Flights from Ibiza to Netherlands

Flights to the Netherlands from Ibiza

Vueling flies direct from Ibiza to Amsterdam in around 2 and a half hours, with no stop on the Spanish mainland. From Schiphol, the train reaches the city centre in under 20 minutes, and the same station is where the intercity services to the rest of the country leave from.

That is why a long weekend goes so far here. Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht and Leiden are all less than an hour away by train, so there is no need to pick just one city or to move hotels.

What documents you need to travel to the Netherlands

The Netherlands and Spain are both in the European Union and the Schengen Area, so Spanish citizens only need a valid Spanish ID card (DNI) or passport, with no visa or other formalities.

Schengen flights require the physical card: the digital DNI is only valid on flights within Spain, and it is a detail that causes trouble at the check-in desk. Check the expiry date before you book, because the document has to cover your whole stay and an expired DNI will not get you on board. If you are travelling with children, each one needs their own. If you hold another nationality, check your situation on the travel documents page.

What to know when you land in the Netherlands

From the airport into the city. The train leaves from inside the Schiphol terminal and takes 15 to 20 minutes to Amsterdam Central Station, with very frequent departures all day. There are also direct trains from the airport to Rotterdam, The Hague and Utrecht that skip the centre altogether, so a private transfer is not worth paying for.

Rain and wind. This is the biggest change from Ibiza. The weather turns several times a day at any time of year, July included, when temperatures stay between 18 and 22°C. A light waterproof layer covers the whole trip. And do not rely on forecasts more than 2 days out.

Trains and the travel card. The Dutch rail network is dense and punctual, and no journey between the 4 main cities takes more than 45 minutes. A rechargeable card works on trains, metros, trams and buses across the whole country, and it pays for itself from the second day.

Cycling. Here the bike is how local people get around, not a tourist activity, with its own lanes and genuine right of way. If you hire one, expect everyone else on the road to assume you know the rules.

The currency is the euro, plug sockets are types C and F at 230V, and English is spoken to a very high standard all over the country.

What to do in the Netherlands

Amsterdam

In Amsterdam, the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum are worth a morning each, and it pays to buy tickets in advance. The Anne Frank House, on the Prinsengracht, has to be booked weeks ahead. Jordaan and De Pijp are neighbourhoods to wander without a plan, and the Vondelpark sits right next to the Museumplein.

Rotterdam

Around 40 minutes by train. Contemporary architecture in a city rebuilt from scratch after the war: Piet Blom’s Cube Houses, the Erasmus Bridge and the Markthal food hall. The port is the largest in Europe, and you can tour it by boat.

The Hague

Barely another half hour by train. This is home to the Mauritshuis, with Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring, and the Peace Palace, seat of the International Court of Justice. Scheveningen adds a beach 10 minutes from the centre, although the North Sea is nothing like the Mediterranean.

Utrecht and the tulip fields

Utrecht has the canal-side feel of Amsterdam without the crowds, with waterside terraces and a Gothic cathedral in the centre. The tulips at Keukenhof, near Lisse, bloom in a short window between March and May, and the gardens are very close to the airport. Outside those weeks there is nothing to see there.

Luggage for your flight to the Netherlands

What you can take depends on the fare you choose when booking. The simplest fare includes a personal item that fits under the seat in front, and from there you can add cabin or checked luggage.

For a weekend, a backpack or cabin bag is usually enough. In autumn or winter, though, a coat and waterproof shoes take up more room than you might expect, especially when you are setting off from a Mediterranean island. Check the current conditions in Vueling’s luggage policy.