In The Netherlands we have the following travel documents:
-The Identity Card (National Passport)
-The ruby red book (International Passport)
-The blue or grey book (International travel document)

When we speak about the passport, we always mean the International Passport.

If you want to travel to a foreign country, you need a valid passport.
(Some countries accept an Identity Card as well.)

With an Identity Card it is impossible to travel to a country you need a visa for because one can’t attach a visa to the card.

Normally your passport must be valid for a certain amount of time.

For a visa, the passport must contain 2 empty pages (next to each other); one for the sticker or stamp of the embassy and one for the stamps you will receive at arrival.

Blue and grey passports aren’t accepted in every country or there are some additional requirements.
It is not always clear what these requirements are.

The visa application for such a passport is more difficult and often takes extra time; we advice you to apply early.