Flights from Santiago de Compostela to Netherlands from 62EUR*

Travel to the Netherlands from Santiago de Compostela

The direct Vueling flight from Santiago de Compostela lands at Schiphol after about 2 hours 30 minutes, and it is Vueling’s only route to the Netherlands from Santiago. The train then reaches central Amsterdam in under 20 minutes, from the same station where intercity services leave for the rest of the country.

With Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht and Leiden less than an hour away by train, one hotel in Amsterdam is enough for a long weekend that takes in several cities. Anyone setting off from Galicia will already be well used to the changeable weather.

What documents you need to travel to the Netherlands

The Netherlands and Spain are both members 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 DNI. The digital version is only valid on flights within Spain, which rules it out for the Netherlands. Check the expiry date before you book, because an expired document means you cannot board. Each child travelling with you needs their own. Public healthcare in the Netherlands is covered by the European Health Insurance Card. If you hold another nationality, the travel documents page explains what applies to you.

What to know when you land in the Netherlands

From the airport to the city centre. Trains leave from inside the Schiphol terminal and take 15 to 20 minutes to Amsterdam Central Station, with very frequent departures throughout the day. There are also direct trains from the airport to Rotterdam, The Hague and Utrecht, so you do not have to go through the centre first.

Trains and tickets. The Dutch rail network is dense and punctual, and no journey between the 4 main cities takes as long as an hour. Your contactless bank card (OVpay) works on trains, metros, trams and buses across the whole country. There is no need to buy a separate travel card.

Rain and wind. The weather can change several times in a single day at any time of year, July included, when temperatures sit between 18 and 23°C. A light waterproof layer will see you through the whole trip.

Cycling. Here the bike is everyday transport for locals, with its own lanes and genuine right of way. If you hire one, expect the rest of the traffic to assume you know the rules.

The currency is the euro, plugs are type C and F, at 230V, and English is spoken to a very high standard everywhere in 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. Tickets for the Anne Frank House, on the Prinsengracht, go weeks in advance. The canal ring in the centre is a World Heritage Site, and Jordaan and De Pijp are neighbourhoods to wander without a plan.

Rotterdam

About 40 minutes away by train. Rebuilt from scratch after the war, the city is a showcase of contemporary architecture, from Piet Blom’s Cube Houses to the Erasmus Bridge and the Markthal food market. The port is the largest in Europe, and you can see it from the water on a boat tour.

The Hague and Delft

The Hague is home to the Mauritshuis, with Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring, and to the Peace Palace, and the beach at Scheveningen is just 10 minutes from the centre. A short train ride away, Delft has kept its medieval old town and is the birthplace of the blue-and-white pottery known all over the world.

Kinderdijk and the tulip fields

The 19 windmills at Kinderdijk date from the 18th century, are a World Heritage Site and stand half an hour from Rotterdam. From late March to early May, the flower fields between Haarlem and Leiden become the most photographed landscape in the country, with the Keukenhof gardens at the heart of it all.

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. If you travel in autumn or winter, a coat and waterproof shoes take up more room than you might expect. Check the current conditions in Vueling’s luggage policy.