Netherlands

The Netherlands is compact, organized and easy, and Amsterdam is the place most people start. My first visit was in March 2020, right as COVID shut everything down, and I ended a Europe trip there again in September 2025. It is a city best done on foot, by tram or by bike.

What I did

• Was in Amsterdam in March 2020 as COVID hit, and caught an emergency flight home from there when flights everywhere were being cancelled.

• Spent the last stop of my September 2025 Europe trip in Amsterdam.

• Came over from London and left from Schiphol.

• Explored the canal neighborhoods on foot.

Where to stay

• Jordaan: The classic canal neighborhood, with cafes and boutiques.

• The Nine Streets: Small shops cutting across the main canals, in the middle of everything.

• De Pijp: The best casual food and the Albert Cuyp market.

• Oud-West and Noord: More local and quieter, with Noord a short free ferry ride away.

Getting there and around

• Schiphol airport has a train to Amsterdam Centraal in about 15 to 20 minutes, running frequently all day. Tap in and out with a contactless card.

• In the city, walk, take the tram, or rent a bike. A GVB day pass covers trams, buses and the metro.

• Eurostar runs from London to Amsterdam in about 4 hours, and Dutch trains are fast and frequent for day trips.

What to eat

• Stroopwafel: Best fresh and warm at the Albert Cuyp market.

• Bitterballen: Fried ragout balls with mustard, ideal with a beer at a brown cafe.

• Herring: Raw, with onions and pickles, from a street stall.

• Poffertjes: Mini pancakes with butter and powdered sugar.

• Indonesian rijsttafel: One of the best meals in the city.

• Aged Gouda: Local cheese, best from a cheese shop where you can taste first.

What to drink

• Beer: Amsterdam is a great beer city. Try the brown cafes, and the brewery tours at Heineken Experience and Brouwerij 't IJ, which sits beside a windmill. Trappist beers and local craft IPAs are everywhere.

• Spirits: Jenever is Dutch gin, served in a tulip glass filled to the brim. Try the young and the old styles in a traditional tasting house.

• Cocktails: Amsterdam has a strong craft cocktail scene, with good bars around the Jordaan and De Pijp.

• Liqueur: Advocaat and Dutch herbal bitters are the traditional after dinner drinks.

• Coffee: A flat white or a koffie verkeerd at a neighborhood cafe, with a slice of appeltaart.

Don't miss

• A canal boat tour, ideally in a small open boat at sunset.

• The Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum. Book timed tickets.

• The Anne Frank House, where tickets sell out weeks ahead.

• A bike ride through Vondelpark and along the Amstel.

• The free ferry to Noord for NDSM and the A'DAM Lookout.

• A brown cafe in the Jordaan.

Day trips and side trips

• Zaanse Schans windmills.

• Haarlem and Utrecht.

• Rotterdam for the Cube Houses, Markthal and Erasmus Bridge.

• Keukenhof tulips in spring.

• Kinderdijk windmills.

Festivals and events

• King's Day: Across the country, on April 27. Orange clothes, boats on the canals and street parties.

• Keukenhof: Lisse, usually from late March to May. The famous tulip gardens.

• Amsterdam Dance Event: Amsterdam, usually in October. A large electronic music event.

• Pride Amsterdam: Amsterdam, usually in late July or early August. The canal parade is the highlight.

• Amsterdam Light Festival: Amsterdam, usually from late November to January. Light art along the canals.

• Mysteryland: Haarlemmermeer, usually in late August. One of the oldest electronic music festivals in the world.

• Awakenings: Amsterdam, usually in late June or July. The big techno festival.

• DGTL: Amsterdam, usually in spring. House and techno at the NDSM wharf.

• Defqon.1: Biddinghuizen, usually in June. The huge hardstyle festival.

• Lowlands: Biddinghuizen, usually in August. A large mixed music and arts festival.

• North Sea Jazz: Rotterdam, usually in July. A big jazz festival.

Music and dance

• Electronic: The Netherlands is a world capital of dance music. Amsterdam clubs like Paradiso and Melkweg host live acts and DJs.

• Jazz: The Bimhuis in Amsterdam and the North Sea Jazz festival are top spots.

• Carillon and street music: Church bells and street organs are part of city life.

• Dutch pop and levenslied: Hear it in brown cafes and at King's Day.

• Dance: Dance here means electronic music. Amsterdam clubs and the Amsterdam Dance Event are where people go dancing, and Dutch clog dancing survives mostly at folk shows.

Photography spots

• Reguliersgracht and Keizersgracht: The seven bridges view at blue hour.

• Magere Brug: Lit at night.

• Canals in fall: Morning fog, with bikes in the foreground.

• Rotterdam: The Erasmus Bridge skyline at sunset.

• Drones: Strict rules, and Amsterdam is mostly inside the Schiphol control zone. Check current drone rules.

My experience

My first time in Amsterdam was a blur in March 2020, with the city shutting down and me racing to get on an emergency flight home. Coming back in 2025 felt completely different. Amsterdam was a calm, easy end to a long trip. I liked wandering the canals without a plan, and the city is small enough that you never feel rushed. I would recommend it to anyone who likes walkable cities, museums and good casual food, and it makes a great last stop at the end of a long trip.

Cost of living

• Overall: Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Utrecht: $$$$, about 5% cheaper than New York. Amsterdam is the most expensive, and Rotterdam and Utrecht run a bit lower.

• Coffee: about $4.5

• Local lunch: about $15

• Dinner for two at a nice restaurant: about $130

• Beer or cocktail: about $6 / $12

• Ride across town: about $15

• Mid-range hotel: about $170 a night

• Furnished one-bedroom in a good area: about $2,300 a month in Amsterdam, $1,800 in Rotterdam or Utrecht

• Daily budget: about $100 budget, $220 comfortable, $450+ luxury in Amsterdam, about 15% less elsewhere

The Netherlands is expensive, and Amsterdam is the worst of it, especially for hotels and rent. Eating out is manageable, and a bike is the cheapest way to get around. Prices are approximate in US dollars as of 2026.

Working remotely

• Wi-Fi: Excellent. Fiber is common, and hotels and cafes have fast, reliable Wi-Fi.

• Coworking and cafes: Best nomad cities are Amsterdam for the biggest scene and most coworking, Rotterdam for lower costs and a modern feel, and Utrecht for a compact, relaxed base.

• Time zone: UTC+1, 6 hours ahead of US Eastern (5 or 7 for a few weeks around clock changes).

• Visa for longer stays: The Netherlands is in the Schengen Area, so US citizens get 90 days in any 180. There is no nomad visa, and longer stays need a residence permit. Check current rules.

• Nomad rating: 3.5 out of 5. Great internet, English everywhere and easy travel, but high cost and tight housing.

Good to know

• Language: Dutch. Nearly everyone speaks excellent English.

• Currency: Euro. Many places are card-only, so carry a card that works with contactless.

• Plugs: Type C and F, 230V.

• Entry for US citizens: The Netherlands is in Schengen, and US citizens are visa-free for short stays. Check current rules.

• Best time to visit: April and May for the tulips, and June to September. King's Day on April 27 is the biggest party of the year.

• Getting around: Trams, trains and bikes are better than taxis.

• Tipping: Not expected. Round up, or leave 5 to 10 percent for good table service.

• SIM/eSIM: An eSIM, or a local prepaid from KPN, Vodafone or Odido. EU roaming applies.

• Apps: Uber and Bolt for rides, and Thuisbezorgd and Uber Eats for delivery.

• Water: Tap water is excellent and safe.

Useful phrases

• Hello: Hallo or Goedendag

• Please: Alstublieft

• Thank you: Dank je wel

• How much?: Hoeveel kost het?

• The check, please: De rekening, alstublieft

Nightlife

Amsterdam goes out early and casually. Dinner is early, brown cafes are the heart of the social scene, and the live music venues are some of the best in Europe. Compared with an American night out, it is less dressy, more relaxed, and the clubs go very late.

• When people go out: Dinner is around 6 to 8 pm, bars fill from 9 pm, and clubs open around 11 pm and run until 4 or 5 am on weekends. Friday and Saturday are the big nights.

• Where the action is: Leidseplein and Rembrandtplein are the main tourist squares for bars, clubs and live music. The Jordaan has charming brown cafes, De Pijp is the local favorite for bars and food, and the NDSM area hosts electronic events.

• The music: Techno and house are a Dutch specialty, alongside live indie, rock and jazz at the big venues.

• Good to know: Many bars are free to enter, clubs may charge a cover, and drinks are fair for Western Europe. Dress is mostly casual, though some clubs are selective at the door. Watch for pickpockets in crowded squares and for bikes when crossing late at night.

Meeting people

• Social scene: The Netherlands is friendly and direct, and English is nearly universal, so meeting people is simple. Amsterdam has coworking spaces, run clubs, language exchanges and lots of international residents.

• Apps: Tinder, Bumble and Hinge are all popular. Meetup, Facebook groups, Bumble BFF and expat WhatsApp groups are good for finding events.

• Etiquette: A handshake is normal, and three cheek kisses are common among friends. Be on time, because the Dutch value punctuality. Plans are usually made well in advance, and splitting the bill is the norm.

• Stay smart: Meet in public places, and keep your bike locked and your belongings close in busy areas of Amsterdam.

Staying safe

• Amsterdam is safe, but watch for pickpockets near Centraal station and in the Red Light District.

• Bike thieves are active, so lock your bike properly if you rent one.

• Stay out of the bike lanes when walking. Cyclists will not slow down.