European Union Citizens + People Coming from USA, GB, Canada, Australia or Japan
The Netherlands is located in the European Unions Schengen area. That means other European Union nationalist do not require a special tourist or short stay visa. They are except from the visa requirement. Switzerland and EEA countries also fall into this group where no visa is required to enter the Netherlands. Foreigners coming from Great Britain, Australia, Canada, USA or Japan do not require a special visa either, their passport will be satisfactory means of gaining entry into the country.
Visa requirements for those countries not mentioned above
If you are coming from a country not represented in the paragraph above, you will need to first consult the Embassy of Netherlands in your country or the nearest to you about special visa requirements. You will most likely have to apply for a tourist visa (toeristenvisum) if you intend to stay up to 90 days in the country. If you wish to extend your stay beyond that time, there might be additional paper work that will have to be completed. The tourist visa varies in price from $30-$50 USD and there might be additional handling fees on top depending on the embassy at which you apply at. These short stay Visas once issued are valid up to ninety days and permit multiple entries. If you are just travelling through the Netherlands, then a transit visa is what you need and that is valid only for a single entry or multiple depending what type you apply for.
Staying in the Netherlands for over 90 days.
If you are looking to stay in the country for 91 days or more then you will have to apply for a temporary residents permit, also called an MVV. In dutch what you need to get is a machtiging tot voorlopig verblijf. European Union citizens don’t need to go through the hassle of waiting, and potentially having their request denied. They just have to register and fill out the paperwork.
After you arrive
The Netherlands has a policy where all foreigners must check in and register at the local police station as a foreign alien. This must be done in 72 hours. No check in at the police station is necessary if they are taking up lodging at a B&B, Hotel, or other registered place of accommodation.