Amsterdam

Quick Facts

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Coordinates

• Latitude: 52.373812
• Longitude: 4.890951

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Introduction

Bike racks, Amsterdam, Netherlands

© All Rights Reserved GregW

With about 800,000 people, Amsterdam is one of the smaller capitals in the world, but it is a very popular city for tourists visiting the Netherlands. And, if you just have several days in the Netherlands, make a visit to Amsterdam your main thing.

Of course, Amsterdam is well known for its Red Light District, but it has much more to offer. Amsterdam is teeming with museums, like the famous Van Gogh Museum and of course the national Rijksmuseum. Also the Anne Frank House is one of the hotspots to visit, if you want to know more about the time during the war. It has some more strange museums as well, like a Torture Museum, a Sex Museum and a Hash(!) Museum. As Amsterdam is a major trading centre for diamonds, you will also find a museum about this precious jewel as well.

Walk along the canals and over the many squares Amsterdam offers, and enjoy a city that has something to offer for both the culture and art lovers, and the more kinky type of person. All put in a beautiful setting with water and typical Dutch historical building styles.

Neighbourhoods

This section gives some introductory information on the neighbourhoods that are most interesting for tourists. Note that the names used here do not always correspond to the administrative divisions used by the City.

• Historical Center - The area confined by IJ lake to the north, Singel and Inner Amstel to the west and south, and Oudeschans to the east, is the oldest part of Amsterdam. It comprises Dam Square, the Red Light District and Nieuwmarkt as its major sights. Lots and lots of good bars are found in this area, especially on and around Nieuwmarkt.
• Gouden Reael - Gouden Reael is the neighbourhood just north of the railroad to Haarlem. It is the historical docklands, with lots of water and beautiful warehouses. It is a bit difficult to enter; the easiest way in is via Haarlemmerstraat.
• Canal ring - This is the part of town best known to tourists. The five major canals of Amsterdam (Singel, Herengracht, Keizersgracht, Prinsengracht, Singelgracht) form rings around the medieval center, each from a slightly different period of architecture. The best way to see them all is to just wander around, or take a canal tour.
• Jordaan - Jordaan is a mid-19th century blue-collar neighbourhood stretching north-south between Prinsengracht and Singelgracht, and Leidsegracht to the south. It is now an upscale area, with lots of boutiques, galleries, and fancy restaurants. Also, the area houses some of Amsterdam's better cafés.
• De Pijp - De Pijp is a late-19th century neighbourhood to the south of the Canal Ring. It is known for its Bohemian athmosphere, steep staircases, and it boasts the largest food market in Amsterdam (Albert Cuyp market).
• Oud-West - Same period as De Pijp (above), with much the same feel. The neighbourhood is built roughly parallel to Jordaan, only further to the west.
• Oud-Zuid - Oud-Zuid is a large district to the south of Leidseplein. It is mostly famous for Museumplein (where Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum are located) and Vondelpark. Architecture buffs will enjoy Oud-Zuid because of Plan Zuid, one of Europe's earliest examples of large-scale city planning. The result is simply stunning, which is why Oud-Zuid nowadays is a very popular and upscale neighbourhood.
• De Baarsjes - De Baarsjes is one of Amsterdam's last pre-WWII districts. It is a pleasant residential area, ideally suited for a stroll across the many squares that make the neighbourhood famous.
• Eilanden - A group of artificial islands is found in the eastern parts of IJ Lake. Although there isn't much going on in this neighbourhood, it is world-renowned for its late 1990s architecture. Some of the islands can be reached on foot (going east from Central Station); the others are further afield, and are best reached by streetcar.

Sights and Activities

Museums

The museum part of the Amsterdam tourist track typically leads through the Rijksmuseum to see Rembrandt's Night Watch and the Van Gogh Museum for his famous sunflower painting. However, you should also consider seeing some of Amsterdam's less visited museums, which harbour art just as breath-takingly beautiful.

For an overview of Amsterdam's principal museums, have a look at the Museums in Amsterdam article.

Events and Festivals

• Koninginnedag (Queen's Day) - Every 30th day in April, Amsterdam pulsates with people celebrating the Queen's birthday. There are concerts at the Museum square, and there also is a huge flea market.
• Museumnacht (Museum Night) - Held on the first Saturday in November.
• Gay Pride - The Gay Pride last a week, but the highlight is the Channel Parade. Starting point is at the Gay Monument near the Wester Church. The Amsterdam Gay Pride is held in the summer, but the dates vary.
• Amsterdam Marathon - In the fall you can run 42km's and 195 meters through Amsterdam, or you can watch the runners along the route. The marathon starts and finishes at the Olympic Stadium.

Weather

Amsterdam weather is typical of what you get in the Netherlands: mild winters with rare snow, and reasonably warm summers.

Getting There

By Plane

Amsterdam's international airport, Schiphol, is a major European hub with flights arriving from hundreds of destinations worldwide. It is located 17.5 km south-west of Amsterdam and can easily be reached by train - a journey that will take roughly 20 minutes.

By Train

Amsterdam Central Station offers direct service to and from a number of destinations in Belgium, France and Germany. The station is located smack in the middle of town.

By Car

National Highway A10 is built around Amsterdam and offers the easiest approach to town. Bear in mind that parking within the city limits is extremely expensive. The City promotes the use of four Park & Travel facilities, strategically located around town where you can park at strongly reduced prices and take public transport or a bike into town. You'll find more information here (in Dutch).

By Bus

Long-distance buses operated by Eurolines arrive near Amstel Station in the southeast of town. To get from there to the city centre, take a train or metro.

By Boat

The Passenger Terminal Amsterdam (PTA) receives cruise ships from a large number of companies. PTA is located very close to Central Station.

Getting Around

By Bike

It is no wonder that the bike is the preferred means of transport to most of the city's inhabitants, as Amsterdam has a bicycle-friendly infrastructure in which cycling lanes abound. For tourists as well, the bike is a good solution to get around quickly. There are some larger and numerous smaller rental stores, conveniently located nearby tourist hotspots such as Central Station, Leidseplein and Dam Square. A helmet is not required, but definitely a good idea. Using two locks is an absolute necessity as well; never leave your bike unlocked, not even for a second.

Bear in mind that most other people on the road are not on holiday, and have no sympathy at all for the fact that you're a less experienced cyclist than they are. In other words, stick to the traffic rules closely!

By Cab

Taking a cab in Amsterdam should be left to those with very deep pockets who don't mind losing a couple of tens to a scam. The only time when they come in handy is at night when public transport is not available, or when you have loads of luggage.

By Car

Driving a car in Amsterdam takes a lot of patience while driving, perseverance in finding a parking spot, and a bottomless wallet to pay for parking money. Unless you are disabled, other means of transport are preferable in every respect.

On Foot

The best-known sights are all within walking distance of Central Station. Also, the city center is small and the streets are narrow, which makes going on foot an excellent choice. It pays off buying a real map; most bookstores have them on sale. As a pedestrian, pay close attention to other traffic, especially cyclists. You won't make any friends among the Amsterdamer by wandering off the sidewalk inadvertently and onto the road.

By Public Transport

In the tourist center you're better off just walking, since public transport sticks to the bigger streets only. To get further afield, though, public transport is your means of choice. The Amsterdam system comprises buses, trams and metro, as well as a number of free ferries crossing IJ Lake behind Central Station. The system has been designed such that you can get everywhere from everywhere with a most one change; you can view an interactive map here. Note that most, but not all lines join at Central Station.

By Boat

One unmistakable feature of Amsterdam is its canals. Some 160 of these waterways crisscross the city and its surroundings. The city of Amsterdam is actually divided into approximately 90 mini islands. This network of islands is joined together by a vast number of bridges, totaling over 1,000. Most of its canals are suitable only for barges and pleasure craft. One can explore the city of Amsterdam by boat, which will give you a completely different insight into what this historical center has to offer. Water taxi or water bikes are for rent through Canal.nl. Alternatively you can rent your own boat with or without skipper through different agencies.

By Foot

The centre of Amsterdam is easily walkable as distances are small between popular areas like the Leidseplein, Rembrandtsplein, Vondel Park and the Dam Square. Many of the streets contain little to no car traffic, so other than the occasional tram, pedestrians own the streets.

Eat

Even though one should not visit Amsterdam for its cuisine, decent food is to be found. Just avoid the area around Leidseplein like it were the Plague; it is one giant tourist trap, and the food served there varies from mediocre to downright awful. There is one exception, though; Wagamama, just off Leidseplein, serves good Asian fastfood for low prices.

The situation in Jordaan and around Utrechtsestraat is much better, and there you'll find plenty of restaurants, offering a variety of cuisines at a variety of price levels. If you have a taste for Chinese food, you should head for the Amsterdam Chinatown, on and around Zeedijk.

A particularly useful website is Iens Independent Index, a directory of restaurants compiled and reviewed by customers. It gives you a clear overview as to what is hot, and what is better avoided.

Drink

If you want to play the tourist, try one of the many drinking holes that line Leidseplein or Rembrandtplein. Much nicer locales however are to be found on Nieuwmarkt and in the streets surrounding it. Jordaan also has a lot of nice bars.

Whether or not you leave a tip is entirely at your discretion. Unlike in certain other countries, staff does not have to live off tips, since the basic pay rate is decent. Drinking wine at bars is hardly ever a good idea; it is relatively expensive, and drinkable at best. The more likely scenario is that you get something strongly resembling vinegar. Better stick to beer; most bars have an impressive selection of draughts these days, and it is great fun sampling some of them. Cocktails are also risk-free, except that they cause substantial wallet-ache.

Sleep

Amsterdam is a very popular destination for tourists of all kinds and age groups, which means that accommodation, especially in top periods like Easter, Christmas and around Queensday (30 April), fills up quickly. It is therefore always a good idea to book well in advance.

Budget

Flying Pig
Durty Nelly's Inn
Bulldog Hostel

Mid-Range

Upscale

Besides world-renowned Amstel Hotel, there are a number of other high-end hotels in town that are worth staying if you can afford it. These are Hotel the Grand, located in the former City Hall, Hotel de l'Europe located near Muntplein (this one has an excellent restaurant), the Dylan Hotel on Keizersgracht and Krasnapolsky on Dam Square. If you have an upscale budget and you are looking for a more homely feeling, one might consider a private guesthouse like 717 Hotel on the Prinsengracht.

Self Catering

Self catering accommodation has become increasingly popular in many European capitals and Amsterdam is no exception. A studio or apartment that offers the luxury of a living room and your own kitchen means that you don't have to eat out 3 times a day. Especially amongst families travelling with kids or groups, there is a lot of benefit to staying in self catering accommodation which can contain up to 4 bedrooms typically.

Shop

• Mainstream clothing and shoes - Your best bets are Kalverstraat, Leidestraat and Magna Plaza shopping mall. Upscale consumers could also head for P.C. Hooftstraat, that features the more expensive brands and a lot of prêt-a-porter couture.
• Second-hand clothing - Head for the flee-market on Waterlooplein, or for 9 Streets, the area between Prinsengracht, Raadhuisstraat, Singel and Leidsestraat
• Books - There is a weekly book market on Spui. Major bookstores are located on and around the same square.
• Furniture - Loads of furniture shops on Overtoom, Utrechtsestraat and Westerstraat. Lots of second-hand junk on Waterlooplein, but the quality is unimpressive to say the least.
• Music - The largest music store in Amsterdam is Fame, located on Kalverstraat. If you want to buy vinyl, go to a specialised store. Fame employees will gladly give you advice.
• Art and antiquities - Most galleries are located in Nieuwe Spiegelstraat and on Rokin.
• Souvenirs - Mostly on Damrak, Rokin and Oude Hoogstraat.
• Cheese - Head for Albert Cuyp Market, or try one of the cheese shops in 9 Streets.
• Department stores - Try De Bijenkorf, the oldest department store in the Netherlands. Also nice is typically Dutch HEMA, which has several branches in Amsterdam, the largest being at Nieuwendijk.

Work

Unless you have a working permit (and at least a basic knowledge of Dutch), forget about finding a job in Amsterdam or anywhere else in the Netherlands. No-one will be interested in hiring you.

If you have a working permit, a Dutch bank account, and you are looking for temporary employment, consider paying a visit to one of the employment agencies; most have branches on Rokin and Vijzelstraat (both very close to Mint Square). Depending on your assets, they should be able to fix you up with an employer.

Learn

Depending on your situation, your tuition fee can be anything between €1150 and €9000 per annum. Furthermore, aspiring Amsterdam students should take the cost of living into account, which is likely to be your other main expense. Student quarters don't come cheap; for less than €500 (2008 price level), you will have big trouble finding something acceptable.

For more information, contact the institution of your choice. More information about Dutch higher education can be found here and on the Netherlands page.

Keep Connected

Internet

Internet cafes are not as widespread as you would expect. In the tourist center you won't find many, and those that are there are quite expensive. A decent one that is not too far off is The Mad Processor, Kinkerstraat 11 (reasonably close to Leidseplein). The library near Central Station also has a couple of terminals that you can use for free, but for a limited time only.

Phone

Pay phones are mostly card-operated; if you find one that operates on coins, note that they do not give change. Pay phones should not be used for other than short local calls due to high prices and the risk you run of being pickpocketed while using them. There's a bunch of them directly behind Dam Square, in front of Food Plaza. Card can be had at the service counter inside.

For international calls, make use of Skype or an indoor phone service. There's several of them in the street leading from Dam Square to Munt Square, and between Dam Square and Nieuwmarkt.

Mail

The former central post office is located directly behind Dam Square. It has been turned into a fancy shopping mall (Magna Plaza), but the building itself still carries many traits of its former occupant. The post office has been relocated two blocks, to the corner of Singel and Raadhuisstraat. It opens 9:00-18:00 Mon-Fri, 10:00-13:30 sat; take a number as soon as you come in, since you won't be served without one. English spoken.