haarlem Hardenberg Harderwijk Haren Harlingen Hattem Heeg Heemskerk Heemstede Heerde Heerenveen Heerhugowaard Heerlen Heesch Heiloo Hellevoetsluis Helmond Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht Hengelo Hillegom Hilvarenbeek Hilversum Hoek van Holland Hoevelaken Hoofddorp Hoogeveen Hoogezand Hoogvliet Hoorn Horst Houten Huissen Huizen Hulst IJlst IJsselstein Joure Julianadorp Kaatsheuvel Kallenkote Kampen Katwijk Kerkrade Klazienaveen Kollum Kollumersweach Koog aan de Zaan Krimpen aan den IJssel Landgraaf Laren Leek Leerdam Leeuwarden Leiden Leiderdorp Leidschendam Lelystad Lemmer Lemmer Leusden Lichtenvoorde Lisse Lisserbroek Lochem Losser Lutten Maarsbergen Maarssen Maassluis Maastricht Mantgum Medemblik Menaldum Meppel Middelburg Middelharnis Middelstum Mierlo Mijdrecht Monnickendam Monnickendam Monster Muiden Naaldwijk Nieuw-Vennep Nieuwegein Nieuwerkerk aan den IJssel Nijkerk Nijmegen Nijverdal Nooitgedacht Noordwijk Nootdorp Nuenen Nunspeet Oegstgeest Oentsjerk Oirschot Oisterwijk Oldenzaal Ommen Oostburg Oosterbeek Oosterhout Oosterwolde Oosterwolde Oosterzee Opende Oss Oud-Annerveen Oud-Beijerland Ouddorp Oude Pekela Oudebildtzijl Oudenbosch Oudeschans Papendrecht Pijnacker Purmerend Putten Raalte Reusel Rheden Rhenen Ridderkerk Rijen Rijpwetering Rijssen Rijswijk Roden Roermond Roosendaal Rosmalen Rotterdam Ruinen Ruinerwold Schagen Schiedam Schijndel Schildwolde Schoonhoven Schoorl Sint-Oedenrode Sittard Sliedrecht Sneek Soest Someren Son en Breugel Spijkenisse Stadskanaal Staphorst Steenbergen Steenwijk Stein Stiens Stiens Ter Apel Terneuzen Terwispel Tholen Tiel Tilburg Tubbergen Twello Uden Uithoorn Uithuizen Ulrum Urk Ursem Utrecht Vaals Vaassen Valkenburg Valkenswaard Veendam Veenendaal Veghel Veldhoven Velp Velserbroek Venlo Venray Vianen Vlaardingen Vleuten Vlijmen Vlissingen Volendam Voorburg Voorschoten Voorthuizen Vriezenveen Vroomshoop Vught Waalwijk Waddinxveen Wageningen Wapenveld Warffum Wassenaar Wateringen Weert Weesp Weiteveen Werkendam Westerbork Westervoort Weteringbrug Wezep Wierden Wijchen Wijk bij Duurstede Wildervank Winschoten Winsum Winterswijk Wirdum Woerden Wolvega Yerseke Zaandam Zaltbommel Zandvoort Zeewolde Zeist Zevenaar Zevenbergen Zevenbergen Zevenbergschen Hoek Zierikzee Zoetermeer Zuidhorn Zuidlaren Zundert Zutphen Zwijndrecht Zwolle

Visa Requirements

Check what visa a citizen of Netherlands needs to enter any country.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the capital of Netherlands?
The capital of Netherlands is Amsterdam.
What currency does Netherlands use?
Netherlands uses the euro (€) as its official currency.
What language is spoken in Netherlands?
The official language(s) of Netherlands include Dutch.
What is the population of Netherlands?
Netherlands has a population of approximately 18,100,436 people.
What region is Netherlands in?
Netherlands is located in Europe, specifically in the Western Europe subregion.
What is the international calling code for Netherlands?
The international dialing code for Netherlands is +31.
What time zones does Netherlands observe?
Netherlands observes the following time zone(s): UTC+01:00.
What is the current time in Netherlands?
The local time in Netherlands is currently --:--. This time applies to the primary time zone.
What is the total area of Netherlands?
Netherlands covers a total area of 41,865 km².
How many states or provinces does Netherlands have?
Netherlands is divided into 16 states or provinces.
What are the public holidays in Netherlands in 2026?
You can view the complete list of public holidays for Netherlands in 2026 on the Holidays 2026 page.
What are the visa requirements for citizens of Netherlands?
Visa requirements for citizens of Netherlands vary by destination. Use our Visa Requirements Checker below to look up requirements for any destination country.