Amsterdam, getting there & around

By Train

Fast trains from other cities of the Netherlands and Europe have frequent stops at Amsterdam . From Brussels and Paris , Inter City and International express trains arrive at Centraal Station, as do other trains from Germany and even from farther cities in Spain , Switzerland , Italy , Austria , and eastern Europe. The Amsterdam/Brussels Inter City train connects both cities, via the Trans-Europe Express, the Ooostende-Vienna Express, the North Express, and the Oostende-Moscow Express. From cities and towns around Holland , the Nederlandse Spoorwegen trains also make stops at Amsterdam . For fare and schedule information in Holland the number to call is 0900/9292, while international trains can be contacted at 0900/9296.

The burgundy-hued Thalys train connects Brussels , Cologne , Paris and Amsterdam at top speeds of 300kmph, making Amsterdam only 4.5 hours away from Paris , and 2.25 hours away from Brussels . Once high-speed rail lines in Holland are completed, expect those times to be reduced to 3.25 and 1.75 hours respectively. To contact Thalys for information and for reservations call 08/3635-3536 ( France ), 0800/95-777 ( Belgium ), 0221/19419 ( Germany ) or 0900/9296 ( Holland ). You can also get in touch with a travel agent or go directly to main train stations for tickets. The Thalys website is at http://www.thalys.com .

You can take advantage of the Eurailpass for unlimited first-class travel around many European countries, including the Netherlands . The Eurailpass and the Eurail Youth Pass are more expensive to purchase in Europe , so if you're leaving from the United States , for example, it's best to buy prior to your departure. Contact Rail Europe (http://www.raileurope.com/) at 800/438-7245 or ask your travel agent for more details.

By Bus

The route between London Victoria Bus Station and Amsterdam Amstel Station is serviced by Eurolines ( http://www.eurolines.com/ ). During the summer there are 4 departures everyday that take about twelve hours to arrive. Eurolines can be contacted for reservations at 0990/808-080 ( Britain ) or 020/560-8788 ( Holland ).

By Car

Major European highways cross all over Holland . From Germany to the north and east, and Belgium and France to the south, expressways E231, E22, E35 and E19 all converge at Amsterdam . There are also Dutch designations for each road: E231 is A1, E22 is A7, E35 is A2, and E19 is A4. The ring road of Amsterdam is A10. It's not too far between destinations, and traffic can sometimes build up. The quality of the roads are outstanding however, and all signposts are clearly visible while driving. There are also many service stations along the way.

The Le Shuttle auto transporter takes you from Britain to Amsterdam via the Channel Tunnel (from Folkestone to Calais ) in about thirty five minutes and you can drive the rest of the way after disembarking. Usually there are Le Shuttle departures every thirty minutes, and every fifteen minutes during peak hours. In the evening the departures are scheduled every hour. As of 1998, the fares ranged between £120 to £190 ($190-$290) per car, actual price varying according to the time of day and other conditions. Early trips between 2am and 5am are normally the cheapest. For reservations call 0990/353-535 ( Britain ), 03/21-00-61-00 ( France ), or 020/504-0540 ( Holland ). Advance reservations may be advisable during busy times, although given the efficiency of the system you can usually just opt to buy your ticket when you arrive and wait a short while until your trip is ready to depart.

Some tips:

• Generally, the traffic driving into Amsterdam ranges from bad to worse, depending on the time of day. Also, in an effort to alleviate the city's traffic problems, parking fees tend to be high and the authorities are very strict when it comes to parking violations. If you absolutely have to bring a car, park it in a garage when you arrive so you can be free to walk or commute around the city.

• Tailgaters plague the Dutch snelweg or expressway-drivers that have a habit of coming out of nowhere and positioning their vehicles inches away from your rear bumper, sometimes flashing their headlights frantically, all the while expecting you to swerve out of their way. The best thing to do in those situations is to simply ignore them and continue driving, only moving to the side when a safe opening presents itself.

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