Packing list for the Netherlands, insurance for the Netherlands and taking your belongings

What to take to the Netherlands: brief

To pack and check

• Documents and money: a passport, or if you're from the Schengen area, an identity card. If you are from outside the Schengen area, you'll probably need a visa. The Netherlands uses the euro, and you can pay by debit card or contactless almost everywhere. Nevertheless, a small amount of cash can be handy at markets or at some small businesses.
• Clothing: bring clothing for all seasons, even if you are visiting in the summer. The Dutch weather can change several times a day. A layering system, a waterproof and windproof jacket, and a warm sweater are often more practical than one thick coat.
• Shoes: comfortable shoes are ideal for city trips. If you plan to do a lot of walking in nature reserves such as the Veluwe or the Wadden Islands, bring hiking boots or trail shoes. A pair of sandals or flip-flops are handy for beach days in the summer.
• Personal care and hygiene: sunscreen for spring and summer. Packing and protection: a rain cover for your backpack or bag and possibly a compact umbrella. Rain is part of the quintessential Dutch experience.
• Insects and animals: mosquito repellent is only useful in the summer when camping or spending a lot of time near water, but it is not necessary. A tick remover for spring, summer, and autumn if you are hiking through nature.
• Medicines and travel first-aid kit: your own medication.
• Outdoors and handy items: a reusable water bottle, sunglasses, and a small backpack for day trips.
• Technology and equipment: a universal adapter for type C and F sockets. For travelers from many European countries, a universal adapter is not necessary.
• Safety and theft: lock your bike securely!

To consider

• Rain trousers for cycling or hiking trips.
• Swimwear for beaches, lakes, or outdoor pools.
• Binoculars for the Wadden Islands, Oostvaardersplassen, or other nature reserves.
• A reusable coffee cup; more and more locations are encouraging reuse.
• An extra shopping bag; plastic bags are usually not free.

Are there mosquitoes in the Netherlands?

• Mosquitoes are present during the warmer months, especially around stagnant water, nature reserves, and campsites.
• For most travelers, they are primarily a cause of itching. They pose no health risk.
• More about protection against mosquitoes and insects.

Are there sandflies in the Netherlands?

• Sandflies do not pose a relevant problem for travelers in the Netherlands.
• More about sandflies and sand fleas.

Can you buy DEET, or other mosquito repellents, in the Netherlands?

• DEET, picaridine, and other mosquito repellents are incredibly easy to find at drugstores, pharmacies, supermarkets, and outdoor stores.
• Think, for example, of large supermarkets, stores like Bever and Decathlon, but also Kruidvat, Etos, and health food stores with natural alternatives.
• See also DEET mosquito repellents and the percentages.

Can you buy a joint or weed in the Netherlands, or bring it into the Netherlands?

• The Netherlands is naturally known for its coffeeshops, but that does not mean that cannabis is completely legal. Officially, cannabis is illegal, but it has been decriminalized under the tolerance policy.
• This means that adults aged 18 years and older can purchase up to 5 grams at coffee shops and possess them. Growing a maximum of 5 plants at home is also permitted under the tolerance policy.
• Therefore, in many municipalities, adults can purchase cannabis in coffee shops subject to conditions. The rules vary by municipality, and some coffee shops, especially those in border areas, do not sell to tourists.
• Commercial growth, purchasing outside of coffee shops, and import are still strictly illegal.