Language
Dutch is a famously difficult language to master, but here everyone – and we mean everyone – seems happy to speak English … which they do very well.
Currency And Tipping
The Dutch use the Euro, made up of 100 cents. Service is included in the bill in restaurants and cafes, but a modest tip is in order. A good guideline is to round up around 5% to the next roundish number; 10% is considered very generous. As in all other cities around the world, tips are also welcomed by porters, cab-drivers, chamber staff and hairdressers.
Safety
Although violent crime is rare (especially involving foreigners), petty theft is not unheard of. Watch out for pickpockets in crowded markets and trams and use hotel safes where available. Beware of scams perpetrated by apparently well-meaning and well-dressed locals, possibly posing as plain clothes police officers. Cars with foreign registration plates are popular targets for smash-and-grab theft. Don’t leave valuable items in the vehicle, remove registration and ID papers and the radio/CD player if possible. Bicycles are everywhere in Amsterdam and can be quite dangerous for pedestrians. When crossing the street, look for speeding bikes as well as cars. Don’t stray into a bike lane without looking both ways.
Travel
Most public transport within the city is by tram. They may seem old-fashioned, but they’re punctual and efficient. Buses and Amsterdam’s metro (subway) serve some outer reaches. Services are run by the local transit authority, the GVB. It has an information office across the tram tracks from the entrance to Central station. Here you can get tickets, maps and the like. If you can’t make it there, the website www.gvb.nl has lots of useful information including details of how to reach key sights in town.
Travel tip # 1 : Depending on how much you plan to travel, consider a strippenkaart
(strip-card), available at train and bus stations, post offices, supermarkets and tobacconists. 8 strips costs 6.40 Euros. The system for stamping and validating the card when you travel is a bit complicated, so get advice at www.amsterdam.info/transport/strippenkaart
There is, of course, another option for traveling round the city – the bicycle. Amsterdam has 250 miles of bike paths and there are plenty of rental shops.
Weather
Amsterdam has a temperate maritime climate with cool winters and mild summers. Rainfall is spread evenly through the year, often in the form of seemingly endless drizzle, though between March and May it tends to fall in short sharp bursts. May is a pleasant time to visit: the elms along the canals are in bloom and everything is nice and fresh. The sunniest months are May to August and the warmest are June to September. Summer can be humid and a bit uncomfortable for some people. December to February is cold, although frosts are not usually severe enough to freeze the canals. When they are, the city comes alive with colourfully-clad skaters.
