5 Tips to Save Money When Travelling in the Netherlands

Saving money when travelling in the Netherlands does not mean less fun. Instead, it can give you more opportunities to explore even more places and cultures in Europe or elsewhere. I have always tried to save money as a student myself, especially when travelling. Because of this, I summarized 5 tips to consider when travelling on a budget while having awesome experiences in the Netherlands.

Let's get started.

1. Staying in Hostels

Compared to Airbnb and Hotels, the Hostels are known to be very budget-friendly. This doesn't necessarily mean that their service and quality are compromised. Through the years, many hostels have adopted a boutique/chic style. Some even offer meals which can also decrease your food costs, you just need to check your preferences on this one. Also, keep an eye on their location. Usually, hostels in the city centre are costlier than those just on the outskirts.

2. Choosing the Suitable Form of Transportation

The best way to explore a city is by walking. Why? Because not only is it free and allows you to stay active, it also gives you the chance to explore the city more closely. But, if the place that you are staying and/or the activities that you want to do are far, it would be a good idea to rent a bike or use public transportation. You can find good deals for both transportation types. For example, to rent a bike check OV Fiets, Swapfiets, GoSharing or to use trains, check Treinreiziger and Spoorhub.

3. Checking Discounted Activities

Currently, Groupon and Actievandedag provide numerous good deals on different types of activities such as attraction parks (up to 50% discount) or the Keukenhof, which is very famous for its Tulips (up to 44% discount). They continuously update this, so try to check this before and throughout your vacation.

Another interesting activity to join are the free tours provided by Strawberry tours. As the tours are free, the guides do ask for a tip which help them continue their efforts in sharing information. But, ultimately, it is up to you if you would like to give them a tip and how much this would be.

4. Eating Cheap

If you know you will be out for a long time and want to save money, I recommend packing a sandwich and bringing a water bottle with you. This way, you will cut some costs of buying food or drinks outside. Tap water is safe to drink in the Netherlands, so you can always refill it.

But, if you really want to try some Dutch food and enjoy drinks, I would recommend you to buy lunch meals as they are cheaper than dinner meals and order drinks that are local as they are more affordable than the ones imported. Keep in mind that tips are optional in the Netherlands, so it's up to you if you want to give a tip to the employee.

5. Shopping for Groceries

There are several good quality supermarkets in the Netherlands with weekly promotions. Still, the one that you can save a bit more is Lidl. Lidl has a good variety of vegetables, meat, drinks, bread, etc. If you are interested in small household and wellness products, Action would be a great option. I find the prices hard to beat, and they have a good variety of quality products. If you want to keep up with weekly deals of most stores in the Netherlands, check Folders.

On another note, you have to pay an extra fee of 25 cents (labelled “statiegeld”) for most water bottles, which you get back if you return them to the bottle machine in a supermarket near you. So, it might be good to keep an eye on this.

Final Thoughts

If you are travelling on a budget, it’s important to research other travellers’ experiences, such as what they did and how much it costs. Plan what you would like to do and your budget before coming to the Netherlands. In the meantime, I hope these tips can help you save further when travelling in the Netherlands.

Enjoy ya'll!

Might also be interesting to read: How to Save Money on SHEIN?