Amsterdam

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 or just the city itself. 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 is 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 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 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 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 is from the same period as De Pijp (above), with has much the same feel. The neighbourhood is built roughly parallel to Jordaan, only further to the west.
• 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 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 is a group of artificial islands 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

Magere Brug

The skinny bridge Amsterdam

© All Rights Reserved classique

The Magere Brug (Skinny Bridge) is one of the best known features of Amsterdam. The bridge (about 90 metres long in total) spans the Amstel River in the centre of the city and connects the banks of the river at the Kerkstraat (Church Street), between Keizersgracht (Emperors' Canal) and Prinsengracht (Princes' Canal). The central part of the bridge is the most spectactular one and is a so-called bascule bridge and maid out of wooden which was painted white later on. Although there had been bridges across the river here since the late 17th century, the current one is build in 1934 and since then has been opening automatically instead of by hand. Since 2003, the bridge can only be passed by pedestrians and cyclists, and tour boats can pass underneath the bridge without closing the bridge for other traffic. At night, the 1,200 light bulbs or so are usually turned on for a spectactular view as well. The bridge has been featured in my (Dutch) movies, including the 1971 James Bond productions Diamonds Are Forever.

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.

Music

Amsterdam gets frequently visited by interesting bands from all over the world. The centre has two good places: De Melkweg and Paradiso (situated in a nice old church, this is sometimes called the Temple of Pop). Both are a 1 minute walk from Het Leidseplein.

Other Sights and Activities

• Albert Cuypmarkt - Albert Cuypstraat, De Pijp
• Centraal Station - Stationsplein, Centrum
• Westergasfabriek - Haarlemmerweg 8-10, Westergasfabriek
• Van Gogh Museum - +31 (0)20 570 52 00 Paulus Potterstraat 7
• Artis - 0900-2784796 Plantage Kerklaan 38-40, 1018 CZ Amsterdam
• Openbare Bibliotheek Amsterdam - Oosterdokskade 143, Centrum
• Rijksmuseum - Stadhouderskade 42, Old South
• Rembrandt House
• Anne Frank Huis - Prinsengracht 267, Western Canal Belt
• MacBike - 020 620 0985 Stationsplein 5
• Museumplein Old South
• Amsterdam RAI - Europaplein 22, Greater Amsterdam
• Nationaal Monument - The Dam (east side), Centrum
• Muziekgebouw Aan 'T Ij - Piet Heinkade 1, Plantage
• NEMO Science Center - Oosterdok 2, Centrum

Events and Festivals

Koninginnedag

Koninginnedag

© All Rights Reserved ddougherty

Every year on the 30th of April, Koninginnedag (Queensday) is celebrated in the Netherlands. Although it is actually the birthday of the Queen's mother, the date has been kept, partly because the weather is much nicer in April than it is in January, when the current Queen has her birthday. On Koninginnedag the streets of almost every sizable town in the country come alive with activity. The centre of the action is in Amsterdam, but, if you prefer things a little less crowded, Utrecht is also a popular destination. Both cities have canals and it's just perfect to watch a boat parade with music while you are drinking a beer along the canal side terrace. There are also large outdoor concerts throughout the country, though the one in Amsterdam is the most popular. Several cities have night-markets which actually start the night prior to Koninginnedag and last for about 24 hours.

Other Events and Festivals

• Museumnacht (Museum Night) is held on the first Saturday in November.
• Gay Pride celebrations 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 fesitval is held in the summer, but the dates vary.
• Amsterdam Marathon is held in the fall you can run 42 kilometres and 195 metres 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. This means mild winters with rare snow and some frost at night, and reasonably warm summers with temperatures slightly above 20 °C during the day on average. Still, differences througout the summer can be huge, with sometimes temperatures hitting well over 30 °C when the wind blows from the southern and eastern directions. Usually, these warmer periods are ended by heavy thunderstorms, thoug not always. On the other hand, days of less than 20 °C can go on and on with sometimes autumn-ish conditions although rarely cold. Spring is a good time for a visit to Amsterdam, as you avoid most of the crowds in summer and the weather is generally dry and sunny. September is equally good, although days are shorter. Temperatures are great though and on warmer days the heat is less oppressive.

Getting There

By Plane

Amsterdam Schiphol International Airport, (external link: Schiphol), is a major European hub with flights arriving from hundreds of destinations worldwide. It is located 17.5 kilometres southwest of Amsterdam and can easily be reached by train, a journey that will take roughly 20 minutes. Dozens of airlines serve the airport, including the national airlines KLM, which serves many destinations throughout Europe and destinations as far away as Los Angeles, Singapore, Tokyo, Cape Town, Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro.

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. Check the Dutch Railways website for more information about schedules and prices. Schiphol is just a short ride away and cities like Utrecht, The Hague and Rotterdam are all within an hour.

By Car

National Highway A10 is built around Amsterdam and offers the easiest approach to town. Many other roads connect to this ringroad, including the A4 to Schiphol and The Hague, the A2 towards Utrecht, the A1 towards Apeldoorn and Germany and the A7 towards the north of the country, via de Afsluitdijk.
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 biking is the preferred mode 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!

Still, it should be noted that Amsterdam is very bike friendly. While you should lock your own personal (possibly expensive) bike, there are plenty of bikes that are simply not chained in the bike racks. These older (but still safe!) bikes are sort of 'community bikes'. You can easily tell which ones they are. They look older, and they're definitely not secured! There are bike racks everywhere throughout Amsterdam. You simply borrow one of these community bikes, then drop it off at the next bike rack nearest your location! A bike is definitely the most expediently way to get around as well. The city of course is very old, and the streets are not really car friendly due to the non-grid pattern. A bike makes it easier to navigate the crooked, diagonal streets!

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 the Central Station. Also, the city centre is small and the streets are narrow, which makes going on foot an excellent choice. It pays off buying a real map and 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 Amsterdam citizens by wandering off the sidewalk inadvertently and onto the road.

By Public Transport

OV Chipcard
From mid-2011, almost all public transport (bus, metro, tram, train) in the Netherlands has to be paid by the OV-Chipcard (OV = Open Vervoer, meaning Public Transport). Only train tickets can be bought as paper tickets at least until the end of 2012. There are 3 types: the personal card, anonymous card and disposable card. The latter one is the one which are only used for certain travel legs and for tourists and are thrown away afterwards. This is the one visitors to the Netherlands should buy, unless they regularly visit the country. In that case, the anonymous card is the best. The personal card is especially interesting for people who can travel with a discount (children, elderly, disabled etc.) or people with a monthly or annual season ticket. For more information, visit the official website mentioned above or for a quicker and better overview visit the wikipedia website about the OV-Chipcard.

In the tourist centre 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 are 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 centre 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, Rembrandtplein, 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.

Top 12 Rated Eateries in Amsterdam

• Harkema Brasserie - 020-4282222 Nes 67
• Bird Thaise Snackbar - Zeedijk 77
• Café Latei - +31 20 6257485 Zeedijk 143
• Pont 13 - +31 20 770 2722 Stavangerweg 891, Westerpark
• Balti House - +31 20 4708917 Albert Cuypstraat 41
• De Jaren - Nieuwe Doelenstraat 20-22
• Van Vlaanderen - +31 20 622 8292 Weteringschans 175, Leidseplein (up to Amstel)
• Herengracht - +31 20 616 2482 Herengracht 435, Leidseplein (up to Amstel)
• De Kas - +31 20 462 4562 Kamerlingh Onneslaan 3, Oost
• Cafe de Reiger - +31 020 624 7426 Nieuwe Leiiestraat 34
• Tempo Doeloe - +31 20 625 6718 Utrechtsestraat 75, Rembrandtplein
• Yamazato - +31 20 678 8351 Ferdinand Bolstraat 333, Pijp

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 because it is relatively expensive, and it is not the best wine at all. 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.

Luden Café Amsterdam has a wide choice of drinks and relatively affordable lunch and dinner.

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/Newyears and around Queensday (30 April), fills up quickly. It is therefore always a good idea to book well in advance.

Budget

Backpackers

An interesting alternative

For those of you who are not afraid of braving the elements, there is always camping to consider. With prices ever rising it is becoming more and more difficult to spend an extended period of time in this fantastic city. You can rock up at any time, whether its 6:00pm or 6:00am and just pitch your tent at Camp Zeeburg and pay as little as €6.50 a night. You are literally 20 minutes from the centre of Amsterdam and with bike hire available on-site you can see the city the way the locals do. The amenities on-site are fantastic and if you like to be woken by the smell of fresh bread, this is definitely the place to stay.

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 all the time. Especially amongst families travelling with kids or in groups, there is a lot of benefit to staying in self catering accommodation which can contain up to 4 bedrooms typically.

Shop

• For 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.
• For Second-hand clothing head for the flee-market on Waterlooplein, or for 9 Streets, the area between Prinsengracht, Raadhuisstraat, Singel and Leidsestraat.
• Books can be bought at the weekly friday book market on Spui. Major bookstores are located on and around the same square.
• Furniture, there are 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 are mostly galleries located in Nieuwe Spiegelstraat and on Rokin.
• Souvenirs can be found mostly on Damrak, Rokin and Oude Hoogstraat.
• For Cheese head for Albert Cuyp Market, or try one of the cheese shops in 9 Streets.
• For 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 of them 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 €1,150 and €9,000 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 centre 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. Otherwise, it's best to go on the internet in your hotel, hostel or maybe in the nearest library, as they can be hard to find.

Phone

See also International Telephone Calls

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. Cards can be bought 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.

Post

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 9:00am to 6:00pm Monday to Friday, 10:00am-1:30pm Saturday. Take a number as soon as you come in, since you won't be served without one. English spoken.

The rate for sending a postcard or letter up to 20 grams within the Netherlands is €0.46 (2010). Since 2010 there are stamps available for domestic post which no longer include the value in €. Instead, there are stamps available with either a '1' or a '2' as a substitute for value. The '1' can be used for letters and postcards up to 20 grams, while 20-50 grams require you to use the '2'-valued stamps (or two '1'-valued stamps of course).

Sending items to other EU countries will cost €0.67, while the rest of the world sets you back €0.89 per piece. Stamps are sold at post offices and supermarkets; often the place where you buy your postcards can also supply you with stamps.
Sending parcels abroad is more costly. A standard-sized parcel between 500-2,000 grams will cost you €9.10 for destinations within the EU, and €17.50 to the rest of the world. Parcel service is available from major post offices only; standard-size boxes are on sale there as well.

If you need to receive mail while moving around, you can have it sent poste restante (to be called for) to a post office of your choice, where it will be kept for a month. If you come to claim it, bring a valid ID, and make sure to have told the sender that the name on the envelope must be an exact match with that in your passport. For addresses of post offices, as well as more information, consult the TNT website.

External Links

• Official Governmental Website
• Official Tourism Website
• I AMsterdam: portal for international visitors