Netherlands Road Trip: 5 Things to Know
When we told people that we were planning a road trip throughout the Netherlands, the responses were mediocre at best. I must admit, I second-guessed ourselves a couple of times too. The country is flat, lacks majestic mountain peaks or alpine lakes and is mostly submerged. From first impressions, it may not sound like the most alluring place to drive through. After spending two weeks exploring the Netherlands, we were proved very wrong about our preconceived notions. Turns out, the Netherlands is actually a fantastic road trip destination, especially for families.
In this short guide, we’ll go over what we learned and the 5 things to know for your Netherlands road trip.
How long you should stay
Our road trip lasted two weeks. We stopped in a few major cities including Rotterdam, The Hague and Amsterdam. We also visited plenty of wetlands, canals and a handful of charming suburb neighborhoods. The Netherlands is the only country we’ve been to where all three major cities are within one hour of each other. How special is that?! We also learned that anything over 30 minutes is a “long” drive to a typical Dutch person.
During this trip, our adventure didn’t take us much north of Amsterdam since we needed to get back home for some baby doctor appointments. Since everything is quite close to each other, it’s doable to cover a good amount of ground within two weeks. Additional areas we didn’t make it to include Alkmaar, Haarlem, Volendam and Friesland. We hope to be back one day to explore the northern part of the country.
When to go
We traveled in November when the weather wasn’t awful but didn’t always guarantee a sunny day. It was not particularly cold but you’ll want to be prepared for rain. I would say 50% of our trip was spent in lovely sunny weather. The other half of our trip was grey and cloudy. On the upside, it never poured down rain and only drizzled. You can get away with not using an umbrella but just be sure to have a couple of raincoats packed. It is also no surprise that Airbnb and hotel stays are also discounted during this time of year.
Getting around
The Netherlands has a superior highway system coincidentally perfect for your Netherlands road trip. It is probably the best one we’ve experienced in Europe and most similar to a five-lane highway you’d see in the U.S. The road signs are well marked, interchanges make sense and people pay attention. Keep in mind, the highways are also consistently filled with trucks since The Netherlands is just one giant trading hub. Did this slow down traffic? Nope! Because they just have it down to a science.
Overall, if you’re just looking to hit the wide open road, enjoy some well maintained pavement, no hills or curvy roads, the Dutch streets are calling your name. HOWEVER, if you’re visiting major cities like Amsterdam, we highly recommend utilizing a park ‘n ride and taking the train into the city instead.
How much it’ll cost
Basic expenses such as groceries and gas are in line with what you’d spend in Germany or France. Still, paying attention to where you buy groceries goes a long way. Shopping at Aldi will cost you a fraction of what you’d pay at Albert Heijn, for example. There are also plenty of cheap eats with options to travel and lodge on a budget… unlike Switzerland or Denmark.
Our Airbnb stays ranged from $60 – $95/night. The one thing we noticed that was more expensive than other European cities was the cost of train/bus rides. In the end, public transportation was still cheaper than paying for parking but it still didn’t feel as cost effective as public transportation should be.
What to EAT
Here are the must eat items that should be on your list when visiting The Netherlands…
- Gevulde Speculaas – a soft speculaar cookie filled with almond paste
- Lekkerbekje / Kibbeling – Dutch versions of fish and chips
- Stroopwafel – thin round waffle cookie
- Gouda and cheese in general – The Netherlands is one of the top cheese exporters in the entire world
- Pickled herring – tastes best on a sandwich
- Fries with mayo – simple but done so well
- Bitterballen – deep fried meatballs
- Oliebollen – deep fried dessert balls
- Indonesian food – Indonesian food is very popular and common in The Netherlands due to their history so any Indonesian food you try will be authentic (and yummy)!
