10th EMDR European Conference
Transportation Amsterdam
TRANSPORT TO AMSTERDAM
By air
Schiphol International Airport is one of the busiest and most user-friendly airports in the world, with direct flights to 188 international destinations. The trainstation is right below the airport. Train and taxi connections to the city centre take just 20 minutes, and you can arrange for a limousine service direct to your hotel. Drivers can even meet you at the terminal.
By road and rail
Super-fast trains and well-made motorways whisk you to Amsterdam from all major European destinations. Brussels, for example, is just three hours away, and Frankfurt around four. The Thalys high-speed train makes the link to Paris in under five hours. Other express trains leave at frequent intervals every day for destinations all over Europe. For information visit the websites: http://www.nsinternational.nl/ ; http://www.visiteuropeancities.info/.
TRANSPORT IN AMSTERDAM
General
Amsterdam is beautifully compact. This takes much of the headache out of organising a conference, reducing the incidence of lost delegates, late arrivals and nerves frayed by traffic almost to zero. Public transportation is fast, efficient and inexpensive. Buses, taxis and trams share a special traffic-free central lane, so are seldom affected by congestion...and the canals offer all sorts of novel ways of getting about.
For information about all sorts of public transportation call 0900-9292 or visit the website: http://www.gvb.nl/.
Trams
An extensive network of trams can take you all over the city. Trams arrive at stops every 5 to 10 minutes.
Buses
Serve more outlying areas and the few places that the trams do not reach. Night buses run long after other services have stopped. You can purchase your ticket (strippenkaart) in the bus, or more cheaply from the busstation cigarshops or bookshops at the railstation.
Metro
Amsterdam's four metro lines serve the suburbs and the business districts.
Fares
Discounted daily and weekly passes valid for all forms of public transport are available.A railway return ticket is only valid for 1 day, so if you plan your return travel on a later day make sure you purchase a single ticket.
Taxi's
You can pick up a taxi at ranks all over town, or order one by phone through a central switchboard. Phone number: 0900-0724 or 0900-6777777.
Bicycles
The ideal form of transport in this flat, compact city, bicycles are inexpensive to hire. You can travel safely on special cycle paths. To hire a bike see the websites: www.macbike.nl; http://www.yellowbike.nl/.
Canalboats
Why not make use of Amsterdam's web of picturesque canals? You can hop on a "canal bus" or the special Museum Boat, which stops off at the main museums.
Canaltaxi
Hail a water cab from the canalside, and travel anywhere you choose. Canal taxis hold up to 8 people and can also be hired for special events.
Canalbikes
More for gadding about than getting about, two-seater or four-seater pedalos are for hire by the hour or can be used organised tours.
