Schengen
Twenty-five countries in Europe participate in the the Schengen Area, abolishing all forms of border control between the members of the Schengen Area. The Netherlands is one of many of these countries. What it means for you as a tourist is that you have the convenience of travelling to and from the Netherlands from other Schengen countries without having to be stopped by customs and immigration control.
When it comes to visas, what applies to one Schengen country, applies to all Schengen countries. This means if you are able to travel to a Schengen country without a visa, you'll be able to travel through all Schengen countries for that duration because the Schengen nations have, in general, uniform rules on which countries' citizens are allowed to enter. If you are required to hold a visa to enter the Schengen Area, you'll be required to have one for entering the Netherlands as well. Fortunately the visa system is uniform for the Schengen Area, so a visa issued by the Netherlands will allow you to travel to other Schengen countries and a visa issued by any other Schengen country will allow you to travel in the Netherlands (unless the country/countries are specifically limited on your visa).
Travelling to the Schengen Area on holiday, you'll be limited to staying within the area for a maximum of 90 days in any 6 month period.
Visitors will fall in to one of two categories: those exempt from having to hold a holiday visa and those that must apply for one. The list of countries that are exempt is listed on the Dutch government's offical website here and those needing a visa are listed here. Whether you need to hold a visa or not, the restrictions on the amount of time you are allowed to stay are the same. Those needing a visa will need to apply for a Category C visa that refers to a short-term stay visa. They are issued for reasons other than to immigrate, such as for tourists. They entitle holders to carry out a continuous visit or several visits whose duration does not exceed three months in any 6 month period from the date of first entry.
You can recieve your Category C visa from any Schengen country and travel to the Netherlands and vice versa. For more information on applying for a visa to the Netherlands, see our visa page on this website.
Though there are no border controls to speak of between the Schengen countries, you are expected to register yourself at each place of accommodation as you travel - this means that at each hotel you stay at, you will need to show your identity documents and fill out the register forms. It is usual that the hotel will make you fill out these forms as a matter of course in the checking-in process.
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