Bits and pieces

Tourist information office

Dutch Tourist Information Offices (VVV) are recognised by a blue VVV-sign on a white triangle placed on a red or blue square. The VVV can help you with general tourist information, hotels, trips, theatre tickets and maps. Almost all city maps show the major sides of interest, Post Offices (TNT), location of mailboxes, public transport routes, zone indications, and police stations marked on them.

The VVV offices in Amsterdam are located opposite the Central Station, at Leidseplein and at Stationplein. You can also reach the VVV Amsterdam by teleph number 0900-4004040.The VVV office in Groningen is located at the Grote Markt. Their telephone number 0900-2023050 and their e-mail address is info@vvvgroningen.nl

 

Foreign newspapers

You can buy all major American, British, French, German, Israeli, Spanish, Turkish, Moroccan and Italian newspapers and magazines at news-stands. You can also find them at the bookshops through out the cities and at train stations.

 

Communication with people

Due to their merchandising history, the Dutch community is very internationally oriented. Almost everyone in the Netherlands speaks at least some English. Quite a few people are also able to speak German and/or French.

 

Tipping

In the Netherlands it is customary to tip waiters at restaurants. Usually a tip is 5-10 % of the bill. When there is a wardrobe clerk, you can tip him/her separately for some euro-cents, but this is not common.

Tipping at the pubs and cafes is less common. However, it is not uncommon to tell the taxi drivers to keep the change, when it is around 1 euro, the same goes for porters.

 

Time

Dutch local time is Middle European Time (MET), which is one hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (when it is 12:00 in Amsterdam, it is 11:00 in London.)

 

Public toilets

Most train stations have public toilets. Throughout the city they are very scarce. You can use the toilets of cafes and pubs throughout the city. For some you also have to pay. To avoid embarrassing situations, ‘Dames’ stands for ladies, and ‘Heren’ stands for men.

 

Electricity and television

The electric current throughout the Netherlands is 220/230 Volts, altering current at 50 cycles per minute. Most plugs are grounded.

For appliances of 110 Volts, a special transformer is needed.

All the large Dutch towns have cable TV, usually with about 24 channels. Among those are Dutch, Belgian, English, French, Turkish, Italian and German channels.

 

Public holidays

Christian holidays Easter, Ascension, Whitsun and Christmas are all celebrated in the Netherlands. White Monday and Boxing Day, or as the Dutch say: second Christmas day, are also public holidays on which shops are generally shut.

The Queen’s Birthday The Queen’s birthday (January 31^th) is celebrated annually on 30^th of April, on the birthday of the former queen mother. Festivities are held all over the country, including fairs and public markets.

Remembrance Day Every year on May 4^th at eight o’clock in the evening, the nation stops for two minutes in silence remembering the victims of all wars since the beginning of the Second World War. Remembrance services are held around the country. Flags are flown at half-mast.

Liberation Day May 5^th marks the liberation of the Netherlands from German occupation in 1945. Liberation day is a public holiday once every five years.

Saint Nicholas’ Day December 5^th is Saint Nicholas’ Day. St. Nicholas is the legendary children’s friend with a white beard and a bishop’s habit. On his saint’s day, children are given presents and sweets.

New Year Contrary to practice in most countries, the Dutch celebrate the New Year with an abundance of fireworks. The first of January is a public holiday.

Other days In the predominantly Catholic southern provinces, public life grinds to a halt for Carnival (February, March). Celebration of April Fool’s Day (April 1^st) remains popular, while Labour Day (May 1^th) has mostly lost its significance in the Netherlands.

 

Information on internet : see Useful Information