Schiphol airport to Amsterdam and other Amsterdam, Netherlands Transportation Tips

'Mode': TO
Category: Train
Getting TO/AROUND: Cheap and easy: take the train from the airport to Amsterdam.

* The station is inside the airport, in the arrivalhall, close to the shops (Schiphol Plaza). The elevator brings you to the trainstation, under the ground.
* Buy a ticket first before you take the elevator down to the trains.
* You can buy a ticket at a loket or in the yellow ticketmachines (creditcard).
* A one-way trainticket from Shiphol airport to Amsterdam Central Station (C.S.) costs about 4 euro (in 2008).
* It will take about 15 minutes to Central Station (CS), often it is faster then by car. And you won't have to wait long for a train.

* You can put your luggage on a free luggagecar at the baggageclaim when you got out the airplane and bring it to the train (under the groundlevel).
* You can leave the empty luggagecar at the station, so you don't have to carry your luggage.

* A normal taxi from Schiphol airport to Amsterdam-centre will cost you about 40 euro's (in 2008). If you need a taxi within Amsterdam, you pay about 10-15 euro's (in 2008).

Leave a Comment

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Other
Getting TO/AROUND: I live in Amsterdam and must say: the tram is the best transportation in Amsterdam.

* You have to get in the tram by the driver or the ticketsaler (at the back or in the middle), it is not allowed to get in at another door (with a gate).
* The driver has a free map of the tramroads. You can also find them on the map at every tramstop. You can find the number of the tram above the window at the frontside of the tram, and also at the backside.
* You can buy a ticket by the driver or the ticketseller, but it is cheaper to buy a "strippenkaart" before you use the tram (see my Amsterdam travel guide).
* When you want the driver to stop at the next tram- or busstop, you have to push the button, near to every chair.
* If you want to get out, you have to push the button to open the doors. Don't wait to long to step outside and stay together, the doors can close faster than you expect. Watch out for your bag: it might get between the doors (or pickpocket).
* The trams don't drive at night, only during daytime untill about 24.00 o'clock.
* The doors are closed by the driver. If you stay in the half open door, it won't close completely, untill you step outside. A bell shall ring.

Leave a Comment

Phone: GVB
Website: http://www.gvb.nl/english/default.asp

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Other
Getting TO/AROUND: For a local like me, it is easy, and for a tourist also if you know this:
TICKETS
* Buy a "STRIPPENKAART" (a little one costs about 7 euro's) at a train- or metrostation, a magazinestore or a sigaretstore, this is cheaper than to buy a ticket in the tram. You can use a little "strippenkaart" for about 7 times.
* A dayticket is mostly much more expensive than a "strippenkaart"!!!
For children and bicycles (in the metro) you can buy a red strippenkaart for a reduced price.
* The place next to a number on the strippenkaart is called "STRIP". The centre is within 1 "zone", and you always must stamp 1 number ("strip") extra.
* If you use the strippenkaart for the first time, you have to get a STAMP on number 2. For the second person, you need a stamp on number 4. So one number is always without a stamp.
* When you get into the bus, the driver will stamp for you. You only have to say where you are going to. When you get in the tram, the driver or the conductor will stamp for you.
* The right part of the stamp shows the TIME you got in the tram. For example: "14 - " means 14 o'clock. "19 3/4 " means 19.45 o'clock. Often, the stamp shows a time a little bit later than you really stamped.
* You may use trams for ONE HOUR, it is even allowed to change tram within that hour. You can also change to the metro or the bus, you don't have to stamp again if it is within an hour from stamping. So, if the stamp shows "14-", you have to stamp again at 15 o'clock.
* To travel outside the area (ZONE) "centre" you need more strips. But the centre is a big area, where you can find all touristic spots. If you want to travel further, you have to stamp on number 3 (in stead of number 2), or even a higher number. You can see all the area's on the map you can find at every tramstop. But most tourists won't need more area's.
* More about travelling in Amsterdam at my Amsterdam Travel quide.

Leave a Comment

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Other
Getting TO/AROUND: Tramlines to attractions and other places:
* Albert Cuijpmarket: 16 and 24 (Albert Cuijpstraat), or: 4 and 25 (Stadhouderskade)
* Amsterdam Historical Museum: 1, 2, 4, 5, 9, 13, 14, 16, 24, and 25 (Spui)
* Amsterdam Tulip Museum: 13, 14 and 17 (Westermarket)
* Anne Frank House: 13, 14 and 17 (Westermarket)
* Artis Zoo: 9 and 14 (Plantage Kerklaan)
* Beguine Courtyard / Begijnehof: 1, 2, 3, 5, 9, 14, 16, 24 and 26 (Spui)
* Central Station: 1, 2, 4, 5, 9, 13, 16, 17, 24 and 25
* Concert Hall / Concertgebouw: 3, 5, 12, 16 and 24 (Museumplein)
* Damsquare / Damplein: 1, 2, 4, 5, 9, 13, 14, 16, 17, 24, and 25 (Dam)
* Diamond museum: 16 and 24 (Museumplein)
* Fleemarket / Waterlooplein/-square: 9 and 14 (Mr. Visserplein)
* Flowermarket / Bloemenmarkt: 1, 2 and 5 (Koningsplein); or: 4, 9 14, 16, 24 and 25 (Muntplein)
* Leidseplein /-square: 1, 2, 5, 7 and 10 (Leidseplein)
* Madame Tussauds: 1, 2, 4, 5, 9, 13, 14, 16, 17, 24, and 25 (Dam)
* Municipal Theatre / Stadsschouwburg: 1, 2, 5, 7 and 10 (Leidseplein)
* Royal Palace / Koninklijk Paleis: 1, 2, 4, 5, 9, 13, 14, 16, 17, 24, and 25 (Dam)
* Rijksmuseum: 2, 3, 5, 7, 10, 12, 16 and 24 (different stopping-places)
* Rembrandtsquare/ Rembrandtplein: 4, 9, 14 (Rembrandtplein)
* Rembrandthouse: 9 and 14 (Mr. Visserplein)
* Tropical Museum / Tropenmuseum: 9, 10 and 14 (Alexanderplein); or: 3 and 7 (Wijttenbachstraat)
* Van Gogh museum: 2, 3, 5 and 12 (Van Baerlestraat); or: 16 and 24 (Museumplein)
info 2008

Leave a Comment

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Other
Getting TO/AROUND: Tramlines starting at Central Stationsquare:
**** EASTSIDE OF CENTRAL STATION:
* 4 and 9: to Damplein/-square (Madame Tussauds), Muntplein/-square (flowermarket) and Rembrandtplein/-square.
* 9: also to the Waterlooplein (Waterloosquare/Fleemarket), Mr. Visserplein (Rembrandthouse), Plantage Kerklaan (Hortus Botanicus and Artis Zoo), and Alexanderplein (Tropenmuseum/Tropical Museum)
* 16 and 24: to Damplein/-square (Madame Tussauds), Muntplein/-square (flowermarket) and Albert Cuypmarket.
* 25: to Damplein/-square (Madame Tussauds) and Muntplein/-square (flowermarket)
**** WESTSIDE OF CENTRAL STATION:
* 1, 2 and 5: to the Damplein/-square (the backside of Royal Palace/Koninklijk Paleis) , the Spui (Amsterdam Historical Museum and Beguine courtyard/Begijnhof), Leidseplein/-square (Municipal Theatre), and Max Euweplein/-square (Holland casino)
* 2and 5: also to Museumplein/-square (Van Gogh Museum and Diamantmuseum)
* 5: also to Museumplein (Concerthall / Concertgebouw)
* 13 and 17: to the backside of the Royal Palace (Koninklijk Paleis) at Damplein/-square, the Westermarket (Amsterdam Tulip Museum and Anne Frank House).

Leave a Comment

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Other
Getting TO/AROUND: FREE MAP OF THE TRAMROADS
** Almost every tramdriver can give you a free map with all the routes of the trams in Amsterdam. You only have to ask for it!
** You can even ask for it when you won't get in the tram yet, but only want to have the map. Just wait till a tram stops and the driver opens the frontdoor. Stay outside yourself and ask the driver inside.

Leave a Comment

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Subway/Metro
Getting TO/AROUND: ** You can use the same kind of tickets for the metro as the kind you use for the tram or the bus: the "STRIPPENKAART".
** You can buy a strippenkaart in the metrobuilding, about 7 euro voor 15 "strips" (in 2008). Also in a sigaretstore, a magazinestore, at trainstations and some other places.
** The place next to a number on the strippenkaart is called "strip". For every zone you travel in you have to stamp one strip extra. So: 1 zone is 2 strips, 2 zones is 3 strips. For the centre of Amsterdam, you only need 1 zone (2 strips).
** Every time you use the metro within one hour you need 2 strips per person. If you want to go further than the Amstelstation, you need more strips.
** You have to stamp in the building, before you use the escalator. There is a little yellow box. You have to fold your strippenkaart in a special way: the yellow box will stamp on top of the strippenkaart.
When you use your strippenkaart for the first time: you must fold it between number 1 and number 2. Then hold number 2 up and put it in the yellow box. There will be a stamp on number 2. For a second person, you stamp on number 4.
** At the stamp you can see till which time you may be in public transportation. If you stamp at 08.00 o'clock, you will see "8-" at the right sight of the stamp. Often, it will show "8 1/4" in stead, what means 08.15 o'clock.
** You may travel 1 hour after the time showed on the stamp. Within this hour, you may use the metro's, the trams and the busses in Amsterdam centre. That means you may also change from the metro to a tram or a bus, or another metro. You only have to stay in the centre. If the hour is passed, you have to stamp again, you are not allowed to stay in the metro, bus or tram anymore.
** If you step out of the metro, you have to do nothing.
** Do not buy a day-ticket: it is much more expensive!
If you buy a strippenkaart in the tram or the bus, you pay much more!
** For children or a bicycle you can buy a red strippenkaart in stead of a blue one, for a reduced price.
** More about transportation at my Amsterdam Travel guide.

Leave a Comment

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Subway/Metro
Getting TO/AROUND: ALL the metrolines in Amsterdam are stopping at the same places in Amsterdam-centre:
**1 Central Station (startingpoint: every metro-line goes to the south)
**2 Nieuwmarkt (an old part of Amsterdam)
**3 Waterlooplein (Waterloo-square, close to the market)
**4 Weesperplein (close to the "Magere brug", the small beautifull bridge)
**5 Wibautstraat
**6 Amstelstation (after Amstelstation: the different lines take different routes)
You only have to look after, is what way you want to go, to the north (Central Station), or to the south of the centre (every other station).
** From Central Station till Amstelstation will only take 7-10 minutes.
** The first metro goes around 06.15 o'clock (saterdays 06.45; sundays 07.45), the last metro goes around 00.30 (every day). On holidays: same as on sundays. (timetable spring 2008)

Leave a Comment

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Bus
Getting TO/AROUND: Busses are not common used by tourists. Inside Amsterdam, you better take the tram, because they go more often.

** At night there are no trams or metro's. You can take a nightbus, but they don't drive often and there are just a few of them.
** They start around 03.00 0'clock. You can't use the "strippenkaart", you have to buy a ticket from the driver.

Leave a Comment

Phone: GVB
Website: http://www.gvb.nl/english/travellers/products/nightbus.html

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Other
Getting TO/AROUND: Taxi's in Amsterdam uses a meter, but are not as cheap as in some other country's.
** A short rit in Amsterdam will cost about 10 to 15 Euro's (in 2008), there maybe traffic jam. The tram and metro are often faster.
** The taxiprice starts with 7,50 Euro for the first 2 km, after that you pay 2,20 Euro /km (in 2008). It doesn't make any difference if he drives slow or fast.
** A taxi from Schiphol airport to Amsterdam will cost about 40 Euro (in 2008). Take only the official taxi's outside the airport. You can also order a taxi online (also in English) for a fixed price (about the same if they are correct). Search for: taxi schiphol "fixed price".
** The train is much cheaper: from Schiphol Airport to Amsterdam 3,80 Euro (one way in 2008). Sometimes it is even faster (depends on your destination). It takes less than 20 minutes and they drive very often (at daytime and in the evening). You have to buy a ticket before you take the elevator (in the airport!) downstairs. See also my Amsterdam Travel guide.
** Most of the taxidrivers are oké, but a few of the taxidrivers are unfortunately not fair against tourists (as everywhere in the world). A few of them don't know the streets in Amsterdam very well. From Schiphol to Amsterdam centre must be 20-25 km, not more.
** Take a taxi if you don't want to carry your luggage. And at night, after midnight, when the trams, metro's and most of the busses don't drive anymore.
** If you take a taxi, you mostly have to take the first in line.

Leave a Comment