Netherlands Holidays

You can stay in the Netherlands for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa for tourism.

Your passport must have a 'date of issue' less than 10 years before your arrival date.

Your passport's 'expiry date' must be at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave the Schengen area.

Be prepared to register your biometric details like fingerprints and a photo when entering or leaving the Schengen area, which may take extra time at the border.

All visits to Schengen countries within the previous 180 days before you travel count towards your 90-day visa-free limit.

You must carry your passport with you at all times if you are in Belgium, which has additional entry checks.

You cannot take meat, milk or products containing them into the Netherlands, with some exceptions for baby food and medical requirements.

Children aged 11 or younger will not have their fingerprints scanned but can be required to have their photo taken for the new Entry/Exit System.

You must declare cash or travellers cheques if the value is 10,000 euros or more when entering the Netherlands.

Pickpocketing and bag-snatching are common, particularly in central Amsterdam and around Amsterdam Central Station, so keep sight of your belongings.

Amsterdam police have warned of criminals using false police identities to trick tourists into handing over cash and credit cards, so be very cautious about any approaches.

There is a risk of drink spiking, particularly for young women and solo travellers, so do not leave your drink unattended.

Take care when walking beside canals, as the majority of drownings happen after heavy drinking or smoking cannabis.

You must be able to show identification if you are aged 14 or over, and British nationals should use their passport, or you could face a fine.

If you think your drink has been spiked, seek immediate medical help and contact the police.

Be extremely careful as mixing alcohol, cannabis and wild mushrooms can be fatal.