This is Central Station, where you can get the metro, a bus or tram around town or even a train to Paris or Berlin. The NS (Nederlandse Spoorwegen) counters sell tickets to anywhere in Holland (as do the machines in the lobby) and other International destinations in Europe. In addition you’ll find such convenient services as travel agencies, newstands, bicycle rental, cafes, an Etos (drug store), a Ben and Jerry’s, and many other shops right in the station. In fact Centraal Station is now a decent shopping mall, and worth checking out if you have time.
Centraal Station marks the east/west center of the city and it’s a short walking distance to the Red Light District, the Dam Square or the Jordaan. It’s also the place to catch night buses after 12:30am since most other forms of transport, except taxis, are done for the day.
The street leading from Central Station is the Damrak and this takes you past restaurants, money changers, travel agents, ATM machines, a huge internet cafe (easyEverything), tour boats, department stores, and ends right at the Dam Square, so if you have any business or shopping to do, it’s only minutes away from Central Station. In fact the street paralleling the Damrak towards the west, the Nieuwendyke, is a mile long shopping street! Note: Be careful when transiting through the station as there are many pickpockets here.
Centraal Station is currently undergoing a number of construction projects including a new bus station and a new metro line that will go right down the Damrak to the Museumplein, ending at the RAI convention center.
Location:
Kattenburgerplein 1
1018 KK Amsterdam
Phone: 020 523-2222
Fax: 020 523-2213
Hours:
Tuesday thru Saturday 10 am – 5 pm
Sunday and Holidays 12 am – 5 pm
In the summer it’s also open on Monday from 10am – 5pm.
Believe it or not Holland is one of the cheapest places to buy a car. Of course you’d want to buy a European model, like a Mercedes to get a good deal. The population density of Holland and the lack of parking spaces in cities like Amsterdam have forced the Dutch to favor small cars. You’ll see some of the smallest vehicles ever made on the streets of Amsterdam. So if you’re looking for something unusual you might find it here. If you’re planning a long drive through Europe you can buy a car in Holland and either sell it or ship it home when you’re done. Each country in the E.U. has different regulations regarding the purchase of cars by tourists. In some cases you can avoid paying sales tax and registration fees. Check with the authorities before buying anything since the rules are subject to change.
The Dutch have an attitude of tolerance dating back to the 16th century when they forced out the Spanish and their inquisition. Since then, the Dutch make a point of not criminalizing or feigning moral outrage at victimless “crimes”. Prostitution, pornography, homosexuality, euthanasia, and soft drug use are all tolerated and integrated into Dutch society. This permissiveness has resulted in Holland becoming a mecca for those who wish to experience the freedom of cannabis culture, and the flowering of a highly successful coffeeshop scene where marijuana and hashish are legally available for purchase by the public.
The “coffeeshop” is a unique Dutch institution. For over 20 years, coffeeshops have operated with quasi-legal status in the Netherlands. Although there is no law that allows for the production and distribution of large quantities of marijuana and hashish, the Dutch tolerate the presence of coffeeshops because they separate the soft drug users from the hard drug dealers. This makes it less likely that someone desiring cannabis would end up purchasing a more dangerous drug, and keeps a whole market away from the illegal drug trade. The Dutch attitude towards drugs is very straight forward. If you have a drug problem they want to help you, not persecute you! Recreational use of soft drugs is seen as being less harmful to society than persecution and incarceration.
The recently restored Dam square (above) is where the Amstel dam was located, which gave Amsterdam it’s name. The square is used for official events, festivals, concerts, and an occasional market. The Royal Palace, the Niewe Kerk, Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum, the Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky, De Bijenkorf – a department store, all face the square. In the center of the Dam is a monument to Holland’s WWII dead. It’s a good place to get your bearings or hang out for a bit and watch the city go by.
There’s much to explore in this area and the many streets leading away from the Dam can take you to every part of town. So pick and street and go for it. The shopping is good on the Rokin or the Kalverstraat, but more hip down the Damstraat with loads of headshops, coffeeshops and trippy, hippie stores.
The street to the left of the Hotel Krasnapolsky leads into the Red Light District. A wander around the Nieuwe Kerk along curving alleyways will lead to some nice restaurants, bars and more coffeeshops. The Damrak takes you past travel agencies, restaurants, money changers, department stores and much more on the way to Centraal Station where you can get transportation to anywhere in Europe.