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Netherlands on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
The Netherlands on a budget is possible at about €125 per person per day if you stay in hostels or cheaper cities like Haarlem and Utrecht, cycle and limit paid museums. Amsterdam itself is the hardest place to save.
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | €55 | €100 | €220 |
| Food & drink | €35 | €60 | €110 |
| Sights & tickets | €20 | €40 | €70 |
| Local transport | €15 | €25 | €45 |
| Per person, per day | €125 | €225 | €445 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Netherlands day-cost table.
Free things to do
- Walk the UNESCO-listed canal ring and the Jordaan
- Take the free ferry behind Amsterdam Centraal to NDSM and Noord
- Stroll through the Vondelpark
- Walk around Zaanse Schans and its windmills (each mill charges a few euros inside)
- Walk the dikes at Kinderdijk among the windmills
- Visit the free rooftop garden of Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen in Rotterdam
Cheap eats
- Fresh stroopwafel at the Albert Cuyp Market, about €3-4
- Raw herring (haring) from a fish stall, about €3-5
- Patat (fries) with mayonnaise, about €4-6
- Kibbeling (battered fish pieces) at a market, about €6-9
- Surinamese roti or broodje from a snack bar, about €6-12
Where to sleep for less
Budget travellers stay in hostels in Amsterdam Noord or in Haarlem and Utrecht, where budget doubles cost about €80-140 and dorm beds from about €30-60, more in summer and tulip season.
Getting around cheaply
Bike rental is the cheapest way around cities, at about €12-17 a day. Trams and metros accept contactless cards, and a GVB day ticket costs about €9-10. Trains from Schiphol reach Amsterdam Centraal in about 15-20 minutes for a few euros; NS trains link all major cities quickly.
A sample budget day
- Morning: canal ring walk and the Jordaan, free
- Lunch: herring or fries from a stall, about €6
- Afternoon: one museum, such as the Rijksmuseum, about €25
- Evening: free ferry to Noord and a simple dinner, about €20
- Total: about €125 per person including a shared room
More ways to save
- Book the Anne Frank House online about six weeks ahead; there are no door sales.
- Travel by off-peak train (after 9:00 on weekdays) with an off-peak discount if you have one.
- Use Utrecht as a base for day trips; it is central and cheaper.
- Bring a refillable bottle; tap water is excellent.
- Picnic in parks with supermarket food from Albert Heijn or Jumbo.
- Walk or cycle instead of taking canal cruises if the budget is tight; the views are similar.
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Common questions
Can you visit the Netherlands on a budget?
Yes, at about €125 a day by staying in Haarlem or Utrecht, cycling and limiting paid museums.
What is the cheapest way to get around Amsterdam?
Walking or a rented bike; a GVB day ticket costs about €9-10.
Is it cheaper to stay outside Amsterdam?
Yes; Haarlem and Utrecht are 15-30 minutes away and noticeably cheaper.