3 Must-Install Local Apps Before You Arrive In The Netherlands

It’ll save you lots of time and money

If there’s one thing I’ve learned from spending three years in Europe, it’s technology is more helpful than tour guides.

If you want to mingle with the locals, having a tour guide helps.

But the technology is so advanced now that a few installed apps on your phone are already adequate to make your trips less of a hassle.

Here are three apps you should install before coming to The Netherlands, as recommended by a former student who was always looking for affordable options:

1. Too Good To Go

I wish there were an international version of this app!

This is not a local app in the sense that it is only available in The Netherlands, but you should still have it on your phone anyways.

With a mission to reduce food waste, Too Good To Go partners with restaurants, cafes, hotels, and bars around Europe and North America to offer leftovers at a great price.

Though it’s leftovers, most places package them nicely so you won’t feel like you’re buying low-quality stuff. Often times the food is actually delicious since they are made and sold within the day.

Even if you’re in the country for a few days, I still think this app will come in handy.

2. 9292.nl

This app is all you need for transportation.

It gives precise and timely updates on how you can arrive from A to B and how much time it’d take when trains arrive, or if there’s a railway strike.

*Strikes particularly happen quite often in The Netherlands. There’s one going on as I’m writing this piece so be mindful about this.

You can also install NS Travel Planner for buying and storing train tickets, but I find that redundant since you’ll be suggested to buy an OV chip card (a tap-in tap-out travel card) upon arriving in The Netherlands anyways.

3. Buienradar/Buienalarm

Buien means “shower”.

As the name suggests, this app tells you when the next rain is and how heavy it’s going to be.

This is totally a must-have app since rains (usually accompanied by strong winds) are the only constant you can count on in this country.

The downside: they are in Dutch.

An honorary mention

The following is not yet an app per se, but it deserves a spot on this list.

Tap water in The Netherlands is absolutely safe for drinking. Dutch restaurants might even serve you free tap water if you ask them to.

But the keyword here is “if you ask”.

Legally, HoReCa (hotels + restaurants + cafes) don’t have to serve you tap water. In fact, many prefer not to since bottled water, regardless of how expensive they are, is a popular choice of drink.

Dunea, a Dutch drinking water supplier, is aware of this situation and sets out to reduce bottled water usage.

They have created a map telling people the exact location of free water taps so everyone can drink safe water from their own bottles and save money.

I had a chance to work with this organization during my study program and its mission needs to be promoted to a wider audience.

I hope you have found this article helpful and just in time for your next trip to The Netherlands.

Let me know if there’s also any other app you’d recommend.

Happy traveling!

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