Amsterdam: This is Holland 5D Flight Experience Entry Ticket

The best part of This is Holland is the 5D flight over the Netherlands, where your feet hang free beneath a giant screen and the seat moves with the picture. You’ll sweep over Amsterdam’s canals, Kinderdijk’s windmills, flower fields, Rotterdam’s port and the Delta Works, with timed bursts of wind, mist, water and scent.

I like the way the flight gives you a quick sense of the whole country, especially if this is your first visit. I also like the short shows beforehand, which explain why Dutch people built dikes and how water shaped the nation. The main caution is timing: the ride is thrilling but brief, and the early presentations can feel a little slow or childish if you came mainly for the flying.

Key points to know

• The flight covers major Dutch sights: See Kinderdijk, Amsterdam’s canals, tulip fields, Rotterdam’s port, the Delta Works and other national highlights.
• Sensory effects make the ride feel physical: Expect moving seats, wind, mist, water splashes and scents timed to the film.
• Four shows build the story: Learn about Dutch history, water management and important places before the flight.
• It is easy to reach from Central Station: Take the free F3 ferry across the IJ to the north side, directly opposite the station.
• Plan around the safety rules: Children under four, people under 100 centimeters, pregnant visitors and people with certain medical conditions cannot take the flight.
• One hour is enough for a compact introduction: This works well near the start of an Amsterdam visit, but it will not replace seeing the country in person.

Crossing the IJ to This is Holland

This is Holland sits directly across the IJ from Amsterdam Central Station. From the station’s north side, take the free F3 ferry. It runs 24 hours a day, so the crossing is simple and costs nothing extra.

That easy location matters. You do not need a separate day trip to see Dutch windmills or flower fields here. In less than an hour, you can reach the attraction, take the ferry, complete the experience and return to central Amsterdam.

Allow a little extra time at the start. The attraction can include an initial queue, including a photo process. Cameras are not allowed inside the experience, so leave yours safely stored rather than expecting to record the flight.

The attraction runs a new flight experience every 15 minutes. That gives you useful flexibility, but you still need to check the available start times when booking. The full visit lasts about one hour, not one hour of flying.

Four short shows before takeoff

The experience is built as more than a motion ride. You move through four entertaining shows that explain the country before the main flight begins.

The opening material covers the history of the Netherlands and its relationship with water. This is the essential Dutch story: much of the country has been shaped, protected and reclaimed through dikes, drainage systems and careful water control.

The presentation also explains the transformation of the country over time. You get a quick explanation of how Dutch communities dealt with the sea and why structures such as the Delta Works matter. If you know little about the Netherlands, this background makes the later flight easier to follow.

The tone is light and family-friendly. That helps hold children’s attention, but adults looking for a serious museum presentation may find parts of it a bit cheesy. Some sections have been described as childish, and the early part can feel slow compared with the final ride.

Still, I like having this context. Without it, the flight would mainly be a fast collection of pretty views. The shows give you a basic map of the country and explain why the sights deserve attention.

One part focuses on Amsterdam itself. You learn more about the city before seeing its canals from above, which gives the familiar center a different frame. The shows are short rather than exhausting, so the information does not take over the visit.

The attraction also highlights the Netherlands’ ten official UNESCO World Heritage areas. You will not visit each site physically, but you get a compact introduction to important places and the reasons they matter.

The 5D flight over Dutch icons

The main event places you inside a sphere-shaped screen. You sit on a moving bench with your hands and feet dangling free, then the platform tilts and shifts as the film carries you over the Netherlands.

The design gives you a strong sense of height and movement. You do not simply watch an aerial film from a fixed chair. Your body follows the motion, so a turn, drop or sweep across the picture becomes part of the sensation.

The route includes some of the country’s most recognizable sights:

• Kinderdijk: Rows of windmills appear as part of the classic Dutch water-control story.
• Amsterdam’s canals: The city’s waterways and dense historic center look very different from above.
• Flower fields: The colorful fields provide one of the flight’s most striking visual sequences.
• The Delta Works: This major water-management system connects the flight to the earlier explanation of Dutch engineering.
• Rotterdam’s port: You see the scale and industrial character of one of the Netherlands’ key working areas.
• Other Dutch landmarks: The film moves quickly across a broad selection of national highlights.

The sensory effects are carefully timed to the images. Wind adds speed, mist helps create the feeling of passing over water and scents connect certain scenes with what you are seeing. A floral smell during the flower-field sequence and splashes when crossing water make the ride more memorable.

The water effects are fun, but do not expect a soaking ride. The point is suggestion rather than a full theme-park splash. You feel and smell enough to make the film more convincing without turning it into a rough attraction.

The ride has real motion, and one person found it exhilarating enough to cause some sickness afterward. If you are prone to motion sickness, sit with that in mind. You may prefer to keep your eyes open and avoid eating heavily just before the flight, though the attraction’s stated restrictions are the rules that should guide your decision.

The biggest limitation is length. The flight is the highlight, and several people wished it lasted longer. That is fair. You get a vivid overview, not a long scenic journey. The short running time is part of the reason the whole visit fits into an hour, but it can leave you wanting another pass.

What makes the experience useful

This is Holland is most valuable as an orientation tool. In one compact visit, you see windmills, waterways, flower cultivation, modern engineering, Amsterdam and Rotterdam. You gain a sense of how these pieces fit together before choosing what to visit in person.

I would especially consider it early in an Amsterdam stay. The flight may encourage you to add a windmill village, a flower-field visit or a water-management site to your plans. It also helps children connect the city’s canals with the wider country instead of treating Amsterdam as the whole of the Netherlands.

The attraction is not a substitute for Kinderdijk, the Delta Works or the flower fields themselves. A screen cannot give you the quiet of a real polder, the scale of standing beside a windmill or the changing light over a canal. What it can do is show you many distant places without the cost and time of traveling between them.

That makes the $28 price easier to judge. For an hour-long attraction, it is not a bargain in the same way as a free city walk. But you are paying for several short presentations plus a specialized motion flight, not just a seat in a cinema.

The value is strongest for families and first-time visitors who want a lively introduction. It is less compelling for someone who dislikes motion rides or wants a detailed museum about Dutch history. The flight earns the ticket for many people, but the shows are what make the experience more than a quick thrill.

Families, children and access rules

Children often get the most from the combination of simple history, colorful film and physical movement. The material is designed to keep young visitors engaged, and the flight gives them a clear visual sense of the country.

The safety rules are strict:

• Children under four cannot take part.
• Anyone shorter than 100 centimeters cannot participate.
• Children from five through twelve must sit beside an accompanying adult.
• Visitors between 100 and 130 centimeters must also sit beside an adult.
• Pregnant visitors cannot take the flight.
• The flight is not suitable for people with a history of heart or circulatory problems, hypertension, pacemakers, cardiovascular disease, epilepsy or recovery from back or neck surgery.
• People with back problems or heart problems should not participate.

The venue is wheelchair accessible, but wheelchair accessibility does not remove the separate flight restrictions. If you are unsure about the motion platform or a medical condition, check with the attraction before booking.

Practical details that affect your visit

The ticket covers admission. Drinks are not included, and photos are not included. Cameras are not allowed during the experience.

There is a photo option connected with the visit, but it costs extra. If you do not want a photo, be aware that the photo queue may still be part of the arrival process. A locker is available for a fee, and one person considered the one-euro charge expensive, so bring only what you need.

English subtitles are used with Dutch narration in at least some of the presentations. One practical issue is that the narration and subtitles can move quickly. If you read slowly, you may not catch every line before the next screen appears.

The venue offers a reservation option that lets you pay later, and cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the activity. These terms are useful when your Amsterdam schedule depends on weather or changing plans.

The attraction receives a 4.8 rating from 3,610 reviews, but the more useful point is what the praise concentrates on: the flight, the staff, the clear overview of Dutch history and the ease of reaching the venue. The repeated criticism is also consistent: the opening section can drag, subtitles may move too fast, and the flight could be longer.

How to fit it into an Amsterdam day

This is Holland pairs naturally with a visit to Central Station and the waterfront. Because the ferry crossing is free and frequent, you can treat the attraction as a one-hour addition rather than a full excursion.

Book it near the start of your stay if you want ideas for later outings. Book it later if your main goal is simply a final burst of Dutch scenery before leaving Amsterdam.

The 15-minute flight schedule gives you some room to work around lunch, museums or a canal cruise. Still, do not cut the timing too close if you need to cross the IJ first, find the entrance and handle any arrival queue.

The attraction is also useful on a rainy day. You get outdoor sights without standing in a wet field or waiting beside a windmill. Of course, the experience is indoors and simulated, so a sunny day is still better spent seeing the real Dutch countryside if you have that option.

Who should book it

I recommend This is Holland for families, first-time visitors, teenagers and anyone who wants a fast introduction before exploring more of the country. The ride is exciting enough for adults, while the shows give children a simple explanation of dikes, canals and Dutch landmarks.

I would be more cautious if you dislike motion simulation, get sick easily or want a long, quiet museum visit. The experience moves through different formats, and the early shows are more educational than thrilling. The payoff comes with the final flight.

At $28, the attraction makes sense when you value a broad national overview and a memorable special-effects ride. It is not the right choice if you want to spend that money on a real day trip outside Amsterdam. Think of it as a lively introduction, not a replacement for the Netherlands itself.

Should you book This is Holland?

Book it if you want to see a great deal of the Netherlands in about an hour, especially if you are visiting with children or have limited time. The flight is the clear highlight, and the wind, mist, scent and water effects give it more personality than a standard film.

Go in expecting the ride to be short and the opening shows to be light in tone. If you accept that balance, This is Holland offers a practical and entertaining way to understand the country before you set out to see its canals, windmills and flower fields for real.

FAQ

Where is This is Holland located?

It is directly across the IJ from Amsterdam Central Station on the north side of the city.

How do I reach This is Holland from Amsterdam Central Station?

Take the free F3 ferry from the station across the IJ. The ferry runs 24 hours a day.

How long does the experience last?

The full experience lasts about one hour.

How often does a new flight begin?

A new flight experience begins every 15 minutes.

What does the ticket include?

The ticket includes entrance to This is Holland.

Are photos and drinks included?

No. Photos and drinks are not included. Cameras are also not allowed during the experience.

Can children take part in the flight?

Children under four cannot participate. Children aged five to twelve must sit beside an adult, and visitors between 100 and 130 centimeters must also sit beside an adult on the same bench.

Is This is Holland wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the venue is wheelchair accessible. The separate safety rules for the flight still apply.

Can I cancel my booking?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. A reserve-now-and-pay-later option is also available.