WHICH PAPER TO GO TO THE NETHERLANDS?
Entry into Dutch territory requires a valid national identity card or passport. Identity cards issued to adults between January 1, 2004 and December 31, 2013 will be valid for 5 years from the expiration date indicated on the reverse, but no material changes to the plastic card will prove this. As a result, it is highly recommended to choose to use a valid passport rather than an expired CNI, even if it is still considered valid by the French authorities, to avoid any inconvenience during your trip.
• Identity card or passport, valid.
• Driving licence.
• Registration certificate and green insurance card
• A panel with diagonal red stripes to indicate rear ledge transport.
• If you are not the owner of the vehicle, a power of attorney and permission to leave the territory.
MAPS AND GUIDES
Many guides are available, including
• Netherlands guide published by Lonely Planet
• The Dutch Green Guide published by Michelin.
• Guide Bleu Pays Bass published by Hachette.
• Dutch Backpacker's Guide, Hachette editions.
HIGHWAY NETWORK
The road network is excellent and has a very busy highway system. All cities are equipped with bike paths. It is therefore advisable to be very careful with cyclists, who are in large numbers and usually have priority above all else. In the Netherlands in general, and certainly in big cities, you have to pay to park in many places. Use a debit card, credit card or cash to pay.
FUEL
Drive on petrol, diesel or LPG (LPG), stations are all over the Netherlands.
To deceive ! Fill in town as the price is higher on the highways. LPG is quite easy to find, but for security reasons, it is only sold at stations outside the city. The diesel price is about 1.20 €/litre.
ADVANCE
The currency used in the Netherlands is the Euro. Be warned, very few vendors accept credit cards as bank charges are high. So if you insist on paying by credit card, it is possible that they will add a 5% fee. Therefore, you should bring cash or plan to withdraw from on-site ATMs. Few shops accept €500 notes and sometimes even €200 or €100 notes. When paying in cash, the amount is rounded up to the nearest € 0.05.
ELECTRIC
The electric current is 230 volts. Electrical sockets are the same as French sockets. It is therefore not necessary to provide an adapter or transformer. Terminals in campgrounds are usually equipped with blue European sockets.
GAS
If you need propane, you should know that Dutch bottles are compatible with German fixtures. It is possible to use the adapter or the corresponding Truma G12 floating head. Many stations supply LPG.
ANIMALS
If you wish to bring your pet, we recommend that you contact a veterinarian to find out the latest regulations in force in the country visited. Also, learn about veterinary conditions for your animal's return to the area.
CLIMATE
It is generally accepted that the ideal time to visit the Netherlands is the beginning of spring, the period when the bulbous plants bloom, the month of April and the first days of May. The average temperature in April/May is 12°.