Amsterdam
has terriffic public systems and facilities.
The
national public transportation information
service.
Just tell them when and where you want
to go, anywhere in the Netherlands, and
they tell you how to get there. The telephone
number when you are in Holland is 0900-9292.
The cost is about 30 € cents per minute.
If
you are going to use public transportation
in Amsterdam or the Netherlands you are
going to have to know about what we call
a "strippenkaart" (strip ticket) It
is far more practical to buy a strippenkaart
(strip ticket) that includes from 10 to
45 "strips," or ticket zone units.
You can by one at a train station (vending
machine usually), a supermarket, or tobaco
shop.
If you choose to arrive at Central Station, you will be in the heart of Amsterdam. Downtown Amsterdam is laid out in a fan or circle pattern -- in a way a bit like a spider web with Dam square being in the heart of the spider web and the canals being the threads around the outside heart -- the cross streets are like the supporting threads.
When you get out of Central Station and walk down the big street you will end up at Dam square. If you ever get lost follow the tram tracks back to an area you recognize as most tracks lead back to Central Station anyway. If the streets are getting longer and wider and the houses getting more modern you are probably out of the old centre and headed to the "lost beyond all hope department". Just kidding... grab a taxi and tell the driver "take me to the dam Dam please" ...Cabbies here are mostly good and usually very helpful and friendly.
Mass-transit
Basics:
Single-ride
tickets valid for one hour can be purchased from
the tram and bus drivers for €2.50
If
you are going to use public transportation in
Amsterdam or the Netherlands you are going to
have to know about what we call a "strippenkaart" (strip
ticket)
It
is far more practical to buy a strippenkaart (strip
ticket) that includes from 2 to 45 "strips," or
ticket units.
The
best buy for most visitors is the 15-strip ticket
for €6. A new service for visitors is the
Circle Tram 20, which rides both ways around a
loop that passes close to most of the main sights
and offers a hop-on, hop-off ticket for one to
three days. By tradition, Dutch trams and buses
work on the honor system: Upon boarding, punch
your ticket at one of the machines situated in
the rear or center section of the tram or bus.
The city is divided into zones, which are indicated
on the transit map, and it is important to punch
the correct number of zones on your ticket (one
for the basic tariff and one for each additional
zone traveled). Occasional ticket inspections can
be expected: A fine of about 125. Euro is the price
for "forgetting" to stamp your ticket.
The
transit map published by GVB is very useful. It's
available at the GVB ticket office across from
the central railwaystation, or at the VVV tourist
information offices next door. Also reprinted as
the center spread in What's On in Amsterdam, the
weekly guide to activities and shopping published
by the tourist office.
One
of the best ways to travel for visitors and residents
alike, is by tram. They are frequent, fast and
dependable. You can buy a ticket from the driver,
the conductor at the back of the tram, or a machine
in the middle of the tram, depending on the sort
of tram it is.
However,
it is considerably cheaper if you buy a `strippenkaart'
from a tobacco shop, post office or railway station
beforehand, for about €7.50 for 15 strips.
On most trams you stamp these yourself in the yellow
machines in the tram: Each journey uses one strip
plus a strip for every zone you travel in.
If
you stay within the centre of town, that
is one zone, so you leave one strip blank and stamp
the second. If you travel over a zone border, you
are traveling in two zones, so you leave two strips
blank, and stamp the third.
On
some trams there is a conductor: you get on at
the back of the tram and the conductor stamps
your ticket for you. Once stamped, a ticket
is valid for an hour regardless of how often
you change tram or bus.
Several
people can travel on one strippenkaart: you just
stamp it for the first person, and then for the
second, and so on.
There
are also day and week passes available. Day and
week passes and strippencards are valid on all
trams, buses and metros, and also on trains within
the city boundaries (not to Schiphol airport: then
you have to buy a train ticket). You must stamp
a day or week pass the first time you use it only.
You should hail a tram to indicate you want to
get on.
Press
the button near the door to open it. If the tram
has a conductor you must use the rear door to get
on.
You
have to press one of the red STOP buttons inside
the tram to indicate that you want to get off at
the next stop (although there is rarely a stop
where no one wants to get out).
Again
press the button near the door to open it when
the tram has stopped.
There
is a free map of all tram and bus routes in Amsterdam
available from tourist offices or the GVB
office by Central Station. There is the Circle
Tram, number 20, which runs from Central Station
on a circular route that runs past many tourist
attractions.
The
trams run until just after midnight ( the last
trams leave Central Station at 12.15 ). After that
there is an hourly service of night buses from
Central Station.
30 year anniversary Museumtram Amsterdam
A trip down memory lane on an Amsterdam Tram.
Vintage film and modern video of vintage trams.
Amsterdam’s new Noord-Zuid metro line will not be completed until February 2018, adding a further six month delay to the project, the Telegraaf reports on Thursday.
The original opening date was 2011.
The total price has also risen because of new tunnelling problems. The line will now cost at least €3.1bn, the paper says. In 2002, when the council gave the project the green light, the cost was put at €1.4bn.
The paper says the complete project is costing €2,500 per Amsterdammer.
Transit type Rapid transit and light rail
Number of lines 4 lines (1 under construction)
Number of stations 52 stations
Operation
Began operation 1977
Operator(s) Gemeentelijk Vervoerbedrijf
Number of vehicles 106 vehicles
Technical
System length 42.5 km (26.41 mi)
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in)
(standard gauge)
Top speed 70 km/h (43 mph)
The Amsterdam Metro is a mixed rapid transit and light rail system in Amsterdam, and its surrounding municipalities Amstelveen, Diemen, and Ouder-Amstel in the Netherlands. The network is owned by the city of Amsterdam and operated by the Gemeentelijk Vervoerbedrijf, the company that also operates trams, ferries and local buses.
There are four lines in the metro system. Three lines start at Amsterdam Centraal, of which line 53 and 54 connect the city center to Diemen, Duivendrecht, and Amsterdam Zuidoost in the southeast, and line 51 connects the city center to Amstelveen in the south. The Ring Line, line 50, connects Amsterdam Zuidoost to the west without crossing the center of the city. The North/South line is currently under construction and will connect the north with Amstelveen and crosses the historical city center.
The metro system uses standard gauge track, operating on 750 V DC third rail. Line 51 is a hybrid between metro and light rail, as it uses shared metro track between Amsterdam Centraal and Zuid, and shared tram track between Zuid and Amstelveen Centrum, continuing with the tram-style overhead at 600 V DC to Westwijk. Dual height platforms are provided at the overlapping stops for metro line 51 and tram line 5 vehicles.
The national strippenkaart ticketing system is currently being phased out throughout the Netherlands. As a result the OV-chipkaart, which is a contactless smart card, is the only accepted ticket in the Amsterdam Metro system as of August 2009.
History
Amsterdam decided on the construction of a metro system in 1968. Four lines were to be built, connecting the entire city and replacing many of the existing tram lines.
Wall decorations remembering the demolition in the Nieuwmarkt neighbourhood and the resistance against it
In 1970 the construction of the eastern line was started and it came into operation in 1977. This eastern line consists of two branches, line 53 and 54, to link the city centre with housing developments in the south-east. During the construction, plans to demolish the entire Jewish neighbourhood near the Nieuwmarkt led to strong protests. The metro was still built (wall decorations at the Nieuwmarkt station are dedicated to the protests), but plans to build a highway through the neighbourhood in the centre of Amsterdam were abolished. The line had to be finished by the national government.
In 1990 line 51 was opened, partially sharing track with the previous metro lines, and new track with the extended tram line 5 to Amstelveen. This is referred to as a 'Sneltram' (fast tram), and was constructed to light rail standards. The changeover between third rail and overhead power takes place at Zuid.
In 1997 the ring line (50) was added to the system, providing a fast connection between the south and the west, eliminating the necessity of travelling through the city centre.
Construction of the north south line in Amsterdam North
[edit] Planned
In 2002, the construction of the North/South Line was started, which was due to be completed in July 2012. Due to several setbacks and disputes with the construction company the construction of the line is behind on schedule and it is now scheduled for completion in 2017.
In 2009, a special city council investigative committee concluded that the municipality of Amsterdam "should never have approved" this project. The digging and building of underground part of the line caused historic buildings to subside and the city's budget deficit to explode. Initially the project was budgeted at €1.4 billion and it should have been finished by 2009. The total costs were re-estimated at around €3 billion and the line would not run until 2017 [1].
The new metro line will be the first to go to the northern Amsterdam district, underneath the IJ. From there on, it will run, via Central Station to Zuid train station, which is planned to replace Amsterdam Centraal as the city's main transport hub.[2] The project initially had a budget of €1.46 billion, but after several setbacks the total cost estimation has been adjusted to €3.1 billion (price level 2009), which will make it the most expensive metro line ever to be built worldwide. The programme has experienced several difficulties, mainly at Centraal Station, resulting in the project running more than 40% over budget. The original planned opening of 2011 has slipped several times, so the current deadline has been contractually agreed upon by all parties, with the construction companies facing fines should the completion date slip any further.[3][4]
Map showing possible expansions for 2020
The tram line to IJburg in the east was originally planned to be a metro line, and a short tunnel was constructed eastwards from Centraal Station underneath the railway lines towards this goal. As this line was eventually constructed as a tram line, the tunnel had been abandoned, and there are plans to use it as part of a chocolate museum. There are still plans for the tram to IJburg to be upgraded to metro and connect to the nearby city of Almere, where big new residential areas are being built.[5]
The North/South Line might be extended to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol in the future.
Trains:
Trains
in the Netherlands are fast, frequent,
comfortable, punctual and reasonably priced. Many
stations have a taxi-sharing scheme called "Train
Taxis" which cost only € 3.50 nlg . Ask
for a "Train
Taxi ticket" when you buy a train
ticket. If you want to book a train trip when
in town go to Central station or any train station
for that matter.
The
Schiphol Rail Line operates between the airport
and the city 24 hours a day, with service to
the central railway station or to stations in
the south part of the city. The trip takes about
15 minutes and costs € 4.: Tel. 06/9292
There
is a taxi stand directly in front of the arrival
hall at Amsterdam Schiphol
Airport. All taxis are metered, and the
fare is approximately € 35 to various points
within central Amsterdam. Service is included,
but small additional tips are not unwelcome.
Some
stations have a travel office run by the railroad.
They are very helpful and will save you a lot of
money copared to travel agents and other third
parties. If you want to look up a train schedule
go to Dutch
Railways.
The biggest and busiest airport in the Netherlands is Schiphol Airport just 14km outside Amsterdam. It is also one of the major European airport transit hubs efficiently handling over 40 million business and tourist passengers per year. The Dutch national airline, KLM, is based there and is the largest airline group in the world. Over 100 other airlines fly into Schiphol too, among them over twenty budget airlines offering cheap flights from many European countries.
Amsterdam Airport arrivals - Schiphol Plaza
As Schiphol Airport is so close to the city centre, there are several ways to get quickly from the Airport into Amsterdam. On leaving the baggage reclaim area, you enter Schiphol Plaza, and you can follow the sign posts to find the trains, taxis, (Beware of people offering a taxi in the Arrivals hall as they are illegal and may rip you off) try to get a “Schiphol taxi” ...a taxi ride to Amsterdam city centrum should cost about € 30-45, ...then there are always the shuttle buses or a car rental. Train is by far the cheapest and perhaps the most convenient way to town especially if you don't have accommodation set-up yet. They run 24 hours a day and take about 15 minutes. Train tickets can be bought at ticket counters or the yellow ticket vending machines in Schiphol Plaza. Trains are downstairs (escalator ramp right in the middle of the arrival hall.) so very convenient for your bagage. Check the screens for which platform you need. Be sure to get off at Amsterdam Central Station. Some trains also stop at Amsterdam Lelylaan and Amsterdam Sloterdijk, but you don’t want to get off to soon.
Taxis are located in the rank just outside Schiphol Plaza. Some hotels provide their own free airport shuttle bus, but there is also the Conexxion Hotel shuttle bus that services 100 city hotels. It runs between 6.00 a.m. and 21.00 p.m. All the major car rental companies have offices in Schiphol Plaza. You can chose from Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz, National, Alamo, Sixt and more.
Amsterdam Airport departures
Leaving the Netherlands will be fairly stress free. The excellent transport infrastructure means that Schiphol Airport is within easy reach of not only the city of Amsterdam but also practically the whole of the country. Again the train service is the most convenient, but taxi drivers always ask which airline you are flying with to ensure they drop you off at the correct departure gate, the shuttle buses run very frequently, and the car hire drop off points are close to the Airport terminal. Security checks at Schiphol Airport are strict however so remember to allow the time for those too.
Amsterdam Airport train station The trains depart from platforms located underneath the Schiphol Plaza and can be reached by either escalators or lifts. As well as a fast and efficient train schedule into Amsterdam Central Station, there are also direct trains from the airport to other parts of the country. The International trains, including the Thalys, south to Brussels and Paris also stop at Schiphol station.
Amsterdam Airport parking
There are both long and short term parking facilities at Schiphol Airport. If you are dropping off departing passengers you can use the free drop off zone in front of the terminal. When going on a holiday break, the cheap open-air long-stay car parks provide a free shuttle bus service to the departure halls. The short-stay car parking close to the terminal building is the most expensive. Parking fees can be paid in cash, by credit card or special payment cards.
Amsterdam Airport duty free shopping Schiphol Airport’s duty free shopping facilities are among the best in the world. Once you reach the departure lounges, you will have time to browse at your leisure for not only perfumes, liquor and tobacco but souvenirs, cosmetics, fashion, jewellery, books and newest technological gadgets. Prices are very reasonable too, with regular special offers and discounts.
Amsterdam Airport hotels
There are several airport hotels at and around Schiphol Airport, including two transit hotels in the terminal building itself. These airport hotels are ideally placed if you have an early flight to catch, or need to hire conference facilities for business meetings. Transit passengers with time between flights will find them useful too.
Amsterdam Airport facilities
Schiphol Airport has three terminals, all located in a single passenger terminal building, making it very convenient for passengers to navigate. Efficient signposting in text and symbols guides passengers from the moment they enter the terminal, and ground staff are generally extremely courteous. There are many special facilities for disabled travellers, and transportation can be requested to help cover the large distances to the departure gate. Air travel involves a lot of waiting, but there is plenty to keep you busy. As well as shopping, choose from restaurants serving everything from burgers to sushi. There are two Holland Casino venues, and communication centres in departure lounges one and two, as well as wi-fi in several locations. You can find the childrens’ play areas located between gates E and F. The staff at Schiphol Airport try to make travel as stress fee as possible; here we’ve compiled more useful tips and advice to help your journey to or from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport run smoothly.
Amsterdam Airport for visitors
Schiphol is not just an international airport; it can be classed as a tourist attraction all by itself. If you are there to meet an arriving passenger take the time to explore the Schiphol Plaza. This commercial centre is open seven days a week and offers a great shopping experience, as well plenty of food and beverage outlets. There is also a huge open-air observation deck on top of the passenger terminal building with fantastic views of this busy airport. You can even visit the national aviation museum Aviodome signposted on the approach to the airport.
By
Bus Bus/ferry combination
service between the United Kingdom and the
Netherlands is operated from London to Amsterdam
by Euro-City Tours (Tel. 020/8828-8361).
You can travel from London and between Brussels and Amsterdam (but
not between cities in the same country) by Eurolines (52 Grosvenor
Gardens, London SW1W 0AU, Tel. 020/7730-8235, fax 020/7730-8721).
By
Car European highways
leading into the city from the borders are
E19 from western Belgium; E25 from eastern
Belgium; and E22, E30, and E35 from Germany.
Follow the signs for Centrum to reach center
city. Traffic is heavy but not stationary at
rush hour.
By
Train British
Rail International (Tel. 020/8834-2345 or 020/8828-0892)
runs three trains a day from London to Amsterdam.
Amsterdam
does have several train substations, but all major
Dutch National, as well as European International,
trains arrive at and depart from Centraal Station
(Tel. 06/9292 for national service information,
tel. 020/620-2266 for international).
The
station also houses the travel information office
of NS/Nederlandse Spoorwagen (Netherlands Railways). International travel insurance is advisable for foreign travellers entering the Netherlands.
http://www.POferries.com
Bikes:
Amsterdam
is made for biking. It is the cheapest
and fastest way to travel in and around
the city. Whatever your age or condition
is: by bike you will see more and enjoy
a lot more!
HAVE FUN ON OUR BIKES
^ click for bike rental deals
Bewareof
walking on bike paths, which are distinguished
by their red/brown color.
Most
have white bikes
painted on the path
> this means
it's their territory and Bicyclists will show no
mercy.
Traditionally,
Dutch bikes have no hand-brakes, but backpedal
brakes. If you think you can't handle this, ask
for a bike with hand brakes. When cycling, cross
tram tracks at a sharp angle to avoid
getting your wheels caught in the rail.
For
obvious reasons, lock your bike to something
solid when leaving it unattended, and lock the
frame, not just the front wheel. (Otherwise they
unbolt your front wheel, take your frame and
someone else's front wheel, and have a complete
bike).
When
renting a bike, you will be required to pay a deposit, and
you should take some form of identification. A
passport seams to make them the happiest unless
your Dutch and have a local address.
Rain
gear and good waterproof boots are a good idea if
you really want to enjoy your cycling adventures
in this beautiful but often rainy city.
You'll fall in love with Amsterdam as you pedal and explore the city at your own pace.
Amsterdam
is made for biking. It is the cheapest
and fastest way to travel in and around
the city. Whatever your age or condition
is: by bike you will see more and enjoy
a lot more!
Duration: 3 hours to 7 days
The endless bike paths and bike racks around Amsterdam's historic canals and beyond, guarantee an affordable and fun way to see the highlights.
English-speaking staff are eager to provide you with tips and suggested itineraries to make your adventures all that more enjoyable! You can collect your 3 speed bike, including child seats and bells (all complimentary with your bike hire). Bike locks and Amsterdam city maps are also included. All bikes are well maintained ensuring safety of the highest standard.
With highly competitive prices, choose from 3 hours to 7 day bike rental options. The collection point is conveniently located 5 minutes walk from Amsterdam Central Station.
Taxi:Fast and reliable for all > Call 24 / 7 > 677-7777
TAXI - CENTRALE -
AMSTERDAM
Taxis
are normally NOT hailed in the Netherlands,
but taken from a taxi rank, of which there are
many. The environmental advantage is taxis aren't
constantly driving round looking for fairs.
Amsterdam
taxis have GPS transceivers and are networked together,
so that each driver can see how full or empty each
taxi rank is, and so that the central office
can see which taxi is nearest for a particular
call, and assign that one.
Taxi
stands are at the major squares and in front of
the large hotels. Or you can call Taxicentrale
, the central taxi dispatching office. A taxi will
arrive almost immediately but be prepared
to wait if it is raining on a Friday or Saturday
night. Taxis are good quality and cost around €1.50.
per km regardless of day or time.
Fares
are €3 plus €1.50 per kilometer. A 5-kilometer
(3-mile) ride will cost about €7.
A typical ride to the outer edges of town even late at night or after
the party (5:00 am) usually costs around €14. TAXI Rates subject to change as always
A
10% tip is usual for a Taxi, though not obligatory.
24
hrs a day you can call the Amsterdam Taxi Controle
Tel. 020/ 677-7777
Taxi
Taxi
Taxi
Taxi
Taxi
Taxi
Taxi
Taxi
Taxi
Taxi
Taxi
Taxi
Taxi
Taxi
Water
Taxi:
Tel.
+31 (0)20 622-2181)
A
Water Taxi provides a novel, if pricey, means of
getting about. Water taxis can be hailed anytime
you see one cruising the canals of the city, or
called by telephone. The boats are miniature versions
of the large sightseeing canal boats, and each
carries up to eight passengers. The cost is €2
for the first 30 minutes, plus a €1. pick-up
charge, with a charge of €.50 per 15-minute
period thereafter. The rate is per ride, regardless
of the number of passengers
Automobiles:
Park and Ride - P+R in Amsterdam
The Park and Ride (P+R) parking facilities are located on the outskirts of Amsterdam near the ring A-10. The idea is that you park your car for a low fee of € 6,- per 24 hours, with the free unlimited 24 hours public transport ticket for people of the car (up to 5 people) and you continue your visit using good metro, tram or bus connections with the centre of Amsterdam.
With an additional payment you may purchase 48 and 72 hours public transport tickets. You may park your car at the P+R sit up to the maximum of four days. You should inform the parking service about it, so you will be receiving public transport tickets for all these days. As they are heavily subsidized, you must return your used public transport tickets to the P+R parking service at your departure, when paying your parking fees for the whole stay.
P+R car parks are, open 7 days a week, 24 hours with the exception of the P+R Bos en Lommer(from 7 am to 10 pm). They are all supervised but we do not advise you to leave anything of value in your car because break-in's are common in Amsterdam.
There are five P+R car parking sites in Amsterdam:
P+R ArenA Transferium Burgemeester Stramanweg 130, 1101 EP Amsterdam; at the Ajax ArenA stadium, capacity: 500, at freeways A9 and A2, exit Transferium; communication with the centre of Amsterdam: train from the Bijlmer station and metro 54, 50
P+R Bos en Lommer, Leeuwendalersweg 23b, 1055 JE Amsterdam, near the S104 exit from the A10 ring. This car park is open from 7 am to 10 pm. You may leave the lot with your car at any time – 24/7; communication with the centre of Amsterdam: tram 14; bus 15, 21, 80, 82, 247, 315, 352 and metro 50.
P+R Olympisch Stadion (Olympic Stadium), Olympisch Stadion 44, 1076 DE Amsterdam; capacity: 250; located at the ring A10, exit S108; communication with the centre of Amsterdam: tram 16, 24 ; this parking lot has also free bicycles to lend (up to two bikes per car – your ID will be required).
P+R Sloterdijk, Piarcoplein 1, 1043 DW Amsterdam, at Sloterdijk train station, capacity: 200; freeway A10 exit S102; communication with the centre of Amsterdam: train from the Sloterdijk station, metro 50, bus 48, tram 12; this parking lot has also free bicycles to lend (up to two bikes per car – your ID will be required).
P+R Zeeburg, Zuiderzeeweg 46 1095 KJ Amsterdam; at Piet Heintunnel, capacity:250, from A10 exit S114, communication with the centre of Amsterdam: tram: 26, bus 37, 245.
There are also following free car parks within the Amsterdam city limits:
Spinnerij; located at A9, exit Amstelveen; communication with the centre of Amsterdam: metro 51.
Diemen-Zuid; located at A10, exit S112; communication with the centre of Amsterdam: metro 53.
Gaasperplas; located at A9, exit Gaasperplas; communication with the centre of Amsterdam: metro 53.
Buikslotermeerplein; located at A9, exit Amstelveen; communication with the centre of Amsterdam: bus 33, 36, 100, 110, 114.
If you leave your car in an unattended area in the city, do not leave anything of value in the car. Please also consider putting this "no valuables inside" warning behind the windows.
Website: http://www.bereikbaar.amsterdam.nl has an interactive parking map to assist you
About using Automobiles in The Netherlands:
The
speed limit in the Netherlands is 120 kilometers
(75 miles) per hour, and driving is on the right.
A valid driver's license from your home country
is all that is required to operate a vehicle in
the Netherlands.
European
highways leading into the city from the borders
are E19 from western Belgium; E25 from eastern
Belgium; and E22, E30, and E35 from Germany. Follow
the signs for Centrum to reach center city. Traffic
is heavy at rush hour but not gridlock most of
the time.
Auto
Rentals:
A
car, just for a visit to Amsterdam is
not recommended. Even for longer distances
it is far better to take a train. If you
do want to rent a car while in Amsterdam...we can rent you one.
Car Rental companies: Book your rent-a-car at great rates from us at Experience Amsterdam
Local
Contact with the BIG GUYS
Avis (Nassaukade
380, tel. 020/683-6061).
Hertz (Overtoom
333, tel. 020/612-2441).
Budget (Overtoom
121, tel. 020/612-6066).
Do check around for a better deal on a rental car if you need one. ..lots of special deals to be had at local dealers these days..check withyour hotel's concierge desk!
Bewareof
walking on bike paths, which are distinguished
by their red/brown color.
Most
have white bikes
painted on the path
> this means
it's their territory and Bicyclists will show no
mercy.
Also take care when crossing roads,
even at a green pedestrian light. Cyclists consider
themselves pedestrians in Amsterdam, and
so tend to ignore traffic lights.
Amsterdam
is very small and most distances are walkable,
and walking can be pleasurable here, giving you
a chance to appreciate the Amsterdam architecture.
Streets
may change name along their length. Amsterdam is,
structured as a half wheel. In the middle you have
the old centre bounded by the canal called the
Singel. It contains the Red Light district around
the Oude Kerk, the Nes theater street, a quaint
maze of small streets and quiet canals, and the
Royal Palace at the Dam, with pedestrian shopping
streets going north and south. Surrounding
the old centre, you have the three concentric ring
canals Herengracht, Keizersgracht and Prinsengracht. (they're
in alphabetic order which helps make it easier
to remember).
All
four canals (with the Singel) are nice to walk
along. The Herengracht is the grandest, especially along
the 'Golden Crescent' to the east of the Leidsestraat,
the Prinsengracht is perhaps the friendliest
with its houseboats.
The
streets that connect the ring canals, especially
in the section between the Brouwersgracht
and the Leidsestraat shouldn't be missed for their
lovely individual shops. To the west of the ring
canals, in the area on the map where the streets
all run at an angle to the canals, is the
Jordaan, a lovely area to walk, with quiet canals,
and tiny streets, and many unusual shops. You'll
find a lot of the best restaurants and some of
the most interesting bars also.
The trains depart from platforms located underneath the Schiphol Plaza and can be reached by either escalators or lifts. As well as a fast and efficient train schedule into Amsterdam Central Station, there are also direct trains from the airport to other parts of the country. The International trains, including the Thalys, south to Brussels and Paris also stop at Schiphol station.
Schiphol Airport’s duty free shopping facilities are among the best in the world. Once you reach the departure lounges, you will have time to browse at your leisure for not only perfumes, liquor and tobacco but souvenirs, cosmetics, fashion, jewellery, books and newest technological gadgets. Prices are very reasonable too, with regular special offers and discounts.
The Park and Ride (P+R) parking facilities are located on the outskirts of Amsterdam near the ring A-10. The idea is that you park your car for a low fee of € 6,- per 24 hours, with the free unlimited 24 hours public transport ticket for people of the car (up to 5 people) and you continue your visit using good metro, tram or bus connections with the centre of Amsterdam.
P+R ArenA Transferium Burgemeester Stramanweg 130, 1101 EP Amsterdam; at the Ajax ArenA stadium, capacity: 500, at freeways A9 and A2, exit Transferium; communication with the centre of Amsterdam: train from the Bijlmer station and metro 54, 50
