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: 2026-05-20
⌕
Currency CodeRate
1INCH 12.514092
AAVE 0.013067
ADA 4.635765
AED 4.268857
AFN 73.050085
AGIX 13.756873
AKT 1.467514
ALGO 9.909935
ALL 95.435541
AMD 427.611835
AMP 1,379.202612
ANG 2.095243
AOA 1,065.796717
APE 7.940193
APT 1.214236
AR 0.521054
ARB 10.271498
ARS 1,624.999404
ATOM 0.577421
ATS 13.760300
AUD 1.624547
AVAX 0.124130
AWG 2.080668
AXS 0.954390
AZM 9,880.268964
AZN 1.976054
BAKE 1,337.267257
BAM 1.955830
BAT 11.688170
BBD 2.324769
BCH 0.003114
BDT 142.888970
BEF 40.339900
BGN 1.955830
BHD 0.437057
BIF 3,461.270968
BMD 1.162385
BNB 0.001789
BND 1.485566
BOB 8.031297
BRL 5.818157
BSD 1.162385
BSV 0.077115
BSW 1,567.711019
BTC 0.000015
BTG 3.636395
BTN 112.378377
BTT 3,605,647.553499
BUSD 1.162883
BWP 15.767662
BYN 3.184946
BYR 31,849.462337
BZD 2.340396
CAD 1.598341
CAKE 0.792428
CDF 2,667.664759
CELO 14.201431
CFX 19.585838
CHF 0.915133
CHZ 25.306504
CLP 1,044.690106
CNH 7.905158
CNY 7.905527
COMP 0.050843
COP 4,314.622517
CRC 525.644447
CRO 16.774378
CRV 4.835499
CSPR 391.623484
CUC 1.162385
CUP 27.897815
CVE 110.2700
CVX 0.672799
CYP 0.585274
CZK 24.299276
DAI 1.163082
DASH 0.023075
DCR 0.066586
DEM 1.955830
DFI 1,286.101906
DJF 207.185113
DKK 7.472878
DOGE 11.112250
DOP 68.458548
DOT 0.928173
DYDX 7.606495
DZD 154.268832
EEK 15.646640
EGLD 0.292983
EGP 62.100780
ENJ 25.727907
EOS 14.261678
ERN 17.435769
ESP 166.3860
ETB 187.635015
ETC 0.128032
ETH 0.000542
EURC 0.999253
FEI 1.169405
FIL 1.198585
FIM 5.945730
FJD 2.558623
FKP 0.864720
FLOW 32.179629
FLR 139.106564
FRAX 1.170775
FRF 6.559570
FTT 3.542172
GALA 339.662601
GBP 0.864720
GEL 3.101804
GGP 0.864720
GHC 134,226.612678
GHS 13.422661
GIP 0.864720
GMD 85.572767
GMX 0.173787
GNF 10,197.327925
GNO 0.009723
GRD 340.750000
GRT 46.006984
GT 0.164141
GTQ 8.862792
GUSD 1.164880
GYD 243.162682
HBAR 12.987917
HKD 9.104945
HNL 30.919162
HNT 1.400071
HOT 2,878.226966
HRK 7.534500
HT 8.061299
HTG 152.200512
HUF 359.640468
ICP 0.454336
IDR 20,522.555935
IEP 0.787564
ILS 3.376998
IMP 0.864720
IMX 6.718758
INJ 0.228804
INR 112.378377
IQD 1,522.914597
IRR 1,536,359.240989
ISK 143.401583
ITL 1,936.270000
JEP 0.864720
JMD 183.947124
JOD 0.824131
JPY 184.694195
KAS 33.252309
KAVA 19.696085
KCS 0.144986
KDA 140.569266
KES 150.527813
KGS 101.677068
KHR 4,662.597870
KLAY 22.729204
KMF 491.967750
KNC 8.087349
KPW 1,046.167488
KRW 1,739.708635
KSM 0.231925
KWD 0.359021
KYD 0.966659
KZT 548.960488
LAK 25,504.559821
LBP 103,767.012935
LDO 3.211248
LEO 0.115603
LINK 0.120312
LKR 400.547615
LRC 68.978450
LRD 212.776840
LSL 19.144507
LTC 0.021384
LTL 3.452800
LUF 40.339900
LUNA 18.157389
LUNC 15,145.766590
LVL 0.702800
LYD 7.399581
MAD 10.722687
MANA 12.996343
MBX 29.706068
MDL 20.205749
MGA 4,881.108551
MGF 24,405.542757
MINA 20.262974
MKD 61.643149
MKR 0.000679
MMK 2,440.702629
MNT 4,159.354888
MOP 9.378094
MRO 464.662663
MRU 46.466266
MTL 0.429300
MUR 55.101839
MVR 17.953453
MWK 2,015.636229
MXN 20.108264
MXV 2.283740
MYR 4.613983
MZM 74,238.678537
MZN 74.238679
NAD 19.144507
NEAR 0.695416
NEO 0.399231
NEXO 1.315396
NFT 4,114,359.321606
NGN 1,594.370337
NIO 42.779586
NLG 2.203710
NOK 10.773219
NPR 179.889687
NZD 1.979846
OKB 0.014313
OMR 0.447464
ONE 572.410527
OP 8.938004
ORDI 0.271203
PAB 1.162385
PAXG 0.000257
PEN 3.973516
PEPE 310,189.460730
PGK 5.069114
PHP 71.472524
PI 7.654636
PKR 323.912024
PLN 4.247647
POL 12.773867
PTE 200.482000
PYG 7,170.153045
QAR 4.231080
QNT 0.015746
QTUM 1.290481
ROL 52,381.704711
RON 5.238170
RPL 0.664559
RSD 117.423044
RUB 83.111774
RUNE 2.632548
RVN 210.843016
RWF 1,701.494446
SAND 16.012742
SAR 4.358942
SBD 9.341057
SCR 16.997227
SDD 69,766.060563
SDG 697.660606
SEK 10.855608
SGD 1.485566
SHIB 199,898.835263
SHP 0.864720
SIT 239.640000
SKK 30.1260
SLE 26.560392
SLL 26,560.391932
SNX 3.659728
SOL 0.013387
SOS 663.350193
SPL 0.193731
SRD 43.165768
SRG 43,165.768127
SSP 5,471.885521
STD 24,695.633686
STN 24.695634
STX 4.767224
SUI 1.077074
SVC 10.170865
SYP 128.500964
SZL 19.144507
THB 37.846832
THETA 5.738233
TJS 10.805111
TMM 20,393.256406
TMT 4.078651
TND 3.377943
TON 0.563287
TOP 2.799419
TRL 52,984,661.255005
TRX 3.244016
TRY 52.984661
TTD 7.882530
TUSD 1.163991
TVD 1.624547
TWD 36.718887
TWT 2.509307
TZS 3,037.714686
UAH 51.459769
UGX 4,384.696503
UNI 0.321746
USD 1.162385
USDC 1.162986
USDD 1.163059
USDP 1.164190
USDT 1.163757
UYU 46.876919
UZS 14,054.876444
VAL 1,936.270000
VEB 60,274,464,136.7606
VED 602.723394
VEF 60,272,339.413493
VES 602.723394
VET 174.102185
VND 30,650.138804
VUV 138.273874
WAVES 2.990676
WEMIX 4.151300
WOO 67.454771
WST 3.147520
XAF 655.957000
XAG 0.015294
XAU 0.000256
XAUT 0.000257
XBT 0.000015
XCD 3.147076
XCG 2.095243
XCH 0.321346
XDC 33.171668
XDR 0.850799
XEC 159,792.049454
XEM 1,730.129523
XLM 8.048185
XMR 0.002875
XOF 655.957000
XPD 0.000844
XPF 119.331742
XPT 0.000594
XRP 0.844290
XTZ 3.395818
YER 277.365580
ZAR 19.144507
ZEC 0.001777
ZIL 292.298779
ZMK 22,076.217614
ZMW 22.076218
ZWD 420.666989
ZWG 30.506481
ZWL 76,227.281295

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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.