Arriving in the Netherlands this weekend. How much cash to bring to last for a month?

Question

Hi,

I am relocating to the Netherlands and arriving this weekend. I would like to know how much will it cost for a taxi from Schiphol airport to The Hague? How much cash would I need to last for a month before I get my 1st salary (excluding accommodation)?

Thanks!

Answer 1

It depends on which part of The Hugue your appartment is located. For a taxi from Shiphol Airport to the Center of The Hague (45 kms) the price will be at about 50 €.

Taxi drivers want to see cash, but you'll be able to exchange money at the airport.

Answer 2

Do not use a taxi to go to the Hague, it will be 50 Euro at least, I thought that was the rate for a prebooked one.

The trains run day and night and take you to the town in about 30 minutes, for less than 8 Euro. And they run 24 hours a day (if only one per hour in the night.)

If you need a taxi because you have too much to take with you, prebook a taxi, as that is the only way to keep the cost within reason.

Money for your first month?

Do you have a house or apartment, or do you stay in a hotel or hostel.

If you move into a furnished house/apartment count on about 1000 Euro, as you will need to stock up on everything, all those things you would normally buy once in a while will now be needed all at once.

If you move into an empty home count on a few thousands!

If you stay in a hotel, you will need to eat out most of the time, costing you between 20 and 50 Euro per day (depending on your tastes and bank account.)

If you stay in a hostel and can do your own cooking, 10 Euro will do for food.

But besides you will still need money to go places and see things.

And are you sure you get your first pay after no more than just one month?

Do not risk getting stuck, as being without money in a strange town is pure misery.

Welcome in the Netherlands, I am sure you can manage.

Added:

Google maps knows the Dutch postcodes, just enter one (nl postcode) into the searchbar and select route from here (or something like that.) http://maps.google.co.uk/maps

I get that the distance is 2.5 km (or less than 2 mile.)

That is easily walkable, if you get a bike you will not even notice the distance.

If you travel by bus or tram it is likely the cheapest weekly or monthly pass, but I do not know how much that will be, but not much.

I think it will be good to use the offer of an apartment, much better than most hotelrooms for an extended period.

You can cook your own food (or still go out for dinner if you prefer,) and spread your things around if you want to do that.

But if you can, keep some money in your current bank account and use that to get money out of the ATM (geld automaat) when you need it.

Do not travel around with a lot of cash, and exchange cost will be more than the extra cost for withdrawal in a foreign currency.

Twice your future income will be a great buffer, but if it is less you will have to do with what you can spare.

I do not live in Den Haag, (to give it its local name) but I think you will stay central in the town but on the quiet side.

Within walking distance of the shopping areas I think.