01Free
The 30-second card
Emergency · tap to call
Source: GOV.UK · Checked 24 Oct 2026 ↗SIM and eSIM
Prepaid Dutch SIM cards with data are sold, usually from €10 for 1 GB lasting a month.Source: Wikivoyage · Checked 24 Oct 2026 ↗Apps locals use
Plans door-to-door trips on all Dutch public transport and sells tickets for the whole route.Shows journeys made by tapping in with a bank card and fixes check-in mistakes.Books cheaper advance train tickets on quieter routes.Ride-hailing in Dutch cities.Ride-hailing in Dutch cities.Pay for postage in the app and write a code on the envelope instead of a stamp.
Source: Wikivoyage · Checked 24 Oct 2026 ↗Cards or cash
Mostly cashMostly cards
Step 4 of 5: Card is the norm almost everywhere, though a little cash can still help.Source: Wikivoyage · Checked 24 Oct 2026 ↗Money in Netherlands
Euro · € · EUR
Planning several museum visits? The Museumkaart costs €75 for adults and opens many museums for a year.
Drivers can fill up in Belgium or Germany, where fuel can be up to €0.30 a litre cheaper.
On a budget, go easy on drinks and desserts, which is where restaurants make their margin.
Carry small notes: many shops refuse €100 bills and larger.
Collect Euro in CointryOur sister app for coin and banknote collectors · cointry.appOpenPublic holidays in the next 12 months
Fri, 25 Dec 2026 · Christmas Day Eerste Kerstdag
Sat, 26 Dec 2026 · St. Stephen's Day Tweede Kerstdag
Fri, 1 Jan 2027 · New Year's Day Nieuwjaarsdag
Fri, 26 Mar 2027 · Good Friday Goede Vrijdag
Sun, 28 Mar 2027 · Easter Sunday Eerste Paasdag
Mon, 29 Mar 2027 · Easter Monday Tweede Paasdag
Tue, 27 Apr 2027 · King's Day Koningsdag
Wed, 5 May 2027 · Liberation Day Bevrijdingsdag
Thu, 6 May 2027 · Ascension Day Hemelvaartsdag
Sun, 16 May 2027 · Pentecost Eerste Pinksterdag
Mon, 17 May 2027 · Whit Monday Tweede Pinksterdag
02Free
Safety today
Germany, the US and the UK publish their travel advice openly. Here is what those that cover Netherlands say, side by side, checked daily.
German Foreign Office says
No travel warning
Calm ●
Caution
Serious
Don’t go
Source: Auswärtiges Amt
Updated 13 Oct 2026 · Checked 24 Oct 2026Official page
Updated 13 Oct 2026 · Checked 24 Oct 2026Official page
U.S. Department of State says
Exercise increased caution
Calm
Caution ●
Serious
Don’t go
Level 2 of 4
Source: travel.state.gov
Updated 17 Aug 2026 · Checked 24 Oct 2026Official page
Updated 17 Aug 2026 · Checked 24 Oct 2026Official page
UK Foreign Office says
No advice against travel
Source: GOV.UK
Updated 11 Aug 2026 · Checked 24 Oct 2026Official page
Updated 11 Aug 2026 · Checked 24 Oct 2026Official page
Scams to know
Fake police officers
Real plain-clothes police rarely check cash or cards; phone the police to verify.
Source: GOV.UK · Checked 24 Oct 2026 ↗Distraction theft on airport transport
Keep bags in sight, stay awake on Schiphol–Central Station rides, more so if anyone chats.
Source: GOV.UK · Checked 24 Oct 2026 ↗Restaurant bag snatchers
Keep bags on you, not a chair back; watch strangers walking in to sell or seek someone.
Source: GOV.UK · Checked 24 Oct 2026 ↗Countrywise is a summary. The official page is authoritative.
03Free
Health
Be up to date on routine vaccines, such as MMR, tetanus and flu, before the trip.
Vaccinations
Be current on routine vaccines, such as MMR, tetanus and flu, before you go.
Talk to a travel clinic 4–8 weeks before you go.
Source: CDC
Checked 24 Oct 2026Official page
Checked 24 Oct 2026Official page
Summarised from the CDC’s Travelers’ Health pages. Using them does not mean the CDC endorses Countrywise.
04Travel layer
In the app: the travel layer
The travel layer
Read a country like someone who’s been there.
What’s different from home, and what’s the lawMust-see places, free entry and World Heritage sites20 words to remember, with pronunciationStrange and surprising factsThe anthem and national symbolsSaved for offline use
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05Free
Deep facts
| GDP | ≈ $1.3 trillionSource: World Bank · 2025 figures · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗ |
|---|---|
| Per person | ≈ $73,684Source: World Bank · 2025 figures · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗ |
| Top exports | refined petroleum, vaccines, machinery, crude petroleum, broadcasting equipment (2023)Source: The World Factbook (archive) · as of 2025/26 · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗ |
| Population | 18.1 millionSource: World Bank · 2025 figures · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗ |
|---|---|
| Median age | 42.2 yearsSource: The World Factbook (archive) · 2025 figures · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗ |
| Life expectancy | 81.9 yearsSource: The World Factbook (archive) · 2024 figures · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗ |
| Religions | Roman Catholic 20.1%, Protestant 14.8% (includes Dutch Reformed, Protestant Church of The Netherlands, Calvinist), Muslim 5%, other 5.9% (includes Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish), none 54.1% (2019 est.)Source: The World Factbook (archive) · 2019 figures · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗ |
| Area | 41,543 km²Source: The World Factbook (archive) · as of 2025/26 · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗ |
|---|---|
| Climate | temperate; marine; cool summers and mild wintersSource: The World Factbook (archive) · as of 2025/26 · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗ |
| Terrain | mostly coastal lowland and reclaimed land (polders); some hills in southeastSource: The World Factbook (archive) · as of 2025/26 · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗ |
| Type of government | parliamentary constitutional monarchy; part of the Kingdom of the NetherlandsSource: The World Factbook (archive) · as of 2025/26 · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗ |
|---|---|
| Calling code | +31Source: libphonenumber · Checked 24 Oct 2026 ↗ |
About the data
Written from the sources we link, and checked against them before each release. Countrywise summarises public sources. We are not an official source. For safety and entry rules, always follow the official page we link to.
From your foreign ministry when it publishes its advice openly (Germany, the US, the UK). Otherwise we show those three side by side. Checked daily, with the date next to every entry.
CDC · 24 Oct 2026 ↗GOV.UK · 24 Oct 2026 ↗IANA Time Zone Database · 23 Oct 2026 ↗libphonenumber · 24 Oct 2026 ↗Nager.Date · 23 Oct 2026 ↗The World Factbook (archive) · 23 Oct 2026 ↗U.S. Department of State · 25 Oct 2026 ↗Unicode CLDR · 24 Oct 2026 ↗Wikidata · 24 Oct 2026 ↗Wikivoyage · 24 Oct 2026 ↗World Bank · 23 Oct 2026 ↗
Flag artwork from flag-icons (MIT licence).
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