Overland Netherlands Travel
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Contents
- 1 Visiting Netherlands
- 2 Entering Netherlands with a Car or Motorbike
- 3 Driving in Netherlands
- 4 Gas and Diesel price in Netherlands
- 5 Safety and Security Considerations
- 6 Camping in Netherlands
- 7 Navigation
- 8 Special Overland Travel interests
- 9 Vehicle Maintenance
- 10 Buy or sell a car or motorbike in Netherlands
- 11 References
- 12 Helpful External links
Visiting Netherlands
Give a brief overview of what it's like to visit. How easy is the border, how safe is the country, are there great things to see and do, etc.
Entering Netherlands with a Car or Motorbike
Correct as of: September 2013
Required Paperwork
(To check if you need a travel Visa for Netherlands, application instructions and fees see: Netherlands Visa online application at VisaHQ.com)
Proof of ownership is required. Original paperwork must be available to show to Police and Customs upon request (copies not permitted).
Process at border
There is virtually no process involved with crossing into The Netherlands via car. As it is bordered entirely by EU member nations, it is assumed your vehicle has already been through that process, if your vehicle is from a non-EU member nation. All road borders are no longer maintained. Just drive across and enjoy the windmills.
Cost of entry
Free.
Permitted length of stay
A foreign registered vehicle can stay up to 6 months in any country within EU.
EU includes: Austria, Italy, Belgium, Latvia, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Croatia, Luxembourg, Cyprus Malta, Czech Republic, Netherlands, Denmark, Poland, Estonia, Portugal, Finland, Romania, France, Slovakia, Germany, Slovenia, Greece, Spain, Hungary, Sweden & Ireland
However, you must pay extra attention and study carefully your stay in the Schengen Zone which allows only 3 months every 6 months per year.
The Schengen Member States include: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland & Liechtenstein. More info about Schengen Zone Visa at: [[1]]
For example Switzerland, Norway or Liechtenstein belong to the Schengen Zone (which literally means free movement) but in the EU. Also countries like Serbia, Albania, FYROM, Bosnia or Belarus do not belong to any group (EU or Schengen Zone)
Extension of stay
Describe the process to extend the permitted length of entry for the vehicle, if possible.
Storing a vehicle and temporarily leaving the country
Describe if/how a vehicle can be stored, and for how long.
Also mention if the owner / temporary importer can leave the country while the vehicle is in storage.
Exiting with a vehicle
No process for exiting with vehicle, other than crossing the mostly invisible border.
Driving in Netherlands
Recommended books for Overlanding in Netherlands
Travel insurance for Netherlands
World Nomads offer the most flexible Travel Insurance at the best prices for multi-country / multi-year trips. You can buy, extend and claim online, even after you've left home.
Vehicle insurance requirements
Vehicle insurance is mandatory for all vehicles. Any 3rd party insurance is acceptable according to the law. You can buy online through the web or from an agent.
The famous Green Card goes automatically (and free of charge) with the national/regional insurance but the vehicle must be registered in EU and the driver needs to have an EU driving license. Just ask it from your agent.
EU insurance companies will only handle clients that are residents/ citizens of EU and have an EU license to drive/ ride within the EU territory.
For foreign registered vehicles you will need what in Europe is called Temporary Frontier Insurance. More info & costs: [2] [3] [4]
Cost of vehicle insurance
State the price of insurance and a time period.
Where to purchase vehicle insurance
Describe where insurance can be purchased.
Driving license
Valid (normally not older than 6 months from date of issue) International driving permit is required for non-EU citizens.
Driving side of road
Right.
RHD vehicles can be driven in Netherlands.
Mandatory items in vehicle
A safety triangle is mandatory if the hazard lights are unserviceable or absent
Roads
General Road quality
Road quality is very good and maintained regularly. This includes highways as well as the rural roads.
Road signs
Road sign are very clear and easy to follow. At almost every gas station there is a local city/town map with a larger area map available. these maps are also at the entrance/exit roads of most towns and cities with a special stop area.
Toll roads
There are a few toll roads in the Netherlands, mainly in the southwest (Zeeland province). You can mostly avoid them whilst staying on the highways.
Bribery in Netherlands
Bribery unheard of in the Netherlands. Offering a bribe will get you in more trouble, so don't.
Checkpoints
There are no checkpoints in The Netherlands. Police will occasionally setup a moving checkpoint at night to check for drinking and driving.
Traveling with pets
The use of the veterinary certificate provided is mandatory, unless your pet is traveling with a valid EU pet passport. Once signed by the veterinarian or endorsement by the competent authority, the certificate is valid for four months, or until the expiration date of the vaccination, whichever comes first. source: [[5]]
Gas and Diesel price in Netherlands
Last updated: October 2016
Currency and unit to display:
| Gasoline Grade | Price |
|---|---|
| Unleaded | €1.45 EUR per Liter[1] |
| Diesel | €1.11 EUR per Liter[1] |
Gas and Diesel Availability / Frequency
There are no fuel shortages in The Netherlands
The Netherlands is a small country and you will never be far from a gas station. On motorways there's a station about every 50 km.
Gas and Diesel Quality
Gasoline is unleaded and available in octane 95 and 98 with 98 being around 15 cents more expensive. / diesel is considered "clean" and generally high quality.
'
Safety and Security Considerations
Driving at night
Driving at night is no problem and safe. Weather permitting of course. Most roads are well lit at night.
Vehicle parking
Parking is possible everywhere, most larger towns have paid parking throughout most of the city-centers.
In most villages parking is free.
Sleeping in your vehicle is only allowed on designated campsites. However, enforcement is rare.
Special driving considerations
Right-of-way can be tricky. Within city boundaries, on crossings of equal roads, drivers coming from the right have right of way, including bicycles.
Also, cyclists are well protected by Dutch law. In any accident involving a cyclist, the car (or motorcycle) will be held liable, unless proof can be given that the bicycle was purposely at fault.
Speed limits can be confusing, especially on highways. Maximum speed on the highway may vary from 70-90-100-120-130 km/h, the signs not always being clear.
Security advisories and information
- Country Specific Information - U.S. Department of State
- Travel Reports and Warnings - Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
- Travel advice by country - Foreign and Commonwealth office (U.K.)
- Travel Advice for Netherlands - Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Camping in Netherlands
Campsites are common throughout the country, rates varying from €10.00 EUR to €80.00 EUR per person per night. As the rates go up, so do the facilities.
Common facilities are washrooms, laundry, shop, sani-dump, water, pool, wifi.
Roadside camping is not allowed anywhere. Wildcamping is possible on a few spots, controlled by the State Forestry Service "Staatbosbeheer", locations can be found here: [[6]] - in Dutch, Google translate may be required.
Camping guide books
List and link to books specifically for camping.
Drinking water
Tapwater is safe to drink everywhere.
Paper maps
Reise Know-How are amoung the best paper maps. Purchase paper maps before arriving in Netherlands
![Europe Executive [tubed] (national Geographic Referenc...](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51Jfc-L6AgL._SL160_.jpg)
Maps are available at every Tourist Information office (called 'VVV') [7] or ANWB (Dutch Automobile Club) [8]
Maps generally cost around €6.00 EUR
GPS Maps of Netherlands
Tomtom [9]] and Garmin [10]] have excellent road-coverage.
OSM maps [11]] and [12]] are also excellent for off-road tracks and information.
Note that offroading possibilities are very limited.
GPS co-ordinates for camping, propane, gas, repairs, etc. in Netherlands
- iOverlander is a website and iPhone application designed by Overlanders, for Overlanders. It contains GPS co-ordinates and reviews for camping, hotels, propane, water, mechanics, borders and much more.
Link to sites that have a list of GPS co-ordinates (or directions) for camping locations (including "wild" campsites), propane filling, gas stations, repair shops, places of interest, etc.
Special Overland Travel interests
List any special items / places that are popular with Overlanders
Vehicle Maintenance
Dealers
4x4s / Trucks
- Toyota Global Dealer Locator
- Land Rover International Dealer Locator
- Mercedes Benz International (select country on bottom right)
- Jeep International site locator
Motorbikes
Local Garages
Add known good mechanics here.
Buy or sell a car or motorbike in Netherlands
Buy
Foreigners are free to purchase any vehicle in the Netherlands, provided they hold a valid driver's license.
Registering the vehicle requires that the owner is also a registered inhabitant of the Netherlands.
Sell
When a foreigner possesses proof of ownership of the vehicle, sale to companies of individuals has no restrictions.
Keep in mind you might get less value since you're selling a foreign-registered vehicle
The process is quite simple: find buyer, take him to the post-office, and transfer title. In some cases you may have to do this at the Department of Motor Vehicles (RDW) [13]
References
Links to the source of any information - blogs or discussion forums, etc.
Helpful External links
Add any helpful external links here.
- Netherlands: Visa and Passport requirements | World Travel Guide
- Health Information for Travelers to Netherlands - Center for Disease Control and Prevention
- Netherlands travel guides at wikivoyage
- Netherlands - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
