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The Kingdom of the Netherlands has three parts: the
Netherlands and two countries in the Caribbean – the Netherlands Antilles and
Aruba. With an area of 41,528 km and a population of over 16 million, the
Netherlands (the European part of the Kingdom) is one of the world's smaller
countries.
The Netherlands is a constitutional monarchy with a
parliamentary system, in which the government consists of the queen and the
ministers. For historical reasons, The Hague is the seat of government, but
Amsterdam is the capital.
The currency used in the Netherlands is the Euro which
is made up of 100 Cent. Notes come in denominations of €100, €50, €20, €10
and €5 and the coins in use are €2, €1, 0.50C, 0.20C, 0.10C, 0.05C, 0.02C and
0.01C.
The
native language spoken in the Netherlands
is Dutch but the majority of natives speak English which should be a big help
to most of you visiting the country. In addition, many also speak French or
German.
The Netherlands enjoys a maritime climate which means
that there are very little extremes in summer or winter. Summer temperatures
average temperatures about 16 or 17 degrees Celsius but highs of 30 degrees
Celsius are not unheard of. Winters are mild with increased rainfall and
average temperatures of between 1 and 5 degrees Celsius. The most popular
months to visit is between May and October when temperatures are at their
highest and rainfall is at its lowest.
The Netherlands lies one hour ahead of GMT but summer
times adds on one hour between the end of March and the end of September.
Shops are generally open between 8.30am or 9.00am until
between 5.00pm and 6.00pm from Monday to Saturday although some may close at
4.00pm or 5.00pm on Saturdays. In more rural areas some shops may close for
lunch and have one half or full day off but there are signs which will fully
inform you about all closing times. In the bigger cities many stores and
shopping centres are now open on Sunday too between noon and 5.00pm. Office
hours in the Netherlands are between 8.30am and 5.00pm from Monday to Friday
and banks are open between 9.00am and 4.00pm from Monday to Friday but many
open during late night shopping and on Saturday mornings.
The electric current is 220V, 50Hz and the plugs in use
have two round prongs so those of you travelling from countries which use
anything else should bring an adapter with you.
In the Netherlands VAT (BTW) is charged at a rate of
19% and is included in the sales price of all items. It is worth double-checking
before making a purchase, however, to avoid any confusion when it comes to
payment. For non-EU nationals the good news is that you can reclaim this VAT
when leaving the EU. In order to avail of this service, however, you must
make purchases in stores which state that they participate in this scheme.
Your purchases must exceed F300 in one shop in on day and the good must be
exported from the EU within ninety days of the month of purchase. When
departing you must show the purchases, the receipts and the Global Refund
Cheque which you received in the store. Following this you will have several
choices as to how to get your money back. You can get an immediate refund at
the Cash Refund Office in Amsterdam Airport, you can get a refund on your
credit card or receive a cheque.
Visitors from the EU, the US, Canada, Australia or New
Zealand require nothing more than a valid passport for a stay of up to three
months but you must ensure that your passport is valid right up until the end
of your stay. Nationals of all other countries, those who intend to stay for
a period exceeding ninety days or those who intend working during their stay
should contact the Dutch Embassy in your home country before travelling.
Post offices in the Netherlands are generally open
between 8.30am and 5.00pm from Monday to Friday and between 8.30am and
12.00pm on Saturday. In larger towns and cities, however, the opening hours
are more extensive so you really need to check with a specific branch to see
what their hours are.
Banks generally offer the best exchange rates as well
as charging the least commission and you will find a bureau de change in any
branch of any bank but you should note that their opening hours are not always
the same as that of the bank. Many close an hour earlier so bear this in mind
when using this facility.
As well as using Dutch banks, you can also avail of the services of GWK (De
Grenswisselkantoren), the national exchange organisation. GWK offers similar
rates and fees and you will find branches at all the major railway stations
and border crossings as well as at Schipol Airport. These are open between
8.00am and 8.00pm from Monday to Saturday and between 10.00am and 4.00pm on
Sundays. The branches at Schipol Airport and at the Centraal Station in
Amsterdam are actually open twenty-four hours a day. You can also purchase
traveller’s cheques in all of these offices.
All major credit cards are also widely accepted and if you have the PIN you
can use these to receive cash in compatible bank machines. The same applies
to bankcards which are members of any of the international banking networks
or Eurocard.
The country code for the Netherlands is 31 so if you
are calling from abroad you need to dial 00, followed by 31, the local area
code and the local number. The same instructions apply when you are making an
international call from within the country. You should also note that you
need to omit the 0 from the local code where applicable.
Public phone booths are widespread, particularly in the main towns and
cities. They accept f0.25, 1, 2.50, and 5 and a local call will cost you
f0.25. . Many public phones now also use telephone cards which you can
purchase at any railway station, post office and most newsagents. These come
in denominations of f5, 10 and 25. International calls can be made from most
public telephones by either dialing 00 followed by the relevant country code.
If a public phone can’t be used to make an international call make your way
to the nearest post office where they should be able to help you out.
By order of the Dutch government, all taxes and service
charges must be included in the prices printed by hotels, restaurants, cafes
and nightclubs. Even taxi fares include taxes and a fifteen per cent tip. If
you’re in doubt, particularly in restaurants and cafes, look for the words
‘inclusief BTW en service’ and this is a guaranteed that the service charge
is included. As with any other country where this is the case, however, a
small additional tip is greatly appreciated if you feel that the service
merits it. In cafes or snack bars any small change is fine and in a more
upmarket establishment add a little more. It is worth noting, however, that
at no point is tipping essential, it is entirely at your discretion.
It is worth noting what the public holidays are before
you travel to a country as the majority of businesses, banks and shops
usually shut for the day. In the Netherlands they take place on January 1st,
Good Friday, Easter Monday, April 30th, May 5th, Ascension Day, the first
Monday in June and December 25th and 26th. It is a good idea to check the
particular area too as certain towns and cities also shut down during special
events.
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