Netherlands Warnings Or Dangers Tips by ATLC Top 5 Page for this destination

Road works

In this small country, the road system is dense and well maintained. But that also means loads of traffic and loads of road works. This could turn a, say 80 km drive, into a 2 hour journey if you have the bad luck of getting into a traffic jam.
It's good to know beforehand where the road works are.
The road works are always well indicated on the road so it's not dangerous. Nevertheless they often cause traffic jams.
Check out the link below for current information in English, German, French, Italian, Polish, Spanish

Main danger: ME !

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?

Other Contact: -

Phone: -

Working & living in the Netherlands

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

Other Contact: www.embassyworld.com

Changing guilders to Euro's

In The Netherlands guilder banknotes can be changed until 1/1/2032, legitimation required.
Coins can be exchanged until 1/1/2007 (max. 1000 coins per transaction, legitimation required).
Both only at the Dutch national bank.

The address is:
De Nederlandsche Bank NV
Westeinde 1, 1017 ZN Amsterdam
Postbus 98, 1000 AB Amsterdam

Telefax 020 - 524 25 00

Until 1/1/2003 you can go to your local Dutch bank and deposit the money into your bank account (no cash refund).
Read more on www.euro.nl

Read more about the Euro on my Europe page!
There's lots if info on all countries using the Euro and a historical travelogue with pictures all the old Dutch guilder coins.

Other Contact: Telex 11355 DNBAM NL

Phone: 020 - 524 91 11

Police & alarm numbers

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.

Other Contact: www.politie.nl

Tipping in restaurants

In The Netherlands it's perfectly normal not to give a tip at all. I think I do so about half the time. The other half: not. And when we do tip, the height is usually determined by the amount of small change involved in paying the bill. Say something is € 35, I'd dig out a euro or two at the most. If I haven't got that euro, then no tip.
Say something is € 33,90, I'd give 35 and tell them to keep the change. But I might also give that half or whole euro if the total bill is around € 15.
When I am eating out well and good (essentially spending a full evening in a restaurant), I'll tip a % of the bill but never more than 10%.

When I am abroad I tip more. Probably because I may be unsure if service is included.

How we tip in 2011
A recent poll by a big bank website showed that if our restaurant bill is 59 euro and we are satisfied with our meal then we pay this:

59 euro 10 %
60 euro 25 %
61-64 euro 38 %
65 euro 26 %
65 euro or more 1 %

Heavy traffic

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).

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

Smoking legislation

"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.

School holidays 2008/2009 part 2 - dates

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)

Website: http://www.schoolvakanties.nl

Average rainfall in October (autumn)

The normal average rainfall in October is 78 mm.
Anything under say 65 mm is considered a dry month.
October has the autumn school holiday (one week), generally the 3rd week of that month.

Over the last 10 years:
2007: 32 mm
2006: 91 mm
2005: 49 mm
2004: 56 mm
2003: 74 mm
2002: 82 mm
2001: 55 mm
2000: 109 mm
1999: 62 mm
1998: 172 mm

Website: http://www.knmi.nl