{"id":3593,"date":"2016-09-26T13:24:22","date_gmt":"2016-09-26T13:24:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.diningtraveler.com\/?p=3593"},"modified":"2016-09-26T13:24:22","modified_gmt":"2016-09-26T13:24:22","slug":"getting-around-in-holland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/diningtraveler.com\/2016\/09\/getting-around-in-holland.html","title":{"rendered":"Getting Around in Holland"},"content":{"rendered":"
When travelers think of Holland, they automatically think of Amsterdam. Don\u2019t get me wrong. I LOVE Amsterdam. I traveled there often when I lived in Belgium, and I love the late night parties, canal walks, and the awesome caf\u00e9 scene. However, there is so much more to see and do in Holland beyond this great city. Experience the hipster vibes of Rotterdam, the foodie haven that is Gouda, and the laid-back vibes of one of the most northern Dutch cities, Groningen. Here\u2019s my guide on getting around in Holland and beyond if you\u2019re making the Kingdom of Oranje your base country for your Eurotrip.<\/p>\n As an American, you don\u2019t need a visa to go to Holland if you plan to stay for 90 days or less. You can find more entry requirements for the Netherlands\u00a0here<\/a>.\u00a0Most large carriers like KLM, United, Delta, and American Airlines have plenty of direct routes from the major American hubs, and they arrive at Amsterdam Schiphol, the country’s main airport. If you’re traveling to other European destinations from The Netherlands, look at flying into smaller airports like Groningen, Rotterdam, and Eindhoven, where you can get great deals from low-fare carriers like WizzAir, RyanAir, Transavia, Nordica, and others.<\/p>\n Dining Traveler Tip:<\/strong> all of these airports are easy to get to via train or bus.<\/p>\n Trains offer the easiest and most affordable way of getting around in Holland. The Dutch train system is incredibly efficient and it gets you to your destination quickly. This is especially true in the Randstad, the area that covers the most populated Dutch cities: Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, and Utrecht. Trains are also a great way to get to neighboring countries like Belgium, France, and Germany. You can get from Amsterdam Schiphol to Brussels in less than two hours and to Paris in less than four.<\/p>\n Dining Traveler Tip:<\/strong>\u00a0GoEuro has a great train guide<\/a>\u00a0that incorporates all of the rail systems associated with the destination. The website also offers a price and schedule comparison with other services, such as buses and planes.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Getting around in Holland can be quite tricky. The driving itself isn’t an issue, but parking can be incredibly expensive in big cities like Rotterdam and Amsterdam, where it can cost as much as 10 euros an hour. However, having a car can give you the flexibility to discover off-the-beaten path destinations that are oh-so charming. For instance, you can buy fresh Dutch cheese straight from the farmer near Gouda, discover the charming town of Giethoorn, or eat fresh seafood off the coast of Zeeland.<\/p>\n Dining Traveler Tip:<\/strong>\u00a0If you’re looking to discover the country by car, look into staying in smaller towns that have local hotels with free parking.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n When traveling within the city, there are plenty of ways to get around by city bus, tram, underground, and bike, the Dutch-preferred mode of transportation. If you get confused, there\u2019s always someone at the station willing to help you out. Don’t despair, since most Dutch people speak English.<\/p>\n If you really want to go native, rent a bike and truly discover the cities like a local. There are many delightful little alleys in cities like Amsterdam, Utrecht, and The Hague that you can easily find by bike. It\u2019s normal to feel a bit intimidated at first, so read a local guide to cycling<\/a> to get your bearings.<\/p>\n Getting around in Holland and beyond is easy, affordable, and fun. Traveling across the country is safe, and people are friendly and helpful. I recently traveled across the country for two weeks at seven months pregnant and felt very safe. Have you traveled across Holland? What are your tips?<\/p>\n Disclaimer: this post was sponsored by GoEuro. As always, opinions are my own<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" When travelers think of Holland, they automatically think of Amsterdam. Don\u2019t get me wrong. I LOVE Amsterdam. I traveled there often when I lived in Belgium, and I love the late night parties, canal walks, and the awesome caf\u00e9 scene. However, there is so much more to see and do in Holland beyond this great […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":27,"featured_media":3591,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[122,65,2,56],"tags":[542,227,326],"class_list":{"0":"post-3593","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-europe","8":"category-netherlands","9":"category-travel","10":"category-travel-tip","11":"tag-netherlands","12":"tag-travel","13":"tag-travel-tip"},"yoast_head":"\n<\/a>
Flying to Holland<\/h2>\n
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Taking the Train Through Holland<\/h2>\n
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Driving in Holland<\/h2>\n
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Biking and Taking Local Transit in Holland<\/h2>\n