Location / Language of Netherlands
The Netherlands, commonly known as Holland, is a country located mainly in Northwestern Europe. The European portion of the Netherlands consists of twelve separate provinces that border Germany to the east, Belgium to the south, and the North Sea to the northwest, with maritime borders in the North Sea with Belgium, Germany and the United Kingdom. Together with three island territories in the Caribbean Sea—Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba—it forms a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Covering an area od around 41,500 sq km, the country is home to around 17.5 million inhabitants with Amsterdam as its capital city.
The official language is Dutch, but a secondary official language in the province of Friesland is West Frisian.
Netherlands Visa Insurance Requirements
Visa Requirements / Currency (please note these procedures / exchange rates can changed from time to time…please get an update from the embassy prior to travel)
As India is not part of the Schengen Area, if one is an Indian passport holder you will need to apply for the appropriate type of Schengen Netherlands Visa for travelling to the country. To be eligible for a Schengen Visa for Netherlands one will mainly need their current passport, along with certain documents, to be submitted with the Visa application form.
Currency : Euro (EUR)
Conversion: Rs.1 INR = 0.013 EUR
1 EUR = Rs. 78.04 INR
Top 10 Tourist Attractions in Netherlands
- Canals of Jordaan & Amsterdam – Canals are as much a part of Amsterdam's cityscapes and charm. While many of Amsterdam's best tourist attractions like major museums and art galleries can be easily accessed by boat tour or water taxi, nothing beats strolling along the smaller, quieter streets that line the waterways. Particularly charming is the Jordaan, a neighbourhood built in the early 1600s to house workers and immigrants who came here seeking the city's religious tolerance. Along with its small canal-side houses, look for the neighborhood's many "hofjes," inner courtyards hidden behind the buildings.
- Keukenhof - Otherwise known as the Garden of Europe, is on the outskirts of Lisse, the "bulb belt" of the Netherlands. The largest public garden in the world, encompassing more than 70 acres of what was once the former kitchen (or "keuken") garden of a large country estate, Keukenhof displays more than 700 varieties of tulips, along with thousands of hyacinths, crocuses, and daffodils.
- Van Gogh Museum – This spectacular in Amsterdam is one of the top art museums globally, attracting almost 1.5 million visitors each year. Home to the world's largest collection of Van Gogh paintings - many donated by the artist's family - this impressive gallery and museum was specially built to showcase the more than 200 paintings, 500 drawings, and 700 letters in its vast collection.
- The Windmills of Kinderdijk – On the River Noord between Rotterdam and Dordrecht is the village of Kinderdijk ("Children's Dike"), which takes its name from an incident during the St. Elizabeth's Day flood of 1421 after a child's cradle had been stranded on the dike. The big draw these days are the fantastically preserved 18th-century windmills. Now UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the 19 Kinderdijk windmills, built between 1722 and 1761, are the largest surviving concentration of windmills in the Netherlands.
- Rijksmuseum - The awe inspiring Dutch National Museum in Amsterdam has been collecting rare art and antiquities since 1809 and, its collection amounts to nearly seven million works of art, including 5,000 paintings in more than 250 rooms, as well as a vast library with some 35,000 books. It also offers an account of the development of art and culture in the Netherlands and is especially rich in traditional Dutch handicrafts, medieval sculpture, and modern art.
- Anne Frank Museum, Amsterdam - On Prinsengracht, in the home where Anne's family hid for much of second world war since they were Jewish refugees from Frankfurt and this is where this remarkable girl wrote her famous diary. Although she died just two months before the war ended, her legacy lives on through her words, which have since been translated into 51 languages. The back of the fully-restored house where the Frank family had their hiding place has been kept in its original state and is a poignant monument of history and a brave little girl who continues to inspire people around the globe.
- Kasteel De Haar - This is the largest castle, built by the famous Dutch architect, PJH Cuypers, spread across a spectacular 250 acre park. While the original castle site was established in the 14th century, this newer structure dates from 1892 and has impressive collections of antiques, furniture, paintings, and tapestries, but it's the gardens that really draw the crowds apart from the castle's fairytale looks.
- Zeeland Dikes - Much of this area of recently formed land is below sea level and therefore reliant upon impressive dikes, as well as modern flood prevention techniques. An engineering project known as Delta Works are massive hi-tech dams that can control how much water enters the area's key estuaries from the North Sea. Consisting of dams, sluices, locks, dikes, and storm-surge barriers, this awe-inspiring project has been declared one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World.
- Hoge Veluwe National Park - Located between Arnhem and Apeldoorn and covering nearly 13,800 acres, this national park is the largest continuous nature reserve in the country and features dense woodlands in the north, as well as a fascinating sculpture park. The area was once a country estate and hunting reserve, and to this day is home to many red and roe deer. The best-preserved part of the park encompasses an area of dramatic dunes interspersed with heath and woodland and interrupted in the south and east by moraines up to 100 meters high. It's also a popular area for birdwatching, as well as hiking and biking and the must see Kröller-Müller Museum.
- Historic Valkenburg - This, picturesque, romantic city in Geul Valley, boasts of the country's only hilltop castle. Long a popular holiday resort, the town's other big draws are its many caves and the spa facilities at Thermae 2000, the ruins of the 12th-century castle on Dwingelrots (Castle Rock), and the 14th-century St. Nicolaaskerk Basilica. Another highlight is the town's famous Christmas Market (mid-November to December 23rd) held in the Velvet Caves, the maze of old passageways leading to and from the castle.
Things You Must Do in Netherlands
- Dive into History at Zaanse Schans - This open-air museum is one of the best places to visit in Netherlands if one is a history buff. Zaanse Schans will take one back in time by letting you explore a traditional Dutch village and its craftsmen lifestyle. Some of the things that you can spot here are a shipyard, a grocery store, wooden houses, a saw mill, and an oil mill.
- Indulge in Adventure at Efteling - The biggest amusement park located in the Kaatsheuvel is divided into different zones, with varied thrill levels. Some of the top attractions of this place are rides like Joris en de Draak or the George and the Dragon as well as The Flying Dutchman, and the Python; and Raveleijn – a magical world with a nightly performance.
- Jump off a Parachute in Texel - Famous as the largest island in the Wadden Sea, Texel is the best place to bid an adieu to ones fears and create a life changing moment while jumping with a parachute in the clear sky. One will not only witness the whole of Netherlands at once, but also breathe the refreshing vibes. If you’re an adventurer at heart, don’t miss this experience.
- Travel in a Stoomtram - Since the best way to explore a city is by traveling in it like its local, taking a ride in a stoomtram is one of the best things to do in Netherlands. Operating almost daily from Hoorn, this steam train is great for those who love antiques. You can buy the tickets from the Hoorn Museum and experience the most unique way of commuting in the country.
- Soak in the Heineken Experience - Amsterdam has also got some really cool experiences in store for the beer lovers. A brewery transformed into an interactive tour, the Heineken Experience will give one a good glimpse of how this most popular beer got evolved. From witnessing the brewing process to indulging in a tasting session, this tour will be one of the major highlights of your trip.
Food on the Plate
Dutch cuisine is formed from the cooking traditions and practices of the Netherlands. The country's cuisine is shaped by its location in the fertile North Sea river delta of the European Plain, giving rise to fishing, farming, and trading over sea, its former colonial empire and the spice trade.
Dutch food one must try includes:
- Bitterballen – Delicious, deep fried crispy meatballs traditionally served with mustard for dipping – they’re the ultimate in Dutch pub snacks.
- Stamppot - Translated literally as ‘mash pot’, this traditional dish involves potatoes mashed with other vegetables – traditional stamppot includes various combinations of sauerkraut, carrot, onion or kale - and is usually served as a vegetarian dish or with a big juicy sausage.
- Snert - Holland’s version of pea soup is a thick green stew of split peas, meat, celery, onions and leeks, and contrary to its name, it’s completely delicious. Widely consumed all over the Netherlands, it makes for a hearty winter snack traditionally served up by street vendors.
- Cheese – It is big business in the Netherlands, so don’t go home without visiting one of Amsterdam’s many 'kaas' shops or markets and tasting some Gouda, Geitenkaas or Maasdammer. For an introduction to the most popular Dutch cheeses, stop by the Cheese Museum.
- Oliebollen - They are deep fried sweet dumplings (sometimes containing fruit pieces) and dusted in powdered sugar, and they’re so delicious that they only come out around New Year’s Eve, just before the January diet kicks in.
Overseas Travel Medical Insurance Netherlands
Since Netherlands is a country which is part of the Schengen countries in Europe, the traveller needs to purchase India travel health insurance satisfying Schengen visa requirements.
Travel insurance for Indians visiting Netherlands is relatively cheaper when compared to destinations in Americas, and most insurance companies offer a specific
Schengen Insurance Plan. One must ensure that the minimum Accident & Sickness (A&S) sum insured for a Schengen plan must be €30,000 (around $50,000), and a visa to visit any Schengen country will not be provided without this minimum coverage.
The insured must purchase an “Excluding Americas” Plan, if they are travelling to other destinations that don’t include only Schengen countries.
Illustration for 15 days travel mediclaim insurance for Indians to Netherlands.
Sum Insured($USD or €Euro) / Premium in Rs. INR |
Insured Age 35 |
Insured Age 65 |
Schengen - €30,000 |
Rs.733 |
Rs.1,561 |
Schengen - €50,000 |
Rs.830 |
Rs.1,694 |
Excluding - $50,000 |
Rs.1,028 |
Rs.1,714 |
These premiums are across different plans and different benefits.. please log in to
www.eindiainsurance.com to compare and buy the best Schengen visa travel insurance for Indian tourist to Netherlands.