Public
Transport
Amsterdam’s integrated public transport system is run by the
municipal transport company, GVB
(telephone number: (020) 460 6060), which has an information office
located at Centraal Station. The best way for one to get around
the city is either on foot or by using the extensive tram,
metro, bus and ferry
networks. A map of all tram and bus routes in Amsterdam is available
from the tourist offices or the GVB
office by Centraal Station, costing €0.80.
Tickets
For single rides, a strippenkaart can be used.
This needs to be stamped every time a tram, bus or metro is boarded
and each journey uses one strip, plus a strip for every zone travelled.
Once stamped, a ticket is valid for an hour, regardless of how often
a change of tram or bus is made.
It is cheaper for one to buy a strippenkaart before
boarding the public transport system than it is to pay a cash fare.
Strippenkaarten are available from tourist offices, tobacconists
and large hotels for €1.60 for two units (the minimum required
for travel in one zone), €6.20 for 15 units or €18.30
for 45 units. Not having a valid ticket incurs a spot fine
of €29.10, plus the cost of the ticket, ticket inspections
are common.
Visitors spending plenty of time travelling around the Amsterdam
are advised to buy a dagkaarten day pass, for €5.60.
Tram
The Circle Tram 20 that was used to ferry tourists around a city
loop is no more but trams are still a great way of getting around.
Trams operate Monday to Friday 0600 hrs–2400 hrs (Saturday
from 0630 hrs and Sunday from 0730 hrs).
All trams leave from Centraal Station, trams 1
and 2 traverse the main canals, tram 17 provides a frequent, fast
and dependable service, tram 16 takes a route to Museumplein and
Concertgebouw, while trams 9 and 14 go to the Muziektheater and
Waterlooplein market.
Metro
Amsterdam’s four metro lines all start at Centraal
Station and serve the southeastern business district and
the suburbs. The trains operate from Monday to Friday 0600 hrs –2415
hrs (Saturday from 0630 hrs and Sunday from 0730 hrs).
Bus
The outlying areas of the city, mostly the suburbs that the trams
do not reach, are served by 30 bus lines, which run until midnight.
Night buses run nightly from 0030 hrs–0730 hrs, after the
other services have stopped (numbered from 71 to 79).
Ferry
A free ferry service provides cyclists and pedestrians with connections
to Amsterdam Noord, the area across the IJ. The
main ferry landing is on De Ruijterkade located
behind the Centraal Station. Ferries are frequent
and operate between 0615 hrs–2057 hrs, with a limited service
at the weekend (most ferries do not operate on Sunday).
When taking a bicycle aboard, passengers should make sure to not
break local etiquette and always go through the special cyclist
channel rather the pedestrian one. The Noord Canal across the IJ
is a quiet and less taxing cycle route for visitors who find navigating
the busy city too traumatic.
Rail
Centraal Station, Stationsplein, is one of
the largest railway terminals in Europe. The station has an impressive
array of facilities and includes showers and restaurants to hotel
and travel booking services. Over the last few years, the station
has become increasingly seedy and insalubrious, many locals avoid
it after dark. The national rail provider is Nederlandse
Spoorwegen NS (telephone number: (0900) 9292/6,) which runs
an increasingly creaking network covering destinations all over
Holland and further afield into the rest of Europe. International
tickets should be reserved a week in advance at least
Rail
services
There are regular Eurostar
trains (telephone number: (0990) 186 186, in the UK) from London
to Brussels, journey time is 3 hours 40 minutes,
where a direct connection to Amsterdam can be caught after a short
wait with a journey time of three hours.
THALYS
(telephone number: (0900) 9228) high-speed services also connect
Amsterdam with Brussels, journey
time is approximately 2 hours 30 minutes. There are frequent daytime
services from most large Western European cities and night services
from all over the continent.
During the last few years, the reputation of The Netherlands’
railway network has suffered, after part-privatisation led to maintenance
problems, cancelled services and a public perception that the railways
are in a poor state. There might be some light at the end of the
train tunnel, with recent talk of new high-speed connections to
France and Germany and an extension of the Eurostar
service into Amsterdam.
Taxis
Rather than hailing a taxi in the street, it is more usual in Amsterdam
for one to either order a taxi by phoning the Central Taxi
Office (telephone number: (020) 677 7777) or pick one up
at a taxi rank, which are located at Centraal Station,
Rembrandtplein and Leidseplein.
Taxis, which have an illuminated ‘taxi’ sign on the
roof, usually come quickly, unless it is raining or a Friday or
Saturday night. Although they provide a good service, taxis are
quite expensive. The starting fare is €2.90, with every kilometre
costing €1.80, regardless of the time of day or night, for
the first 25 kilometres and then €1.30 thereafter. A meter
indicates the fare, on top of which a small tip will be appreciated.
Limousines
There are a number of limousine companies in Amsterdam, offering
airport transfers and hourly or daily hire. Two possibilities are
CS Limousine
Service (telephone number: (020) 673 7888, fax number: (020)
673 9045) and Delden Limousine Service (telephone
number: (020) 684 8408, fax number: (020) 686 3638). Prices start
at €110 for an airport transfer or €75 per hour, plus
and extra €1.40 per kilometre travelled over 15 kilometres.
Many of the drivers provide an informal guide service.
Driving in the City
Driving in Amsterdam is not recommended. Even for excursions outside
the city, it is preferable to take the train. The city’s streets
are not big enough to accommodate the tens of thousands of cars
owned by the city’s residents, let alone the 500,000 tourists
who annually arrive in their cars. As a result, parking spots are
limited and expensive. Visitors are advised to park their car at
a P+R (park and ride) lot, from where there are
bus, tram and subway lines into the city centre. Motorists also
need to look out for cyclists and the special cycle lanes. Rush
hours (0700 hrs–0900 hrs and 1700 hrs–1900 hrs) are
best avoided.
Car headlights should be dimmed
in built-up areas and it is illegal to use sidelights only.
Approximate driving times to Amsterdam:
From Brussels – 2 hours 30 minutes
from Hanover – 4 hours
from Frankfurt – 6 hours 30 minutes.
Car
Parking
Parking at the massive ArenA P+R, reached by the
A1, A2 and A9 into the city, or the Stadionplein P+R, situated next
to the Olympisch Stadion, costs €5.70 a day, which includes
two free public transport tickets.
In the city centre, cars must be parked in a designated parking
space or in a car park. Parking meters can be recognised by a yellow
sign with the letter ‘P’ and charges are split into
three zones. Parking tickets for the most central zone A and zone
B cost €2.80 per hour, while parking in zone C costs €1.70
per hour. City centre parking spaces can be reserved in advance,
by going online (website: www.parkeerlijn.nl).
Parking regulations are quite strict and there are tough measures
for violating the city’s car parking laws, with wheel clamping
common. The car pound (telephone number: (020) 555 9833) is located
at Cruquiuskade 25 in Havens Oost, the Eastern
Harbour district.
Car Hire
Conditions of hire vary, in most cases, the driver will have to
be 25 years old and have held a valid national
license for one year. An International Driving Permit (IDP) is not
needed, as long as a valid national license is produced. Payment
is usually made with a credit card bearing the name of the driver.
The major European firms are represented in Amsterdam and include:
Avis, Polderweg
98–100 (telephone number: (020) 465 1115, fax number: (020)
665 9038)
Budget
Car, Overtoom 121 (telephone number: (020) 612 6066, fax number:
(020) 689 0694)
Hertz,
Engelsesgade 4 (telephone number: (020) 612 2441, fax number: (020)
626 2395).
Rates start at approximately €50 per day and €220 a week.
Fare conditions vary and some companies have an additional mileage
charge. Those hiring a car should always check that the rates include
the minimum insurance cover required in Amsterdam.
Bicycle
Hire
Bicycle lanes that are marked out by white lines but cyclists will
still need to watch out for cars, trams and pedestrians.
Bicycles can be hired from Bike
City, Bloemgracht 68–70 in Westerkerk (telephone number:
(020) 626 3721), Damstraat
Rent-A-Bike, Damstraat 20–22 (telephone number: (020)
625 5029) and Macbike
Too, Marnixstraat 220 (telephone number: (020) 626 6964).
Bike hire (for a one-speed bicycle) costs approximately €7
for the first day and €5 for additional days. A deposit from
€30 to €100 or a credit card imprint is usually required,
along with an additional form of identification. Optional insurance,
at around 50 per cent of the hire charge, can also be taken.
When cycling around the city, cycling two abreast is illegal,
as is a bicycle without reflector bands on both front and back wheels.
Bikes should always be securely locked with two locks, one connecting
the front wheel to a lamppost or railing and one securing the frame
to something similarly as solid There is a thriving stolen bike
market in Amsterdam.
Water Travel
In Amsterdam there are several modes of water travel. In addition
to public ferries, canal buses travel between Centraal Station
and the Rijksmuseum, every 25–45 minutes
– fares vary between the different service providers. The
special Museum Boat departs from Prins Hendrikkade,
every 30 minutes during the summer and every 45 minutes in winter,
stopping off at the city’s main museums. This costs €13.50.
Canal taxis, which can carry up to 40 passengers, are also available.
They can either be hailed from the canal-side or ordered in advance
daily 0800–0100, from Water
Taxis (telephone number: (020) 535 6363). The smallest taxi
costs €75 for the first 30 minutes and €60 for each subsequent
30 minutes within the city limits.
Alternatively, visitors can hire pedalos and boats to explore the
canals. These are available from Canal
Bike, Weteringschans 24 (telephone number:(020) 626 5574, fax
number: (020) 624 1033), who have 100 canal bikes and are open daily
0900 hrs–1800 hrs. A four-person canal bike costs €8
per person per hour, if there is only one or two passengers, and
€7 per person per hour, if there are three or four passengers.
A deposit of €50 per canal bike is required. Canal Bike also
organises group tours of Amsterdam and Utrecht. |
