RESOURCE:
NETHERLANDS SCOUTING TRIP
If you’re considering a move to the Netherlands, we highly recommend a scouting and familiarization trip to:
Figure out if you like the Netherlands and could see yourself living here
Check out possible cities or areas to live in the country
See what it's like to get around in your preferred way (walking, public transport, bike, car)
Get a feel for daily Dutch life, including visiting grocery stores, libraries, parks, gyms, etc.
Tour private or international schools for your children (if applicable)
See housing options and how far your budget will go in different areas
And more
“Having Hylo plan my scouting trip was 1000% worth it! I highly recommend it to anyone.”
- Becky from Louisiana
“Their personal touches and own experiences helped create a valuable trip as we navigate moving to a new country. “
- Jordan from Colorado
For just $499, you’ll get:
Personalized destination guidance
We’ll help you choose the best cities and neighborhoods to explore based on your lifestyle, budget, and future plans.
A custom day-by-day itinerary
Maximize your time in-country with a curated schedule of activities, routes, and recommendations that’s easy to follow throughout your trip.
Travel planning support
Get expert guidance on booking your flights, accommodations, transportation, bike rentals, dining, tours, and local experiences.
Essential local know-how
Learn the practical tips we wish we’d known, like how to buy train tickets, use your money and phone abroad, bike safely, and get a feel for local life.
DAFT visa support
If you’re moving under the DAFT visa, we can connect you with our trusted immigration specialist to guide you through the process.
Realtor support
If eligible, we can introduce you to one of our trusted Makelaars (Dutch Realtors) to start exploring potential housing options to rent or buy.
Schooling options (if applicable)
We can suggest private and international schools for kids; we can even work school tours into your itinerary.
Pet travel guidance (if applicable)
Discover what you need to know about flying with pets so you’re ready to bring your four-legged friends with you.
Ready to get started?
Sample scouting trip itinerary
Example of one day of an itinerary
✈️ Arrive on your flight to Amsterdam Schipol Airport (AMS)
British Airways flight BA 419, BOS ➡️ AMS, arriving 1:20 pm
🛂 Go through customs
No Visa needed for US residents!
🎫 Purchase an OV Chipkaart for each of you at the airport near the entrance to the train station (from a machine or service desk) and load a balance on it
Check out this short video I made to walk you through the process! >
🚆 Take the direct Intercity or Sprinter train from Schipol Airport to Leiden Centraal station
View route on Google Maps (~20 mins)
🏨 Head to your hotel: Intercity Hotel Leiden
Exit the station on the southeast side (that is the direction of your hotel)
View directions (~2-minute walk)
🧳 If you can’t check into your hotel yet, ask the front desk to store your bags and start exploring the city!
🚲 Rent a bike to use during your time in Leiden
I would rent from EasyFiets. It’s a 15-minute walk from your hotel—a good chance to explore on foot before jumping on a bike!
🏰 Spend the rest of the afternoon and evening biking or walking around downtown Leiden to get a feel for it
Take in the charming canals, bridges, and cobbled streets of the city center
Check out the bustling shopping street Haarlemmerstraat, grab a warm stroopwaffel, and pop into Hema (some call it the Dutch version of Target)
Visit Molen de Valk windmill museum; you can pay to go inside, or admire the outside from the square
Find a cozy cafe or restaurant—there are plenty to choose from! We love Barista Cafe
Tip: Cafe = coffee, tea, pastries, food; Coffee Shop often = marijuana dispensary
Check out this local library in a charming part of town; while you’re there you may want to see Burcht van Leiden, the historical remains of a 12th-century castle.
Visit a local grocery store like Albert Heijn (my favorite), Jumbo, Dirk, or Hoogvliet; get a feel for what’s available and pricing for groceries you’d commonly buy.
Tip: Find the meal kits in the produce section of grocery stores (no need to buy during this trip, just see what they have). We use these all the time! Think Hello Fresh, where you’re provided with most of what you need + a list of what else you need (e.g. chicken, olive oil) to complete the meal. These are super fresh, healthy, and easy.
If you want to practice biking even more and have the energy for a longer ride, check out Leidse Hout, a sprawling park on the outskirts of Leiden
🍽️ Dinner recommendations in Leiden:
Paco Ciao | Rodos Good Taste | Café Toulouse | Vlot Grand Cafe
Popular cities to consider visiting during your Netherlands scouting trip
Amsterdam
Den Haag
Haarlem
Utrecht
Rotterdam
Eindhoven
Leiden
Delft
Maastricht
Groningen
Frequently Asked Questions
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Moving to a new country is a really big decision. A scouting trip is a great way to help yourself be as informed as possible before taking the leap.
The most common reasons people do a scouting trip include:
Figure out if they even like the Netherlands or could see themselves living here
Figure out which cities or areas in the Netherlands they want to live
Get a feel for what it would be like as a resident (vs as a tourist)
See what housing options are available in thier budget, and how far their budget will go in different areas
Tour private or international schools for their kids
Get a feel for different transportation options, including walking, biking, public transport, and car
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We’ll work with you to figure out the details of your trip, like dates, locations to visit, how you want to get around, accommodations, goals, and more.
Then we’ll create a custom, day-by-day itinerarary to help you maximize your time in-country, get a feel for daily Dutch life, and narrow your search for possible places to live. It will include insider tips and tricks about how the country operates so you don’t get caught off-guard.
You’ll have up to 3 rounds of revisions, allowing you to review your itinerary and ask for changes.Once the itinerary is finalized, we’ll deliver it to you as a private web page. You can easily pull it up throughout your trip as you go along.
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You will book and pay for your own travel (e.g. flights, accommodations, transportation), but we can guide you and help you figure these parts out.
Booking your own travel allows you to search for deals and earn or use miles or credit card points if desired.
When it comes to accommodations, we can help you decide whether to stay in one location as a “home base” or move around throughout your trip.
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The decision to bring kids is personal and completely up to you.
Most parents leave young kids at home so they can move around quickly and easily during the scouting trip.
Some parents choose to bring kids along, especially if they’re trying to get them excited about a possible move, see how they handle the Netherlands, or plan to tour private or international schools during their scouting trip.
If you decide to bring kids on your scouting trip, we can provide guidance around kid-friendly transportation, accommodations, activities, dining, tours, and more.
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A lot of our clients decide to mix fun tourist activities into their scouting trip.
Others decide to maximize their scouting time by skipping activities and tours.
The decision is yours and we can help you no matter what mix you want to have!
Have more questions about a possible scouting trip to the Netherlands?
Fill out this form and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible
Or click here to purchase your scouting trip.