The Netherlands is a tiny country with a big reputation, known for everything from its renowned art and architecture to its attitude toward marijuana to its world-famous canals. From the streets of Amsterdam to the quaint villages in the countryside, there’s plenty to do in the Netherlands.
Just make sure you pack all the essentials, including devices like your phone and Kindle, as well as a US-to-Netherlands power adapter to plug them all in without risking any damage to your electronics.
The Netherlands has two different types of electrical outlets, Type C and Type F. Both have two round holes, and they differ in that Type C is ungrounded while Type F has grounding clips. You’ll find both types in Amsterdam and throughout the Netherlands. Any plug type with two round pins will work in the Netherlands, including the Type E plugs commonly found in France. Sockets of any type in the Netherlands are usually set into a round indentation in the wall (unlike in the US, where outlets are flush against the wall).
Unlike the US, but like most other countries in Europe and elsewhere, the Netherlands uses a voltage of 230V and a frequency of 50 Hz.
While packing for your trip, you’ll probably be asking, “What plug do I need in the Netherlands?” Since the US uses a different outlet type than the Netherlands, you’ll definitely need to bring an adapter with you. A US-to-Netherlands power adapter can have either a Type C, Type E, or Type F plug; it just needs to have two round pins.
This Universal Adapter is our personal favorite because it fits all of these requirements and will reliably charge all of your personal electronics (laptop, mobile phone, tablet, Kindle, camera) – not only in the Netherlands but in over 100 other countries around the world. It comes with a lifetime replacement guarantee and the built-in fuse protector shows it is built to last.
In addition to your US-to-Netherlands power adapter, these items will help you pack with intention and expand the possibilities of your getaway. Going to Amsterdam? Check out our Amsterdam packing list for more inspiration and ideas.
The Netherlands experiences rainy weather year-round, so it’s important to come prepared. We recommend a compact travel umbrella that’s sturdy enough to withstand the windy, stormy weather you might encounter. The umbrella pictured is a great option with quality craftsmanship and a conveniently automatic open/close function. It only weighs one-pound, making it perfect for travel, and it covers two people.
European bathrooms can be a bit challenging as far as storage goes. Instead of sprawling your toiletry items all over the hotel room or dealing with a lack of countertop space – use this hanging toiletry bag to stay organized! It’s one of our favorite travel discoveries since it creates a built-in shelf wherever you may roam, hanging from any door, hook, or pole.
This one by Eco Sun is designed in Hawaii and made by a woman-owned company supporting education and sustainable travel. We love that it can hold the entire family’s liquid items in a leak-proof bag, so you won’t have to deal with any shampoo explosions ruining your favorite clothes ever again. Once you try it, you won’t go back to a toiletry bagless life.
A VPN is extremely valuable for privacy and ensuring hackers don’t steal your personal data. It’s never fun to wake up with a stolen PayPal password or to realize your social security number has been compromised. A virtual private network gives you a truly private channel to use the internet (without the prying eyes of your ISP, nosy onlookers, and online thieves). It also offers great discounts for travelers since your IP address is anonymous and you can’t be targeted with geographic restrictions.
It will give you better deals on hotels, flights, and rentals, with the ability to block pesky advertisements and mitigate any regional censorship. You might associate VPNs with trying to use Facebook in China, but they’re actually useful no matter where you are. Logging onto different public Wi-Fi networks at hotels, airports, and cafes makes you vulnerable. For a few dollars a month, we can’t recommend NordVPN enough.
You’ll want to have your phone with you while you’re out and about in the Netherlands so you can access a navigation app, call an Uber if you need one, or use your phone’s camera. But you’ll be in a tight spot if the battery dies while you’re not in your hotel room. To make sure that doesn’t happen, bring this little portable charger so you can charge your phone even while you’re out. It’s a real lifesaver in an emergency!
The Netherlands is a safe country, but pickpocketing is a real problem all over Europe and in this area, it’s particularly bad in Amsterdam. Be careful at train stations and touristy areas that draw a lot of vulnerable visitors and sly pickpockets. To make sure it doesn’t happen to you, keep your cash, credit cards, phones, and passports in an RFID-blocking neck wallet.
It’s better than flashing cash in your wallet or leaving it exposed in your back pocket, and jet lag can make it hard to keep up with travel essentials on busy flight days. This will keep you organized and discreet since you can stash it under your shirt or in your bag.
If you end up getting sick or injured and need to see a doctor in the Netherlands, your American health insurance will not cover the cost in most cases. Some people don’t realize that their plan is solely domestic and you will need to purchase a travel insurance policy before leaving for your trip. That way, you won’t have to pay out-of-pocket if facing pickpockets, baggage loss, flight delays, expensive international medical bills, or other common travel expenses.
We use Faye because they are an affordable and truly caring provider that goes the extra mile for their customers. As a 100% digital company, they will wire you reimbursements quickly and their 24/7 Claims Specialists will take care of you through every step of your journey. We always add the trip cancellation “for any reason” if you need to nix your travel plans.
You’ll find a plethora of uses for a travel towel on a European adventure. Of course, you can use them for drying off after days at the peaceful Dutch lakes or public beaches, but also for more creative endeavors like covering a public seat on a metro, cushioning your delicate items in a suitcase, or wrapping up like a shawl on a chilly evening!
The Netherlands is six hours ahead of the East Coast of the US, so you’ll probably experience some jet lag during your trip. And if you’re coming from the West Coast, it’s pretty much guaranteed. To stop it from disrupting your trip, bring along some jet lag relief pills, which will help your body readjust and back on a regular schedule quickly. They’re super gentle but effective – I noticed a huge difference when I forgot them once… never again!
Packing cubes have revolutionized packing. Before cubes, you had to pack every item in your luggage individually, meaning you’d have to rummage through the whole bag to find anything. Now, you can fold or roll your clothes into labeled cubes (shirts, pants, socks, essentials, etc.) and then pack the cubes into your bag, making it much easier to find things during your trip. We love the bonus laundry bags to separate your dirty items from pristine ones, and the 3-pack is perfect for shorter trips.
If you’ve been price-gouged by outrageous roaming rates, then you know that international phone bills can get expensive. Getting a European SIM card is a nifty way to obtain cheaper rates since you’re using a local phone number from a regional provider. It will give you just enough data for a couple of weeks of travel (up to a month) since it offers 1,000 texts and hours of call time, which is about all you need short-term. We like that the internet works more quickly since it’s not trying to stream from across the world.
Unfortunately, traveler’s diarrhea is not uncommon as your body adjusts to a new cuisine. Don’t let it threaten your vacation – bring activated charcoal since it detoxifies pathogens from your system and stops bacteria from absorbing into your stomach. At the first sign of a tummy ache, take 1-2 of these and they will be a lifesaver… Especially on the days when you have to hop on a train or venture around town (when you otherwise wouldn’t be able to leave the bathroom).
You should always secure your checked suitcases with luggage locks. It offers real peace of mind that no one will be digging through your personal items when they’re out-of-sight for long durations. This set is TSA-approved which means security staff can use a master key if your bag is selected for a random search, but no one else will be able to peruse your bags. We also use them for backpacks in crowded areas prone to theft, city lockers, hostel lockers, etc.
Save yourself carry-on fees with this duffle-like, packable bag. It’s perfect for any shopping you do along the way since it counts as your personal item on the flight home. Fill it with local souvenirs like Dutch chocolate, oils, perfumes, clogs, and more – I promise that your loved ones will be over the moon! And I always like to stock up on certain things I can’t find back home. It’s the best bag for travel, workouts, and spontaneous weekend trips.
One of the top suggestions I would make for the Netherlands is to have a comfortable pair of shoes with you. They’ll need to be adequate for lots of walking, biking, and sightseeing. As you zip around the canals on wheels or walk through the stunning tulip fields of Lisse, your toes will be thanking you for the support and cushioning.
If you’re visiting during the colder months of October through February, bring these delightful little warmers. They can be slipped in your gloves, shoes, or jacket pockets so you have something warm to hold onto on a chilly day. They’re an absolute treat and I try not to visit anywhere cold without them! Simply shake them to activate and they’ll stay toasty for up to 10 hours.
The Netherlands is among the most developed countries in the world, and its electrical infrastructure is no exception. By 2030, solar and wind are expected to have a cumulative share of over 60% of the total capacity, while coal power generation is expected to be phased out by 2028.
Power outages are exceedingly uncommon both in cities like Amsterdam or Rotterdam and in more rural areas. While outages happen very occasionally due to accidents, you’re extremely unlikely to encounter one while visiting.
To safely use electronic devices in the Netherlands, they need to be rated 220V-240V. Even though the US’s electrical grid only operates with a voltage of 110V-120V, many US-made devices are actually rated much higher. Things like phones and laptops will not require a voltage converter in the Netherlands or elsewhere because they are dual voltage.
However, certain American appliances are rated only to around 110V-120V, including curling irons, hairdryers, and electric razors. If you want to bring any of these items on your trip, you’ll need to use a voltage converter. Do not plug one of these devices into the wall without it – it’ll destroy the device, and it could shock you or cause a fire.
Because the winter months can get cold and dreary, it’s not the ideal time to visit. Visiting the Netherlands between mid-spring and mid-fall will be much more pleasant. July and August are the busiest months for tourism, so if you go a little earlier or later, you’ll be treated to lower prices and fewer crowds. Be sure to check current Netherlands travel advisories before you go.
Because the Netherlands is so small and the elevation doesn’t vary much (the highest point is only about 1,000 feet above sea level), the weather is similar throughout the country. Winter lows are around freezing, and the winter months have long hours of darkness and occasional snow. Summers are only moderately warm, with average highs around 70 degrees. For the most part, January and February are the coldest months, and July and August are the warmest. The Netherlands experiences rainfall all year long, and damp gray days are common year-round.
Taking a cruise through the canals is one of the top things to do in the city, and there are numerous different options depending on what you’re looking for. Amsterdam is also home to some world-famous museums, including the Van Gogh Museum and the Anne Frank House, as well as many lesser-known ones, like the FOAM Photography Museum.
Tulips are a symbol of the Netherlands, so make sure you stop at Bloemenmarkt, the only floating flower market in the world. Lastly, do as the Dutch do, and hop on a bike – it’s really the best way to explore the city.
Amsterdam is its most famous city, but there are lots of great things to do in other parts of the Netherlands. Head to Maastricht to explore the man-made caves underneath the city, or see the Mill Network at Kinderdijk-Elshout, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In The Hague, which is actually the administrative capital of the Netherlands, you can take a tour of the Peace Palace, home of the International Court of Justice. There are also beautiful parks and gardens throughout the country, including Keukenhof, the largest flower garden in the world.
Thanks to its developed infrastructure, the Netherlands is quite easy to get around. The country’s rail network is extensive, and because the country is so small, train trips are almost never longer than a couple of hours. Buses may be the only choice in the north and east of the country, though, where trains are less common. Otherwise, buses are more often used for shorter trips.
Most Dutch cities also have extensive public transportation.
Both Amsterdam and Rotterdam have metro systems, and many cities, including Utrecht and The Hague, have trams. Other cities have networks of buses, so you’ll likely never be too far from a public transportation option. You can also find taxis and Uber in most major towns, and there are even taxi buses, which are taxis that hold up to eight passengers. Of course, the most Dutch way to get around is on two wheels, and you can easily rent a bicycle almost anywhere in the country. The Netherlands is a safe and easy country to cycle around, since bike lanes are ubiquitous and drivers are accustomed to giving cyclists the right of way.
When you arrive in the country, buy an OV-chipkaart, which is a stored-value card that can be used on all public trains, buses, and trams in the Netherlands. Having the card will get you discounts, and it makes paying your fare much easier.
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