Your stay in the Netherlands

What should you always have in mind?

1. In the Netherlands, everything is done by appointment. You cannot just walk into a general practitioner’s office, a bank or a hospital. Keep this in mind if you need to have something done.
2. The Netherlands is a real cycling country with cycle lanes all over. Keep in mind that a cyclist always has the right of way.

Banks

There are many banks in the Netherlands. The best-known ones are Rabobank, ING and ABN Amro. In every village and town, you can find ATM machines where you can withdraw cash. You can also use your debit card for payments (including small amounts) in all stores.

Telephone

The country code for the Netherlands is +31.

There are many telephone providers that sell subscriptions and prepaid cards. The most economical prepaid providers are Leika and Lebara. You can buy the cards at most petrol stations, post offices and large supermarkets.

Postal services

You can post letters in the orange Post NL letterboxes which you can find everywhere. Postage stamps can be had at postal counters in supermarkets and/or bookstores. You can also go to such a postal counter to send packages. Each two-kg package costs € 12.60.

Postage, 2018:

Stores

In the Netherlands you can go to supermarkets such as Lidl, Aldi, Super De Boer, Albert Heijn and Jumbo for your daily errands. They are often open from Monday to Friday up to 20.00 or 21.00 hrs. and on Saturdays and Sundays up to 17.00 – 20.00 hrs. There are drug stores, clothing and shoe stores and household goods shops in the shopping areas. In most villages, shops are closed on Sundays and Monday mornings. In the larger towns the shops are usually open on Sundays.

Church services

The Netherlands has several Catholic Churches where Polish church services are held. For further information on places and times for Polish church services, visit www.faustyna.nl and www.niedziela.nl.

Sports and recreation

There is a lot to experience in the Netherlands. Germany and Belgium are not far from Limburg. Interesting cities include: Venlo, Roermond, Eindhoven, Maastricht, Breda, Tilburg, Middelburg, Goes, Den Bosch, Terneuzen, Düsseldorf and Brussels. Amsterdam and the beaches also make for a lovely day trip.

For more information you can go to the VVV office. There is one in almost every town, or visit the internet.

The Netherlands also has many hiking and cycle paths that take you to many beautiful spots. For more information, go to the VVV offices or the ANWB (Royal Dutch Touring Club).

Other forms of recreation:

• Clubs
• Cinemas – amusement parks: there are various amusement parks at a relatively short distance: Walibi, Moviepark, Efteling, Toverland … The nuclear power plant in Germany is also highly recommended.
• Eating out: there many restaurants and cafés with a wide variety of cuisines, from Dutch to Chinese. There are also Polish cafés in the area.
• Gyms: in practically every town there are gyms and other sports facilities.
• Swimming: there are swimming pools in various town, and the famous Center Parcs swimming paradise is relatively close. You can also swim in open water.

Public transport

The Netherlands has an extensive public transport network. There are buses linking the various localities and in the larger cities there are train stations. You can find all the information you need on the internet at: Reisinformatie openbaar vervoer (Travel information – public transport) – in Dutch and English.

• www.ns.nl
• 9292.nl

If you wish to travel by bus, you can find the arrival and departure times of the bus at the bus stops. Bus services normally run on time.

For using public transport you need a so-called OV chip card. These can be bought at the stations, at the bus and train service counters, in some supermarkets, tobacconists’ and magazine stands, including Bruna shops. You can recognise a public transport sales point by the following logo:

Useful links

1. Polish Embassy: https://haga.msz.gov.pl/en/root. Here you will find information on current developments in the Netherlands and Poland, a blog for Polish migrants, a link to a website (Polonia) with useful information on Polish cultural and social organisations, foundations, meeting centres, Polish schools, Polish shops, as well as the contact details of the Polish Embassy (Consular Department).
2. Ministry of Social Affairs (Polish): https://www.inspectorateszw.nl/ . Here you will find information on various facets of working in the Netherlands, such as standards, duties, rights, minimum wages, working hours, collective labour agreements etc. This information site is meant as a means of preventing the abuse of Polish migrant workers.
3. VVV: www.vvv.nl
4. Holland Zorg: http://www.hollandzorg.nl.werken/downloads.aspx