Tag: Netherlands

5 Small Towns To Visit In The Netherlands To Avoid The Summer Crowds

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Last Updated 16 mins ago

It feels as though summer travel is increasing everywhere around the globe. With sky-high prices, and popular spots overloaded with tourists, a trip to the outskirts is extremely welcome.

According to Railtech, summer ticket prices have increased since the start of the season, and more and more tourists are flocking to the Netherlands to get a taste of the friendly culture and care-free nature of the country. Train travel specifically grew over 63% compared to 2022.

It often feels overwhelming for travelers to research quaint towns that are worth visiting. Luckily for tourists, Europe is thriving with charming towns waiting to be explored: many of which still remain under the radar from the throngs of summer crowds.

The Netherlands is best known for its charming canals, laid-back lifestyle, and thriving cities. With overpopulated areas becoming even more so during the busiest seasons, sometimes you’ll find some of the best places off the beaten path.

Here are 5 small towns to visit to avoid the summer crowds:

Giethoorn

In the Northeastern Province of Overijsell, Giethoorn is a small town filled with quaint waterways, boats, and runs mostly car-free.

Known as the ‘Venice of the Netherlands,’ Giethoorn is about an hour from the capital city. If you’re looking for magical charm, this is it. Like something out of a picture book, you won’t believe how cute this quaint town is.

A fairytale village, the major standout here is the fact that it’s only possible to get around by foot, bike, or boat. Thatched cottages and flowers line the canals.

Though it’s still quite popular amongst tourists, it remains less so than overcrowded Amsterdam.

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Delft

Similar in style to Amsterdam, Delft is a canal-lined city in the Western part of the Netherlands.

Sandwiched between the Hague and Rotterdam, Delft is pretty easy to get to. Rainbow-colored tulips fill the city for a perfectly picturesque view.

Venture through the lively market square, boat the canals, or admire the blue and white pottery. Whether you’re into museums or history, there’s plenty to explore in Delft that’ll keep you busy for a few days.

Leiden

A university town in the South, Leiden is best known for its stunning architecture and its botanical garden founded in 1590.

About 30 minutes from Amsterdam, take a quick train to Leiden Centraal to beat the summer crowds.

With a large variety of museums and outdoor parks, Leiden is a thriving city for tourists looking to experience a different vibe in the Netherlands.

Aside from Amsterdam, the city has the most amount of waterways and charming bridges throughout. Home of the infamous Leiden University, the city always has a buzzing atmosphere about it.

Maastricht

A cobblestone city filled with gothic-style architecture, Maastricht sits on the Southern tip of the Netherlands.

With a huge cultural scene, the city is the perfect place to visit if you want to experience a local region of the country with delicious foods.

The Romanesque Basilica of St. Servatius is home to a large collection of Religious artwork for all the art lovers out there.

If you’re looking to backpack through Europe, this is the ideal area to be. Next to the Rhine Valley in Belgium, everything is right on the way.

Haarlem

Once a huge trading port, hints to the city’s medieval past are still very much ever-present.

With cobblestone streets and charming houses, it’s mostly famous for its surrounding tulip fields.

As a close neighbor, it takes only 35 minutes to reach Amsterdam if you want to visit. The city is dotted with colorful houses and scattered windmills.

With an array of canal restaurants and hidden cafes, the best way to get around (like most of the Netherlands) is to bike and see what you stumble upon.

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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com

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July 29, 2023
The Netherlands Drops All Entry Requirements And Travel Restrictions
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Last Updated 26 seconds ago

Effective September 17^th, 2022, the Dutch Government has made the decision to get rid of all Covid-19 travel restrictions and requirements. This decision applies to all travelers, including those traveling into the Netherlands from outside the EU/Schengen area. The Netherlands kept their Covid protocols for travelers in place much longer than the majority of European countries. However, as of September 17^th, the country has officially taken its name off the list of the last European countries that still have entry requirements.

Currently, Spain is the last major European country with entry requirements still in place. As other long-time holdouts like the Netherlands drop their final remaining protocols, perhaps Spain will soon follow.

Who Is Most Affected? What Does This Mean For Travelers?

Until recently, the Netherlands had a complete ban on unvaccinated travelers from countries like America or Canada. As a result, this decision directly affects unvaccinated travelers from both countries. Before this decision, Americans and Canadians had to be fully vaccinated in order to visit the Netherlands. Visitors from EU/Schengen countries were allowed to enter the Netherlands without restrictions. Still, the country did not let up on protocols for any other travelers.

September 17^th’s decision means that unvaccinated travelers from all countries, including Americans and Canadians, will be able to enter the Netherlands without proof of vaccination or evidence of a negative Covid test. The country does not have any mask requirements in place, and all venues are open and operating normally. Traveling to the Netherlands now will offer an experience much like before the pandemic turned the world upside down.

Travel Chaos, Know Before You Go

This news will likely pique travelers’ interest, and some may be ready to book their next ticket out. Most travelers who visit the Netherlands go to the nation’s capital, Amsterdam. Indeed, the city was ranked as the 26^th most popular city in the world in 2019 when it welcomed 8.84 million tourists. Many people wanted to visit Amsterdam this summer even when the vaccine requirement was still in place. Unfortunately, the city’s airport was woefully underprepared. As a result, Amsterdam was the European capital of travel chaos this summer.

Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport had a rough summer, and it doesn’t look like it will get much better for travelers interested in visiting this fall. The airport announced on Friday, September 16^th, that it would reduce daily passenger counts by 18% through the end of October due to its labor shortage. The airport is one of the busiest in the world and is a significant transfer hub for many major airlines. However, the country recently made the decision to cut flights by almost 20% compared to pre-pandemic levels in an effort to combat climate change and get away from its “transfer hub” reputation.

An Odd Decision

Amsterdam is a city filled with beautiful canals, 16^th-century architecture, and of course – bikes. There are plenty of different things to do. Still, for many, the first thought after hearing about Amsterdam is of Marijuana. Famed for its lax rules regarding cannabis consumption well before most other countries in the world, Amsterdam has long been regarded as a haven for cannabis enthusiasts. Indeed, as much as 30% of all tourists that visit Amsterdam visit one of its coffee shops with the sole intention of purchasing cannabis, and it’s big business for the area.

That is why a recent push by the city’s Mayor may come as a surprise. The Mayor, Femke Halsema, intends to make cannabis purchases in the city a residents-only privilege. The plan has yet to be implemented. Still, travelers visiting with cannabis as one of their main reasons should keep an eye on the news to ensure they remain unaffected. This isn’t a set-in-stone change but is something being seriously considered – making it worth keeping tabs on.

Getting There

American travelers interested in visiting Amsterdam can fly direct from 20 U.S. cities, while Canadians can fly direct from 5. Travelers from both countries should be weary when flying back, as Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport has had extremely long lines this summer. Go to the airport much earlier than you would have in the past, and try to avoid checking a bag if possible.

Travelers flying to Amsterdam from Canada should be extra careful if they fly out of Toronto Pearson or Montreal Trudeau airports. Both were recently ranked as the first and second worst airports in the world for flight delays.

U.S. Cities That Fly Non-Stop To Amsterdam
- Boston (BOS)
- New York (EWR)
- Philadelphia (PHL)
- New York City (JFK)
- Detroit (DTW)
- Washington (IAD)
- Minneapolis (MSP)
- Chicago (ORD)
- Orlando (MCO)
- Atlanta (ATL)
- Miami (MIA)
- Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW)
- Austin (AUS)
- Houston (IAH)
- Salt Lake City (SLC)
- Seattle (SEA)
- Portland (PDX)
- Los Angeles (LAX)
- San Francisco (SFO)
- Las Vegas (LAS)
Canadian Cities That Fly Non-Stop To Amsterdam
- Montreal (YUL)
- Toronto (YYZ)
- Calgary (YYC)
- Edmonton (YEG)
- Vancouver (YVR)
This article originally appeared on Travel Off Path. For the latest breaking news that will affect your next trip, please visit: Traveloffpath.com

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Disclaimer: Current travel rules and restrictions can change without notice. The decision to travel is ultimately your responsibility. Contact your consulate and/or local authorities to confirm your nationality’s entry and/or any changes to travel requirements before traveling. Travel Off Path does not endorse traveling against government advisories
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September 18, 2022
Fully Vaccinated U.S. Travelers Can Now Enter The Netherlands Without Testing
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The Dutch government has announced that from today – 23 March – fully vaccinated travelers from the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom will be able enter the Netherlands without having to present a negative Covid-19 test upon arrival.

And, for nationals – of countries from within the EU or Schengen zone – the entry rules have been made even easier, with there now being no requirement to show proof of vaccination or recovery from Covid-19, or a need to present a negative test on arrival.

What Were The Previous Entry Requirements For U.S. and Non-EU Travelers?

Prior to this relaxing of Covid-19 entry requirements, fully vaccinated travelers – from nations that are not part of the European Union or Schengen zone – were required to present:
- a negative PCR test result (taken no more than 48 hours before departure)
- a negative antigen test result (taken no more than 24 hours before departure).
There was no need to quarantine, however, with such a requirement being lifted for American travelers on 25 February.

What Are The New Entry Requirements For Fully Vaccinated U.S. Citizens Wanting To Visit The Netherlands?

With there no longer being a requirement for travelers to take a Covid-19 test – although all travelers are ‘advised’ to self-test upon arrival, as well as on day 5 after arrival – U.S. citizens that have been fully vaccinated are able to enter the Netherlands by just:

The same rules apply to travelers from Canada and the United Kingdom.

How Do You Qualify As Being Fully Vaccinated?

In order to be considered ‘fully vaccinated’ by the Dutch authorities, you must have received your final vaccine dose no more than 270 days before your arrival into the Netherlands.

However, if you have received a booster dose your proof of vaccination is considered to be valid indefinitely.

Can Unvaccinated U.S. Travelers Currently Visit The Netherlands?

The simple answer is ‘yes’ – and the same answer applies to Canadian and British travelers.

However, an EU entry ban is currently in effect for nationals that are not from countries within the EU or Schengen zone. In order to be exempt to the ban – citizens that do not come from a country within the EU and Schengen zone need to:
- travel to the Netherlands from a ‘safe’ country
- show proof that they have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19
- show proof that they have recently recovered from Covid-19.
There are also other reasons for exemption – which can be found here.

From today – 23 March – visitors will be able to present a positive Covid-19 antigen test result as proof of recovery, with a positive PCR test result having previously been required.

Face Masks On Public Transport And Pre-Admission Testing For Large Public Events No Longer Required

Although face masks will still be required when on an airplane – and in the departure lounge of airports – the Dutch government has announced that they will no longer need to be worn when using public transport in the country. This includes when traveling by taxi, bus, and ferry.

There is also no longer a requirement to take a pre-admission Covid-19 test before visiting nightclubs – or attending a public event – with a capacity of more than 500 people.

This now means that you are no longer required to present a coronavirus entry pass in order to enter any public venue inside the country.

The Netherlands is not the first country to relax its entry requirements for travelers – with 11 nations, so far this month, having removed all of their Covid-19 entry requirements.

Read more:

Travel Insurance That Covers Covid-19 For 2022

55 Countries Vaccinated Americans Can Enter Test Free

↓ Join the community ↓

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Disclaimer: Current travel rules and restrictions can change without notice. The decision to travel is ultimately your responsibility. Contact your consulate and/or local authorities to confirm your nationality’s entry and/or any changes to travel requirements before traveling. Travel Off Path does not endorse traveling against government advisories
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March 24, 2022