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Transportation |
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By Air
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is one of the
busiest and most user-friendly airports in the world, with direct
flights to 223 international destinations. Train and taxi connections
to the city centre take just 20 minutes, and you can arrange for a
limousine service direct to your hotel.
Flying Times:
Frankfurt: 1.15
London: 1.10 New York: 8.00 Paris: 1.05
Website: http://www.schiphol.nl
By Train
Super-fast trains whisk you to Amsterdam from all major European destinations.
Brussels, for example, is just three hours away and Frankfurt around
four. The Thalys high-speed train makes the link to Paris in less
than five hours. Other express trains leave at frequent intervals
every day for destinations all over Europe.
Dutch Railways, information on all train within the
Netherlands: www.ns.nl
High speed train, with services throughout
Europe: www.thalys.com
By Car
Amsterdam is well linked into an Europe-wide network of motorways.
There are parking facilities in town and at most larger hotels, but
making use of park-and-ride centers such as the Transferium
at Amsterdam ArenA is advised.
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Public transport is fast, efficient and inexpensive. Buses, taxis
and trams share a special traffic-free central lane, so are seldom
affected by congestion, there are good facilities for cyclists, like
special bike lanes, and traffic lights for cyclists...and the canals
offer all sorts of novel ways of getting about.
Trams
The best way to travel in Amsterdam is by tram. 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.
Circle Tram:
The Circle Tram (line 20) begins and ends
its journey at Central Station, stopping at museums and theatres,
almost all tourist attractions, hotels and parking garages along the
way. The Circle tram makes a round through the city in both directions
(line 20A goes clockwise, line 20B anticlockwise). There is no need
to change trams, you can just stay seated until you come to the museum,
square or monument you want to visit. The Circle tram rides every
ten minutes from 9.00 to 19.00 hours. The last tram leaves Central
Station at 18.00. You can enter the tram with a regular strippenkaart
but you can also buy a special Circle tram ticket, which entitles
you to unlimited use of the Circle tram. Just have the ticket stamped
first by the conductor to validate it. The ticket is also valid on
regular trams, busses and the underground everywhere in Amsterdam
(also in night busses after 24.00).
Buses
Serve more outlying areas and the few places that the trams do not
reach. Night buses run long after other services have stopped.
Metro
Amsterdam's three metro lines serve the suburbs and the south-eastern
business districts.
Taxis
Taxis are normally not hailed in the Netherlands, but taken from a
taxi rank, of which there are many. You can order a taxi by phoning
6777 777, or 0900 0724. A taxi will arrive almost immediately (though
be prepared to wait if it is raining on a Friday or Saturday evening).
Taxis are good quality but relatively expensive and you don't need
to tip more than rounding up.
Bicycles
The fastest way to travel is by bike. There are several addresses
around town where you can hire a bike, for very reasonable prices.
Traditionally, Dutch bikes have no hand-brakes, but back-pedal brakes.
If you think you can't handle this, ask the hirer for a bike with
hand-brakes.
Canal Boats
Why not make use of Amsterdam's web of picturesque canals? You can
hire a boat to ferry delegates between venues, or hop on a "canal
bus" or the special Museum Boat, which stops off at the main
museums. You can also hail a water cab from the canal-side, and travel
anywhere you choose! Canal taxis hold up to eight people and can also
be hired for special events. There are also the Canal bikes, more
for gadding about than getting about, the two-seater or four-seater
pedals are for hire by the hour or can be used organized tours.
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