Smoking legislation and other Netherlands Warning Or Danger Tips

"Coffee shops are catering establishments and therefore subject to the tobacco legislation. Like other catering establishments, they may set up enclosed smoking areas."

This means that the selling area has to be completely separate from the smoking area. There is no difference in weed/hasj or tobacco when it comes to where you are allowed to smoke: if there is no enclosed smoking area in the coffeeshop, then you may not smoke anything.

Here's the formal information (in English) from the Ministry of Health:
http://www.horecarookvrij.nl/nl/Overige-Content/Bestanden/Information_in_English_about_Dutch_Tobacco_Legislation.doc
or click here

and also a FAQ from the same Ministry:
http://www.horecarookvrij.nl/nl/Overige-Content/Bestanden/Frequently_Asked_Questions_about_Dutch_Tobacco_Legislation.doc
or click here

As of April 1, 2007, Dutch coffeeshops can no longer sell alcohol. This covers all coffeeshops that sell cannabis products. Dutch coffeeshop owners who had licenses to sell both alcohol and marijuana were offered a choice: they could choose to keep one of those licenses.

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Heavy traffic in The Netherlands is expected daily between approx. 7-9.30 am and 4-7 pm.
Especially in the western area (called Randstad), on the A4 (Amsterdam-The Hague), A13 (The Hague-Rotterdam), A12 (The Hague-Utrecht), A1 (Amsterdam eastwards), A2 (Utrecht southwards) and ring roads (A10, A9 around Amsterdam).

Normal morning and evening traffic jams can be around 200 kms total.

You could familiarise yourself with traffic jams by having a regular look at http://www.anwb.nl/verkeer (then click on the area where you will be driving).

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Website: http://www.anwb.nl/verkeer

Alright, so you're either in need or trespassing....then you'll be happy or not so happy to see this police car!

112 is the equivalent of 911 in the US.
But only and ONLY for emergencies.
If you need police but it is not an emergency you call
0900-8844

See below: Dutch police website, information in English.

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Website: http://www.politie.nl/Overige/English/
Other Contact: www.politie.nl

I've seen many forum posting or I receive questions about working and living in The Netherlands. Now this is not so simple as many people think. For the necessary requirements for citizens of the USA, go to the link below.

If you want correct information, please direct your questions to a Dutch Embassy or Consulate in your country. See also link below.

Another good link is CWI, Center for Work and Income

After five years of working and living in The Netherlands you could become eligible for a Dutch passport under certain conditions.

http://www.usemb.nl/caslivi.htm

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Website: http://www.ind.nl/EN/verblijfwijzer/
Other Contact: www.embassyworld.com

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The level of cost depends very much on what you are used to in your own country.
These websites give an indication only (2002).

www.expatica.com/index.asp?pad=2,18,&item_id=23081
www.overseasdigest.com/country/netherlands.htm
www.to-amsterdam.net/argent
wwwchem.leidenuniv.nl/costoliv.htm

For students:
www.geocities.com/stunednec/Help.html

As of 2005:

Petrol (per liter): around 1,40 EURO = 0.96 GBP = 1.67 USD = 2.04 CAD
Milk (per liter): 0,65 EURO = 0.45 GBP = 0.78 USD = 0.95 CAD
Bread (800 gr): 1.19 EURO = 0.82 GBP = 1.42 USD = 1.74 CAD
Rent (1 bedroom, large town, center): 600 EURO = 716 USD = 412 GBP = 875 CAD

Minimum wage is about 1100 EURO per month.

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Website: www.embassyworld.com

As of Jan 1st 2005 everyone is obliged by law to be able to identify themselves. If you don't have identification, you can get a fine of 50 euro, for 14 and 15 year olds the fine is 25 euro.
If you refuse to show identification you can be taken to a policestation so that you can be identified. You may then risk a fine of 2250 euro.
Government issued documents like passports or drivers license are official ID's. Creditcards or library cards are not.

Read more here

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I will elaborate on Dutch Drugs Law a bit more in due time.
Just realise that drugs are not legalised in The Netherlands. This counts for hard and soft drugs. Use is condoned as are coffeeshops. Every city decides for itself if it condones coffeeshops or not.

People under 18 are not allowed in coffeeshops nor are they allowed to buy any drug including cannabis, mushrooms etc.

Info in English

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Website: http://www.om.nl/drugs/

I have added this and the following tip in order to help you plan your holiday.
School holidays are differentiated in regions: North, Middle, South and in primary school (age 5-12) and secondary school (age 12-18).

Region North
Province Groningen
Province Friesland
Province Drenthe
Province Overijssel
Province Flevoland, except Zeewolde
Province Gelderland, only Hattem
Province Utrecht, only Eemnes and Loosdrecht
Province Noord-Holland

Region Middle
Province Flevoland, only Zeewolde;
Province Gelderland: Aalten, Apeldoorn, Barneveld, Bergh, Borculo, Brummen, Buren, Culemborg, Dinxperlo, Doetinchem, Echteld, Ede, Eibergen, Elburg, Epe, Ermelo, Geldermalsen, Gendringen, Gorssel, Groenlo, Harderwijk, Heerde, Hengelo, Hoevelaken, Hummelo en Keppel, Kesteren, Lichtenvoorde, Lienden, Lingewaal, Lochem, Neede, Neerijnen, Nijkerk, Nunspeet, Oldebroek, Putten, Ruurlo, Scherpenzeel, Steenderen, Tiel, Voorst, Vorden, Wageningen, Warnsveld, Wehl, Winterswijk, Wisch, Zelhelm, Zutphen
Utrecht, except. Eemnes en Loosdrecht
Province Zuid-Holland
Province Noord-Brabant, only Werkendam and Woudrichem

Region South
Province Gelderland: Ammerzoden, Angerlo, Arnhem, Bemmel, Beuningen, Brakel, Didam, Dodewaard, Doesburg, Druten, Duiven, Groesbeek, Hedel, Heerewaarden, Heumen, Kerkwijk, Maasdriel, Millingen a/d Rijn, Nijmegen, Overbetuwe, Renkum, Rheden, Rozendaal, Rijnwaarden, Ubbergen, Valburg, Westervoort, West Maas en Waal, Wijchen, Zaltbommel en Zevenaar
Province Zeeland
Province Noord-Brabant except Werkendam and Woudrichem
Province Limburg

(continued in next tip)%c

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Website: www.schoolvakanties.nl

When a friend of mine was introduced to my Netherlands page he pointed out that the main Danger was not listed on this page: ME !
So he writes:

Be aware that provoking this citizen is a hazardous activity. If confronted by this small Dutch person do not be unduly alarmed. Usually, offerings of small gifts such as chocolate or even large gifts of chocolate will render her entirely safe.

What are friends for, eh?

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Phone: -
Website: -
Other Contact: -

The date notation is: Day/Month/Year
Primary school = PS (age 5-12)
Secondary school = SS (age 12-18)

If you want to know what regions are meant, read the previous tip.

Autumn holiday: North PS+SS - 18-10-08 until 26-10-08
Autumn holiday: Middle/South - 11-10-08 until 19-10-08

Christmas (all regions): 20-12-08 until 04-01-09

Spring holiday: North/Middle PS+SS 14-02-09 until 22-02-09
Spring holiday: South PS+SS 21-02-08 until 01-03-09

May holidays: All regions PS+SS 25-04-09 until 05-05-09

Summer holiday: North PS 04-07-09 until 16-08-09
Summer holiday: North SS 04-07-09 until 23-08-09
Summer holiday: Middle PS 11-07-09 until 23-08-09
Summer holiday: Middle SS 11-07-09 until 30-08-09
Summer holiday: South PS 25-07-09 until 06-09-09
Summer holiday: South SS 18-07-09 until 06-09-09

Autumn holiday: North PS+SS - not yet known (new school year)
Autumn holiday: Middle/South - not yet known (new school year)

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Website: www.schoolvakanties.nl