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Visiting the Netherlands
Tourism
The Netherlands is a popular holiday destination.
In 2007, about 11 million tourists visited the Netherlands, from
Europe and from farther afield (the United States and Canada, and
emerging economies such as China and India). Foreign tourists spend
about €10 billion a year in the Netherlands – more than the annual
earnings from the export of plants and flowers.
Amsterdam is the most popular destination for
foreign tourists. The museums, such as the Rijksmuseum and the
Vincent van Gogh Museum, the ring of canals lined with elegant town
houses, the atmosphere of freedom and creativity – many foreigners
want to see these with their own eyes.
But the Netherlands is also famous for its
flowers: the bulb fields of North and South Holland, with their
daffodils, hyacinths and tulips, attract hundreds of thousands of
visitors every year, particularly in April and May.
The Netherlands has a long coastline, with
many interesting towns and villages and areas of natural beauty.
The beaches and dunes are ideal for many recreational activities
such as cycling, walking, sailing and swimming. There are also
excellent conditions for water sports further inland on lakes,
rivers and canals.
The Dutch themselves often explore the country by boat
or bike, and many tourists do the same. The Netherlands is
criss-crossed by thousands of kilometres of cycle track, making it
possible to tour the country by bike. Cycling in the flat
landscapes of the Netherlands is easier than in most other
countries – as long as you’re not cycling against the wind!
The Netherlands Board of Tourism and Conventions (NBTC), which
has 17 branches in Europe, North America and southeast Asia
(www.holland.com), is
responsible for promoting and marketing the Netherlands as a
tourist destination. Tourists in the Netherlands can obtain
information from one of the many tourist information (VVV) offices
around the country.
Family Visits
If you want to visit relatives in the Netherlands, you
must meet a number of conditions. Use the Residence Wizard of the
Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) to find out what you
need to do and what documents you will require. To find out more
about the Netherlands before you visit, check out the general
information at the website Holland.com. The site can also help you
plan tourist excursions while you’re in the Netherlands.
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