Rotterdam to Colorado Springs (RTM–COS) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections

Dutch passport holders travel to the US under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) using ESTA. Apply at esta.cbp.dhs.gov at least 72 hours before departure. ESTA costs USD 21 (about EUR 20), is valid for 2 years or until your passport expires, and allows multiple entries of up to 90 days each. Your passport must be machine-readable and have an electronic chip (all modern Dutch passports qualify). If ESTA is denied, you need a B-1/B-2 visa from the US Embassy in Amsterdam.

Direct flights from Amsterdam to the US are plentiful. KLM and Delta (joint venture partners) serve New York JFK (7 hours 45 minutes), Atlanta (9 hours 30 minutes), Los Angeles (11 hours), Chicago (8 hours 45 minutes), Boston (7 hours 30 minutes), Minneapolis, Salt Lake City, Portland, and more. United flies to Houston, Newark, Washington Dulles, and San Francisco from Schiphol. Total, around 12 US cities have nonstop Amsterdam service.

The US dollar (USD) trades at roughly EUR 0.93 per USD 1. Card payments work everywhere, and contactless is standard. No mandatory vaccinations. CBP processing at US airports takes 20 minutes to over an hour depending on the airport and time. Global Entry (USD 100, valid 5 years) gives automated kiosk access with much shorter lines. Apply through the CBP Trusted Traveler Programs website and schedule an interview at a US airport or the US pre-clearance facility at certain airports. Tipping is expected: 18 to 20% at restaurants, USD 1 to 2 per drink at bars.