Amsterdam: General information

Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, has its origins in the 12th Century. It was granted city rights in 1300. It made its mark as a trading post, and the city's ever present water had a major part in this development. Amsterdam is also known for its beautiful historic centre with its charming canals and plentiful shopping streets. Amsterdam has a number of special museums, and other interesting sights of international fame. Many historic places can also be found outside the city, and they are well worth a visit. Most places are easy to reach and open throughout the year.

Passport / Visa

Any visitor to the Netherlands must be in possession of a valid passport. Visitors from the United States, the European Union, Australia, New Zealand and Canada do not need to apply for entry visa to the Netherlands, so long as they are not staying for more than three months. Otherwise, visa arrangements must be made.

Language

Dutch is spoken in the Netherlands as well as Flanders (Belgium). Historically speaking, Dutch has a number of similarities with the English and German languages because it is rooted in the Germanic language family. Afrikaans also bears a strong likeness as this language evolved from the Dutch in the 17th century. Thanks to these similarities many Dutch people are well able to communicate in English and German.