European Consumer Centres Network

European Consumer Centres
Network
TOURISM IN THE NETHERLANDS
This brochure will provide you with information on
tourism in the Netherlands. You will find practical advice
and important legal information covering the different
topics. We have tried to include all the relevant
information concerning travel to the Netherlands and
your stay in the Netherlands; however the information
provided is not fully detailed on all points and should be
viewed as a guide not as a verbatim statement of the
law.
Arrival
Border controls: Nationals of the European Union
♦ According to the Schengen agreement, entry to the Netherlands is
open to the nationals of the EU. However, if security measures
become necessary, the temporary reestablishment of border may be
introduced.
♦ Nationals of another EU Member state do not need a visa to enter
Dutch territory. A valid national identity card, or your national passport
if it is still valid, is enough. It is important always to have your ID card
or passport in case it is required by the police to inspect. If you don’t
have it with you, you can be fined. It is also important at some
airports, as airlines will insist on seeing your ID or passport.
♦ For travelers from the new Member states (joining the EU in May
2004), either an ID or passport needs to be valid. Travellers from the
UK and Ireland will need a valid passport.
Non EU Foreigners and the Schengen Agreement
♦ For foreigners from outside a Schengen Agreement state (Austria,
Belgium, Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy,
Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden), a
“short stay” (3 months max) visa granted for any Schengen agreement
signatory country is valid in all other countries that have signed and
implemented the Schengen treaty. For a stay longer then three
months foreigners have to have a visa for long term or a residence
permit.
♦ Foreigners living in a Schengen Agreement state and being holders
of a valid “title of stay” are exempted from the obligation of having a
visa as long as they stay for less than three months.
Customs Allowances
♦ Purchases made during a trip within in the EU and for your
personal use, do not require you to make any customs declaration
when arriving in the Netherlands. No additional duty or tax will be
charged on goods bought with duty or tax paid (e.g. in shops,
supermarkets etc.) in another EU country, provided the goods are for
your personal use.
♦ If your purchases are equivalent to or less than the quantities
shown below, they will generally speaking, be considered for personal
use. If you exceed these quantities you may have to prove that the
goods are for your personal use. If you can not prove this you have to
declare the products at the Dutch Customs and pay excise taxes.
♦ Tobacco: You can import only 800 cigarettes, 1 kg of cigarette
tobacco). Be aware however that the quantities of cigarettes you can
import from the new member states, that is, Hungary, Latvia, Poland,
Estonia, Lithuania, Slovakia, Slovenia, as well as Czech Republic, are
lower (see the table below).
♦ Alcohol: The authorized quantity depends on the nature of the
imported product:
- Spirits (e.g. Whiskies, Gin, Vodka etc.): 10 liters
- Intermediate products (e.g. Vermouth, Port ….): 20
liters
- Wine: 90 liters
- Beer: 110 liters
♦ Temporarily some countries (Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Finland,
France, Ireland, Italy (only relating to Slovenia), Austria, the United
Kingdom and Sweden) keep themselves to an import restriction on
cigarettes and in some cases on certain kinds of tobacco from the
eight new member States which joined the EU in 2004.
♦ The following import restrictions are concerned:
For travelers
originated from
Restrictions (excise taxes Applicable finally
have to be paid on
until
quantities that exceed
these restrictions)
Estonia
200 cigarettes
End 2009
Estonia
250g tabak bestemd voor het
rollen van sigaretten
End 2009
Hungary
200 cigarettes
End 2008
Lithonia
200 cigarettes
End 2009
Lithuania
200 cigarettes
End 2009
Poland
200 cigarettes
End 2008
Slovakia
200 cigarettes
End 2008
Slovenia
200 cigarettes
End 2007
Czech Republic
200 cigarettes
End 2007
♦ Medicines: The possession of drugs, such as hash, cocaine and
heroin, carries a strict punishment throughout the world. This applies
both to EU countries and to countries outside the EU. Anyone caught
carrying drugs will risk a heavy prison sentence and in some countries
even the death penalty.
Some medicines can be mistaken for drugs. If you are on regular
medication, you may want to ask your GP for a medical passport in
order to demonstrate that you are carrying these medicines for your
own use.
♦ When you enter the Netherlands, you are not only confronted with
the levy of taxes on import. There are also various regulations in the
area of safety, health, the economy and the environment.
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animal products;
pets;
flowers, plants and fruit;
weapons and ammunition;
toy weapons;
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drugs and medicines;
art and antiques;
counterfeit goods;
endangered animal and plant species
Customs will check whether these regulations are complied with. If
you fail to observe these regulations, Customs may confiscate the
goods and issue you with a fine. For more details, you can consult the
website of the Dutch Customs Office at http://www.douane.nl/english/
or the website of the European Union, http://europa.eu/ , more
specific the DG Taxation and Customs Union.
Shopping in the Netherlands
Opening hours
♦ Shops’ general opening hours:
Monday: 1 pm – 6 pm;
Tuesday to Friday: 9 am – 6 pm;
Saturday: 9 am – 5 pm.
From Monday to Saturday most supermarkets are open
from: 8 am- 8 pm. Shops are usually closed on Sundays
but in some large cities (like Amsterdam & Rotterdam) the
shops in the city centers are open from 12 pm to 5.30 pm.
♦ Banks’ general opening hours from Monday- Friday: 9 am- 5 pm.
Some banks are opened on a Saturday.
♦ Post offices’ opening hours from Monday- Friday: 9 am- 5 pm.
Some are open on Saturday: 9 am- 14 pm.
VAT
♦ There are two main rates of taxes in the Netherlands. The base
rate is 19% and the reduced rate (cultural and food products) is
6%. On some products and services (for example medical care),
the rate is zero.
Shopper’s rights
♦ If you encounter a problem concerning a purchase you made in a
shop in the Netherlands, Dutch law generally applies. According to the
Dutch law sellers have to give a guarantee meaning that a purchased
good is free from defects. A limitation in time for this guarantee
doesn’t exist in the Dutch law. The duration of the guarantee period in
the Netherlands is the expected lifespan that a product most likely has
(the economic lifespan).
♦ If the product is not in conformity with the agreement: Dutch law
protects the buyer (art. 7:21 and following from the Dutch Civil Code).
If the purchased product has a defect / is non conform then the
consumer can wish for another delivery of the same product
(replacement), now without any defects, or he can ask for a free
repair. Further under certain conditions consumers also have the right
to a partial or a total refund or a cancellation of the whole agreement.
♦ If the defect arises within the first six months after the delivery the
consumer doesn’t have to prove the defect already existed when
purchasing the good. It is up to the business to prove that the goods
delivered do in fact conform to the order, or are fit for the normal
purpose of the product. Nevertheless if the seller denies the fact that
he has sold a product non conform to the consumer and that the non
conformity is due to the wrong use of the product by the consumer,
the seller is also the one who has the burden of proof. If the defect or
the non conformity arises after 6 months of the purchase the
consumer has the burden of proof.
♦ Concerning products with a longer economic lifespan consumers
have, under certain conditions, (also after two years) claims against
the seller. Which doesn’t mean that the consumer can automatically
wish for a free repair. To stipulate the costs of repair for the consumer
the economic lifespan and the age of the product on the moment the
non conformity occurred have to be taken into account.
♦ Voluntary guarantees given by producers of a product have no
influence on the legal rights of consumers.
♦ Further it is possible for businesses to make goodwill gestures and
give additional guarantees: e.g. “if you are not satisfied you can return
the items, and be reimbursed”. It is necessary in every case to refer to
the general conditions of the sales contract, or to inquire in the shop.
If the trader has mentioned anything concerning exchanges or refunds
in his advertisements (either in the shop, or on the invoice or any on
other material) he has to follow this. Otherwise he is liable for
misleading advertising.
Sales: Tips when you go “bargain hunting” …
♦ Regulations concerning the sales periods don’t exist in the
Netherlands anymore. The sales periods can take place at all times
and aren’t limited to a small number of days. The retail trade starts the
season sales periods in general in December and January respectively
July and August.
♦ Limiting the legal guarantee on items sold during “sales” is subject
to very strict conditions. Shopkeepers still have to respect specific legal
rules during the sales. The customer has the same rights as usual
concerning manufacturing defects and after-sales service. This implies
that the shopkeeper is obliged to exchange or to reimburse an item
that has a hidden defect (a defect you could not see when you bought
the product) or which does not conform to the order (see above).
♦ A statement that “Goods can neither be returned nor exchanged”
can only refer to items which have been specially indicated as faulty,
or to those which are normally exchanged only as a goodwill gesture.
If you buy faulty goods without being alerted, your rights to after-sales
service still apply. In any case, always be careful when buying goods
in sales and inspect them thoroughly!
♦ In the shop, the distinction between reduced and non-reduced
items must be made clearly visible to the consumer. If this does not
happen, it constitutes misleading advertising. However, a general
indication, is enough if the discount or the new price is the same for all
the goods, for instance, a 10% discount on all the items in a certain
shelf.
♦ The following pricing details should appear clearly on the
label:
- The previous price has to be crossed out
- The new price
- The price indicated on the label has to include VAT
Taxis
♦ How to recognize a taxi:
- blue number plates
- a price list visible from both inside and outside the
taxi
- a taxi driver’s pass on the dashboard
♦ Knowledgeable drivers: Possession of exemption cards is a
guarantee that the taxi driver knows the city. In order to qualify for
the card taxi drivers must take an exam in which their knowledge of
the city is extensively tested.
♦ Where to find a taxi: You will find taxis at the official taxi ranks
which in Amsterdam are to be found at Schiphol Airport, Central
Station and the Dam as well as many other places. You do not have to
take the first taxi in the queue. You may choose yourself which taxi to
take. You may also hail a taxi on the street or telephone for a taxi. You
will find telephone numbers in the pink section of the telephone
directory and in the Yellow Pages under “taxi”. You may also ask an
employee of the hotel or restaurant to call a taxi for you. No call out
charges exist.
♦ How much? Taxi prices are based on the following components:
Call out
No charge
Basic price
max. € 5,12 (for 4 or more
passengers; max € 8,33)
Per kilometer
max. € 1,94 (for 4 or more
passengers; max € 2,23)
Wait / stop
max. € 32,87 per hour
♦ Last you may always ask the driver for a receipt.
Postal services, telephone and fax
Telephone and FAx
♦ The international phone number of the Netherlands is 0031
♦ Most telephone booths now take phone cards. You can buy these
at Post-Offices and bookstores (Bruna and Ako).
♦ The Netherlands is very well covered by the various Dutch mobile
phone operators. Find out from your own operator which Dutch
network to choose, in order to use your mobile phone in the
Netherlands at lower cost.
♦ The Post
Mail boxes: in the Netherlands, mail boxes are orange or red and can
be found along the street and in every Post Office. Mail collection
times are displayed on the boxes. Letters and cards often need to be
sorted according to their destination: either going to the same area as
the one your are staying in, or to other areas / foreign countries.
Stamps: You can buy stamps at any Post Office. Postage costs vary
according to the weight of your mail and his destination. All rates are
shown at www.tntpost.nl.
Delivery times: allow 24 to 48 hours for domestic delivery; for
international deliveries allow 1 to 5 days.
Internet
♦ Internet Cafes can be found in most cities throughout the
Netherlands.
Rates may vary, but you will be charged according to the amount of
the time spent using the computer. To find an Internet Café ask the
local tourist office (“VVV”).
Travelling with your pets
♦
All dogs, cats and ferrets need an EU passport when traveling
abroad. You can obtain the Dutch version of this EU passport from
your vet.
♦
All dogs, cats and ferrets should have been vaccinated against
rabies.
♦
Your vet can do this for you. He is also authorized to make a note
of the vaccination in the EU passport.
♦
You are obliged to have your dog, cat or ferret fitted with an
identification mark (chip or tattoo).
♦
If you are taking your dog, cat or ferret with you on holiday to
the United Kingdom, Ireland, Malta or Sweden, your vet will have to
do a compulsory blood test a number of months before departure.
This requirement also applies if an animal from a EU country
accompanies its owner on holiday to a non-EU country that is not
included in the list 'Carriage from a third country to an EU Member
State'. This list can be found on the website (in English) Animal Health
and Welfare of the EU.
♦
If your pet belongs to a protected species, you should not only
have an EU passport but also a CITES document. Make sure that you
obtain adequate information in advance from your travel agent, the
embassy of the country of destination or the CITES agency LASER in
Dordrecht (telephone +31 (0)800 223 33 22).
Useful phone numbers
Emergency number (for police, fire brigade and
medical):
Police (no emergencies):
112
0900-8844
If you loose:
♦ Your ID papers: Make a statement at the nearest police station
where they will give you a receipt, then contact your embassy or
consulate.
♦ Your keys or other objects: Ask the police for the telephone
number of the lost property service of that city where you are (in
Amsterdam 0900-884, this number is not available outside the
Netherlands).
♦ Your car: The police station will register your complaint, or will
direct you to a wrecking service, if you were badly parked and the
vehicle has been towed by the police services.
♦ Your credit card: Cancel your credit card as quickly as possible,
then make a statement at the Police station. Phone your bank service
or contact the issuer according to our type of card:
o
o
o
Eurocard-mastercard: 0800-022-5821
Visa Global Card Assistance: 0800-022-3110
Diners club Security Service: +31 (0)20 654 55 11
♦ An animal: Contact the animal protection service (in Dutch
“Dierenbescherming”): 0900-2021210
If you, as a foreign consumer, are feeling mistreated by a Dutch
professional, the European Consumer Centres (ECC’s) will be pleased
to help you to find an amicable settlement of the dispute. You can find
further information and a complete list of all ECCs under:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/consumers/redress/ecc_network/index_en.
htm
ECC The Netherlands (Dutch / English / Spanish)
Europees Consumenten Centrum
Postbus 487
NL- 3500 AL Utrecht
Tel: +31 (0) 33- 469 9021
www.eccnl.eu