Mistakes to Avoid on Your First Netherlands Vacation

Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re discussing common mistakes we see from first-time tourists in the Netherlands. It’s a wonderful country, with a variety of destinations to visit, but it is culturally quite different from the US. We’ve learned many lessons throughout the years. If you are about to embark on your first Dutch vacation, take care to avoid these travel mistakes!

Taking “Dutch Directness” Personally

The Dutch are very efficient, direct, and practical. They don’t mince words, and sometimes it can feel a bit too direct. They’re just stating how it is, and it’s not meant to be mean. It’s just their culture to be direct. They can also be very sarcastic with a dry sense of humor. Jocelyn thinks they are the funniest people in Europe because of their dry humor, but not everyone would agree.

Some other “Dutchisms” to look out for include:

Going “Dutch” is an expression we use for splitting the bill. We won’t say the Dutch are cheap, but they are careful with their money.
They love a good deal, like a Buy One Get One sale. They will gladly accept free samples, too. That said, if someone on the street offers you something for free, it’s probably a scam.

Not Connecting with Locals

It can be hard to get to know the Dutch; they aren’t the most outgoing people. But with a little effort, they open up pretty easily. If you learn a few words of Dutch before your trip, they will love it. They won’t go out of their way to meet you, so you have to go out of your way to meet them. It’s worth it, though. Once you have a Dutch friend, you’re in!

Dutch is Not Deutsch!

Germany and the Netherlands are not the same. The languages may sound similar, but they are not the same. This can be a cause of contention for the Dutch, so don’t confuse the two! The cultures, food, people, and language are all different.

Being Late

Ok, here’s one similarity with the Germans. The Dutch are prompt. And they schedule everything out. You can count on them to show up, on time, for plans. And you don’t even have to remind them. So make sure you are also on time!

Thinking a Private Conversation is Private

The Dutch have no qualms about interjecting themselves into your conversation. Locals may try to put their two cents in, especially if they don’t agree with what you’re saying. Even if you weren’t talking to them, they’ll give you their opinion.

Forgetting to Have Change on Hand

Of course, most businesses will take credit cards, but it’s a mistake not to have some cash on you, including coins. This is for the public toilets, which often cost a few coins to enter. If you have a bathroom emergency, you’ll be happy that you already have coins to enter! Having small bills is useful, too, as large bills aren’t always accepted. The delicious snack vending machines also require coins, and you don’t want to miss out on those!

Other businesses only take credit cards and won’t accept cash, or vice versa. So it’s best to be prepared with multiple forms of payment. If you are paying in cash, sometimes they will round up or down to the nearest five cents. So don’t be shocked if you don’t get all of your change back, or if you get a little extra change back. It all evens out in the end.

European Money Explained

Not Asking for Prices

Some stores don’t display the prices of their items, so you have no idea how much they cost. It’s ok to ask, so you don’t have sticker shock at the checkout. If you’re in a touristy area, definitely ask because you can’t assume the prices are reasonable!

Only Seeing Amsterdam

When you think of the Netherlands, you probably first think of Amsterdam. But there’s so much more to this country! This is like thinking New York City is representative of all of the United States. Of course it’s not! Even if you don’t have a lot of time, use public transportation to get out of Amsterdam and explore other areas. The Hague, Haarlem, Keukenhof, and Rotterdam are all reachable from Amsterdam. They even have miles of coastline and beautiful beach towns!

Skipping Public Transportation

It is so easy to take public transportation here. The entire country is only slightly larger than the state of Maryland, so you can pretty much go anywhere on a day trip from Amsterdam. Between trains and buses, you can travel all over the country. It’s a good value, too. Just make sure to weigh your options and get on the right train. Some are express trains with fewer stops, while some are slower but have more destinations.

Taxis and rideshares are quite expensive, especially in Amsterdam, so taking the train will save you quite a bit of money.

Buying Tickets for Public Transportation

The Netherlands is very progressive in some areas, including public transportation. If you have a chip credit card, you can just tap it on your way in and out of the bus or train. No more figuring out routes and ticket tiers, just tap and go! Just don’t forget to tap it on the way out as well. That’s how they figure out how much to charge you, based on the distance you traveled.

Forgetting to Pre-Book Tickets

If you are visiting popular attractions in the Netherlands, like the Anne Frank House or Rijksmuseum, you should purchase tickets in advance. Sometimes they fill up and you can’t even visit; other times, you’ll just save yourself a lot of time waiting in line for tickets. As you’re planning your trip, if an attraction has a pre-book option, take it!

Skipping the Tourist Traps

Just because something is a tourist trap, doesn’t mean it’s not worthwhile! Madame Tussaud Wax Museums are huge tourist traps, but Jocelyn and the boys love going there, so we have been to the Amsterdam wax museum before! Other “tourist traps” in the Netherlands include Body World, the Sex Museum, the Amsterdam Dungeon and the Torture Museum.

Thinking Tulips are Year-Round

Tulips are synonymous with the Netherlands. But they’re not always there. Like anywhere else in the world, there are growing seasons, so you can’t show up in November expecting to see huge fields of tulips. Tulip season is typically from the end of March through the beginning of May. If someone offers you a tulip tour in the off season, it’s a scam. You may get a tour, but you won’t get the postcard view of the tulips in bloom.

Thinking Biking is a Fun Pastime

Biking is an essential mode of transportation in the Netherlands. It’s how locals get to work and school, how they go to the grocery store. It’s serious business in the Netherlands, so don’t just hop on a bike when you get there. It’s also not about fitness; it’s their primary mode of transportation. So you don’t have to be in good shape to ride a bike in the Netherlands. It’s pretty flat and easy!

Pay attention to others and see how they ride before trying to jump in on a bike. For leisurely biking, head out to the countryside, but stay out of rush hour traffic. (You also don’t need a fancy bike; look around, the kind of bike you ride doesn’t matter!)

If you rent a bike, though, make sure you test it before you take off. You don’t want to be riding on a bike that doesn’t fit you well. Make sure you have a helmet and a bike lock, and try to avoid rush hour. Ask the bike rental shop or hotel where to go that won’t be so busy with daily bike commuters. It’s also a great idea to attach an AirTag to your bike and/or drop a pin on the map where you left it. Take a picture, too, because there are a lot of bikes in Amsterdam!

Whatever you do, do not step in the bike lanes! This is like stepping out into traffic, and it can be fatal or at least very dangerous.

Underestimating the Stairs in the Netherlands

When many of the buildings went up in the Netherlands, it was necessary to build very narrow buildings, which means the staircases are also very narrow. In some places, they’re actually more like ladders. Pretty much everyone I know has fallen down or off the stairs in the Netherlands.

Going to Coffee Shops for Coffee

If you want coffee, go to a cafe. If you want cannabis, you go to a coffee shop. These aren’t such a big deal, now that it’s legalized in many states back home, but it is still part of the culture, especially in Amsterdam.

If you do imbibe, don’t assume you know what you’re doing. Products here can be very different from what you are used to back home, so start slow. The people who work there are quite knowledgeable and used to tourists, so don’t be afraid to ask questions.

If you buy anything at the coffee shops, make sure to scour your luggage before you fly back home. Otherwise, you might get to see a special part of the airport that is reserved for bad tourists.

If you don’t imbibe, you should still be aware and on the lookout for what we call “tweek-end tourists” who over-imbibe and get messy. Weekends especially get a little rowdy in Amsterdam.

Taking Photos of Window Models

In Amsterdam, especially, you’ll see women posing in the windows of the Red Light District. This may be a new sight for you, but don’t take their picture. They are just doing their job and are not there for your photo opportunities. If you must have a photo, you can probably buy a postcard with a similar scene.

Safety Mistakes to Avoid

Overall, the Netherlands is pretty safe, but there are the usual scams and safety issues of any tourist destination. A lot of tourists use caution in Amsterdam, but then throw that out the window when they leave the capital. This is a mistake.

Pickpockets are probably the biggest danger to look out for. They tend to be in the areas with a lot of tourists, like main sights, trains, and train stations. Amsterdam and other Dutch cities are subject to the same common scams all over Europe. Just use your usual travel smarts, keep your wits about you, and you’ll be fine.

Honest Travel Safety Tips for Everyone

Skipping the Canals

The canals aren’t just for commuters. Anyone can enjoy them from a boat tour or their own boat rental. It’s a great way to experience both the city and the countryside from a new perspective. In some places, you can even rent kayaks if that’s more your speed.

Falling into Canals

The canals are nice to look at, and fun to experience from a boat, but tourists are always falling into the canals. Whether it’s too many Space Cakes or walking and looking at their phones, it’s easier than you think to fall into a canal. They don’t always have a guardrail, so be careful around the canals. This goes for parking, too. The locals will park right up against the edge, but don’t try that unless you’re extremely comfortable with the car you’re driving.

Missing Out on Dutch Cuisine

The Dutch aren’t necessarily known for their cuisine, as evidenced by the fact that you almost never see Dutch restaurants in other countries! Street food and vending machine food in the Netherlands is where it’s at, though. That said, there are some must-try items to eat in the Netherlands.

Pancakes aren’t just for breakfast here! They are served all day, and they can come with sweet or savory toppings. They’re thinner than American pancakes, but not quite as thin as a crepe.
Poffertjes are another pancake-like food to try. They are quite small, served in a batch, with butter and powdered sugar. (There are other toppings, but this is the best one!)
Croquettes are a great snack; they come in many varieties, and you’ll see them at restaurants but also in the Febo vending machines. It’s deep-fried goodness, but take care not to burn your mouth! (Don’t skip the vending machines!)
Bitterballen is like a deep-fried ragu or beef stew. It’s one of the best street foods to get from the Febo machine. The Bahn Mi version is also fantastic. Deep-fried Bahn Mi!
Frites, or fries, are another common snack. What makes them amazing is all of the sauces. Peanut sauce, mayo, and curry ketchup are some of the more common ones.
Frikandellen is like a deep-fried sausage without the skin.
Stamppot is like a mashed potato casserole. It’s not much until you add toppings like meat and gravy, and then it’s delicious.
Satay Chicken is one example of great Southeast Asian food you can have in the Netherlands.
Cheese is really good in the Netherlands. Gouda is actually a Dutch city between Amsterdam and Rotterdam, so definitely try some Gouda during your trip. If you’re a big fan, plan a day trip to Gouda!
Kibbeling is a snack made with little chunks of battered and fried fish. It’s delicious and usually fried up to order.
Pea Soup is a great thing to eat on a cold day. It’s not just peas, but a pea base with lots of good stuff inside. Pea soup and a pancake is a pretty good meal!
Kapsalon is a street food that’s like a doner salad. It has a French Fry base, doner meat, gouda cheese baked to gooey, with a salad on top. Doner kebabs are great street food on their own, too.
Stroopwafel is a classic Dutch treat! You can buy them prepackaged, just like they serve on United Airlines, or you can sometimes order them fresh. A plain Stroopwafel is good on its own, but they like to dip them in chocolate and add toppings like sprinkles or marshmallows. If you are having a coffee, put your Stroopwafel on top of the mug, and the steam will melt the caramel. Delicious!
Other tasty Dutch desserts are Butter Cake and Apple Tart.
It wouldn’t be a list of Dutch foods without herring. They love herring in the Netherlands. There are many different ways to eat herring, so give it a shot. If you don’t like it, at least you can say you tried it.
Lastly, if you don’t like black licorice, don’t try any of the black candy. They love the flavor, but most Americans do not.

Of course, there are some unique beverages in the Netherlands, too. It would be a mistake to miss out on these!

Jenever is a gin-like spirit in the Netherlands. It’s often served in what looks like a shot glass, but it’s meant to be sipped. Be careful, though, as they usually fill the glass right up to the brim.
Heineken and Amstel are beers made here and available worldwide. You can even tour the Heineken Brewery in Amsterdam!
Try some of the local beers at brewpubs around town, but remember, they like foam on their beer in the Netherlands. The more foam, the fresher the beer.
For kids of all ages, Chocomel is thick chocolate milk in a can or bottle. This is Mark’s airport tradition when leaving the Netherlands. (Make sure you shake it before you open it!)

Don’t expect over-the-top service at restaurants; you may need to flag down your server from time to time. They aren’t going to be checking on you frequently.

Planning Too Many Hot Meals

It’s pretty common for the Dutch to only have one hot meal per day. The other meals are treated more like a snack, with bread and cheese. Cheese sandwiches are a very common lunch in the Netherlands. If you are traveling with Dutch friends, keep this in mind.

Planning Late Dinners

In the Netherlands, they like to have dinner early. Dinner is usually around 5:30 or 6:00, and often restaurants close early as well. If you are used to eating late, you might not have many options. Of course, Amsterdam has late-night restaurants and lots of street food, but in smaller towns, everything might close at 9:00 or 10:00. No matter what time you have dinner, reservations are always a good idea in the larger cities.

Grab Some Wolters World Travel Gear!

Don’t wait to start planning your first Netherlands vacation! It’s such an amazing country full of culture, nature, and delicious snacks. For more tips on travel in the Netherlands, check out these other blog posts: