traveldk.com

Most tourist hotels are to be found in one of three areas: the historic centre, the Museum Quarter and the atmosphericGrachtengordel (Canal Ring) with its gabled canal houses. Many business-oriented hotels are located a little further afield in theNieuw Zuid (New South).

Be prepared for all weathers, and bring an umbrella, a waterproof jacket and a sweater – even in summer. Comfortable walking shoes are essential. Amsterdammers’ dress style is casual and often creative. Few places insist on formality – casinos are an exception – but you can dress up for concerts and smart hotels and restaurants.

You must have a valid passport to enter the Netherlands. Citizens of EU countries, the USA, Australia and New Zealand need no visa as long as the stay is for less than three months. Passports must be valid for at least three months beyond the end of your stay. Citizens of other countries should consult their Dutch embassy or consulate for information. Everyone over 14 must carry valid means of identification at all times.

Apart from offensive weapons, plants and perishable foods, there are few limits on what EU nationals can import for personal use. Non-EU citizens can buy duty-free goods up to the current limit. Cats and dogs are allowed, provided they have a certificate of inoculation against rabies. Flower bulbs may be exported from the Netherlands; for the USA, an inoculation certificate from the Plant Protection Service is required. Bulbs are best mailed home; the dealer should carry out all the paperwork.

For security, bring a cash card or traveller’s cheques. Make sure that your cash withdrawal card is accepted in the Netherlands – most are. Bring some euros to pay for immediate needs on arrival. There is no limit on how much currency you can bring in or take out of the country.

If you are planning to drive your own car, you must bring an EU or International Driver’s Licence, valid insurance documents, proof of registration, road safety certificate and international identification disc. To hire a car, you must be 21 or over, with a valid driving licence and a credit card.

The electricity supply in the Netherlands is 220 volts AC. British visitors should bring a two-pin adaptor for their three-pin plugs. Americans need to convert their equipment or buy a transformer, as Dutch wall sockets require a larger plug.

The Netherlands is on Central European Time, one hour ahead of GMT. Like the rest of the EU and the USA, it observes Daylight Saving Time, so it remains one hour ahead of the UK and six hours ahead of New York all year round.

If you have very young children, it is best to carry them in baby slings; pushchairs are difficult to manoeuvre on the cobbled streets, and almost impossible to get on and off crowded trams and canal boats. Most places accept children, except for some expensive restaurants.

Amsterdam’s airport (official name Amsterdam Airport Schiphol) is efficient, modern and easy to use, with an incredible range of facilities from golf to gambling. There is a single terminal, with one level for Arrivals and another level for Departures. Signs are colour-coded: yellow for transfer desks and gates, green for amenities.

The best and cheapest method of getting from the airport to the city is by rail – access is by escalator from the shopping plaza where the tickets are on sale. Trains run direct to Centraal Station every 15 minutes from 6am to midnight, then every hour. Journey time is 20 minutes.

Instead of the train, you can take the smart Connexxion Airport-Hotel Shuttle (www.airporthotel shuttle.nl) from outside the main exit. It stops at over 100 hotels, leaving every 30 minutes between 6am and 9pm. You can also take a taxi, but it’s hardly worth the expense, considering the ease of public transport.

You will arrive at Centraal Station. Its best feature is the Eerste Klas café; other- wise, it’s crowded and prone to pickpockets and drug pushers, so head directly for the main entrance and Stationsplein. Here you will find the Amsterdam Tourist Board (VVV) and tram stops to the left, bus stops to the right.

Drive on the right. Speed limits are 100 kph (60 mph) or 120 kph (75 mph) on motorways, 80 kph (50 mph) outside cities, and 50 kph (30 mph) in built-up areas. From the A10 ring road, the S-routes (marked by blue signs) take you to the centre of Amsterdam.(See Driving.)

Best to stay in a hotel with secure parking, or leave your car in the park-and-ride facility at Amsterdam Arena, at Sloterdijk Station Olym- pisch Stadion Zeeburg, or in a covered public car park (indicated by a white P on a blue background).

From London, the boat-train service, the Dutchflyer, offered by Stena Line via Harwich and the Hook of Holland departs twice daily and takes about 8 hours, and you will end your journey at Centraal Station. P&O ferries cross from Hull to Rotterdam or Zeebrugge and Dover to Calais, and DFDS Seaways has over- night crossings from New- castle to IJmuiden.

From London’s Victoria Coach Station, National Express coaches go via the Channel Tunnel or the ferry, taking between 9 and 12 hours to reach Amstel Station.

For the best rates, try Dutch firms such as Diks or Kuperus. (See Driving.)

Still universally known by its old name, VVV, the Tourist Board has three offices in the city. At these you will find free maps, and leaflets on just about everything – including walks, canal tours, sights, exhibitions, transport and accommodation. Multilingual staff will give advice, change money, arrange excursions and – for a fee – book tickets and hotels. Here you can also buy the popular 1 Amsterdam Pass and Museumkaart .

There are three VVV offices in Amsterdam itself: at Centraal Station (Platform 2), at Stationsplein 10 (in front of the station), and at Leidseplein 1 (on the corner with Leidsestraat). There is another office at Schiphol Airport (Holland Tourist Information Arrivals 2).

You can pick up the NBTC’s own maps, information leaflets and brochures at any of its offices throughout the world. Visit your nearest branch before you travel.

The friendly staff at this independent organization will make hotel reservations (even last-minute ones), book excursions and proffer helpful advice.

The Amsterdam Tourist Board has two official websites:www.amsterdamtourist.nlandwww.visitamsterdam.nl, which is linked to the NBTC website,www.holland.com. The City of Amsterdam has its own website,www.amsterdam.nl. All of these have useful, upto-date information on accommodation, events, exhibitions, shopping and travel (you can also book hotel rooms online). To find out what’s on, visitwww.uitburo.nlThe majority of the city’s museums and attractions have their own websites.

To book hotels before you travel, contact the Amsterdam Reservation Center, a branch of the Amsterdam Tourist Board.

The best listings magazine in Dutch isUitkrant . Published monthly, it is free and widely available. The Tourist Board publishesDay by Day , a monthly listings magazine in English (on sale in newsagents and free in hotels and restaurants).Amsterdam Weekly is in English and free (www.amsterdamweekly.nl)

For information on plays and concerts, or to make reservations (for a small fee), contact Amsterdam Uitburo.

You will find the best selection of foreign daily and Sunday newspapers at Athenaeum Nieuwscentrum, Waterstone’s and the American Book Center.

The tram is Amsterdam’s most popular mode of transport. Trams run from 6am (6:30am on Saturday and Sunday) till midnight. Most start at Centraal Station. You can buy tickets in advance from the GVB, or on board the tram itself — from the driver, the conductor or a ticket machine.

Most buses start at Centraal Station. A few follow similar routes, but buses also go to areas not covered by trams; again, see the map at the back. Buses have the same ticketing system as trams. The red and white De Ostapper bus runs every 10 minutes, Mon– Sat, down Prinsengracht (Centraal Station to Stadhuis) and can be hailed anywhere on route. A limited night service runs from midnight to 4am.

Serving more remote parts of the city, the metro has only four lines, all terminating at Centraal Station. There are four other stations in the central area: Amsterdam CS, Nieuwmarkt, Waterlooplein and Weesperplein. It is best to avoid taking the metro at night.

The cheapest way to travel by tram, bus or metro is to buy astrippenkaart (ticket strip available in multiples of 15), adagkaart (day ticket), or asterabonnement (season ticket) — all sold by the public transport authority, the GVB (Gemeente Vervoer Bedrijf ), tourist offices, post offices and some newsagents. A new card, topped up at any ATM and valid on all transport, is currently being tried out.

You cannot hail taxis in the street, but finding one in the centre is usually easy, as there are plenty of taxi ranks: at Centraal Station, Dam Square, Elandsgracht, Leidseplein, Muziektheater, Nieuwmarkt and Rembrantsplein. There is also a 24-hour phone service, Taxicentrale.

The city centre has a complex one-way system, its roads are dominated by trams and cyclists, and parking is limited – and expensive. All of these are good reasons to avoid driving. If you have to, park in a car park or on a meter (most allow you up to two hours).

You will never be very far from a bicycle hire shop in this city of cyclists: Bike City, Holland Rent-a-Bike and Take-a-Bike are all conveniently central. Bike theft is rife, so secure your bike carefully when you park it.

These two-or four-person pedaloes provide a fun way of getting around. There are four moorings in central Amsterdam, where you can collect or leave the bikes all year round.

Nederlandse Spoorwegen, the Dutch national rail company, is renowned for its clean, punctual trains and reasonable fares. Contact the OVR (Openbaar Vervoer Reisinformatie) for information.

Available from hotels and Amsterdam Tourist Board offices, the Amsterdam pass represents good value for money, at €33, €43 and €53 for one, two and three days respectively. It entitles the holder to free public transport, free admission to many museums, a free canal tour, and discounts at a variety of restaurants and other attractions.

Most of the top museums are covered by the Amsterdam Pass. If you want to visit more, you need theMuseumkaart(Museum Card), which buys a year’s admission to over 400 museums throughout the Netherlands. You will recoup the cost after about three visits. Available from Amsterdam Tourist Board offices and all participating museums.

The CJP gives under-26-year-olds discounted admission to theatres, museums and other attractions. It is available from offices of the Amsterdam Tourist Board and the AUB Uitburo ticketshop.

Cruises can either be booked direct with the operator or through the Amsterdam Tourist Board. Many operators start from Centraal Station. Amsterdam Canal Cruises start on Singelgracht, and Kooij from Rokin, near the Munttoren.

The Museum Boat allows you to get on and off at any of seven different points to visit the major museums. The day ticket also entitles you to discounted admission. A boat comes by each stop once every 30 minutes between 9:55am and 4:45pm daily.

Another frequent hop-on, hop-off canal boat, with discounts included in the ticket price. Choose one of three routes, with a total of 14 stops. A one-day All Amsterdam Transport Pass entitles you to unlimited use of metro, bus, tram and Canalbus.

More private cruisers than taxis. The cost is around €155 an hour for an 8-seater. Ask about special “walk-in” rates as well.

Sightseeing by horsedrawn carriage. Tours start at Dam Square and last 20–60 minutes, or use their taxi service and order a taxi to take you to town.

Yellow Bike offers two guided bicycle tours for up to 12 people: a three-hour city tour and a six-hour countryside tour. You can book direct through Yellow Bike, or through the Amsterdam Tourist Board.

There are several popular youth hostels. Vondelpark is especially recommended, with private rooms as well as dormitories. Vliegenbos is a designated youth campsite. The Amsterdamse Bos campsite also has wooden cabins for hire, and, like Gaasper, is suited to families. (See also Budget Hotels.)

Under-26-year-olds can apply for a CJP for bargains on some performing arts tickets. The Amsterdam Pass represents good value for money. The Museumkaart allows free admission to more than 400 museums in the Netherlands.

A strippenkaart is better value than single tram tickets. The Amsterdam Pass includes free public transport. The All Amsterdam Transport Pass buys you a day’s unlimited use of the transport system.

The outdoor markets of Albert Cuypmarkt, Waterlooplein and Noordermarkt, and the indoor bargain basement Rommelmarkt, are all places where you can find food, clothing and bric-a-brac for next to nothing.

Special places that can be visited free of charge include: the Civic Guards Gallery of the Amsterdams Historisch Museum; hofjes (see Western Canal Ring); the Begijnhof; Hollandse Manege; the Rijksmuseum Garden; and Bloemenmarkt.

There is plenty of music in the air, from the carillons of the Westertoren, Zuidertoren and Munttoren, to barrel organs, street performers and live bands in latenight bars. Free lunchtime concerts are held at the Concertgebouw (Wed), Stopera (Tue in winter), English Reformed Church (summer) and Thomaskerk (alternate Tuesdays).

There are free performances at the Vondelpark’s open-air theatre, and free screenings in summer at the Nederlands Filmmuseum.

To see what’s on, consultUitkrant ,Day by Day andAmsterdam Weekly . The best place to book tickets is AUB in Leidseplein.

Amsterdam’s parks offer endless free entertainment, from theatre and concerts in the Vondelpark to the miniature train in Amstelpark, or just feeding the goats in Amsterdamse Bos.

Each shopping area has its own special character. De Negen Straatjes, the Jordaan and Haarlemmerbuurt have bric-a-brac and speciality shops. The Spiegelkwartier and Rokin are the places for art and antiques. Most chain stores are in Kalverstraat and Nieuwendijk. Leidsestraat and Utrechtsestraat have more upmarket boutiques, and PC Hooftstraat is the home of designer fashion.

Shops are generally open from 9am–6pm Tue, Wed and Fri, from 9am–9pm on Thu, from 9am–5pm on Sat, and from 1–6pm on Mon (although most department stores open at 11am). Many shops also open from noon to 6pm on Sun. By city law, shopkeepers can trade between 7am and 10pm daily.

Most marked prices include 19 per cent VAT. Global Refund entitles non-EU residents to a percentage back over a minimum figure of €137 (more you spend, the higher the percentage), bought at one shop on the same day and exported within 90 days. If the shop has ‘Tax-free’ status, collect a Global Refund Cheque, have it stamped by Customs on your departure, and claim your refund when you leave the EU.

January and July are the traditional months for end-of-season sales, when you are likely to find some great bargains. Some shops have an almost permanent sale rail.Korting means reductions are being offered. The Dutch for sale isuitverkoop .

Amsterdam shopping is very cosmopolitan. It spans designer fashion and off-beat second-hand clothes, valuable antiques and colourful Indonesian beads. For a flavour of the city, you might be tempted by Dutch chocolate, cheese,paling (raw herring), beer orjenever or, for something less ephemeral, Delftware or diamonds.

Compared to its speciality shops, Amsterdam’s department stores seem run-of-the-mill. On the corner of Dam Square and Damrak, De Bijenkorf is the most famous. More exclusive, however, are Maison de Bonneterie and Metz & Co. The city’s first mall, Magna Plaza, has several floors of boutiques and cafés in a converted post office.

It is these quirky little shops devoted to specific items – from candles to toothbrushes – that make shopping in Amsterdam such a joy. Although they crop up throughout the city, they are thickest on the ground in De Negen Straatjes.

The Spiegelkwartier is the heart of the art and antiques trade. Here, a host of dealers specialize in a variety of objects from Delftware and glass to icons and tribal art.

The four members of the Amsterdam Diamond Foundation guarantee quality.

Amsterdam’s narrow, cobbled streets, uneven pavements, and old buildings with small entrances and steep stairs, make it a difficult city for disabled people to get around. For general information and advice, contact Accesswise or SGOA (Stichting Gehandicapten Overleg Amsterdam).

Useful leaflets on hotels, restaurants, museums and attractions, guided tours and excursions for people with disabilities are available from the Amsterdam Tourist Office and the AUB (Amsterdam Uitburo) (see Sources of Information). You can also pick up an excellent booklet called Rail Travel for the Disabled from Centraal Station.

For such a progressive city, Amsterdam’s hotels are remarkably cavalier about the needs of disabled people; very few have special facilities. Some modern hotels have adapted rooms, but old buildings and converted canal houses often have steep staircases and no lift. The accommodation booklet of the Amsterdam Tourist Office indicates hotels with disabled facilities, but be sure that they meet your needs before you make a reservation.

Old-style trams with high steps are inaccessible to wheelchair users. New trams are more accessible, with central doors at pavement level. The metro is wheelchairfriendly, with lifts at every station. For the visually impaired, there is a conductor who announces every stop. Avoid public transport at rush hour.

A folded wheelchair will fit into most taxis, but Amsterdam has a private service, Boonstra, specially designed for wheelchair users. It costs the same as a regular cab, but you need to book at least 24 hours in advance.

Most of the city’s principal museums have adequate facilities for disabled people, including wide entrances, ramps, lifts and adapted toilets, although canalhouse museums like the Amstelkring, Van Loon and Willet-Holthuysen have no upper-floor wheelchair access. Staff are usually very helpful, but it’s always a good idea to telephone before you visit.

It’s possible to get a wheelchair into most ground-floor restaurants, but only a handful have disabled toilet facilities. Again, phone ahead.

You can rent a wheelchair from Beumer de Jong for €20 per week, but you have to arrange for your hotel to collect it. Book well in advance, particularly in the holiday season.

Tours and Travel Services offer bus tours around Amsterdam and day-trips throughout Holland using buses suitable for wheelchairs. In conjunction with the Dutch Red Cross, they also run a specially adapted tram around the city.

Beware pickpockets in crowded places like Centraal Station, the Red Light District, Damrak and Leidseplein. Never keep money in your back pocket, or leave your handbag exposed. At night, avoid the junkieriddled fringes of the Red Light District, especially around sleazy Zeedijk, as well as the area around Nieuwendijk between Damrak and Spuistraat.

Bicycle theft is rife in Amsterdam. Some are stolen for profit, others on the principle that “someone stole mine, so I’ll steal someone else’s”. Always secure both front wheel and frame to an immovable object with a U-shaped lock.

EU nationals are entitled to receive dental and medical treatment in the Netherlands at a reduced charge. To cover this, British visitors should bring a form E111, available from post offices. It is also sensible to take out private travel insurance before you leave, to cover medical emergencies and repatriation (see Security and Health).

It’s a strange paradox that the famously houseproud Dutch should put up with fouled streets in their capital city (other towns and cities are much cleaner). A few years ago the problem was dire; it’s much better now, but you still need to look where you walk.

If you lose property at Schiphol Airport, call020 601 2349. For items left on a train, call030 235 3923, 9am–5pm Mon–Fri. For trams, buses or the metro, call020 460 5858, 9am–4:30pm Mon–Fri.

Amsterdam’s enlightened attitude to soft drugs should not be misconstrued. “Coffee shops” are the only places where buying and using small quantities of soft drugs is tolerated. Elsewhere – in the street, or in other bars and cafés – smoking is frowned on.

As the expression “going Dutch” indicates, Amsterdammers will usually share the bill in a restaurant. If you dine at someone’s home, bring a small gift such as flowers or chocolates for the host. Try not to annoy cyclists by walking in cycle lanes. Though most Amsterdammers speak excellent English, a few words in Dutch will go down well. In the Red Light District, don’t cause offence by taking photographs of the prostitutes in their windows.

Summertime heralds the arrival of these irritating insects, attracted to the canal waters. Arm yourself with the repellent and bite creams of your choice.

Though there are (albeit very public) men’s conveniences on some streets, women are very poorly provided for. Instead, it is acceptable practice to head for the nearest bar or café. You might buy a drink in return, but usually you are not obliged to. Public toilets in stations and museums are staffed by attendants who insist on a tip in a saucer.

In January 2002, the Dutch guilder became obsolete and the euro became the official currency of the Netherlands. Euro banknotes have seven denominations: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500. There are also eight coin denominations: 1 and 2 euros, and 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents. Check exchange rates before you travel.

Major cards including Amex are widely accepted throughout Amsterdam, and you should have no difficulty paying for most things with plastic – but it’s always wise to check. Some restaurants do not accept credit cards, and it is common practice to pay small amounts in cash, so you should keep some on you.

Amsterdam has no shortage of cash dispensers, many of which will function in several languages.

Travellers’ cheques are a safe way of carrying money abroad, and can be exchanged for cash in banks and used to pay hotel bills, as well as being widely accepted in retail outlets. Choose a well-known company such as American Express or Thomas Cook.

You can change money in banks, bureaux de change, post offices and American Express offices. To avoid high commission charges, stay clear of independent bureaux de change (like those on Leidsestraat) and choose the official GWK bureaux de change or the post office Postbank. Avoid changing money in hotels.

Amsterdam’s post offices are recognizable by their TPG logo. Apart from the usual services, they also change currency and travellers’ cheques. The main post office on Singel has a poste restante service, parcel service, photocopiers and a philately counter.

You can pick up and send emails, or just surf, at any time of the day or night at EasyEverything – the Reguliersbreestraat branch has 250 terminals. There are several other internet cafés in town, and some hotels and bars also have terminals.

Most public telephones (which are green, with the KPN Telecom logo) require a phonecard – which you can buy at post offices, supermarkets, newsagents and stations – or credit card. The international dialling code for The Netherlands is 00 31. The code for Amsterdam is 020 – you can drop this if you are dialling a local number.

Ask a Dutch child where he or she learned to speak such good, idiomatic English, and the answer is likely to be “from the television”. British and American imports on Dutch channels are subtitled rather than dubbed, and cable TV brings about 30 stations from around Europe, plus America’s CNN. Most hotels are equipped with cable TV.

Dial 112 if you need police, ambulance or fire brigade. English-speaking operators man the 24-hour switchboard, and you can phone free from a call box.

Don’t carry your passport, ticket and other valuables around with you. At night, stick to well-lit streets, avoiding dodgy areas like De Pijp, Nieuwendijk and the seediest part of the Red Light District around Zeedijk. Everyone over 14 years must carry a valid means of identifi- cation at all times.

Insure your possessions. Should you have anything stolen, report it immediately to the police and ask for a copy of the police report for your insurers. If your passport is stolen, you must also contact your consulate.

Police headquarters, the Hoofdbureau van Politie, is in Elandsgracht. There are main police stations in Prinsengracht, Beursstraat, Lijnbaansgracht and Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal.

Get help from the Amsterdam Tourist Assistance Service (ATAS), which offers support and practical advice. De Eerste Lijn helps victims of rape and sexual assault.

Of the central hospitals, only Onze Lieve Vrouwe Gasthuis, has an accident and emergency department.

For non-prescription drugs or toiletries, go to a chemist(drogist) . To have a prescription made up, go to a pharmacy(apotheek) . Normal opening times are 8:30am– 5:30pm Mon–Fri. A notice will direct you to the nearest pharmacy open outside of these hours.

Your hotel, local pharmacy or tourist office will give you the name and address of an English-speaking doctor or dentist, as will the Central Medical Service(Centrale Doktersdienst) . EU citizens are entitled to reductions on medical and dental treatment.

If you lose your passport or get into trouble with the authorities, you will need to contact your embassy or consulate. Most embassies are in The Hague, but some countries, including the UK and the USA, have consular facilities in Amsterdam.

The largest university with buildings in the centre, UvA (Universiteit van Amsterdam) offers English-language International Study Programs in a range of subjects from undergraduate level upwards. For information, contact the Office of Foreign Relations.

In a suburb of Amsterdam, VU (Vrije Universiteit) runs Englishlanguage courses in economics, law, arts and social sciences for exchange or contract students (whose home university has no official exchange relationship with the VU).

UvA’s Housing Department helps students find lodgings. If you are studying at VU, the university has a guesthouse in Uilenstede. Alternatively, SRVU, the VU students’ union, will help you.

Producing your student union or ISIC rail-card in Amsterdam is no guarantee of discounted prices, and only Dutch students are entitled to theOV Jaarkaart , which gives them free use of public transport. Anyone under the age of 26 is eligible for a Cultureel Jongeren Passport , which costs €12.50 from Tourist Offices or the AUB.

Foreign students will find ASVA-OBAS the most useful of the various Dutch student unions. It offers all kinds of assistance, including an accommodation service. SRVU will also give VU students help and advice (see Sources of Information).

An independent organization, the FSS (Foreign Student Service) provides advice, support and help for foreign students, as well as arranging social events. Under the auspices of the UvA, the International Student Network (ISN) is a group of students that provides mentors to introduce foreigners and freshmen to university life.

Every year, from the middle of July to the beginning of September, the Amsterdam Summer University offers arts and sciences courses in the Felix Meritis Building.

Most major bookshops stock English textbooks, but the best academic bookshop is VU Boekhandel.

To borrow from the UvA Main Library, you need aUniversiteit Bibliotheek card. Foreign students are eligible if they are studying in the city for at least three months. To borrow from the VU Main Library, you must become a member.