Dear citizen:

The Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in The Hague, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, is pleased to present this guide which contains some information which every citizen who is traveling or residing in the Netherlands should read. It might be helpful during visiting or residing in the Netherlands.
The Embassy would like to stress that awareness of the regulations and laws of the host country and respect and commitment to Islamic morals are the best means to reflect the honorable image of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and our Islamic religion abroad. They are also helpful to avoid clouding your travel program.


Important ​alerts:

•  Shengen Agreement states that the country of the Embassy which has issued the visa must be the first destination of travel for the traveler. The Kingdom of the Netherlands applies literally this agreement. For this reason we advise our citizens who desire to visit the Netherlands to get an entry visa from the Dutch Embassy because if they visit the Netherlands with a visa issued by another Shengen country rather than the Netherlands they will not be permitted to enter the Netherlands.

•  The Saudi Embassy in the Netherlands confirms to all citizens that it is very important to retain their passports because it is an official document. It is not allowed to use the passport as gage or give it to any body only to a responsible person in order to check the identity, after that it must be given to its holder. The Embassy cautions the importance of registering the passport at the consular section and to keep a copy of it. In case of loss or theft of the passport, the police agency must be informed directly. You must register the case and date and after that you must go to the Embassy to accomplish the necessary procedures.

•  When you arrive to the airport, be sure to keep your luggage, your passport and money in your pocket. Hand luggage and personal wallets are always apt to theft in airports. The Embassy advises to be alert and cautious while shopping from theft. In order to avoid that it is advisable to have credit cards and there is also the possibility to use international bank cards and cash machines which are everywhere in the Netherlands. It is also advisable to contact local and main banks such as ABN AMRO Bank which is the Saudi Dutch bank in the Kingdom. It is one of the biggest banks in the Netherlands, and you can find it everywhere.

•  You can use the train to go from the airport to Amsterdam or to The Hague. You must buy first a ticket before getting in the train in order to avoid paying a big fine. It is not allowed to smoke in means of transport and public places. the Embassy proposes using taxi’s and register the plate number of the taxi  to use if need be.
•  It is allowed for citizens who hold an international driving license to drive cars in the Netherlands. Company which hire cars allow only citizens who have an international driving license and a national driving license to hire a car.

•  Traffic regulations in the Netherlands are very strict. Any one who wishes to drive a car in the Netherlands must know such regulations. Such regulations are like traffic regulations in other Western European countries. But the Netherlands imposes high fines. The Embassy advises to respect traffic regulations such as traffic plates and the maximum speed inside and outside the city.

•  Before using means of public transport, you must have a ticket in the train, but in trams and buses you can buy a ticket from the driver.

•  By law, it is not allowed to have weapons or knives.

•  Beating children is not allowed by law either in public places or at home. The police have the right to arrest any one who beats children and accusing him. If a child is abused or mistreated, the concerned authorities have the right to take him from his parents and put him in a special place for children care. Parents might be accused.

•  It is not allowed to take with you an amount of money exceeding 10.000 Euro’s while travelling in the Netherlands.

•  The Embassy advises citizens to inform Customs’ Authorities of the amount of money they have and which exceeds 10.000 euro’s. Not informing the authorities about it, might lead to confiscation.

•  Be cautious not to quarrel in public places because the punishment is high and can reach 5 years imprisonment.

•  The Embassy can not mediate in some cases by the official authorities such as family conflicts or trade conflicts only on basis of law. Generally Dutch specialized advocates might be authorized to assist and Dutch courts are responsible for taking a decision.