Flights from Valencia to Netherlands

Travel to the Netherlands from Valencia

Amsterdam Schiphol is around 2 hours 30 minutes from Valencia on Vueling’s direct flight, and the train from the terminal reaches the city centre in under 20 minutes. The same station is where the intercity services leave for the rest of the country.

So a long weekend goes further here than in many other places. Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht and Leiden are all less than an hour away by train, with no need to pick just one city or to change hotels.

What documents you need to travel to the Netherlands

The Netherlands and Spain are both part of the European Union and the Schengen Area, so Spanish and other EU citizens only need a valid national ID card (the DNI, for Spaniards) or passport, with no visa or extra paperwork.

On Schengen flights you must show the physical Spanish ID card (DNI). The digital DNI is only valid on flights within Spain, and not on flights abroad. Check that your document has not expired when you book, not the day before you leave. Children need one each as well. If you have another nationality or dual nationality, check your situation on the travel documents page.

What to know when you land in the Netherlands

From the airport into town. The train leaves from inside the Schiphol terminal and takes 15 to 20 minutes to reach Amsterdam’s central station, with very frequent departures throughout the day. Schiphol also has direct trains to Rotterdam, The Hague and Utrecht that do not go through the centre.

The train for everything else. The Dutch rail network is dense and punctual, and no journey between the 4 main cities takes more than an hour. Staying in one city and visiting the others is far more practical than moving from hotel to hotel.

Rain and wind. This is the biggest change from Valencia. The weather is unpredictable all year round, and rain, wind and sunshine can take turns in a single day. A light waterproof layer covers the whole trip, whatever the season.

Cycling. The bike is everyday transport for the people who live here, with its own lanes and real right of way. If you hire one, expect everyone else on the road to assume you know the rules.

The currency is the euro, plugs are types C and F, at 230V, and English is spoken to a very high standard across the country, outside the cities too.

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. The canal ring in the centre is a World Heritage Site, while De Pijp and the Jordaan are neighbourhoods to wander without a plan.

Rotterdam

Around 40 minutes away by train. This is the boldest city in the country for architecture, rebuilt almost from scratch after the Second World War: Piet Blom’s Cube Houses, the Erasmus Bridge and the Markthal food market. Its port is the largest in Europe, and you can tour it by boat.

The Hague

Barely another half hour on the train. The city 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 beach is 20 minutes away by tram, a mix of city and coast that is rare in the Netherlands.

Keukenhof and the tulip fields

Between late March and early May, the flower fields around Lisse are one of the most striking natural sights in Europe, with rows of colour stretching to the horizon. Keukenhof gardens are at the heart of it all and lie close to the airport. Outside those weeks there is nothing to see there.

Luggage for your flight to the Netherlands

Your luggage allowance 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.

Changeable weather makes it tempting to pack more clothes than you need. If your trip takes in several cities, or you plan to come home with some shopping, it is best to decide while you book. Check the current conditions in Vueling’s luggage policy.