From securing a travel visa or ETIAS authorisation to navigating the Dutch transport network, this checklist covers eight handy steps to make your trip to the Netherlands smoother.
From paperwork to trains to the famously blunt locals, a bit of prep now saves you a headache later.
Most of it takes ten minutes, tops. We’ve done the annoying research bit so you don’t have to.
1. Check your Schengen entry requirements
If you’re a non-EU visitor, you’ll need a passport valid for at least three months beyond your departure date from the Schengen area, plus proof you can actually afford to be here.
Depending on your nationality, that might mean applying for a Schengen visa, which typically requires travel insurance covering at least €30,000 in medical costs, according to Netherlands Worldwide, the official Dutch government site.
READ MORE | Permits and visas for the Netherlands: ultimate 2026 guide
Right now, visa-exempt travellers (Americans, Canadians, Australians, and others) don’t need anything extra to enter. Enjoy it while it lasts!
The EU’s new ETIAS (a quick online travel authorisation, basically Europe’s answer to the US’s ESTA) is set to launch in the last quarter of 2026, per the European Commission.
If your trip falls after that, budget a few extra minutes and €20 for the privilege of filling in a form.
2. Opt for a travel eSIM
You land at Schiphol. Your phone can’t find Wi-Fi, and you’re standing in arrivals wondering what currency your roaming charges are about to hit you in. A travel eSIM sidesteps all of that.
Instead of hunting down a Dutch SIM kiosk at the airport or hoping Schiphol’s Wi-Fi holds up, you can just install an eSIM before you even leave home. It activates the second you land, so you’ve got data before your suitcase has even made it onto the belt.
Don’t waste your first hour in the Netherlands hunting for connectivity. With a Holafly eSIM, you land at Schiphol with unlimited data already switched on.
Even better? Plans are fully customisable to match exactly how long you’re staying. Use code DUTCHREVIEW for 5% off your order.
3. Book your must-see museums before you go
Amsterdam’s biggest museums don’t really do walk-ins anymore, and turning up on a whim gets you a very polite Dutch “no.”
For example, the Anne Frank House releases tickets every Tuesday at 10 AM for slots six weeks out, and they disappear fast, especially between March and October.
The Van Gogh Museum is online-only too, so don’t bother trying to charm your way past the front desk. While the Rijksmuseum is a little more forgiving, you’ll still need a timed slot either way, so book a few days ahead rather than showing up and hoping.
And if you’re picturing Amsterdam as the only place worth booking a museum visit, think again. Leiden alone packs in 14 excellent museums, and good luck finding a queue there.
4. Look into the Netherlands’ new summer train pass
The Dutch government just launched the Nederland Dal Vrij Trein (“Netherlands off-peak free train”), a temporary €49-per-month pass for unlimited second-class travel outside rush hour and on weekends.
READ MORE | Dutch €49 unlimited train pass launches June 15: here’s everything you need to know
It’s valid until 31 August 2026, and it’s a serious discount on the subscription it’s based on, which normally costs well over €100 a month.
If your trip lands in this window, it’s worth checking before you commit to any other transport plan. Let’s just say €49 for unlimited weekend trains is the kind of deal that makes even the Dutch — a nation not exactly famous for impulsive spending — mildly excited.
5. Get used to Dutch directness
Ask a Dutch person what they think of your outfit, your cooking, or your parking, and they’ll tell you. Not out of malice, just because that’s how conversation tends to work here.
It’s such a defining trait that we gave it its own entry in our Dutch Quirks series: number 42, overwhelmingly direct and allergic to beating around the bush. It shocks a lot of visitors at first, especially anyone raised on polite ambiguity.
Once you clock it as a communication style rather than a personal attack, it’s actually pretty refreshing. No more second-guessing what people really mean.
6. Learn about Dutch tipping culture
Unlike in America, tipping in the Netherlands is never expected. Hospitality staff earn at least minimum wage regardless of tips, a legacy of a mandatory servicekosten (service charge) that quietly got folded into menu prices back in the 1970s.
Rounding up the bill or leaving a little extra for great service is a nice gesture. Nobody’s counting on it, though.
We’ve gone deeper into exactly when and how much in our guide to Dutch tipping culture, so you never have to do that awkward mental maths at the table again.
Ditch the risky public Wi-Fi in Dutch train stations and let a Holafly eSIM keep your data safe from local scammers right from arrival.
You get to completely bypass the bureaucratic nightmare of needing a local BSN or Dutch bank account just to get connected. Let’s not sleep on their ‘Always On’ benefits and their 1gb of global backup data every month, so you are never left stranded. Best of all, you’ll have 24/7 WhatsApp support in your pocket if anything goes sideways — plus 5% off your order with code DUTCHREVIEW.
7. Sort out your travel insurance or health coverage
If you’re an EU or EEA citizen, don’t forget your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). This card covers necessary medical care during your stay, ensuring that you don’t pay out of pocket for your care.
READ MORE | 9 things you need to know about Dutch health insurance as an international
If you’re a non-EU (or EEA) citizen, get private travel insurance regardless of your visa status. The Dutch healthcare system often expects upfront payment from visitors, with reimbursement sorted out afterwards.
Even a short trip warrants checking your coverage, because a twisted ankle on cobblestones is a very avoidable bad memory.
8. Pick up a few essential Dutch phrases
Almost everyone in the Netherlands speaks excellent English, so you won’t struggle. But knowing how to say thank you properly in Dutch goes a long way and tends to earn you a warmer smile at the counter than the average tourist gets.
READ MORE | How to order in Dutch: from getting a ‘tafeltje’ to paying the ‘rekening’
You don’t need fluency, just enough to show you made an effort. The Dutch notice. And despite everything we just said about their directness, they do appreciate it.
Got a trip to the Netherlands coming up? What’s still on your pre-departure checklist? Tell us in the comments below!