General Information about Amsterdam
Amsterdam, capital of the Netherlands! These days the city has a population of just over 790.000 inhabitants and is the largest city in the country. Amsterdam is located in the province ‘Noord-Holland’, situated in the west. It is one of the most popular destinations in Europe, receiving more than 4.5 million tourists annually.
Amsterdam has a great history. It is very unique for its large and untouched historic center. It has a rich architectural history, dominated by water. It is a meeting point for all different cultures around the world and has a welcoming attitude towards visitors. Well known for its museums, red light district, coffee shops but also the great variety of eating & drinking places and night life. It even claims to be the ‘Gay capital of Europe’. Therefore a lot of hotels and hostels can be found on different locations, value for money and ambience.
It is a beautiful and romantic city with its antique houses, lovely bridges, famous canals and of course the list of world class attractions!
Good To Know! Information About Amsterdam
Time zone
Amsterdam is on Central European Time (CET), which is Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), or Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), plus 1 hour. Check out the actual time in Amsterdam.
Climate in AmsterdamThe warmest months are from June to August, with temperatures between 20 – 27 degrees Celsius. There are rarely extreme temperatures in Amsterdam. The air is relatively humid and fog is common in autumn and spring. The weather in Amsterdam is fairly mild during wintertime. However temperatures can drop below freezing. The chance of extreme cold is sporadic. On some days there may be snow fall.
More information about the Climate in Amsterdam and weather forecast.
Telephone
Telephone Country code: +31
Telephone Area code: 020
Emergency number: 112 (for first aid, police, fire department)
Electricity & Power Outlets
As in most of Europe, the Netherlands uses 230 (220-240) volts AC (50 cycles), compared to 110-120 volts AC (60 cycles) in the United States and Canada. Upward converters that change 110-120 volts to 220-240 volts are difficult to find in Holland, so bring one with you.
Tap water in Amsterdam
Tap water is safe to drink. The Netherlands (and especially Amsterdam which has the best water in the country) has the safest en cleanest tap water in Europe.
Currency
The European euro (€) is the currency in Amsterdam and in the rest of the Netherlands. There are 100 euro cents to each euro. The euro coins are: 1, 2 and 5 cent, 10, 20 and 50 cent, 1 and 2 Euro coins. The euro notes are 5€, 10€, 20€, 50€, 100€, 200€, and 500€.
The Netherlands does not produce its own 1 and 2 euro cent coins anymore and prices in the country are rounded to the nearest 5 cents. The 200€ and 500€ notes are pretty much unusable because few businesses accept them. Generally, 50 Euro bills remain the most convenient denominations.
ATM
There are plenty of ATM’s throughout Amsterdam where you can get the Euro. It distributes 50 and 20 euro notes. To get money from an ATM it is mostly best practice to use your debit card for it. Most banks charge less for foreign money transfers from a debit card then a credit card, but if you have to pay (like in a restaurant) you are mostly much better of when you pay with your credit card.
VAT
There’s a Value-Added Tax (BTW) in The Netherlands of 9% on hotel and restaurant bills (21% on beer, wine, and liquor), and 9% or 21% (depending on the product) on purchases. This tax is always included in the price.
Tipping
The Dutch law requires that all taxes and service charges be included in the published prices of hotels, restaurants, cafes, nightclubs, salons, and sightseeing companies. The VVV tourist office’s advice on tipping is: “Tips for extra service are always appreciated but not necessary.”
Shopping Hours
Regular shopping hours in Amsterdam are:
Monday from 10 or 11am to 6pm
Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 9am to 6pm
Thursday from 9am to 9pm
Saturday from 9am to 5pm
Sunday stores are open from noon to 5pm
More information about Amsterdam Shopping
Arriving from schiphol airport going to
Old quarter hotel located in Amsterdam centers what is the best transport to use? Bus or train.
Thanks
Amsterdam is really a great city! Perhaps our subway navigation system could be usefull for those who visit the Amsterdam for the very first time.
https://www.metrocazar.com/amsterdam/
I would include the large number of bicycles somewhere on this list.
Speaking as an American, I was shocked by how many there were. The way traffic operates in Amsterdam was totally alien to me. I would also highlight your mass transit system. I found it to be awesome. The desk in the middle of the double trolly with an attendant blew my mind. You guys gotta get your shit together on the weed front. Why aren’t you doing it like California and Colorado????
It’a a no brainer!!
I would include the large number of bicycles somewhere on this list.
Speaking as an American, I was shocked by how many there were. The way traffic operates in Amsterdam was totally alien to me. I would also highlight your mass transit system. I found it to be awesome. The desk in the middle of the double trolly with an attendant blew my mind. You guys gotta get your shit together on the weed front. Why aren’t you doing it like California and Colorado????
It’a a no brainer!
Can you please tell me if the Jewish Cultural Center operates on Saturdays, more specific Sept 16, 2017
Amsterdam is a very attractive city to visit, it’s a mixture of 17th century historical atmosphere with a very modern metropolis, this together with the liberal and free mentality of the multicultural residents gives Amsterdam a very special atmosphere. The beautiful center with 1,281 bridges, the splendid canals, the famous historical buildings and a bar on every corner creating Amsterdam to a very special holiday destination. You can easily walk the center but the best way to get around Amsterdam is on a bike. The city has also the highest museum density in the world!
http://www.amsterdamtip.nl