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Netherlands useful info and tips, travel guide

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The national language in the Netherlands is Dutch. It's a charming, lilting language punctuated by phlegm-trembling glottal g's and sch's (also found, for example, in Arabic).
Officially the Netherlands is bilingual, as Frisian is also an official language. When travelling through Frysland you will come across many roadsigns in two languages (similar to that of Wales). Everybody speaks Dutch, but the Frisians are so protective of the minority language that ordering a beer in it might just get you the next one free.
The hackneyed phrase "They all speak English there" is in fact pretty accurate for the Netherlands. Education from an early age in English and other European languages, makes the Dutch some of the most fluent polyglots on the continent. Oblivious travelers to the major cities should be able to make their way without learning a word of Dutch.

Work in Netherlands

Work opportunites for those from outside the European Union are very restricted. Only when an employer can prove they've searched in the EU, they are allowed to hire a non-EU citizen. Official policy is to deter all non-EU immigration, unless there is an economic necessity.
Students from other European countries are only eligible for study financing when they have a fixed 32 hour/month work contract, or when they have lived in the Netherlands for five years.

Smoke in Netherlands

The Netherlands are renowned for their liberal drug policy. While technically still illegal, mostly to comply to international treaties, personal use of (soft) drugs are regulated by the Ministry of Justice under an official policy of gedogen; literally this means to accept or tolerate, legally it is a doctrine of non-prosecution on the basis that action taken would be so highly irregular as to constitute selective prosecution.
You are allowed to buy and smoke small doses (under 5 grams) of cannabis or hash. For this you have to visit a coffeeshop. These are abundant in most larger towns. Only a small handful of Coffeeshops are allowed to sell alcoholic beverages (i.e. most do not sell alcohol, but a few such as 'Rookies' in the Leidseplein area of Amsterdam have a special license to sell both), and minors (under 18) are not allowed inside. They are also prohibited from advertising, so many use the Rastafari red-yellow-green colors to hint at the products available inside, while others are more discreet and sometimes almost hidden away from plain view.
Fresh (but not dried) hallucinogenic ("magic") mushrooms are entirely unregulated, on the basis that these occur readily in natural forests. These may be bought at a smartshop, along with other natural highs and smart drugs. The latter are drugs that are designed to have the same effect as illegal substances (such as ecstasy) by using chemically similar substances. Often, effective smart drugs are outlawed after a while. The Dutch government has announced its intention to ban fresh mushrooms in the near future.
Beware that cannabis sold in the Netherlands is generally much stronger than varieties outside, so be careful when you take your first spliff, and be particularly wary of cannabis-laced pastries ("space cake") as it's easy to eat too much by accident. Magic mushrooms have even greater potential to trip up the unaccustomed, so be sure to consult the staff concerning proper dosage and other precautions.
It is forbidden to drive any motorized vehicle while impaired, which includes driving under the influence of both illegal and legal recreational or prescribed drugs (such as cocaine, ecstasy, cannabis and mushrooms) as well as alcohol, and medication that might affect your ability to drive.
Buying soft drugs from dealers in the streets is always illegal and is commonly discouraged. The purchase of other (hard) drugs, eg. ecstasy, cocaine, or processed/dried mushrooms, is still dealt with by the law. However, often people who are caught in possession of small amounts of illegal drugs for personal use are not prosecuted.
The act of consuming any form of drugs is legal, even if possesion is not. If you are seen taking drugs, you may theoretically be arrested for possession, but not for use. This has one important effect; do not hesitate to seek medical help if you are suffering from bad effects of drug use, and inform emergency services as soon as possible of the specific (illegal) drugs you have taken. Medical services are unconcerned with where you got the drugs, they will not contact the police, their sole intention is to take care of you in the best way possible.
At some parties, a "drug testing desk" is offered, where you can have your (synthetic) drugs tested. This is mainly because many pills contain harmful chemicals in addition to the claimed ingredients; for example, many pills of "ecstasy" (MDMA) will also contain speed (amphetamines) or even poisons such as strychnine. Some pills don't even contain any MDMA at all. The testing desks are not meant to encourage drug use, since venue owners face stiff fines for allowing drugs in their venues, but they are tolerated or 'gedoogd' since they mitigate the public health risks. Note: the desk won't return the drugs tested.
Please note that there are significant risks associated with drug use, even in The Netherlands' liberal climate

• while marihuana bought at coffeeshops is unlikely to be hazardous, hard drugs like cocaine and heroin and synthetic drugs like ecstasy are still illegal, and not regulated well. These hard drugs are likely to be in some way contaminated, especially when bought from street dealers.
• some countries have legislation in place that make it illegal to plan a trip for the purpose of commiting illegal acts in another jurisdiction, so you might be apprehended in your home country after having legally smoked pot in The Netherlands.

Buy in Netherlands

Costs : Accommodation and food is on the expensive side. Rail travel, museums, and attractions are relatively cheap. Retail prices for clothing, gifts, etc. are similar to most of Western Europe; consumer electronics are a bit more expensive.
Shop : The Netherlands is a good place to buy flowers. Outside florists, you can buy them pre-packaged in most supermarkets.
Klompen : The famous "wooden shoes" are surprisingly comfortable and very useful in any rural setting. Think of them as all-terrain footwear; easy to put on for a walk in the garden, field or dirt road. If you live in a rural area at home, consider taking a pair of these with you if you can. Avoid the kitschy tourist shops at schiphol and Amsterdam's damrak street, and instead look for a regular vendor which can usually be found in towns and villages in rural areas. The northern province of Friesland has a lot of stores selling wooden shoes, often adorned with the bright colors of the Frisian flag.

Respect

The Dutch are among the most informal and easy-going peoples in Europe, and there are few social taboos to speak of. It is unlikely that Dutch people will be offended simply by your behaviour or appearance. (Xenophobia is another matter, but that does not affect most short-term visitors). In fact it is more likely that visitors will be offended by overly direct conversation. Neverthless, the standards for overt rudeness and hostility are similar to those in other western European countries. If you feel you are deliberately being treated offensively, then you probably are.
The Dutch people suffered a great deal under Nazi occupation during WWII (1940-1945). Many members of the older generation (and some younger people too) still hold grudges against Germany and some of them will always give people who talk German (or maybe even with a German accent) wrong directions. Avoid overt comparisons between Dutch and German culture, as they are likely to offend. A common faux-pas is to refer to the Dutch language as a "German dialect". Don't do it. It will not be appreciated by most Dutch people, and is incorrect anyway, as the two spoken languages are not mutually intelligible, as well as the (especially for Anglophonics, surprising) fact that the Dutch language is sometimes called more related to English, than to German.

Stay healthy

In the whole of the Netherlands 'tap water' is drinkable, cleaned, carefully distributed to every household and controlled and by 'water authorities'. Food (either bought in a supermarket or eaten at a restaurant) shouldn't pose a problem either. The healthcare system is up to par with the rest of Europe and most cities have hospitals where someone will speak English. Otherwise it's a case of common sense (i.e. washing hands before eating is always adviseable).
In summer, open air recreational (mainly fresh water) swimming areas might suffer from the notorious "blauwalg", a rather smelly cyanobacteria which when it dies, releases toxins into the water. When these occur, a signpost at the entrance to the area or near the water should tell you so by stating something like "waarschuwing: blauwalg". If in doubt, ask someone.