Dear Wandering Spirit,
is Holland expensive? How much do accomodation and food cost in the Netherlands? Do prices vary from Rotterdam to Utrecht? Keep reading the Holland travel budget for more information!
Travel to Holland
Travel by plane / train / car
There are three main airports you should consider for both full-service and low-cost flights: Amsterdam Schiphol, Eindhoven Airport, and Rotterdam-The Hague.
If you are lucky and book your travel in advance, a low-cost flight within Europe might be around 50-70 € p.p. / 55-75 $ one-way, otherwise you might spend up to 150 € p.p. / 162 $ ✈️
I travelled from Northern Germany by car (around 5 h) during Covid-19. Outward journey Germany-Netherlands is around 450 km (around 60 € / 65 $ for the fill up). Great news: You don’t pay toll in either country. 😊
Since I was travelling with Mr. riccivagabondi, we each paid only one way. On one hand this was cheaper, on the other hand we paid for long stay parking. Think very hard about if this solution is the best for you too.
Main modes of transport
Holland is a region in the Netherlands, but all in all the country is not too big. You can reach every place by train within max. 1-2 hours (Amsterdam – Rotterdam from 15 € / 16 $ fare), so just book the most convenient.
Unless you are fully travelling by car to the Netherlands, I would not recommend this means of transportation, as parking is tough and awfully expensive. 🚗 In this case, think of long stay parking solutions like Park + Ride.
Transport around the cities
Although some cities are bigger than others, you can explore them by foot (e.g. Utrecht) or take public transportation. I highly recommend a full Dutch experience: rent a bike and discover Holland this way. You will find bike rentals everywhere throughout every city. 🚲
To see Kinderdijk’s most famous Holland windmills, you might need to park outside the area and walk for a while. But it is definitely worth the long journey!
Accomodation in Holland
Where to stay in Holland
Prices are slightly different in Amsterdam vs. other places.
Double room incl. breakfast and free wi-fi 90 € / 97 $ p.p. per night average.
In Amsterdam, you have two options: either you book a more expensive hotel next to the activities, or you book a hotel room outside the city centre and spend more time on the bus. I preferred the first option and booked a comfy place next to the museums area and Vondelpark. 
In Rotterdam, I recommend at least one night in the cubic houses. It is a plain hostel (breakfast is good though) but still a great modern experience to live! Check out here for more information about Rotterdam.
In smaller towns, you can sleep further outside the city centre and cut some costs like this as well.
Where to eat in Holland
Let’s say 10 € / 11 $ p.p. at lunch time, 20 € / 21 $ p.p. at dinner.
There is a variety of different price range restaurants and cafés all around. You can be well filled with a 6-7 € / 6.5-7.5 $ burger plate (and fries!) but you can also spend more in trendy restaurants. 
You should try the local cuisine as well. First of all because it is another cultural experience and secondly, because it is cheaper than and just as filling as all-you-can-eat solutions.
Sight-seeing / Activities
Museums & Activities
I travelled to Holland to visit some great museums. Spoiler alert: they are quite expensive (20-25 € / 21-27 $ each). Consider in advance which ones you want to visit, or you’ll get a bad surprise.
If you are planning to visit more than 2 museums during your stay, opt for the Netherlands Museum Pass (around 65 € / 70 $ adult pass). 🎟️ Many museums offer free downloadable audio-guides in their apps, so check the websites before getting in.
I can highly recommend the Mauritshuis in The Hague, a great museum with renowned Flemish paintings like Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring.
Bike rental - Costs
Consider around 10 € / 11 $ per bike per day.
Since the weather is quite unpredictable and usually windy, always remember a windbreaker, a small scarf, sunglasses, and a backpack to stuff all the clothes if needed.
I recommend riding the bike around The Hague until you get to the beach in Scheveningen. You won’t regret the sweat!
Shopping & Souvenirs
Feel free to get lost around the many indoor and outdoor markets in Amsterdam! 🛍️
You will find literally everything: from souvenirs to books, old records, vintage stuff, and many tulip bulbs. I bought one for my mum, as she loves flowers.I would stick to 30 € / 32 $ p.p. per day.
Unexpected Costs
I always count 100-150 € / 110-160 $ per trip just to be sure.
Cut these costs by being prepared prior to travel! By doing that, I rarely exceed my extra budget of 50 € / 55 $.
Especially if you are renting a bike, you might want to look for the route before jumping on two wheels. Be prepared: take with you a small bike phone holder to check your Maps. 🚴
Holland Travel Cost Breakdown
- Flight 70,00 € / 75 $
- Museum pass 65,00 € / 70 $
- Extra costs 50,00 € / 55 $
- Accommodation 7 x 90,00 € / 7 x 97 $
- Transport from/to cities 3 x 15,00 € / 3 x 16 $
- Bike rental 7 x 10,00 € / 7 x 11 $
- Food/drinks 7 x 30,00 € / 7 x 32 $
- Activities/Pocket money 7 x 30,00 € / 7 x 32 $
around 170,00 € / 184 $ per person per day.
Travel Organizer Holland
Let us get down to the nitty-gritty to organize your travel to Holland at best.
Currency – Netherlands’ currency is the Euro (€฿). As orientation,
1 € corresponds to 1 $. Use one of the many money converters for real-time results, like themoneyconverter.com.
Language – Dutch is the national language of the Netherlands, but 90% of the population speak fluent English, due to the many international workers and tourists. 
Power plugs – Voltage is 230V, frequency is 50 Hz. Sockets are of type C and F.
Weather & time – Dutch weather is windy, chilly and very variable. Temps usually stay above 0 °C and may reach 33-35 °C in summer. Must haves: rain jacket, scarf, comfy and waterproof shoes, sunglasses.
Main cities – Amsterdam, followed by Rotterdam, Den Haag (The Hague), Utrecht, and Eindhoven.
National public holidays – King’s Day (Apr 27th), Liberation Day (May 5th), Ascension, Whit Sunday and Whit Monday (may vary according to Easter, usually between May and June).
Top 3 festivals –Opening of Keukenhof Gardens in Spring, Flower Parade in April (several cities), King’s Day.
Check out my Holland travel journal for more info about what to see and do during your stay in this beautiful country!
Also, subscribe riccivagabondi travel blog now to get many other useful travel recommendations. 
