Amsterdam Tips, arrive, depart, hip street, free ferry, Central Station and airport

travel videos & photos at: townsofeurope.com/ with text, maps & links.
Oh, Amsterdam! You've got to love this city, where nearly everybody rides a bicycle. And the bicycles, scooters, and people get a free boat ride across the river into downtown. It can be a scenic round-trip for the visitor too, arriving at the Central Train Station. We will be showing you all that and more, including a trip out to the airport, with some suggestions on how to get around. If you're traveling throughout the Netherlands, the train is an excellent way to see this beautiful country.
See our Netherlands playlist with 27 movies: • Netherlands 31 movies
Many visitors arrive at Schiphol Airport, just outside of Amsterdam, and there is a very easy rail connection that brings you right into the heart of town.
In this program we're going to focus on that section of Amsterdam near the train station, perhaps the first part of the city that you'll see when you arrive. We will show you that free ferry ride and the great shopping street of Haarlemerstraat.
As you exit the train station, this street is your right, just a few minutes walk to get over here, and you will find some of the best shopping and eating in the entire city, although it's a place that's often overlooked by the visitor eager to get into the central part of Amsterdam at the Dam Square.
So Haarlemerstraat is more of a local street where you can kick back and mingle with the residents of Amsterdam.
It's mostly a street for pedestrians and bicycles, although cars are allowed to drive here, but most Dutch don't want to drive a car. It's too difficult to drive in these narrow streets with bicycles all over the place.
The origin of New York City was created on this street inside the West India House, former headquarters of the West India Company, which ordered the construction of a fort on Manhattan Island in 1625.
The same building at night and now it's a restaurant the Café New Amsterdam, with its streetside and courtyard terrace tables.
Haarlemerstraat in the evening, is just as busy as during the daytime. This is Amsterdam's hip alternative district offering boutique specialty shops, there's delis, the perfect neighborhood for dining and bar hopping.
This road continues for a kilometer with more shops along the way through a neighborhood called Haarlemebuurt with the Brouwersgracht canal on the side.
There are 14 different tramlines in Amsterdam and 11 of them stop here in front of the Central Station
There are three tunnels for bicycles and pedestrians that go underneath the station leading to the other side where you can catch the ferry. We're going to take you on a free boat ride.
These ferries provide an essential service for pedestrians, cyclists and mopeds, bringing them from Amsterdam to North Amsterdam, just a few minutes away. And the boats arrive so frequently, there's hardly any waiting time at all before boarding.
You'll enjoy some nice harbor views, including the Eye Film Museum, where they put on film festivals with Amsterdam Lookout Tower next to it, with observation decks, a hotel, restaurants and nightclubs.
The ferry arrives in Amsterdam North and the passengers very patiently get off the boat, walking, pushing their bicycles and mopeds. It's a very polite crowd of people navigating together.
The train station has a very modern appearance, with this sleek, curved roof outside with a nice wide road for bicycles in the middle and an elevated sidewalk on the edges. Upstairs, there's a road for buses, and inside it's like a shopping mall. It's open from early morning until late in the evening.
You can purchase the OV chip card used for public transit throughout the country right here at this lovely shop, with very helpful clerks.
They've also got a doctor and pharmacy here to take care of any medical needs you might have. Central Station is used by about 200,000 passengers daily.
We're heading out to a Schiphol Airport and you don't have to worry about a schedule because trains leave the station every 10 minutes for the airport.
I've had the pleasure of riding these comfortable trains all over the country visiting a dozen cities and making lots of movies that you can find in my collection.
When you get off the train and arrive at your destination, you've got a tap your OV card again to let the system know that you've ended your ride, so you get charged the proper amount for distance traveled.
Of course they had many shops, including a supermarket, and more in the duty-free area. Schiphol is the world's second-busiest airport for international travel, and often wins awards as Europe's best airport.
All that's left to do now is check your bearings, have a look at the signs, figure out which way to go to find your gate, and depart.
I spent three weeks traveling through this wonderful country shooting lots of video and created a couple dozen travel movies that you can find in my collection.

[@susanneconaty9737]

Used to lived in this lovely city around 25 years ago and will coming again to visit this mid May 2024... Can't wait. I'm so in love with Amsterdam. I wish can live in this city again...

[@MrOoofah]

I’m an American who has lived in Amsterdam for a long time now. Visitors- avoid the Damrak and Kalverstraat. Go to the Spui. Have a drink at Hoppe-a centuries old cafe. Good restaurants there in the Spui. Find interesting cafes/pubs in The Puijp and The Jordaan. Try excellent Indonesian food-rijstafel(rice table). Lots to do now in North Amsterdam. Take the free ferry behind Central Station and explore. In late spring or summer go to Texel, one of the islands in the North of The Netherlands. Just beautiful.

[@denniscallan]

Thanks for your comments, but you know visitors cannot completely avoid them, because those are two of the most popular places in town. Perhaps you would agree, take a look but don't spend much time there. As I say in this video there are places "often overlooked by the visitor eager to get into the central part of Amsterdam at the Dam Square." In my 13 videos about Amsterdam I cover many of your suggestions and more: kzbin.info/aero/PLke86NFI6R8xnVBfXvv1LOaYDW6mfz-5o&si=yvONkQ-9SW-2vF7S

[@alexandrasoriano5834]

Well done! Can’t wait to return to Amsterdam. 🎉

[@Abor34]

Haarlemmerdijk so much fun in one street..

[@robertgeiger8667]

I have viewed MANY videos for travel tips for Amsterdam and this is by far the best Thanks for doing this and keep it up,

[@yasmeenbaig3195]

I like so so much Amsterdam.. We visit one ago.. Super city 👍👍👍

[@armellesagot1054]

Just great !

[@ems9097]

amazing video, really helped me prep for my trip!

[@chhetensherpa2331]

thank you so much for your beautiful videos. really helpful videos. keep updating more.

[@juanmacias5922]

Such a beautiful city. Can't wait to visit.

[@reyperez3424]

Not anymore, a lot of trash everywhere All made possible by them tourists

[@BeautifulCityVisits]

Thanks Dennis for this wonderful discovery walk of Amsterdam with all useful comments ! Nice evening and see you soon ! Greetings from Paris-France. Francois

[@trudylau]

The best travel video I have ever seen! Thank you very much!!

[@Filipinospanishwalk]

such a beautiful footages in Amsterdam. beautiful sharing 👍 greetings and watching from Spain

[@lifewithgrandmabev]

Great information. Will be in Amsterdam in July. TFS

[@johnvega7143]

IN Amsterdam right now traveling, used some tips here, thanks a ton!

[@denniscallan]

Glad I could help, thanks.

[@Nicttay]

Great Video! Thanks so much for sharing!

[@bradh3139]

Thank you for the informative video. Will be arriving in 23 days!

[@peterhsu5216]

Thanks. Great video.

[@marksmith7801]

Really nice vlog as I am going to Amsterdam next Monday some really useful info and a nice take on the city thumbs up

[@ponyrang]

Wow... !!! My best friend, Great Good... !!! I wish you every day of your development.

[@aftabbukhari9893]

Dennis - great job as always. Just wondering that you have not done Corsica, France - any plans to do it soon?? Love to see your great work on it, thanks.

[@IndianBeauty02]

❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@doyoumind.atall.stopspying5572]

Please be nice and friendly

[@MrOoofah]

It would be nice if you did 20-30 minute videos on visiting key Dutch cities, eg Utrecht/Rotterdam/Groningen/Maastricht etc.

[@denniscallan]

Hi MrOoofah, I appreciate the various comments you have been making, and yes, I have made many other movies about Dutch cities, found on this playlist of 23 videos: kzbin.info/aero/PLke86NFI6R8yHA2T5e7P38pniCONuuN_3&si=pm1-hjBb6xGWARvG

[@marianchriswell757]

Great info. Can the OV card be used all over Europe? Also, if I purchase a Eurail global or 10 day pass, would it cover the trains that the OV pass covers? Thank you

[@denniscallan]

OV card only in the Netherlands. Don't waste money on that and Eurail in the Netherlands, OV is all you need.

[@scooby13s]

you speak like a multiverse tv show ad from rick and morty interdimensional cable

[@randomrangoon5476]

From Zaandam what would be the best/easiest way to get to Amsterdam?

[@markboele1176]

there goes a train directly to amsterdam central. i think its about a 12 minutes ride.

[@randomrangoon5476]

@@markboele1176 Hey cheers and thank you

[@claudiavalentijn1457]

you can also cycle, depending where you are in the city

[@claudiavalentijn1457]

Dear tourists: PLEASE MIND THE BIKES! Do not just stand on the bike lanes. We really get very annoyed by tourists that don't realize that they are in the way. Thank you so much. An Amsterdammer.

[@JohnAxelAbel]

U got it hommie - An American tourist

[@Teffy2105]

Thanks for the heads up.

[@jbarkley4938653]

Thanks - American

[@SD45-ET44AC]

Yes, thanks for the heads up!

[@bujfvjg7222]

Only if you (the Dutch) learn hoe to qué properly and not jump in front of ppl who were waiting before you! 🤣😂

[@roekmienbadal-awadpersad7036]

Amsterdam watching 🍉🍉 train station road tram riding so many people boysicle Amsterdam great Schiphol airport checking all 🍉🍉 🍉 area discovery wah wah hindostani Nickerie Suriname ladki 🍉🍉 Krishna Kamal bye namashkaar...hallo Amsterdam !!!!!

[@theresasouthern8631]

You don't have to buy an OV card. You can just tap your debit/credit card.

[@denniscallan]

Yes, thank you, the new procedures are great, I did use them a few months ago and it was so easy! Good for all trams, trains and buses.

[@georgesboutz8080]

This must have been filmed in the summer of 2019.

[@ohjeezitshim]

Hmmm, 🤔. Is Something we should know😭 Please tell!! Cause im going in a few months

[@ebeyslough]

Look how orderly the city is and how people behave. There is something I can’t quite put my finger on about why that is…

[@denniscallan]

It is the result of a long history of cooperation, uniting to keep the country dry while often below sea level...and maybe all that time in pubs enjoying the national beverage.

[@Kevin_Finch]

Quite costly in the Netherlands as well to get a driver's license. Done purposely to encourage public transit and bike use. Good idea.

[@Paul_C]

Not really, Americans think it is normal to drive a 2 tonne heavy death machine with a minute level of education, little practice, and your parents as instructor. ALL OF EUROPE demand an education on rules of the road and a decent level of proficiency before letting loose within city limits.

[@mahae_16]

Fresh air with a moped next to you, i do not think so