Traveling to the Netherlands from Canada – what to know

What you should know travelling from Canada to Netherlands

What do you know about the Netherlands?

Netherlands has always been a great holiday destination for many Canadian travellers due to its naturally wonderful and characteristic landscapes. Many travellers assume that Holland and Netherlands are the same. The Kingdom of Holland has twelve provinces where only two of them, North and South-Holland, make up Holland. The Netherlands is every tourist’s dream destination thanks to its unique set of landscapes with a quarter of its landscape below sea level. Below is what you should know when travelling from Canada to Netherlands.

Do Canadian tourists beed a visa to visit Europe?

Canadian citizens visiting Netherlands as tourists do not require a visa as long as they do not spend more than 90 days in a Schengen Country. It’s advisable to contact the local embassy if one intends to stay for more than 90 days to be assisted in applying for a Schengen Visa.However, things are about to take a turn in 2020 as the European Union has planned to roll out an electronic travel authorisation. Launched at the World Economic Program, the project will allow Canadians and Dutch travellers to fly paperless between the two countries. Every Canadian citizen visiting a Schengen Area Country must have electronic visa. Worth noting, Schengen Visa can only be used within Dutch borders while ETIAS visa can be used to cross boundaries of other Schengen countries. Schengen Area is a region consisting of 26 European states.

How to apply for ETIAS visa

Canadian tourists travelling in groups must have the following valid travel authorisation:• Canadian Passport- be sure the validity extends beyond 90 days.
• Proof of Funds- shows you have enough funds to finance your stay
• Travel Itinerary- a document showing your reason for visiting Netherlands
• Check for additional paperwork required as per your travel destinationAir travel arrangements are easy to make from both Canada and Netherlands. There are major travel airline companies offering direct flights to Amsterdam from Toronto and Montreal. Travellers should gather information from official websites when planning for their trip.

Revocation of ETIAS travel authorisation

ETIAS travel Authorisation is valid for 3-5 years. However, the validity duration is currently under review and can be altered any time, for better or for worse. Therefore, travellers are recommended to check the validity of their visa every year to avoid being denied departure at the day of travelling.

Immigration and Custom

Being visa exempted does not exempt you from custom and immigration laws. After going through customs without a hitch, the passport is stamped indicating your arrival date in Dutch territory. Your stay in the Schengen region will be valid for 90 days within a period of 6 months.

Food and accommodation

Once in Netherlands, Canadian tourists can find any kind of accommodation that suits their budget. Transportation is relatively expensive compared to other European countries, but the quality of service is something to envy.

Whether you want international delicacies or local Canadian dishes, all kinds of food are offered at a reasonable price. When you visit Dutch, don’t leave before tasting kibbeling and raw herring, the two popular snacks. Kibbeling are cod morsels battered and deep-fried while raw herring is a typical Dutch fish dish. If you want a sweet dish, ask for Stroopwafel.