The official national languages are Dutch and Frisian (in the province of Friesland). Many Dutch people also speak English, German or French.
Idioms
Goodbye = Tot ziens Eight = Eight Eighty = Tachtig Out = Uitgang Beer = Beer Please = Alstublieft Thank You = Thanks u wel Tuesday = Dinsdag Doctor = Dokter Thursday = Donderdag Drei = Thirty Thirty = Dertig Entrance = Ingang One Hundred = Honderd One = Een One Thousand = Duizend Friday = Vrijdag Five = Vijf Fifty = Vijhaft Danger = Gevaar Closed = Gesloten Hello = Hello Today = Vandaag Hotel = Hotel I feel sick = Ik voel me ziek I don’t understand this = Ik begrijp het niet Ja = Ja My name is … = … Mijn naam is… / ik heet… I am very well. = Met mij gaat het goed. Wednesday = Woensdag Monday = Maandag Morgen = Morgen No = Nee Neun = Negen Neunzig = Negentig Open = Geopend Restaurant = Restaurant Saturday = Zaterdag Six = Zes Sechzig = Zestig Sieben = Zeven Siebzig = Zeventig Sunday = Zondag Menu = Menu Do you speak German/English ? = Spreekt u Duits/Engels? Toilets = Toilets / WC Four = Four Forty = Veertig Wein = Wijn How are you? = Hoe gaat het? How much is it? = How much does it cost? Where is …? = Why is…? Ten = Tien Twenty = Twintig Two = Twee ? Ten = Tien Twenty = Twintig Two = Twee ? Ten = Tien Twenty = Twintig Two = Twee ? Ten = Tien Twenty = Twintig Two = Twee ? Ten = Tien Twenty = Twintig Two = Twee ? Ten = Tien Twenty = Twintig Two = Twee ? Ten = Tien Twenty = Twintig Two = Twee ? Ten = Tien Twenty = Twintig Two = Twee ? Ten = Tien Twenty = Twintig Two = Twee
The following items can be imported duty-free into the Netherlands (when traveling from non-EU countries): 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 100 cigarillos or 250 g of tobacco (persons aged 17 and over); 1 l spirits or 2 l sparkling wine or 2 l sweet wine (e.g. sherry, port wine) (persons aged 18 and over); 4 liters of wine (over 18s); 16 liters of beer; Gifts/other goods up to a total value of €430 (air and sea travel) or €300 (travel by train/car/private plane/ship); Children under 15 generally €175. Alcohol and tobacco products can only be imported by persons over 17 years of age. More information about customs regulations can be found in a brochure from the Dutch embassy.
Import Restrictions
Additional regulations exist for medicines, animal products, food, plants, flowers, vegetables and fruit. More information is available from Countryaah.com.
Import regulations
Travelers who bring meat and milk products, among other things, into the EU from outside the European Union must declare them. The regulation does not apply to the import of animal products from EU countries, Andorra, Liechtenstein, Norway, San Marino and Switzerland. Anyone who does not register these products must expect fines or criminal prosecution.
Prohibited Imports
drugs, guns. There is a general ban on imports of live poultry, meat and meat products from third countries (with the exception of the Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland).
Import/Export to the EU
The movement of goods within the EU is unrestricted for travelers as long as the goods are for personal use and not for resale. In addition, the goods must not have been purchased in duty-free shops. Travelers may be asked to provide proof of their own personal needs. Member States have the right to levy excise duty on spirit drinks or tobacco products if these products are not intended for personal use. The following maximum quantities apply as personal requirements: 800 cigarettes (persons aged 17 and over); 400 cigarillos (over 17s); 200 cigars (over 17s); 1 kg of tobacco (persons aged 17 and over); 10 liters of high-proof alcoholic beverages (persons aged 18 and over); 20 liters of fortified wine (such as port or sherry) (over 18s); 90 liters of wine (of which a maximum of 60 liters of sparkling wine) (persons aged 18 and over); 110 liters of beer (over 18s); Perfumes and eau de toilette: No restrictions if it can be shown that the amount is for personal consumption. Medicines: Amount corresponding to personal needs during the trip. Other goods: The movement of goods within the EU is unrestricted for travelers. However, this does not apply to gold alloys and gold plating in the unprocessed state or as a semi-finished product and fuel. Fuel may only be imported from an EC member state exempt from mineral oil tax if it is in the vehicle’s tank or in a spare container that is carried along. A fuel quantity of up to 10 liters in the reserve tank is not objected to. If additional quantities of these goods are carried, e.g. For example, a wedding is an event that could justify a bulk purchase. Note: However, there are certain exceptions to the free movement of goods regime. They relate in particular to the purchase of new vehicles and purchases for commercial purposes. (More information on car taxes can be found in the European Commission’s Guide to Buying Goods and Services in the Internal Market.)
EU
Duty-free sales at airports and seaports have been abolished for travel within the EU. Only travelers leaving the EU can shop cheaply in duty-free shops. When importing goods into an EU country that were bought in duty-free shops in another EU country, the same travel allowances and allowances apply as when entering from non-EU countries. More information is available from Dutch Customs.
Consulates General in Düsseldorf and Munich. Honorary consulates in Aachen, Bremen, Frankfurt/M., Emden, Hamburg, Hanover, Kiel, Kleve, Cologne, Münster, Stuttgart and Hersbruck.
Appointments are essential and business cards are common. Business people are expected to dress neatly. English is widely spoken in business circles. The best months for business trips are March – May and September – November.
GSM 900/1800 and 3G 2100, 4G+. Network operators include T-Mobile, Tele2 and Telfort KPN. Roaming abroad can be used within the EU at the regular home tariff of the respective provider. Roaming charges were abolished within the EU in mid-2017. It may also be worth buying a prepaid SIM card, which is available at various prices in supermarkets, post offices, petrol stations, tobacconists and mobile phone shops.
Internet
Internet cafes are nationwide. Almost everywhere there is free internet access in libraries and in almost all hotels. In addition, many restaurants, bars, cafes and coffee shops offer free WiFi access. In the province of Zeeland, visitors can surf the Internet for free with the Internet service “WiFi Zeeland”.
Post office
Stamps are available from post offices, tobacconists and kiosks. Post office opening hours: Mon-Fri 09.00-17.00. Some post offices in larger cities are also open longer on long Thursdays and Friday evenings, as well as on Saturdays. In Amsterdam (Nieuwezjids Voorburgwal, behind the Royal Palace) and in Rotterdam (Coolsingel) there are post offices that are open 24 hours a day. Attention: mailboxes are red, not to be confused with the yellow waste bins.
Radio
Numerous German-speaking radio stations can be received via Astra satellites or via the Internet in the Netherlands.
