Lonely Planet Netherlands

© Lonely Planet Publications

12

Getting Started

The Netherlands is an exceedingly user-friendly place to visit. Up-to-date

information is plentiful, almost every Dutch person speaks decent English,

transport links are swift, and there’s an abundance of sights and activities.

All this means you can add a fair amount of spontaneity to your trip.

That said, a bit of foresight is helpful to pinpoint sights that match your

interests, and to get the timing right – the bulb fields aren’t much to look at

before the blossoms open. It’s also advisable to think about accommodation

beforehand, as Amsterdam’s best (and sometimes worst) hotels book up

months in advance, and other towns may have limited sleeping options.

WHEN TO GO

See Climate, p289, for

more information.

HOW MUCH?

1L gas/petrol €1.40

1½L bottled water €0.80

Glass of Heineken €2.50

Souvenir T-shirt €15

Size 37 plain/painted

clogs €17.50/20.50

Kibbeling snack €3

Cinema ticket €7.50

One hour of parking

(Amsterdam) €3.50

2/15 strip card €1.60/6.70

Day’s bike hire €6-10

The Netherlands has a typical maritime climate, with cool winters and mild

summers, so any time is a good time to visit. Be prepared for blustery and

changeable weather, however, and only a handful of sunny days in summer –

although global warming may be changing that. Precipitation (79cm a year)

is spread rather evenly over the calendar, and spring is marked by short,

violent showers.

Like much of Europe, the high season runs from June to August, which

is known for its hot, sticky spells but isn’t quite the Riviera shown in some

tourist brochures. Hordes of tourists pulse through the Netherlands at this

time, but these are the best months to sit on the canals drinking and chatting.

Many Dutch take a summer holiday, and the last July weekend is deadly for

traffic. You may be surrounded by other foreigners in August, but the month

is crammed with events – see p291.

Mid-March to May and September to...