Traveling to the Netherlands on our own! All information about the country for organizing a budget trip to Holland: how to get there, what to do, what to try.
Have you dreamed of visiting the Netherlands and the charming capital of this northern country for a long time? Rest assured that traveling to Amsterdam on your own is not at all difficult, as in other Dutch cities. All the most important information about the Netherlands is in this article - it will help you realize your plans.
Preparing an independent trip to the Netherlands
1. Search for cheap flights
The first thing to do is to read our excellent and very detailed instruction "How to get to Amsterdam: the most complete instruction". In this article, you will learn everything about getting to the capital of Holland from St. Petersburg, Moscow, Kaliningrad, Minsk, Vilnius, Riga and Tallinn. It is also extremely helpful to know how to get to the city from Amsterdam Airport.
If we talk about the search for tickets for an independent trip to the Netherlands very briefly, then it is worth noting the following:
- The easiest option is to track promotions and offers of airlines flying to the Netherlands from Moscow and St. Petersburg on our website. Inexpensive flights to Amsterdam can be found at Ukraine International, airBaltic, JAT Airways, Lufthansa, LOT and many other companies that fly from Russia to the Netherlands with a transfer in some European city (Kiev, Riga, Paris, etc.). The average cost of round-trip tickets is about 10 thousand rubles. Look for cheap tickets on the metasearch sites Aviasales and Skyscanner.
- The second option is to fly to cities close to the border of the Netherlands - Dusseldorf or Cologne. And from them it is already by bus or train to get to the desired city of Holland.
- You can also use the method to get to Europe cheaply via Lithuania, Latvia or Finland. This versatile option is also perfect for those who want to get to the Netherlands inexpensively.
2. Obtaining a Dutch visa on your own
To visit the Netherlands you need a Schengen visa. If you do not yet have an open Schengen, then you need to contact the consulate of the kingdom or the visa center. It is better to make a visa to the Netherlands (as to any other European country) on your own - it will cost you half or even three times cheaper, and the probability of obtaining it will be exactly the same as in the case that your visa documents will be submitted by intermediaries. For a regular tourist visa to the Netherlands, you will need a standard set of documents: a passport, photographs, copies of a civil passport, a questionnaire, tickets and accommodation reservations, an insurance, a certificate from work or study, a bank statement on the availability of sufficient funds.
Don't forget about insurance! She will save you from expenses in case of emergency. Submit it on Sravn.Ru or Cherehapa services. Cost - from 300 rubles per week.
Travel between cities in the Netherlands
If you plan to visit several cities in the Netherlands or the nearest countries (Germany, Belgium, etc.) at once, then these articles may be useful to you:
- Eindhoven - Amsterdam: how to get there
- Dusseldorf - Amsterdam: how to get there
- How to get to The Hague from Amsterdam
- Brussels - Amsterdam
Accommodation while traveling:
- Look for hotels at the best price on Hotellook.ru - it compares the prices of various booking systems and finds the best one.
- Sometimes it is cheaper and more comfortable to rent a house or apartment - many interesting options from the owners can be found on the popular Airbnb.ru service.
What to do in the Netherlands
Look for interesting excursions on the Sputnik and Tripster websites. Individual and group, no crowds of tourists and in Russian.
Coffee shops and smart shops
Detailed coverage of the topic in the article on coffee shops in Amsterdam.
These world-famous establishments are worth visiting anyway during your independent trip to the Netherlands: even if you do not plan to try marijuana, muffins and other Dutch "joys", you can buy yourself a coffee and just enjoy the surrounding atmosphere. There are a huge number of coffee shops in the Netherlands, so choose the one that you like best in terms of interior, music, atmosphere. The main thing is not to forget that in coffee shops, oddly enough, you cannot smoke cigarettes and drink alcohol. Products containing marijuana are of course only sold to people over 18 - you may be asked for an ID.
Continuing the theme, one cannot fail to mention the hallucinogenic mushrooms (magics), which are also freely sold in the Netherlands. Beginners should be careful with these things. It is believed that each type of mushroom (truffle) has its own effect - euphoria, hallucinations, energy rise, etc. However, in reality, species differences are not as important as the mood of the person who goes on a trip and the environment around him. It is always better to have a friend by your side - firstly, he will control your condition, and secondly, this will make you more comfortable.
Red light district
This place requires no introduction. And again, even if your plans do not include a good walk in Amsterdam, then no one forbids you to visit this area just for the sake of curiosity. To avoid trouble, remember that girls are not allowed to take pictures. And in general, the Red Light District can be very fierce and harsh - for details we ask you in the report "Fear and Loathing in Amsterdam".
Visit the cheese fair and attraction
At these events, you can taste and buy any type of cheese you are interested in. Be prepared for a huge selection - there are even wasabi-flavored cheeses! The largest auction takes place on Fridays in the city of Alkmaar from April to September.
Visit Dutch mills
The mill is one of the main symbols of the Netherlands. To see real windmills, you can go to the village of Zaanse Schans, located near Amsterdam. Most of the mills work here as museums. Also in the village there is a workshop-shop of national footwear and an old cheese dairy. In the south of the country, in the town of Kinderdijk, you can also find windmills. The way here will take longer, but there are fewer tourists here, and the place is more authentic.
Admire the flowers
The Netherlands has been famous for its flowers for more than one century. The most amazing exotic species can be found here. But the most important flower of the country is the tulip. A great place to enjoy the flowers is the Keukenhof Park, which is located near Amsterdam. The best time of the year is April and May. You can also visit the capital's flower market.
Visit the Artis Zoo in Amsterdam
The zoo is located about two kilometers southeast of Dam Square. Address: Plantage Kerklaan 38-40.
The area of the territory is almost 15 hectares. Here you can see more than two hundred species of plants and almost a thousand species of animals and birds. In addition to animals, the zoo has a large number of ancient buildings, such as the zoological museum and library.
Netherlands cuisine
I recommend our in-depth review on food in Holland: where to eat, how much food costs in shops and cafes, what is worth trying, etc. - it will be useful for everyone who goes on an independent trip to the Netherlands.
Fresh raw herring
This is a traditional local dish that is consumed with onions. Young herring is especially appreciated, the time of catching which is spring. If you are traveling at other times of the year, then you can try haring - this is again herring, only lightly salted.
Holland cheeses
Of course, one of the main advantages of the Dutch cuisine is a wide variety of cheeses. Everyone who comes to this country should try the cheese.
Edamer - naturally ripened cheese.This Dutch cheese is made from cow's milk. Its peculiarity is a light nutty flavor. Young Edamer does not taste sharp and even a little sweet. Ripe Edamer, on the other hand, is much drier and saltier. True cheese connoisseurs prefer cheese that has been aged for over a year. However, the most popular and frequently encountered are the unrestrained Edamer variations.
Gouda... This cheese is also made from cow's milk. Gouda dates back to the distant 6th century. The flavor of Gouda cheese ranges from mild and mild to richly spicy.
Maasdam - one of the most popular cheeses in Holland, known all over the world. The cheese got its name from the small Dutch town of Maasdam. The peculiarity of the cheese is its large holes and a sweetish taste. The famous Maasdam holes are formed during the ripening of the cheese due to the gases generated during the fermentation process.
Peasant cheeses... These include Bemster and Stolwijker... They are unusual in that they are made from whole milk - thanks to this, their taste becomes rich, close to creamy.
- It is also worth noting that Indonesian cuisine is extremely popular in the Netherlands, because Indonesia has been a Dutch colony for a long time. Here you should try rice with some exotic meat sauce.
