Netherlands travel guide for Britons

Britons do not need a visa for the Netherlands for tourism or business stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. This is the standard Schengen visa-free allowance. From 2026, you will need an ETIAS travel authorisation before you travel; it is not a visa, but it is a mandatory online application that costs €7 and lasts three years (check).

Your passport must be valid for at least three months after your planned departure from the Schengen area, and it should have been issued within the last ten years. Border guards may ask for proof of accommodation, return tickets and sufficient funds for your stay, so keep those handy.

The Netherlands is part of the Schengen area, so the rules are the same as for other Schengen countries. You can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. This allowance is shared across all Schengen countries, so time spent in France or Germany counts against the same 90 days.

For longer stays, such as work, study or retirement, you need a Dutch residence permit or a long-stay visa (MVV). Apply through the Dutch embassy or consulate in the UK before you travel. The process can take several weeks, so start early.

ETIAS is expected to be required from 2026 for visa-exempt travellers, including Britons. It is an online application that takes about 10 minutes and costs €7. Once approved, it is valid for three years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. Check the official ETIAS website for the exact start date.

The British Embassy in The Hague is the main point of contact for consular assistance. It can help with lost passports, arrests, and serious emergencies. For routine matters, such as visa enquiries, contact the Dutch immigration authorities instead.

There are also honorary consulates in Amsterdam and other cities, but they have limited powers. For urgent help, call the embassy's 24-hour line. The embassy is not a substitute for travel insurance, so make sure you have comprehensive cover.

The Netherlands is not a budget destination. A mid-range trip costs roughly £120–£200 per person per day, including accommodation, meals, local transport and attractions. Amsterdam is the most expensive city; Utrecht, Rotterdam and Haarlem are slightly cheaper.

Budget travellers can get by on £70–£100 per day by staying in hostels, eating at markets and using day passes for public transport. At the top end, luxury hotels and fine dining can push the daily cost above £300.

Flights from the UK to Amsterdam are frequent and can be cheap if booked in advance. Train travel from London via Eurostar is a comfortable alternative, taking about 4 hours from London St Pancras to Amsterdam Centraal. Check current prices on the official Eurostar website.

Direct flights from London to Amsterdam Schiphol take about 1 hour 15 minutes. Airlines include KLM, British Airways and easyJet. Flights from other UK cities such as Manchester, Birmingham and Edinburgh take a similar time.

Schiphol is a major hub, so flights are frequent. From the airport, trains run to Amsterdam Centraal in about 15 minutes, and to other cities like Rotterdam and The Hague in under an hour. Book flights early for the best prices, especially during school holidays.

If you prefer to avoid flying, Eurostar runs direct trains from London to Amsterdam in about 4 hours, with a return journey via Brussels. It is a more sustainable option and can be competitive on price if booked in advance.

The Netherlands uses type C and F plugs, the same as the UK's type G? No, type C and F are the two-pin round plugs common in continental Europe. The voltage is 230 V, the same as the UK, so your devices will work with a simple plug adapter.

If you are coming from the US or other countries with 110 V, you will need a voltage converter for devices that are not dual-voltage. Most phone chargers and laptops are dual-voltage, but check the label before plugging in.

Tipping is optional in the Netherlands. Service charges are usually included in the bill, so rounding up or leaving 5–10% for good service is appreciated but not expected. In bars and cafés, rounding up to the nearest euro is common.

For taxi drivers, rounding up to the nearest euro or 5% is fine. Hotel porters and housekeeping are not typically tipped, but you can leave a small amount if you wish. In restaurants, if you are unhappy with the service, you are not obliged to tip.

The general emergency number in the Netherlands is 112, which works for police, fire and ambulance. For non-urgent police matters, call 0900-8844. The police non-urgent line is for reporting theft or other incidents that do not require immediate response.

If you lose your passport, contact the British Embassy in The Hague as soon as possible. They can issue an emergency travel document. Keep a copy of your passport and travel insurance details separately.