Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the Netherlands’ capital, known for its artistic heritage, elaborate canal system and narrow houses with gabled facades. Canal boat tours in Amsterdam are highly recommended as a scenic way to tour the city. While it is a modern city with chic coffee shops, it also houses some of the greatest artist such as the Van Gogh Museum rated one of the must-see Museum’s in Amsterdam. The city combines quirky and old school city with both modernity and history. Through its unique Amsterdam cusisine, some of the best bars and a range of upscale hotels decorated with the famous Amsterdam tulips.
Tipping.
Restaurants and bars- Tips are not expected but if you did receive good service a tip of 5to 10% of the bill is or rounding off your bill is accepted in restaurants.
Taxi- Tipping is not necessary, but you can round the bill up or tip one to two euros.
Hotels- There's no requirement to tip any hotel staff, although you can give a few euros if you receive good service.
Lingo in Amsterdam.
Many locals in Amsterdam are fluent in both Dutch and English, so getting around may not be too bad without knowing the language. However one can only truly enjoy their holiday when they feel apart of the city. So lucky for you, we got you covered. Here’s a couple phrases to help you get by.
General lingo.
Goede Morgen = Good morning
Goedemiddag = Good afternoon
Welterusten = Good night
Bedanket = Thank you
Alsjeblieft = Please
Hallo = Hello
Eating out/ shopping lingo.
Spreekt u Engels? = Do you speak English?
Kan ik het menu zien alsejblieft?= Can I see the menu, please?
Hoeveel kost dit? = How much is this?
Houd de verandering = Keep the change
Mag ik de rekening? = Can I have the bill?
Get your flirt on!
Je ziet er leuk uit= You look nice (works both for friendly and romantically
Je bent echt een leuke = You are really nice
Alles goed? = How you doing (with signature Joey Tribbiani smirk )
Hey prachitg = Hey gorgeous
Wil je met me uit = Lets go on a date
Wil je met me dansen? = Would you like to dance with me?
Transport from Amsterdam Airport.
There are 6 ways to get from Schiphol Airport to Amsterdam - by train, bus, taxi, hotel shuttle, and bike.
Train.
The Dutch National Rail (Nederlandse Spoorwegen) offers trains from Schiphol Airport to Amsterdam Central Station in an average of 14-17 minutes (tickets available at either a ticket machine or a ticket desk). Or you can also purchase an Amsterdam & Regional Travel Ticket that is valid across all public transportation in Amsterdam.
Hotel shuttle mini bus.
In addition to line 397, Connexxion also provides a minibus shuttle service from Schiphol Airport directly to your hotel. If you’re looking for a transfer that will get you straight to the hotel, this is an excellent alternative to private shuttles.
Bus.
There is also a shuttle bus available from Connexxion for €6.50. This option will take approximately 30-45 minutes depending on traffic and other factors. The line which will take you to Amsterdam city centre is bus 397, and you’ll find it at the bus stop B15 just outside the main station hall at Schiphol Plaza.
Private vehicle.
There are several private shuttle services available in Amsterdam which offer transportation between Schiphol Airport and the city centre. The most popular options are either by car or luxury van, and each of them provides door to door transfers from the airport to just about any destination in or around Amsterdam.
Taxi/Uber service.
Taxis will usually cost about as much as a private car or van at an average rate of about €45-€50 for a trip to the city centre. You’ll find taxis right outside the main station hall and to the left. You can expect a trip to Amsterdam to take around 30-40 minutes on average, but it could be as quick as 20-25 minutes depending on traffic.
Bike.
If you park your bike at one of the three bike sheds at Schiphol, you can pick it up when you return and be on your way in no time. Biking in Amsterdam is unique, fun and perfect perfect after sitting still on the plane!
Best time to travel.
April - May/ September- November right before or right after the high tourist times.
Forecast your trip.
This is Amsterdam all year round.
Are you ready to plan?
Amsterdam related.
Party in Amsterdam
By Deanna Sameer
If you’re looking for a proper rave in international territory, there’s no other city that does it as wild as Amsterdam. One of the most loved cities in the world, it is something of a paradise for pleasure seekers. Needless to say, the city’s nightlife is easily one of its best attractions. We recommend against the Red Light district and give you a small heads up on seedy pubs but nights of hardcore clubbing are a must.
Video of Amsterdam captured by Drone Snap