Getting there
- Air: The Netherlands has several big airports; Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (in Amsterdam), Rotterdam the Hague Airport (in Rotterdam) and Eindhoven Airport (in Eindhoven). There are lots of airlines that fly from east coast United Atates to the Netherlands. You can even choose if you want to have a layover somewhere in Europe or you want a direct flight. The flight time for a direct flight is approximately 9 hours.
- Train: The Dutch railway system is very efficient and connects major cities. International trains like Thalys and Eurostar provide easy access from neighboring countries.
Getting around
- Public transportation: It is very easy to get around by using public transportation. The Netherlands has an excellent public transportation system, including trains, trams, buses and metro services. The OV-chipkaart (PublicTransformation Card) is a smart card used for seamless travel on public transport. It is very helpful to download apps such as 9292 for public transport schedules, NS (Dutch Railways) and local city apps for maps and transport updates.
- Bicycling: The Netherlands is known for their biking culture. This is an efficient way to get around in cities. Big cities, such as Amsterdam, get really crowded with cars for people that have to get in and out of the city for work. This makes biking a really efficient way to get around the city. All cities are bike-friendly, and there are many bike-rental services for visitors. Most train stations have these services. However, be aware of the enthusiastic local cyclists, they don’t like it when you get in their way, so be careful!
The video below will show you how busy it can get on cycle paths in the Netherlands, so really, be careful.