Here are some helpful guides from Avalon.
Enjoy browsing these overviews of our destinations!
AMSTERDAM
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NETHERLANDS
Capital: Amsterdam Language: Dutch
Population: 16 million Time Zone: EST plus 5 hours
Currency: Euro (€ or EUR) Electricity: 230V. 50Hz
Fun Facts
● The Netherlands is often referred to as Holland, although North and South Holland are actually only
two of its twelve provinces.
●
There are around 16 million bicycles in the Netherlands.
● The Netherlands is the third-largest exporter of agricultural produce—after the U.S. and France—
even though only 3% of the Dutch population is employed in the agriculture sector.
● The Van Gogh Museum and the Kröller-Müller Museum of Holland house the largest Van Gogh
collections in the world.
The Netherlands’ geography and geology are unique and have shaped its history and the character of its
people. Named after the land’s unusually low location above sea level, about 15% of Holland’s 16,000 square
miles is reclaimed land. The Dutch were pioneers of dike building and drainage canals, and the country’s
development has always been influenced by its continuous struggle with the sea.
A millennium ago, the western part of the country, known as Holland, controlled trade between the Baltic Sea,
the British Isles, and the Mediterranean territories. In the late-16th century, it became a formidable power
when Dutch explorers and merchants brought back valuable commodities from around the world. The best
mapmakers of the time were feverishly producing updated versions of maps and globes based on a stream
of information being brought back by its enormous merchant fleet. Buoyed by its wealth and status, the
Netherlands experienced a Golden Age (1580-1720) in which the arts, trade, and science, as well as freedom
of speech and publication, flourished. Many religious treatises were published, and Rembrandt, Vermeer, and
Frans Hals created masterpieces that can be admired today in the Rijksmuseum. In 1795, Napoleonic troops
invaded Holland, and its status as a world power began to wane. When the Napoleonic empire collapsed, the
Netherlands became a royal nation under the house of Orange Nassau. After its occupation during WWII,
Holland was able, with the help of the Marshall Plan, to restore its industries; today it holds a strong position
in the international market thanks to the quality of its products.
Wherever you are in the country, you are always reminded that you are never far away from a large expanse
of water; enormous clouds and moisture in the air cause special effects. The light becomes very mellow while
the sun is setting, captured majestically by Rembrandt, Vermeer, and Van Gogh in their paintings.
The best pictures of the exuberantly decorated facades of the old city mansions are along the 17th- century
canals of Amsterdam, the vibrant, friendly capital. Imagine the original gardens and hothouses where
gardeners struggled to keep alive their prized exotic plants and flowers from overseas—small beginnings of
one of the world’s most important horticultural industries.
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VISAS AND PASSPORTS
Visas to Netherlands are not required for U.S. citizens. If you hold a passport from another country, please
check with your local consulate about requirements for travel to Netherlands. All passengers traveling
internationally are required to have a passport. Please carry proper identification (your passport) on you
and do not leave it in your suitcase or hotel room.
European law requires you to carry your passport with you at all times.
COUNTRY CODES
The country code for Netherlands is 31. When calling to Netherlands from overseas, dial your international
access code (011 from the U.S./Canada) followed by the country code, area code, and phone number.
Phone numbers in Netherlands are nine digits in length. Dialing from the U.S./Canada: 011 31+##+###
####.
ELECTRICAL OUTLETS
Voltage for outlets is 230V. North American voltage is generally 110V. Therefore, a converter may be
necessary for your travels. Adapters will be necessary to adapt your plug into the outlet but may not convert
the voltage, so both devices are necessary.
Type C Type F
TEMPERATURES
To help you plan, below are average low and high temperatures for Amsterdam.
March 46 low/61 high
April 55 low/69 high
It has been cooler than normal this year.
To convert to Celsius, subtract 32, then multiply by 5 and then divide by 9.
FOOD SPECIALTIES
Cheeses, waffles, fish/seafood, and Indonesian dishes.
A FEW WORDS OF THE LOCAL LANGUAGE
Dutch:
Good morning: Goede morgen, Good afternoon: Goede middag, Good evening: Goede avond,
Goodbye: Tot Ziens,
Yes: Ja, No: Nee, Please: Alstublieft,
Thank you very much: Dank u wel,
Howmuch does it cost?: Wat kost dit?,
1: Een, 2: Twee, 3: Drie, 4: Vier, 5: Vijf, 6: Zes, 7: Zeven, 8: Acht, 9: Negen, 10: Tien,
Where is...?: Waar is...?, Admission free: Vrije toegang, No Smoking: Verboden te
roken, Entrance: Ingang, Exit: Uitgang, Restaurant check/bill: Rekening.
