Our Trip to the Netherlands

The Netherlands Our Way: Where We Went, What We Spent & What We Learned

A trip can look pretty straightforward in a handful of photos, but our Netherlands adventure had plenty happening between those snapshots. We spent our time exploring Amsterdam and beyond, figuring out public transport, trying Dutch food, visiting museums, wandering along canals, and, of course, tracking down a few penguins along the way.

In this guide, we’re sharing our Netherlands itinerary, what we actually spent, how we got around, places we loved, and the things we’d change next time. We’re opening up our travel spreadsheet, sharing the real numbers, and putting everything we learned in one place to help you plan your own waddle through the Netherlands.  We’re also answering your most common questions from Instagram, so you’ll know exactly what to expect before your own adventure begins.

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Netherlands Travel FAQs: What to Know Before You Go

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Do I Need a Visa to Visit the Netherlands?

It depends on your nationality. The Netherlands is part of the Schengen Area, so EU/EEA and Swiss citizens can travel there without a visa, while travelers from some non-EU countries may need a short-stay Schengen visa. A short-stay visa generally allows visits of up to 90 days within 180 days. If you are traveling from outside the EU, always check your nationality’s requirements before booking.

One thing to watch is ETIAS. As of September 2026, ETIAS is still not operational, so travelers can’t apply for it yet. It will eventually apply to visitors from many visa-exempt countries.

Is the Netherlands Safe to Visit?

For us, the Netherlands felt easy to travel around, including when using public transport and walking around Amsterdam. As with any popular destination, we still kept an eye on valuables in crowded areas, stations, and on public transport. Amsterdam in particular can get very busy, and bicycles are another thing to watch out for. Bike lanes are not extra pavement, so look before stepping into one.

What Currency Does the Netherlands Use?

The Netherlands uses the euro (€). Cards and contactless payments are widely used, and during our trip we found paying by card very easy. We would still carry a little cash as backup, but we certainly wouldn’t arrive with a wallet full of euros.

Is the Netherlands Expensive to Visit?

Yes, we would consider the Netherlands a fairly expensive European destination, particularly when it comes to accommodation in Amsterdam. Our hotel alone cost us more than €200 per night for two people, and attraction tickets can add up quickly if you visit several museums and experiences.

That said, plenty of ways can help you balance the budget. Walking around the canals, exploring neighborhoods, visiting parks, taking the free ferry across the IJ, and simply waddling around Amsterdam cost nothing. Mixing paid attractions with free experiences helped us keep costs under control.

How Much Money Do You Need Per Day in the Netherlands?

How much you need depends on your travel style, but Amsterdam can easily turn into an expensive city break. As a rough guide, expect around €150–€250 per night for a mid-range hotel room for two, €3–€5 for a coffee, €10–€20 for a quick lunch, and roughly €25–€40 per person for dinner at a regular restaurant, before adding drinks. Public transport and attraction tickets add another chunk to the daily budget, especially if you plan to visit several museums. For two people traveling as we did, we budgeted roughly €250–€350 per day, including accommodation, although you can certainly spend less or much more. We share our full trip breakdown further down, with exactly what we paid for our hotel, food, transport, and attractions during our five days in the Netherlands.

Are There Free Things to Do in Amsterdam?

Absolutely. Amsterdam can be expensive, but you can do plenty without spending a euro. Some of our favorite free experiences were waddling along the canals, exploring Jordaan, relaxing in Vondelpark, browsing markets, looking for historic gable stones, and taking the free ferry across the IJ to Amsterdam-Noord and NDSM Wharf. You can also visit the floating Flower Market, walk through the Rijksmuseum passageway, explore Dam Square, and hunt for Amsterdam’s little hidden sculptures and street art. We found enough free places to create an entire guide, so if you’re trying to balance expensive museum tickets with budget-friendly exploring, check out our free things to do in Amsterdam guide.

How Many Days Do You Need in the Netherlands?

For Amsterdam alone, we think three to four full days gives you enough time to see the major attractions without racing between them. Add more days if you want to visit other parts of the Netherlands.

We spent five days and four nights on our trip, which worked well for what we wanted to see, although, as usual, we still left with places on our list for next time.

What Is the Best Time to Visit the Netherlands?

No single month is perfect. Spring is popular thanks to tulip season and King’s Day, while summer brings longer days and warmer weather. Autumn generally means fewer crowds, while winter has Christmas markets, light festivals, and a completely different atmosphere.

We visited in early May, and it was a great time to explore. Temperatures were comfortable for walking, although we definitely experienced the famous Dutch rain too. The official tourism board notes that May has an average daytime maximum of around 17°C, and rain is possible year-round. Basically, pack layers and bring a rain jacket, no matter when you go.

How Do You Get Around the Netherlands?

The Netherlands has an extensive network of trains, buses, trams and metros, making it easy to travel without renting a car. For longer distances between cities, trains are particularly useful, while Amsterdam has trams, metro services, buses and ferries.

Public transport has also become very easy for visitors thanks to OVpay. You can check in and out using a contactless debit or credit card, phone or smartwatch instead of buying a separate ticket for every journey. Just remember to use the same card or device to check in and check out. And then, of course, there are bikes. This is the Netherlands, after all.

Do You Need to Rent a Car in the Netherlands?

For a trip focused on cities such as Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, or Utrecht, we wouldn’t bother. Public transport is extensive, and driving into busy city centers comes with parking costs and restrictions.

A car makes more sense if your itinerary includes smaller villages, countryside, or places that aren’t as convenient to reach by public transport.

Do You Need an OV-Chipkaart in the Netherlands?

Not necessarily. Visitors can now use OVpay to check in and out of public transport with a contactless bank card, credit card, phone or smartwatch. It works across trains, buses, trams and metros, making public transport much easier for short trips.

The traditional OV-chipkaart is being phased out as the Netherlands transitions toward OVpay and the newer OV-pas system.

Is Amsterdam Walkable?

Very much so. We waddled around Amsterdam a lot, and walking was actually one of our favorite ways to explore the city. The historic center is compact enough that you can move between many attractions on foot, while discovering canals, bridges, gabled houses, and little details you would otherwise miss. Just remember that Amsterdam is built around cyclists too. Pay attention when crossing bike lanes because bikes can appear much faster than you expect.

Do You Need to Rent a Bike in the Netherlands?

No. Cycling is a huge part of Dutch life, but you don’t need to rent a bike just because you’re visiting. We actually chose not to cycle around Amsterdam and relied on walking and public transport instead. If you aren’t confident cycling in busy city traffic, there is nothing wrong with doing the same. Amsterdam’s bike lanes are busy and used by locals who actually need to get somewhere.

Does EU Roaming Work in the Netherlands?

Yes. The Netherlands is in the EU, so if you have a SIM card from another EU country, EU “Roam Like at Home” rules generally apply. That means calls, texts, and mobile data are normally charged according to your domestic plan, subject to your provider’s fair-use conditions. We therefore didn’t need to buy a separate Dutch SIM or eSIM for our trip.

Can You Drink Tap Water in the Netherlands?

Yes. Tap water in the Netherlands is safe to drink, so bringing a reusable bottle is an easy way to avoid buying bottled water all the time. We certainly wouldn’t spend money on bottled water just because we were traveling.

Is English Spoken in the Netherlands?

Yes. As English-speaking travelers, we found communication extremely easy. In Amsterdam especially, we had no problems using English in hotels, restaurants, attractions, or on public transport. You don’t need to speak Dutch to travel around the country, but learning a few words is always a nice touch. Try Hallo (hello), Dank je wel (thank you), Alsjeblieft (please/you’re welcome), Goedemorgen (good morning), and Tot ziens (goodbye). Even if you switch straight back to English afterward, making a little effort never hurts.

Can You Pay by Card Everywhere in the Netherlands?

Card and contactless payments are extremely common, but we still recommend keeping a small amount of cash on hand as a backup. One thing international travelers should know is that not every business necessarily accepts every type of foreign credit card, so having more than one payment option is useful.

Do You Need to Book Amsterdam Attractions in Advance?

For the major attractions, absolutely. This is particularly important for places with timed entry and limited capacity. We booked attractions such as the Anne Frank House ahead of time rather than buying tickets when we arrived. For a short Amsterdam trip, we’d book the attractions you absolutely don’t want to miss first, then leave space in the itinerary for spontaneous discoveries.

What Day Trips Can You Take From Amsterdam?

Amsterdam makes a great base for exploring more of the Netherlands, with plenty of places you can reach without changing hotels. We took a day trip to Zaanse Schans, where we got our dose of classic Dutch windmills, wooden houses, cheese, and clog-making, and it was an easy escape from the city. Other popular day trips include Haarlem, Utrecht, The Hague, Rotterdam, Delft, Volendam, and Marken, while Keukenhof is a popular option during tulip season. If you have more than a few days in Amsterdam, we would definitely set aside at least one day to waddle beyond the city and see another side of the Netherlands.

Where Did We Stay in Amsterdam?

For our four nights in Amsterdam, we stayed at Dutch Design Hotel Vondelpark, a small design hotel tucked between residential buildings near Vondelpark. Our room was definitely compact, but we liked the quiet neighborhood and having Vondelpark just a short waddle away. Tram 2 also made getting to and from central Amsterdam straightforward. It wasn’t the cheapest stay, but Amsterdam accommodation can be expensive, and overall, it worked well as a base for our five-day trip.

How Much Did Our Trip to the Netherlands Cost? A Full Breakdown

Now for one of our favorite parts of any trip breakdown: how much did we actually spend? We tracked our expenses throughout our five days in the Netherlands, including flights, accommodation, transport, attractions, restaurants, drinks, snacks, and, apparently, quite a few souvenirs. These costs are for two people and one penguin, and we have included everything we spent to give you a realistic idea of what a similar Amsterdam trip might cost.

What	Cost
Flight Tickets	€143.44
Accommodation	€802.27
Transportation	€156.58
Attractions & Activities	€173.00
Restaurants	€194.14
Groceries & Snacks	€67.18
Drinks	€84.79
Souvenirs	€242.82
Other Expenses	€1.00
TOTAL COST	€1,865.22
PER PERSON	€932.61

Altogether, our five-day Netherlands trip cost €1,865.22 for two people and one penguin, or €932.61 per person, including our flights and four nights of accommodation in Amsterdam. Our biggest expense was the hotel at €802.27, followed by a surprisingly enthusiastic €242.82 souvenir haul. We also spent €173 on attractions and activities and nearly €200 on restaurant meals.

The Netherlands definitely wasn’t one of our cheapest trips, but we didn’t travel to spend as little as possible. We ate out, visited the attractions we wanted to see, took a day trip to Zaanse Schans, and brought plenty home. You could easily cut the total by choosing cheaper accommodation, limiting paid attractions, and perhaps showing a little more restraint in the souvenir shops than we did. For our travel style, though, €932.61 per person for the entire trip felt reasonable for what we managed to fit into five days.

Is the Netherlands Worth Visiting?

For us, definitely. The Netherlands has much more to offer than tulips and windmills, and it is absolutely worth visiting outside the famous tulip season too. Amsterdam alone kept us busy with its canals, museums, food, parks, neighborhoods, and all those little things we discovered simply by waddling around without much of a plan. Our trip to Zaanse Schans also gave us a glimpse of a completely different side of the country.

The biggest downside is the price. Accommodation, attractions, food, and transport can add up quickly, particularly in Amsterdam. Still, we came home feeling that we had only scratched the surface. There are plenty of Dutch cities, coastal areas, villages, and corners of the country we haven’t seen yet, so we would happily return, tulips or no tulips.

Buy Us a Ko-fi

And that’s our Netherlands trip unpacked, from what we did and where we stayed to what we spent and what we learned along the way. We hope sharing our real itinerary, costs, and experiences helps make planning your own trip a little easier and gives you a better idea of what to expect before you go.

There is still plenty of the Netherlands left for us to explore, so this certainly won’t be our last waddle through the country. For now, pack your bag, explore, and waddle more.

Travel Bold. Eat Well. Waddle Wild.

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