Preparing for a big trip can be daunting, so we’ve put together a checklist and provided some practical travel tips for your travel to the Netherlands.
For tips on where to stay, eat, and more check out this page.
Travel checklist
Passport: If it expires within 6 month of your departure date, consider renewing your passport and allowing the procedure to take up to 6 weeks.
Copies: Make copies of the important documents including your passport, medical insurance card, itinerary. If your kids are traveling with you, make sure you take all the necessary documents for them too.
Car rental: If you plan to rent a car, make sure your driver's license is valid. Note that vehicles, city & village roads and parking spots in the Netherlands are generally smaller than in the USA. If you don’t rent a car, we can arrange private transfers for you in connection with your tours and - good to know - Uber is also here in Amsterdam!
Make trip reservations in advance: Whether international flights, trains or buses, booking in advance will save you some money and keep you away from the last minute rush! If you need help with these, let us know. If you travel during the high season, book hotels, main attractions and local guides as everything tends to sell out really quickly. If you book a tour with Tom Travel Tours, skip the line tickets are always included in the package and we can reserve them with a fee.
Insurance: Check whether your current insurance covers everything when traveling abroad. At Toms Travel Tours, we request every guest to have good coverage as you engage in activities with us at your own risk. Please read our Disclaimer.
Banking/Money: Let your bank know you will be traveling to The Netherlands in order to avoid having cards blocked. You may also want to know the costs related to using your card abroad. Not all shops and restaurants in The Netherlands accept credit cards, so it's smart to have some Euros in cash (including for tipping which is common to do at about 10% of the total, despite misconceptions). We advise you to use ATMs (available everywhere) from well-known banks, as small ATMs in snack bars or tourist shops charge high exchange rates!
Mobile Phone: Ask your provider if you are covered in the Netherlands. If not, consider signing up for an international plan to reduce your costs. There is free wifi in many restaurants and bars, but not everywhere! Download apps that you might use during your travel such as Google Maps or Google Translate, so you can use them while offline.
General Practical Travel Tips
What to pack/what luggage to use
To move around Amsterdam, Netherlands and rest of Europe more easily, consider packing light — bring appropriate, but fewer clothes and have them washed via your hotels. Not to mention, you need to keep some extra space for any new purchases you make! For the Netherlands, we recommend packing comfortable clothes that you can layer for our ever-changing weather. Scarves are always a good idea and rain/windproof jackets. With our cobbled streets, flats are most advisable. Of course, be sure to bring ‘smart’ evening attire if you plan to dine at any Michelin-starred restaurants and or attend theatrical or musical performances. In general, however, Dutch people dress quite casually with jeans being commonly worn.
Hand luggage on wheels is a great option for easy movement through the airport and around your destination (even despite the cobbled streets). It will give more flexibility and you won’t need to carry multiple items in your hands at the same time. If you plan to bring 2 bags with you, it’s good to figure out a way to smoothly carry the luggage. Attaching one bag to another (or on top of your wheeled bag) or taking a backpack as a second item will make it easier for you.
Limit packing up and moving from one place to another
When it comes to vacations, we often think that the more we see, the better. But sometimes the best vacations are the ones when we don’t try to cover too much in too little time. Consider basing yourselves in one place, like Amsterdam, and taking day trips to see the surrounding areas. You'll get an immersive experience without having to pack up and go on a road trip every few days.
At Tom Travel Tours, we offer many half-day and full-day trips from Amsterdam to see the major sights of the country. And if you want to explore even further, we can arrange a day or multi-day trip to neighboring Belgium!
Managing hot or unpleasant weather
As temperatures rise and the climate changes, it is difficult to always plan your days. That it particularly true in the Netherlands with a sea climate giving us variable weather, even in a single day. If the weather forecast shows blistering hot weather or downpours of rain, we advise you to visit any one of the numerous museums or explore the city from the water by boat on a canal cruise. If you plan actively visiting major tourist sights during the day, think about making the following day a slow one, grab a coffee at a local cafe and watch Amsterdammers passing by.
How to avoid crowds and long lines
The most beautiful places in Europe are the ones that are always crowded - Amsterdam and the rest of the Netherlands is no exception, especially given the fact that we’re one of the most densely populated countries in the world! You have to be prepared to sometimes wait in line to enter the major attractions or see the good view. But don’t worry!
⁃Plan ahead which places you want to visit, when. Keep in mind that April to May are high season with the tulips and Keukenhof, so it’s important to be on time with booking during these months. Look up which museums and attractions offer online ticket sales or advance reservations - and buy your tickets right away so they don’t sell out. This is particularly true for the Anne Frank House which can get booked up to a month in advance.* If a museum or site does not offer online sales, go ahead and buy tickets at the place itself when you arrive.
Getting away from the crowds is at the core of our approach at Toms Travel Tours. We do this as much as possible and especially so during our Dutch Countryside Tour and various Tulip Tours. Our experienced local guides know their way around the popular tourist attractions and the best times to visit them!
*If you require assistance buying your tickets to the popular sights of Amsterdam such as Rijksmuseum, Anne Frank House or any other, you can contact us and we will be happy to help!
Pickpocketing
If you are a tourist in Amsterdam and the rest of Europe, you should be aware that there is occasional pickpocketing, especially in the touristy areas. The most important thing to remember is to always be aware of your surroundings.
Here are some tips for staying safe while traveling in Amsterdam, Netherlands and rest of Europe:
Don't be flashy with your valuables. Leave expensive jewelry at home if possible, and don't carry around an expensive camera or phone around your neck or wrist.
Don't carry too much cash on you at once. Instead, use credit cards whenever possible to avoid being robbed.
Pickpocketing is most common in tourist areas such as train stations, markets, and public transportation systems. It is believed that the pickpockets operate in teams, so be on the lookout for suspicious activity or people around you.