Transport
Amsterdam city centre is not easily accessible by car. Parking space is scarce and if you are lucky enough to find a space, parking is really expensive. A better way of moving about in the city centre is by public transport. You can also walk or use a bike because nowhere is very far apart in Amsterdam.
By tram
if you have to go anywhere in the city centre, the tram is the most convenient means of transport. They are frequent, fast and dependable. You can buy a ticket from the driver, the conductor at the back of the tram, or a machine in the middle of the tram, depending on the sort of tram it is. However, it is considerably cheaper if you buy a 'strippenkaart' from a tobacconist, post office or railway station beforehand, for €5.90 for 15 strips. On most trams you stamp these yourself in the yellow machines in the tram: each journey uses one strip plus a strip for every zone you travel in. If you stay within the centre of town, that is one zone, so you leave one strip blank and stamp the second. If you travel over a zone border, you are travelling in two zones, so you leave two strips blank, and stamp the third.
On some trams there is a conductor: you get on at the back of the tram and the conductor stamps your ticket for you.
Once stamped, a ticket is valid for an hour, regardless of how often you change tram or bus.
Several people can travel on one strippenkaart: you just stamp it for the first person, and then for the second, and so on.
You should hail a tram to indicate you want to get on. Press the button near the door to open it. If the tram has a conductor you must use the rear door to get on. You have to press one of the red STOP buttons inside the tram to indicate that you want to get off at the next stop (although there is rarely a stop where no one wants to get out). Again press the button near the door to open it when the tram has stopped.
Day and week passes
Day and week passes and strippencards are valid on all trams, buses and metros, and also on trains within the city boundaries (thus not to Schiphol airport: then you have to buy a train ticket). You must stamp a day or week pass the first time you use it only.
There is a free map of all tram and bus routes in Amsterdam available from tourist offices or the GVB office in front of Central Station.
The trams run until just after midnight (the last trams leave Central Station at 12.15). After that there is an hourly service of night buses from Central Station.
By bus
There are also thirty bus lines in the city. The bus is most suitable for travelling from the Central Station to neighbourhoods which are further from the city centre and to Amsterdam North. You board the bus at the front and show the driver your ticket. If you do not yet have a valid ticket, you can buy one from him.
Tickets for city and regional travel are always cheaper when bought in advance!
Night lines
Buses also run at night on nine different routes in the city, hourly during the week and half-hourly at the weekend. The night buses to and from the Zuidoost neighbourhood run half-hourly throughout the week. In addition to an ordinary strip ticket, you must also buy a supplement ticket for two guilders before travelling on the night bus.
All local night buses run from or via the Central Station. This is the central changing point. These take account of connections with other night lines of the GVB, night trains run by the NS (Dutch railways) and (night) regional transport. If possible the buses wait for buses on another night line arriving slightly later. Line 71 crosses a number of other night lines and is therefore a good one to use for changing from one line to another.
By metro
There are also four metro and fast tram lines in Amsterdam. The metro lines connect the Central Station quickly to the Zuidoost neighbourhood. The fast tram runs from the Central Station, via Buitenveldert to Amstelveen. The ring line runs from Amsterdam Sloterdijk station to Gein via the Zuid/WTC station. Click here for a map of the Amsterdam metro network.
Tickets
The tram or bus driver or the conductor sells 2, 3 and 8-strip tickets. You can buy cheaper (15) strip tickets at GVB sales points, supermarkets, tabacco or newspaper shops, and the Amsterdam tourist office. You can also use your hour network ticket or strip ticket in the metro or fast tram. If you do not have a ticket, you can buy one from the machine in the ticket hall of the metro stations.
At the GVB office opposite the Central Station and at the Amsterdam tourist office (VVV) You can also buy tickets there which are valid for several days, up to a maximum of nine days. The ticket is valid once you have had it stamped by the conductor.
Taxi
How to recognize a taxi?
Every taxi in Amsterdam must have:
- blue number plates
- a price list visible from both inside and outside the taxi
- a taxi-driver’s pass on the dashboard
Fast taxis
Only those taxis displaying an exemption card may use the tram and bus lanes. The card must be clearly visible, inside on the passenger side of the front windscreen. The taxis that may use the tram and bus lanes have the advantage of being able to get you to your destination faster than those excluded from the tram and bus lanes.
Knowledgeable drivers
Possession of exemption card is a guarantee that the taxi driver knows the city. In order to qualify for the card taxi drivers must take an exam in which their knowledge of the city is extensively tested.
Stopping
There are many places in the inner city where no stopping is permitted, in particular on the tram and bus lanes. This means that a taxi is not able to stop to let you get in or out. Occasionally this will mean that
you will have to get out either just before or just after your destination.
Where to find a taxi
You will find taxis at the official taxi ranks, which are to be found at Schiphol Airport, Central Station and the Dam as well as many other places. You do not have to take the first taxi in the queue. You may choose yourself which taxi to take. You may also hail a taxi on the street. When doing so you should take into account that there are many places in the inner city where no stopping is permitted. In addition
you may also telephone for a taxi. You will find telephone numbers in the pink section of the telephone directory and in the Yellow Pages under “taxi”. You may, of course, ask a member of the hotel or restaurant staff to call a taxi for you. There are no call out charges.
How much?
Taxi prices are based on the following components:
- Call out: No charge
- Basic price max. € 5.12 (for 4 or more passengers; max € 8.33)
- Per kilometre max. € 1.94 (for 4 or more passengers; max € 2.23)
- Wait / stop max. € 32.87 per hour
A few sample prices:
- Schiphol - Amsterdam centre approx. € 39
- Central Station - Museumplein approx. € 13
- Leidseplein - Dam approx. € 11
- Rembrantplein - Central Station approx. € 8
- RAI - Dam approx. € 12
You may always ask the driver for a receipt.
Complaints
Should you be less than satisfied with the service or price, you may make a complaint to the taxi ompany. Note both the number plate of the taxi, and the date and time of the journey. Ask the taxi driver for a complaint form. You can also obtain a complaint form from the Post Office or by downloading one here
If you would rather not complain to the taxi company yourself, you may telephone your complaint to the National Complaints Line (Landelijk Klachtenmeldpunt Taxi) on 0900 202 18 81 (€ 0.13 per minute).
Again you will need to provide the number plate together with the date and exact time of the journey.
More information
For other tourist information please call the Amsterdam Tourist and Congress offices: 0900 400 4040
(€ 0.55 per minute). You can also visit one of the tourist offices, which may be found at Station Square, Platform Two Central Station, Leidseplein or Schiphol Airport.
