Getting Around
The horizontal nature of the countryside makes the humble bicycle the ideal device for getting around, though there are decent train and bus networks to transport those with pedal-weary feet. You can also drive or motorcycle around, but only if you have an impeccable sense of direction and a knack for finding parking spaces.

The train network is reliable, comfortable and quite expensive (you can take your bike on the train).

Buses are used for regional transport rather than for long distances. They do, however, fill the rail gaps in the north and east. Bus stations are almost always situated next to the main railway station in a town; in towns with no rail service they’ll usually be found in the town centre.

Driving within the Netherlands isn’t much fun once you’re off the highways: the roads are narrow and parking spaces are hard to come by and usually very expensive. Driving a vehicle with foreign number plates is an invitation to having the car broken into, especially in Amsterdam: never leave anything valuable in your car. And if you’re asking a Dutch person for directions, be aware that they’ll know how to get there, but only by bike - you’ll have developed a healthy appreciation for this cultural idiosyncrasy by the time you face up to your ninth no entry sign.

A good way to get around is by bicycle. Most places in the Netherlands are linked by dedicated cycle paths and the terrain is wonderfully flat. Bicycles are available for hire from train stations and from rental services in larger towns. If you’re tempted to buy a cheap bike on the street, be aware that it’s definitely hot, and that the money you hand over is probably going straight up the vendor’s arm. And no matter what you’re pedalling, make sure you lock it up securely to an immovable object