How to prepare for your trip to the Netherlands
The language you will hear, the phrases to learn first, money, plugs, emergency numbers and a few local habits, and a way to plan the trip and keep your phrases offline.
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Photo credit
Photo of canal houses in Amsterdam by Petar Lazarevic (opens in a new tab) on Unsplash, used under the Unsplash License (opens in a new tab).
What you will hear in the Netherlands.
Dutch is spoken across the Netherlands, and a great many people speak very good English. Many will switch to English as soon as they hear an accent. The Dutch guide teaches short ways to keep going in Dutch.
Frisian is co-official in Friesland and Limburgish is spoken in Limburg, and Dutch works everywhere. Flanders, the Dutch-speaking north of Belgium, has its own words.
Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht, Haarlem, Maastricht and the Wadden islands are all in the Netherlands.
Phrases for your first day.
They come from the first lessons. In the app each has audio and a note on when to use it, and you can save it to your phrasebook.
Goedemiddag, meneer.
Good afternoon, sir.
Hoeveel kost het?
How much does it cost?
Waar is het station?
Where is the station?
Spreekt u Engels?
Do you speak English?
Kunt u dat herhalen?
Can you repeat that?
Ik wil graag een thee.
I'd like a tea.
Ik begrijp het niet.
I don't understand.
The Netherlands at a glance.
These are usually right but not always. For anything that matters, check the official advice before you go.
- Euro (€)
- +31
- On the right
- Type C, F · 230 V
- 112
Entry rules, health advice and safety change, so they are not on this page. The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office keeps them up to date for UK travellers: UK government travel advice for the Netherlands (opens in a new tab).
Habits worth knowing before you arrive.
Habits, not rules: places and people vary, so each note says where it applies.
The tulip fields near Lisse bloom for a few weeks in spring, usually peaking in April, and the dates shift with the weather. Visit on a weekday if you can.
Cycle paths are busy and fast, and cyclists often have priority at crossings. Look both ways before you step into a cycle lane, and keep out of it when you stop to take photos.
Many places prefer debit cards or contactless payments, and a few take cards only. Check before you order if you are planning to pay with cash.
Many people speak directly, which is usually not meant as rude. Most speak very good English, but a word or two of Dutch is often appreciated.
Plan the trip to the Netherlands in one place.
Put it on days
Add the Netherlands to a trip, then put places on days with a time and a note. Directions open in your maps app.
Save the videos
Paste the TikTok, Instagram or YouTube link that gave you the idea and attach it to the stop it belongs to.
Take your phrases offline
Download the travel guide on Wi-Fi. The phrasebook, packs, notes and audio work with no signal.
Share the plan
Send a link to the people you are going with. They can read it without an account, and you can invite them to edit.
About a trip to the Netherlands.
Do I need Dutch in the Netherlands?
No, most visitors manage in English. Dutch phrases are for people who want to try, and the guide covers what to do when the answer comes back in English.
What should I learn first?
Greetings, ordering a drink, asking how much, and asking for help. They are in First Steps.
Does it cover Belgium?
It covers Flanders: Antwerp, Ghent, Bruges and Leuven.
Other trip guides
Be ready to speak when you land in the Netherlands.
Create a free account, add the trip, and start with the phrases for your first hour.
Try it free for 14 days.