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Holidays |
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January1 (New
Year's Day)
March/April
Good Friday; Easter Monday;
April 30(Queen's
Day/Koninginnedag)
Ascension Day
Pentecost Monday
(50 days after Easter)
December 25 (Christmas) and 26.
(The
dates for Easter, Ascension, and Pentecost change each year).
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Two
hospitals with an emergency service are the Onze Lieve Vrouwe Gasthuis, Eerste
Oosterparkstraat 179 (tel. 020/599-9111; tram3, 7, 10), in Amsterdam Oost; and
Academisch Medisch Centrum (AMC), Meibergdreef 9 (tel. 020/566-3333; Metro
Holendrecht), in Amsterdam Zuidoost.
Getting Around the City
Metro
Amsterdam has a full-fledged
subway system, the metro, but travelers will usually find trams and buses more
convenient for getting around, as most metro stops are geared for city residents
traveling to the outer suburbs. However, the Amsterdam metro can get you from
Centraal Station (at the northern harbor edge of the city) to Amstel Station (a
train station at the southeastern area of the city, with connections to many
buses and trams) much faster than a tram, which makes many stops along the way.
Trams & Buses
Many
tram and bus routes start from the hub at
Centraal Station
(Stationsplein, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Tel.
0900-9292 public transportation information).
A large
bus depot is located on the Marnixstraat, across from the main police station,
and there's another one at Harlemmermeer station in the Overtoomseveld
neighborhood of western Amsterdam. Trams and buses run from about 6 AM to
midnight daily. The tram routes, with a network of 130 km (80 mi) of track, make
this characteristic form of transport more useful than the bus for most
tourists. Night owls can make use of the hourly night-bus services, with double
frequency on Friday and Saturday night, but routes are restricted.
Between
stops, trams brake only when absolutely necessary, so listen for warning bells
if you are walking or cycling near tram lines. Taxis use tram lines, but other
cars are allowed to venture onto them only when turning right. The newer
fleets of buses are cleaner, and therefore nicer to use, and bus lanes (shared
only with taxis) remain uncongested, ensuring that you travel more swiftly than
the rest of the traffic in rush hour. If the bus is very crowded, you may have
to stand, so hold on to a handrail, as the buses can travel quite fast; to avoid
rush hour, don't travel between 8 and 9 in the morning or between 430 and 530
in the afternoon. As with all urban systems of transportation, keep an eye out
for pickpockets.
Ferries
Four ferry lines leave from Centraal Station,
but only one is of any interest to tourists. The Buiksloterwegveer leaves from
Pier 7 behind Centraal Station every 8 to 15 minutes, day and night. The ferry
transports pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists across the IJ channel to
North Amsterdam. There is no fee for the service. North Amsterdam may prove to
be less interesting than the refreshing trip, which takes about five minutes.
Transfers Between the Airport and Town
If you
wish to hop aboard a tram or bus to get to your hotel, go to one of the
Gemeentevervoerbedrifj (GVB) Amsterdam Municipal Transport
booths found in
front of the Centraal Station. Here you can find directions, fare information,
and schedules.
The KLM Hotel Bus shuttles
between the airport and Amsterdam, serving 16 top hotels directly and many more
that are close to these stops. Buses depart Schiphol Plaza every 20 minutes from
7am to 6pm and every 30 minutes from 6 to 930pm.
Bus no. 197 departs every half hour from in front of
Schiphol Plaza for Amsterdam's downtown
Marnixstraat bus station
. This
bus is much slower than both the train and the KLM Hotel Bus.
Taxis
are expensive, but are the preferred choice
when traveling with luggage, or if there are two or more people to share the
cost. Taxi stands are located at both ends of the sidewalk in front of
Schiphol Plaza. Taxis from the airport are all metered.
Walking
If
you're going around on foot, remember that cars have the right of way when
turning. When crossing a street, watch out for trams, buses, and bikes, too.
Use
caution with children near the canals Protective fencing is rare, and the low
metal railings won’t prevent a fall into the water.
Biking
Almost
everyone in Amsterdam rides a bicycle. There are special bike trails
everywhere, as well as parking for bikes at most sites.
De Opstapper
The
Opstapper, a transit van that travels the elegant Prinsengracht -- heart of
the historic canal sector -- between Centraal Station and the Music Theater. For
a one-zone stamp on your strippenkaart, you can get on or off anywhere along the
Prinsengracht. There are no fixed stops. It passes within walking distance of
the Anne Frank House, the Leidseplein, and many hotels. The buses run every ten
minutes from 730 AM to 630 PM. There are eight seats and room for an
additional eight standing passengers.