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Netherlands, Travel - International

Air: The Netherlands’ national airline is KLM-Royal Dutch Airlines (KLM) (website: www.klm.com). KLM flies direct to all major European, North American and Asia-Pacific cities. KLM Excel flies between London Stansted and Maastricht. Most major international airlines, and some low-cost carriers fly to Amsterdam.

Approximate flight times: From Amsterdam to Belfast is one hour; to London is one hour 20 minutes; to Manchester is one hour 15 minutes and to New York is seven hours (including stopover in London).

International airports: Amsterdam (AMS) (Schiphol) (website: www.schiphol.nl) is 15km (9 miles) southwest of the city (travel time by train – 20 minutes). KLM buses provide a daily service from 0600-0000 departing every 15 to 30 minutes, stopping at a selection of major hotels and returning to Schiphol. There is a direct rail link between the airport and Amsterdam Centraal Station, with trains every 15 minutes from 0600-0000 and every hour through the night. Trains to Zuid Station (Amsterdam South) run every 15 minutes from 0525-0015; return is from Zuid Station, Parnassusweg/ Minervalaan (via tram no. 5 from the city centre) from 0545-0040. There is also a service to the RAI Congress Centre every 15 minutes from 0525-0012. Return is from RAI station (via tram no. 4 from the city centre) from 0545-0040. Plentiful taxis are available to the city. Airport facilities include restaurants, duty free shops, currency exchange machines (able to convert 17 different currencies), banks, an art gallery, baby rooms, showers, a business centre (with fax, personal computer and telephone facilities), conference rooms and car hire.
Rotterdam (RTM) (Zestienhoven) (website: www.rotterdam-airport.nl) is 8km (5 miles) northwest of the city (travel time – 15 minutes). Bus no. 33 departs every 10 minutes. Return is from Central Station (travel time – 20 minutes). Taxis to the city are also available. Airport facilities include restaurant, bank, outgoing duty free shop and car hire.
Eindhoven (EIN) (Welschap) (website: www.eindhovenairport.nl) is 8km (5 miles) from the city. Coaches run every 15 minutes and taxis to the city are also available. Airport facilities include car hire, ATMs, restaurants and outgoing duty free shops.
Maastricht (MST) (Aachen) (website: www.maa.nl) is 8km (5 miles) from the city. Airport facilities include outgoing duty free shop.
Groningen (GRQ) (Eelde) (website: www.groningenairporteelde.nl) is 9km (6 miles) from the city.
Enschede (ENS) (Twente) (website: www.enschede-airport.nl) is 8km (5 miles) from the city.

Departure tax: None.

Sea: The major ferry ports are Hook of Holland (Hoek van Holland), Rotterdam and Vlissingen. Regular car and passenger ferries are operated from the UK to The Netherlands via the following routes and shipping lines:
Stena Line (tel: (08705) 707 070; website: www.stenaline.co.uk): Harwich to Hook of Holland; travel time – three hours 40 minutes (day), six hours 15 minutes (night); two sailings daily.
P&O Ferries (tel: (08705) 202 020; website: www.ponsf.com): Hull to Rotterdam (Europoort); travel time – 12 hours; one sailing nightly.
DFDS Seaways (tel: (08705) 333 000 (within the UK) or (01255) 240 240 (outside the UK); website: www.dfdsseaways.co.uk): Newcastle to Amsterdam; travel time – 16 hours.
Note: Hoverspeed UK and P&O European Ferries run services to The Netherlands via Belgium. French ports also provide connections.

Rail: Eurostar operates direct high-speed trains from London (Waterloo International) to Paris (Gare du Nord) and to Brussels (Midi/Zuid). It takes three hours from London to Paris and it takes two hours 40 minutes from London to Brussels. Local trains run between Brussels and Amsterdam (travel time – approximately two hours 45 minutes). Eurostar operates eight daily services to Brussels and Thalys International runs six daily trains (seven in summer) onwards to Amsterdam and other Dutch destinations.
The Eurostar trains are equipped with standard-class and first-class seating, buffet, bar and are staffed by multilingual, highly trained personnel. Pricing is competitive with the airlines, and there is a large range of different tickets and prices. Children aged between four to 11 years benefit from a special fare in first class as well as in standard class. Children under four years old travel free but cannot be guaranteed a seat. Wheelchair users and blind passengers together with one companion get a special fare. For further information and reservations, contact Eurostar (tel: (0870) 600 0792 (travel agents) or (08705) 186 186 (public; within the UK) or (+44 1233) 617 575 (public; outside the UK only); website: www.eurostar.com); or Rail Europe (tel: (08705) 848 848). Travel agents can obtain refunds for unused tickets from Eurostar Trade Refunds, 2nd Floor, Kent House, 81 Station Road, Ashford, Kent TN23 1PD, UK. Complaints and comments may be sent to Eurostar Customer Relations, Eurostar House, Waterloo Station, London SE1 8SE, UK (tel: (020) 7928 5163; e-mail: new.comments@eurostar.co.uk). Rail travellers not using the Channel Tunnel link need to make some form of sea crossing, usually by ferry or hovercraft; for details on sea crossings, see also under Sea above. The cost of the crossing is usually included in the price of the rail ticket.
There are plenty of rail passes on offer to travellers visiting The Netherlands, including discounts for young and senior citizens. For further details, contact Rail Europe (website: www.raileurope.com).

Road: The Netherlands is connected to the rest of Europe by a superb network of motorways. All roads are well signposted with green ‘E’ symbols indicating international highways, red ‘A’s indicating national highways, and smaller routes indicated by yellow ‘N’s. The national speed limit is 120kph (75mph). Although frontier formalities between The Netherlands, Germany and Belgium have now all but vanished, motorists – particularly on smaller roads – should be prepared to stop when asked to do so by a customs official. The yellow cars of the ANWB/Wegenwacht (Royal Dutch Touring Club) (tel: (70) 314 1420) patrol major roads 24 hours a day with qualified mechanics equipped to handle routine repairs. In case of emergencies, assistance is available (tel: 60888 within The Netherlands only).
The Channel Tunnel: All road vehicles are carried through the tunnel in Eurotunnel shuttles running between the two terminals, one near Folkestone in Kent, with direct road access from the M20, and one just outside Calais, with links to the A16/A26 motorway (Exit 13). Each shuttle is made up of 12 single- and 12 double-deck carriages, and vehicles are directed to single-deck or double-deck carriages depending on their height. There are facilities for cars and motorcycles, coaches, minibuses, caravans, campervans and other vehicles over 1.85m (6.07ft). Bicycles are provided for. Passengers generally travel with their vehicles. Heavy goods vehicles are carried on special shuttles and drivers travel in a separate carriage. Terminals and shuttles are well equipped for disabled passengers, and Passenger Terminal buildings contain a variety of shops, restaurants, bureaux de change and other amenities. The journey takes about 35 minutes from platform to platform and about one hour from motorway to motorway. Services run every day of the year, and there are between two and five an hour, depending on the time of day. There is a reservation system and a turn-up-and-go service. Motorists pass through customs and immigration before they board the shuttle without further checks on arrival. Fares vary according to length of stay, time of day and time of year and whether you have a reservation or not. The price applies to the car, regardless of the number of passengers or size of the car. The fare may be paid in cash, by cheque or by credit card. For further information, contact Eurotunnel Customer Services UK (tel: (08705) 353 535; website: www.eurotunnel.com).
Coach: Eurolines run coach services from the UK to The Netherlands and from The Netherlands to various destinations throughout Europe. They have an office in Amsterdam at Julianaplein 5, 1097 DN (tel: (20) 560 8788; fax: (20) 560 8717; e-mail: info@eurolines.nl; website: www.eurolines.nl). Further information can also be obtained by calling Eurolines in the UK (4 Cardiff Road, Luton, Bedfordshire L41 1PP; tel: (08705) 143 219; fax: (01582) 400 694; website: www.eurolines.com or www.nationalexpress.com). Car hire: Major companies can be found in all the main cities; among them are Avis, Budget, Europcar and Hertz.

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