last update: 2011-11-04

General tourist information

Schiphol Airport

If you travel by plane, you will arrive at Schiphol airport. From there, it is only 20 minutes by train to Central Station. There are many taxis, but they are very expensive. The railway station is in the airport terminal building.

Public transport

Trains are reliable and reasonably priced. There are two bus companies in Amsterdam. GVB provides the trams and local buses in Amsterdam. Connexxion runs the regional bus lines.
On www.9292ov.nl you get information about your trip by public transport from all companies for your trip in Holland.

Since June 2010 you can only pay with a ‘Public Transport Chip card’ for buses, trams and metro in the Amsterdam and Rotterdam area. Information about this card is on the website www.ov-chipkaart.nl.

My advice: If you only make a few trips by tram or bus, buy your ticket with the driver, although this is more expensive. For metro you have to buy your card at one of the vending machines.

If you plan to stay for a longer time, get yourself an OV Chipkaart which you can recharge at many ‘oplaadpunten’. Theses reloading machines accept bank and credit cards. ‘Oplaadpunten’ are in all stations and also many supermarkets.

Travel by car

Parking your car in Amsterdam city centre is very expensive (up to EUR 5 per hour) and it is often very difficult to find a place to park your car. Once in town, you don’t need your car anymore. Consider the P+R facilities.
If you still want to park in town, make sure you pay enough (also on Sundays!) In most areas payed parking is from 09:00 till 24:00, seven days a week. If you don’t pay (enough), you might get a wheel clamp. And that is one thing you don’t want for sure. Most machines accept cards and don’t accept cash anymore.
Once settled in your hotel, you can walk or use public transport. More information in English on www.iamsterdam.com
More information in Dutch www.amsterdam.nl/parkeren-verkeer

Taxi

Try to avoid taxis a much as you can. Very expensive and even for locals it is hard to see the difference between the good ones and the bad. If you need a taxi, call TCA (020) 777 7777. In Amsterdam you have to go to a taxi stand to get a taxi. So don’t be surprised when an empty taxi does not stop when you wave.

Hotel

Amsterdam has many hotels, most of them quite small (like everything in town). Make sure you book in advance, if you don’t want to sleep in the park. Reliable booking through the official tourist office www.iamsterdam.nl.

Which hotel to book?
If you are on a low budget, you might find it difficult to find an affordable place. The cheapest options, if you don’t mind to sleep in a dorm, are the Youth Hostel: www.stayokay.com and Hans Brinker: www.hans-brinker.com.

Bed and Breakfast

Soms (gay) guys offer B&B. You can find them on Gayromeo.

Drugs

I don’t use drugs, so I don’t know the details. But one thing is for sure: hard drugs like cocaine and XTC are just as illegal here as anywhere else. Only the use of soft drugs (in coffee shops) is tolerated.

GHB/GBL is a real problem for party organizers. Only use it in private and always together with someone you trust, because the danger of overdoses is extremely high.

Bicycle

Bikes are everywhere in Amsterdam. If you accidentally walk on a bike path, you will hear them ringing their bells. The best way to see the city is by bike. For rent at many places.

Gay events in The Netherlands

Queens Day

On 30 April, we celebrate Queens day, the queens anniversary. This is a public holiday. Downtown Amsterdam is just one huge open air party. People dancing and drinking in the streets from the night before (so the 29th), all day long. Most people wear orange clothes (or at least one piece orange). Several large gay parties are organised as well. Check the dutch gay sites below.

Amsterdam Gay Pride

Yearly pride event, first weekend in August with the famous canal parade.
Official Gay Pride website: www.weareproud.nl
Many pictures of gay events: www.PartyHotShots.nl

Leather Pride

Yearly pride event, last weekend of October of first weekend of November.
Official website: www.get-ruff.com

Tourist information

www.iamsterdam.com
Official Amsterdam tourist office (VVV). The best way to get reliable tourist information is to visit this website or the VVV offices in every main city. Also for hotel bookings. (In Amsterdam you don’t need to go to a gay hotel, because there are gays in every hotel and all hotels are gay friendly)

www.pinkpoint.org
Pink Point is the official Gay Tourist Information Office. Visit their small shop near the Westerkerk (= western church) and Homomonument on the Westermarkt. Friendly staff to tell you where the hottest parties of the moment are.

www.gaytic.nl
A second official gay tourist information centre, near to Central Station.

www.gaymap.nl
Amsterdam gay map, which you will find for free in every gay shop, bar and also online.