Planning Your Trip
Good to know
When are the shops open? What's the weather like? Where do I go in case of emergency? Here we give you practical tips for your visit to the Netherlands and Delft.
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MONEY
The Netherlands is part of the European Union (EU). You have to pay with Euros in the Netherlands. Most shops and restaurants will accept credit cards and bank debit cards. There are plenty of ATM machines where you can make cash withdrawals.
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WEATHER
The Netherlands has a mild sea climate. The summers are never extremely hot and the winters are never extremely cold. In both the summer and winter there are very pleasant dry and sunny periods, but there are also periods with cloudy skies, wind, rain, and snow in the winter. So when you go on holiday in the Netherlands you should always take your sunglasses and an umbrella, and some warm clothes just in case.
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EMERGENCY SERVICES
If you need urgent (medical) help or are faced with a life-threatening situation, then you can always call the national emergency number 112. If you need help, but it is not an emergency, then call 0900-8844 (the police switchboard). Hopefully you will never need to call the emergency services, but just in case you should enter both numbers in your telephone! For tourist advice you can always contact the VVV Delft by phone or WhatsApp message.
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LANGUAGE
In Delft, like everywhere else in the Netherlands, the local people speak Dutch. However, most Dutch people are able to speak English and will be glad to help you out. So do not hesitate to ask a local resident for directions if you get lost.
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TRAVEL DOCUMENTS
In order to visit to the Netherlands you will need a valid passport and/or proof of identity. You are required by law to carry proof of identity with you at all times in the Netherlands. This means that everyone aged 14 and over has to produce a valid identity document if asked to do so by the police.
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TIME (ZONE) AND SUMMER TIME
The Netherlands and Delft are in the time zone Central European Time. We also have summer time (or daylight saving time) in the Netherlands. At the end of March the clocks go forward one hour, and at the end of October the clocks go back one hour to standard Central European Time.
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VOLTAGE
We have a 230 Volt power supply in the Netherlands and we use C or F plugs.
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MOBILE NETWORKS AND INTERNET
The 4G mobile networks of various providers can be accessed almost everywhere in the Netherlands. Roaming charges have recently been abolished in the European Union. Please note: if you come from a country outside the EU, you will still have to pay roaming charges. If you want to avoid paying extra charges in a foreign country, switch your telephone to airplane mode or deactivate roaming. There is free WiFi in the four public squares in the centre of Delft, and most hotels and other tourist attractions have free WiFi as well.
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TAXIS
Do you want to travel by taxi (inside or outside of Delft)? There are several taxi companies in Delft you can call. You can also take a Schiphol Travel Taxi from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport to Delft.
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TIPS
In the Netherlands it is customary to give a small tip when you pay for lunch, drinks, or dinner, but it isn't compulsory. If you are not sure how much you "ought" to tip, then give around 10% of the total bill.
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OPENING HOURS
The shops in the Netherlands and Delft usually open at 9.00 or 9.30 am and close at 5.30 or 6.00 pm. Monday is an exception: most of the shops in the centre don't open until 1.00 pm on Mondays. Most supermarkets have longer opening hours, and open at 8.00 am and close late in the evening.
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PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
The Netherlands is traditionally a Christian (Catholic and Protestant) country. Many public holidays are therefore related to important dates on the Christian religious holiday calendar. The shops are usually closed on public holidays. The official public holidays are:
New Year’s Day
Good Friday
Easter Sunday
Easter Monday
King’s Day
Liberation Day
Ascension Day
Whit Sunday
Whit Monday
Sinterklaas
Christmas Day
Boxing Day
New Year's Eve
On 4 May of each year (Remembrance Day) there is a memorial service at 8.00 pm to commemorate those who died in World War One and World War Two, and all shops have to be closed by 7.00 pm. -
SCHOOL HOLIDAYS
School holidays in the Netherlands are arranged on the basis of three regions: South, Central, and North. The dates of the school holidays are different in each region. For an up-to-date overview of school holidays in the Netherlands go to: www.schoolvakanties-nederland.nl. Some tourist attractions are much busier during school holidays than at other times of the year.