Netherlands
Netherlands
Europe
Schengen
The official name of Netherlands is Kingdom of the Netherlands (Koninkrijk der Nederlanden). Netherlands is a sovereign state and a constitutional monarchy. With its 41,865 km2 is primarily located in Western Europe and has several small West Indian island territories in the Caribbean (in the Leeward Island and Leeward Antilles groups). The country consists of twelve provinces and has borders with Germany, Belgium and the North Sea. Netherlands has maritime borders with those countries and the United Kingdom in the North Sea. Netherlands literally means “lower countries” because of its flat topography and low elevation (26% of its land is below the sea level and 50% of its land exceeding 1 metre above the sea level). With the population of 17.4 million people Netherlands is the 2nd most densely populated country in the European union and 12th most densely populated country in the world (density 521 per square kilometre). The capital city is Amsterdam and has almost 2,5 million inhabitants. Other large cities are Rotterdam, The Hague and Utrecht. The largest ethnic group are Dutch (76,4% of the population). The Dutch are the tallest people in the world, by nationality with an average height of 1.81 m for adult males and 1.67 m for adult females. The official language is Dutch and several secondary official languages: West Frisian in the province of Friesland, English and Papiamento in the Caribbean Netherlands. The dominant religion is Catholicism (23,7%), Protestantism (18.1%), Islam (4.9%). No religion: 50.1% of the population. Netherlands is the world‘s second-largest exporter of food and agricultural products thanks to its mild climate, fertile soil, intensive agriculture and inventiveness. A significant portion of Dutch agricultural exports consists of fresh-cut plants, flowers, and flower bulbs. Netherlands is the country of flowers. It is the country of well-known painters – Dutch masters such as Rembrandt van Rijn, Johannes Vermeer, Jan Steen, Jacob van Ruisdael, Gerard van Honthorst, Theodoor van Thulden and philosophers Erasmus, Rudolf Agricola and Spinoza. Dutch art, culture, architecture, cuisine and nature are the reasons for visiting this country.
About Netherlands
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Dutch Cuisine was originally shaped by the practices of fishing and farming, containing a lot of dairy products and is simple and straightforward. Breakfast and lunch are bread with toppings or cereals as an alternative. Dinner consists of potatoes, seasonal vegetables and a portion of meat. During the 20th century, Dutch cuisine changed and became more cosmopolitan.
There are three general regionals form of Dutch cuisine in the Netherlands. Northeastern cuisine includes for instance Metworst – it is a type of traditional Dutch sausage made from minced pork and then dried, Rookworst – traditionally smoked over wood chips, and served after they have been boiled in water. This part of Netherlands is the home of Rye bread.
Western cuisine – this area is known for its many dairy products, which includes prominent cheeses such as Gouda, Leyden (spiced cheese with cumin), Edam (traditionally in small spheres) as well as Leerdammer, and Beemster. Zaanstreek in North Holland is known for its chocolate industry, mayonnaise and typical whole-grain mustard. Seafood is also typical for this region. Southern cuisine – it is the only Dutch culinary region which developed an “Haute cuisine”. That is why we can find a lot of traditional Dutch restaurants serving typical main courses such as Biefstuk, Varkenshaas, Ossenhaas there. The traditional alcoholic beverage of the region is beer.
Travel Documents and Entry Requirements for non-EU Nationals
All EEA citizens and Swiss citizens can travel to Netherlands under the visa-free regime. Third-country nationals are required to apply for a visa to travel or live in Netherlands. The visa depends on nationality and purpose.
The documents you need to present to the Dutch border officer are as follows:
Passport validity
You must have at least 6 months left on an adult or child passport to travel to most countries in Europe. The document has to be issued within the previous 10 years and valid for at least 3 months after the date you intend to leave the EU. Beware that EU members such as Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Ireland and Romania are not part of the Schengen Area.
Schengen Visa
If you do not know if you need a visa to enter Schengen, click here. Download the Schengen Visa Application Form or visit the Dutch Ministry of European and International Affairs to check the current status regarding the visa and the conditions for issuing it here.
Schengen Insurance
Confirmation that you have travel and health insurance for Netherlands and the whole territory of Schengen, which meets Visa Code (Regulation EC No. 810/2009) conditions for a Schengen visa. Travel health insurance policies for foreigners travelling to Netherlands that fulfil Dutch Visa requirements can be purchased online from schengen.insure and it‘s accepted by Dutch Embassies and Consulates worldwide.
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Foreign nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland do not need visa for the Netherlands for the stay up to 90 days. For some nationalities outside the EU there is no visa requirement either. Non-EU nationals may need to apply for a permit before the visit. The relevant conditions are here. Which permit depends on how long the stay in The Netherlands will be.
Time of the processing of visa applications usually is up to 15 days. It can sometimes take up to 60 days, for instance if additional inquiries are necessary.
Do not forget to check the actual conditions for visiting The Netherlands on Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
About Netherlands
DUTCH CUISINE
Dutch Cuisine was originally shaped by the practices of fishing and farming, containing a lot of dairy products and is simple and straightforward. Breakfast and lunch are bread with toppings or cereals as an alternative. Dinner consists of potatoes, seasonal vegetables and a portion of meat. During the 20th century, Dutch cuisine changed and became more cosmopolitan.
There are three general regionals form of Dutch cuisine in the Netherlands. Northeastern cuisine includes for instance Metworst – it is a type of traditional Dutch sausage made from minced pork and then dried, Rookworst – traditionally smoked over wood chips, and served after they have been boiled in water. This part of Netherlands is the home of Rye bread.
Western cuisine – this area is known for its many dairy products, which includes prominent cheeses such as Gouda, Leyden (spiced cheese with cumin), Edam (traditionally in small spheres) as well as Leerdammer, and Beemster. Zaanstreek in North Holland is known for its chocolate industry, mayonnaise and typical whole-grain mustard. Seafood is also typical for this region. Southern cuisine – it is the only Dutch culinary region which developed an “Haute cuisine”. That is why we can find a lot of traditional Dutch restaurants serving typical main courses such as Biefstuk, Varkenshaas, Ossenhaas there. The traditional alcoholic beverage of the region is beer.
Travel Documents and Entry Requirements for non-EU Nationals
All EEA citizens and Swiss citizens can travel to Netherlands under the visa-free regime. Third-country nationals are required to apply for a visa to travel or live in Netherlands. The visa depends on nationality and purpose.
The documents you need to present to the Dutch border officer are as follows:
Passport validity
You must have at least 6 months left on an adult or child passport to travel to most countries in Europe. The document has to be issued within the previous 10 years and valid for at least 3 months after the date you intend to leave the EU. Beware that EU members such as Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Ireland and Romania are not part of the Schengen Area.
Schengen Visa
If you do not know if you need a visa to enter Schengen, click here. Download the Schengen Visa Application Form or visit the Dutch Ministry of European and International Affairs to check the current status regarding the visa and the conditions for issuing it here.
Schengen Insurance
Confirmation that you have travel and health insurance for Netherlands and the whole territory of Schengen, which meets Visa Code (Regulation EC No. 810/2009) conditions for a Schengen visa. Travel health insurance policies for foreigners travelling to Netherlands that fulfil Dutch Visa requirements can be purchased online from schengen.insure and it‘s accepted by Dutch Embassies and Consulates worldwide.
Foreign nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland do not need visa for the Netherlands for the stay up to 90 days. For some nationalities outside the EU there is no visa requirement either. Non-EU nationals may need to apply for a permit before the visit. The relevant conditions are here. Which permit depends on how long the stay in The Netherlands will be.
Time of the processing of visa applications usually is up to 15 days. It can sometimes take up to 60 days, for instance if additional inquiries are necessary.
Do not forget to check the actual conditions for visiting The Netherlands on Ministry of Foreign Affairs.