Where to Go - Europe (exc UK)

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Holland

Population: 15,892,237

Literacy rate: 99%

Life expectancy at birth: male –75.4 yrs, female –81.28 yrs

Infant mortality rate: 4.42 deaths/1,000 live births

Population growth rate: 0.57%

GDP growth rate: 3.4%

GDP per capita: £15,500

Unemployment: 3.5%

Inflation: 2.2%

TI index: 8.9

Climate: temperate; marine; cool summers and mild winters

Time: GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October).

Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz.

Websites: The Dutch tourism board is at http://www.holland.com/

The Dutch embassy of London website provides information about visiting the country and can be found at http://netherlands.embassyhomepage.com/index.htm

When visiting do take time out for a little tourism. There are the various attractions of Amsterdam which you will all be aware of – or at least semi-aware if sampling them; the sober, serious and culturally interesting city of s’Gravenhage (The Hague) and the enormous port city of Rotterdam. The various museums are fascinating repositories of culture. Food and drink (especially beer) are excellent.

Holland and its early system of guilds laid the foundations for northern Europe’s economic order and development. This system also made it possible for the various scientists to carry out their research and produce results (the microscope was invented by a Dutchman) without undue interference from the church. Late medieval Holland was the country largely responsible for showing the way in commerce, trading and economic organisation to the rest of Europe and the world. It also managed to make the transition from a colonial power to its present state more ably than any other country in a similar situation.

The unemployment figures above do not take into account those who, aided by generous government welfare benefits, have just decided to drop out of the labour market altogether.

Entry requirements

UK and Irish citizens need no working visa, but must obtain a tax number from the police when they arrive. Any other nationalities will encounter many rules and regulations. It can take up to three months to get a work permit.

Vaccinations

Nothing special here

Tax and Insurance

Around 30% tax. If you pay tax, the excellent Dutch health system will take care of you.

Getting Around

Click here for further information on great value rail passes with a Holland Railpass

Click here for further information on great value bus travel with Busabout

Gap Year Programmes

Click here to find gap year programmes and placements in the Netherlands

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