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Money & duty free for Netherlands

Currency information: 

Euro (EUR; symbol €) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of €500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of €2 and 1, and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cents.

Credit cards: 

American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are accepted. ATMs are widely available.

ATM: 

ATMs are widely available.

Travellers cheques: 

Widely accepted. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take traveller's cheques in Euros, Pounds Sterling or US Dollars.

Banking hours: 

Mon 1300-1600; Tues-Fri 0900-1600. GWK offices are open seven days a week.

Currency restriction: 

There are no restrictions on the import or export of local or foreign currency. However, amounts exceeding €10,000 or equivalent must be declared if travelling from or to a country outside the European Union.

Currency exchange: 

Exchange offices are indicated by the letters GWK. GWK is a national organisation with currency exchange offices at major railway stations, at Schiphol Airport and at the border crossings with Germany and Belgium. Hotels tend to charge high commissions. Verkoop means sell, while Koop means buy.

Netherlands duty free

The Netherlands is within the European Union. If you are travelling from the UK, you are entitled to buy fragance, skincare, cosmetics, Champagne, wine, selected spirits, fashion accessories, gifts and souvenirs - all at tax-free equivalent prices. There are no longer any allowance restrictions on these tax-free items.

If you are arriving from a non-EU country, the following goods may be imported into the Netherlands by persons over 17 years of age without incurring customs duty:

• 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 100 cigarillos or 250g of tobacco.
• 1L of liquor or 2L of sparkling wine or liqueur wines and 2L of non-sparkling wine.
• 50g of perfume and 250mL of eau de toilette.
• 500g of coffee or 200g of coffee extract.
• 100g of tea or 40g of tea extract.
• Other goods to the value of €430 (if bought outside Europe).

Note: (a) Goods must be purchased in non-EU countries. (b) The above allowances are only for travellers aged 17 years and above. (c) Enquiries concerning current import regulations should be made to the Royal Netherlands Embassy in the country of departure, or to the national Chamber of Commerce. (d) The import of firearms and ammunition requires a licence.

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