More
than 20 million people visit The Netherlands each year with the majority
heading to Amsterdam, the country’s capital.

It’s known for its windmills, cheese markets, wooden shoes,
canals and bicycles – did you know there are around 880,000 bicycles in
Amsterdam and around 851,000 residents?

There’s more reasons to visit in 2020 with Rotterdam set to host
the Eurovision Song Contest and the idyllic town of Dordrecht celebrating its
800th birthday. Is has also been listed as one of ABTA’s 12
must-visit destinations in 2020.

It’s relatively cheap and easy to get there from the UK with
flights starting from £35 and a short journey time of approximately 1 hour.
There’s also the option of taking a short ferry ride or the Eurostar to
Amsterdam or Rotterdam.

If you are heading to the capital here are our five top things
to do whilst in the popular city of Amsterdam:

1. Keukenhof

If you are visiting between 21 March and 10 of May a trip to the
Keukenhof is a must. Located in the town of Lisse it is home to one of the
world’s largest flower gardens. The Keukenhof is known as the Garden of Europe
and each year 7 million flower bulbs are planted in the 32 hector gardens.

2. Van Gogh Museum

Located at the Museum Square in Amsterdam the Van Gogh Museum is
dedicated to the artwork of Vincent van Gogh. It’s the most visited museum in
The Netherlands and 24 most visited in the world with more than 2.3 million
visitors each year.

3. Rijksmuseum

Close to the Van Gogh Museum you’ll find the Rijksmuseum which
is dedicated to arts and history. The museum has 8,000 objects of art and
history on display, from their total collection of 1 million objects covering
the years 1200–2000. You’ll see some masterpieces by Rembrandt, Frans Hals, and
Johannes Vermeer.

4. The Anne Frank House

During WWII Anne Frank hid from Nazi persecution with her family
and four other people in hidden rooms at the rear of the 17th-century canal
house. Although she did not survive the war her diary was published and the
museum is a permanent exhibition on the life and times of Anne Frank.

5. City Bike Tour

In the city that is famous for its many bicycles this is the
perfect opportunity to see all of the city’s fantastic sites on a guided
bicycle sight-seeing tour. There are bicycle tours available for all levels of
ability and the country is a very flat so don’t let anything put you off from
trying something a little different.

More useful information:

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Do I need a visa?

No, UK visitors with a full UK passport do not require a visa to
enter The Netherlands. This will not change when we officially leave the EU on
31 January 2020, the current agreement will last until the end of December.

Currency:

As with most of Europe The Netherlands use the euro (€‎). Debit
and credit cards such as Visa, MasterCard and American Express are widely
accepted, however it’s always a good idea to have some cash, but be aware of
pickpockets. If you plan on using your debit and credit it is advisable to
check exchange rates with your bank prior to you trip.

Language:

The most widely spoken language in The Netherlands is Dutch
however research states that more than 90% of the population can speak a good
standard of English.

Tipping:

Tipping is expected in The Netherlands if you feel have received
a good or an exceptional service, 5% to 10% of the bill is sufficient. If the
service was average it is polite the round-up the bill, but don’t tip if the
service was bad.

Travel Insurance for The Netherlands:

Your EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) will still be valid
once we officially leave the EU on 31 January 2020. The current arrangement
will continue until 31 December 2020.

Your EHIC is not a replacement for Travel Insurance and may not
cover your pre-existing medical conditions and the cost of repatriation should
you need to be brought home before or after your scheduled flight departs.

You can take out European Travel Insurance for a year or arrange
a single trip policy for your next visit. Compare up to 48 prices online today
or call our insurance experts FREE on 0800
294 2969 and we’ll match the right policy to you and your
trip.

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