By Paul Stoddart-van der Maaden
GVB Tickets and Information - all the information you need is available from the GVB Ticket and Info office located on Stationsplein opposite the Central Station. Over and above, this office also sells tickets and maps for all Amsterdam tram, metro and bus routes for €0.70.
The Amsterdam Day Ticket - easy and economical, as it allows unlimited use of GVB trams, buses, night-buses and metros over a 24-hour period. In fact, you can purchase these tickets to cover 1 through to 9-day periods.
Strippenkaart - allows you to travel on Amsterdam's extensive bus and tram network. Note that the number of units stamped depend on the number of zones you may cross during the journey. Do not forget either, that you must always stamp one extra unit. For example, if you travel one zone you stamp two units, if you travel 4 zones you stamp five units, and so on. Once stamped, you can continue to use public transport within the zone for up to one hour without the need to re-stamp. Therefore, you effectively have a 'return-journey' as long as the total time travelled does not exceed one hour. You can stamp your strippenkaart in the machines provided, with the driver or indeed conductor if/when present. Finally, never purchase a strippenkaart on the tram or bus; they will always be more expensive. The best places are the GVB Ticket and Info office, VVV Amsterdam Tourist Offices or indeed any tobacconist.
Running times - trams, buses and metros run between 06:00 and 00:30; use night-buses outside of these hours. Routes and times again available from the GVB Info office.
Excursions - should you wish to visit particular museums and/or other places, then these may be available at a reduced rate when purchased in conjunction with a transport ticket. Contact GVB Tours and Travel Services on 0031 (0) 20 460.53.53 for further information.
'The Amsterdam Pass' giving you access to public transport, museums, attractions and the canal-bus over a period of 1, 2 or 3 days. Canal-bus moorings are at Rijksmuseum, Leidseplein, Centraal Station and Anne Frank house. Information available at GVB Info offices, VVV and hotels.
'De Opstapper' - a mini-bus service that stops wherever you want along the Prinsengracht canal route. There are no scheduled stops; the driver will stop whenever you give the signal. You can use a strippenkaart, day card or any other valid transport ticket. Tickets are also available from the driver (no doubt more expensive though). The service runs Monday-Saturday from 07:30-18:30, every 10 mins.
Amsterdam Tourist Tram - fancy a ride on one of the AOM's historic trams around Amsterdam, then this is the one for you! Starting just outside Amsterdam CS (the corner of Prins Hendrikkade-Damrak and the Victoria Hotel), you will travel in a 1920's tram following an attractive route via all the well-known sites. The trip will last about an hour, during which the driver will also tell you wonderful facts about the tram and its surroundings - some points are even switched by hand. Naturally you can hop on/off to see your favourite sites. For more information visit www.museumtram-amsterdam.nl.
