Everything you need to Know about New Year Celebration in Netherlands
How to Celebrate Christmas and New Year’s Eve in Netherlands
Netherlands is a wonderful place for celebrating Christmas and New Year’s Eve as it offers a rich variety of traditions, festivities and endless attractions. During Christmas in Netherlands all the surroundings transform magically into a well-lit arena during the holiday season with several beautifully adorned Christmas trees and lots of other activities to keep you entertained.
However, before you pack your bags and book your flight, there are a few things you need to know such as local culture, weather during Christmas, and most importantly visa requirements to enjoy stress-free and smooth holidays. In this blog post, we will provide you with some useful tips and suggestions on how and where to celebrate Christmas and New Year Eve in Netherlands and what to expect from your trip.
Visa Requirements for UK Residents
If you are living in UK but are not a citizen of the country and planning to travel to Netherlands for Christmas and New Year’s Eve you need to apply for a visa. You need to obtain a short-stay or long stay Schengen visa which allows you to stay in Netherlands and other Schengen countries for up to 90 days within a 180-day period.
To apply for Netherlands Tourist Visa from UK, you need to follow these steps:
- Fill the online application form.
- Make payment to book your Netherlands visa appointment London.
- Receive Next-Day appointment to submit visa application.
- Visit Visa Centre with all your documents.
- Submit Documents & provide your Biometrics like finger print and digital photo.
- Receive your passport directly through VFS via courier or you can also collect it yourself (Whichever you chose to do at the time of appointment).
Weather Conditions in Netherlands
Another thing you need to consider before travelling to the Netherlands for Christmas and New Year’s Eve is the weather. Depending on where you plan to go in the Netherlands, you will experience different weather conditions.
Generally, Netherlands has a temperate maritime climate with mild winters and cool summers. However, there are regional variations especially between north and south. In north you can expect cold and snowy weather especially in Alps and Dolomites. In south you can enjoy warmer and sunnier weather especially along the coast and on the islands. The average temperature in December ranges from 4°C in Amsterdam to 16°C in Maastricht.
Best Destinations for Christmas and New Year’s Eve in the Netherlands
Now that you have an idea of what to expect during Christmas in Netherlands as well as on New Year’s Eve let’s take a look at some of the best destinations that you can choose from and make your European holidays a trip of your life time. Here are some of our top picks:
Amsterdam
If you are planning to celebrate New Year’s in Amsterdam it is undoubtedly a classic choice for spending your holidays in style as it offers a unique blend of history, culture and vibrant nightlife. The capital city is adorned with lights and decorations that create a magical atmosphere. You can visit some of the most iconic landmarks such as the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum and the Anne Frank House. You can also savor some of the finest cuisine and go for shopping in Amsterdam.
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is another exciting place to spend Christmas and New Year’s Eve in Netherlands as you will get modern and dynamic vibes here. The second-largest city in the country is known for its innovative architecture, diverse culture and vigorous nightlife. You can visit some of the most impressive buildings and structures such as the Erasmus Bridge, Markthal and the Cube Houses.
Maastricht
With its attractive and cozy ambiance, Maastricht is the ideal place to spend your Christmas and New Year’s Eve. The nation’s oldest city is renowned for its culinary pleasures, picturesque setting and rich cultural and historical legacy. See some of the most exquisite and historic structures like Saint John’s Church, Fortifications of Maastricht and Basilica of Saint Servatius can prove to be your perfect picks.
New Year and Christmas in Netherlands is extensively celebrated and there are a lot of fireworks to keep you entertained for hours. But be careful as it might get quite intense. No Dutch New Year and Christmas is complete without these three things: fireworks, bonfires, and of course riots.
FAQ’s
How do I get a visa appointment for Netherlands?
Here is step-by-step guide to schedule visa appointment:
- Visit our website and complete the online Netherlands visa form with all your details and pay the nominal fee to proceed for reserving an express slot in VFS visa center.
- One of our experts will get in touch with you, will ask you for your preferred date and time of appointment and will book fast-track visa appointment for you and also check your required documents.
- When you visit the VFS visa center submit your biometric information like fingerprints and digital photo.
- Pay the VFS visa fee using your card at the time of appointment and you will get the passport back in few days via courier or collect it yourself.
Can I Walk-in to VFS visa centre without appointment?
No, VFS visa centre never entertain walk-in customers, you need to get an appointment slot before going to VFS centre to submit your visa application. Generally, it is quite difficult to get available appointment slots at VFS even for months but as we can provide express (next-day) Netherlands visa appointment to our clients.
What is the fastest way to get Netherlands visa?
The fastest way of getting a Netherland visa is by obtaining express visa appointment through us. As you soon as you get your appointment you get to visit the VFS Visa centre with all your documents and provide your biometrics like finger prints and digital photo which then ultimately leads to securing visa.
However, due to large number of visa applications and immense popularity of Amsterdam among tourists from ages, Netherlands visa appointments are generally not available and are very difficult to obtain. Though you do not need to worry as we can help you get the next-day appointment with our years of expertise.
How long is Netherland visa valid for?
Validity of Netherlands visa depends on several factors like whether you are applying for the first time or you already had multiple Schengen visas in the past. Netherlands generally gives visa for 3 months to 2 years or even more but maximum time that you can stay will be 90 days in single trip.
How long does it take to get a visa for Netherlands from UK?
Netherlands visa processing time depends on Nationalities and type of visa you are applying like whether you are applying for long stay or short stay visa. Generally Short Stay visa processing time ranges between 7-8 working days and long stay Netherlands Schengen visa takes around 8-15 working days. For some nationalities it may take around 15 days’ time.
