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Tourism: Amsterdam

Telephone
Amsterdam Internet Guide
Weather
Money
Public Transport
Tours
Restaurants
Shopping
Amsterdam Tourist Site
General Tourist Site

  

Telephone
During the meeting, the NIKHEF reception can be reached at +31 (0)20 592 2000. The secretariat can be reached at +31(0)205925003.

Weather
Nothing is less predictable than the weather in the Netherlands. In September it can vary from a heavy rainstorm to a pleasant post-summer 25oC. The average expected temperature in September is about 10 oC. Bring an umbrella if you do not like the rain.

Money
Like many other European countries, also the Netherlands adopted as of 1-January-2002 the Euro, €, as its standard currency. Money can be exchanged in many places: e.g. at Schiphol airport, at banks, at the numerous specialized exchange offices downtown Amsterdam and at most major railway stations. Credit cards are accepted in most places.

Tours

Amsterdam and its surroundings offer a multitude of tourist attractions (and traps) including some famous museums like the "Rijksmuseum"; the "Van Gogh" museum; the windmills of "De Zaanse Schans"; and the obligatory channel boat tour.

You can easily explore these outings on your own or you can get it all organized for you by one of the trip offices located down-town Amsterdam. For more information click here.

Restaurants
See the Amsterdam Internet Guide or click here for an excellent ranking in many corners of Amsterdam.

Shopping
See Amsterdam Internet Guide.

Public Transport

Public transport in Amsterdam is carried out by trams, buses, express-trams, metro (subway) and trains. Within the city limits, these modes of transportation have an identical fare-system, and transits can be made without a problem. Amsterdam airport, Schiphol, is not within the city limits, and normal train tickets are required for travel to and from Schiphol.

In trams, tickets can be bought from the driver (likewise in buses), the conductor in the rear of the tram, or a machine in the middle of the tram, depending on the type of tram. However, it is considerably cheaper to buy a "strippenkaart" from a tobacconist, in a post office or railway station, or at the GVB office in front of the Centraal Station, beforehand, for about € 7 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 city center, which is one zone, leave one strip blank and stamp the second:

If you travel over a zone border, such as from the city center to NIKHEF, you are traveling in two zones, so leave two strips blank and stamp the third. A ticket is valid for one hour, regardless of the number of transits, and children below four years old travel for free. Several people can travel on one strippenkaart, just stamp it for the first person and again for the second, and so on.

On some trams there is a conductor: you get on at the back of the tram and the conductor stamps your ticket for you. 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. The tram from Amsterdam center to NIKHEF, number 9, normally has a conductor.

In express trams, metro and trains no tickets can be purchased, and travelers must ensure they are in the possession of a valid ticket (i.e. a "strippenkaart" with a valid stamp). These can be bought from vending machines or counters in the station, make sure you stamp them in the yellow machines.

Public transport runs until just after midnight. After that there is an hourly service of night buses.

Amsterdam Internet Guide

Excellent, entertaining and very practical guide to Amsterdam! You will among others learn about Dutch peculiarities, habits, weather, money, as well as about Amsterdam restaurants cultural outings in an entertaining manner.