Page 434 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - The Netherlands

432  SUR VIV AL GUIDE
PRACTICAL INFORMATION

The Netherlands is relatively small and has a dykes means that holidaymakers have plenty
dense road and motorway network, with of opportunity to explore the countryside by
good public transport, so getting around is bicycle (see pp448–9) or by boat (see p447).
quick and easy. Whether you are going to Another option is to take a trip by steam
Amsterdam, the Veluwe, Maastricht or train. The best place to find out what’s
Zandvoort, you can get there from anywhere available in your area – and in the
in the country very quickly by car or by train. country as a whole – is the local VVV
The flat landscape with its many canals and (tourist information) office.
Entertainment
Many VVV-gidsen guides have
an annual review of events
in a particular region or
province. For up-to-date
information on events,
exhibitions, performances
and films, it is worth looking
in the entertainment
supplements issued by
daily papers, or ask at the
local VVV office. Plays,
concerts, special events
and festivals are usually
advertised on billboards or
VVV and ANWB offices, which often share the same premises in cafés. Special regional and
local entertainment guides
Tourist Information and motoring guides, tickets, are also a good source of
The best source of information camping guides and road information; for example,
for tourists is the local or atlases. ANWB members have the monthly Uitkrant tells
regional VVV office. Many access to specialized you what’s on in Amsterdam
towns and places of interest membership information in the way of the performing
have VVV offices where you about various subjects and arts, while the weekly Uitloper
can drop in and ask for advice holiday offers. In many cases is Utrecht’s entertainment
and brochures about the VVV and the guide. These guides are
places of interest, ANWB share the distributed at many sites
local events, same premises. free of charge.
walks, cycle If you are travel- Tickets for concerts and
routes and ANWB logo ling to the events are available not
excursions in the Netherlands only at the box office of
town or region. In addition, from abroad you can obtain the venue itself but also
they can provide maps and information in advance from via the national Ticket
books about other parts of the the Netherlands Board of Service and at VVV offices.
Netherlands. The VVV-gidsen Tourism (NBT) in your Some towns also have their
series in Dutch is very practical, own country. own booking bureau; for
with information and facts instance, in Amsterdam you
about individual provinces Language can book your tickets at the
and regions. AUB (see p150).
At VVVs you can also book The Dutch have been linguists
domestic excursions, hotels, for centuries, and most students
short breaks and theatre tickets learn English, some German and
anywhere in the country. French. English is certainly very
Annual museum cards and CJPs widely and fluently spoken in
are also on sale here. Smaller Amsterdam. However, it’s always
VVV outlets, although providing appreciated if you can handle a
comprehensive information few niceties: greeting a Dutch
about their local area, do not person with “Dag” (“good day”),
provide other services. for example, before asking
ANWB offices in the whether they speak English. The
Netherlands also have a Phrase Book on pages 471–2 is a Revellers at a music festival
selection of cycling, rambling useful place to start. in Amsterdam
The canal with the Old Church Tower of Delft in the background

432-433_EW_Netherlands.indd 432 16/01/17 12:08 pm
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Practical template “UK” LAYER
(Source v1.7)
Date 5th March 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm