Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
city-transportation network; practically everything in Amsterdam begins and ends
here.
Although Amsterdam's Centraal Station abounds in digital train information dis-
plays, the station still provides train-departure information by separate directions
on the standard train-departure posters with their yellow background. Rail service
throughout the Netherlands is so dense—departures approximately every half
hour—that these sectional timetables to Rotterdam, Utrecht, and other cities are
most helpful.
Amsterdam's Centraal Station is virtually a city within a city, with many restaur-
ants and shops operating over extended hours—a good place to stock up for a trip.
It's also an originating point for long-distance express trains, including the Thalys
train connections to Brussels and Eurostar to London, as well as the EuroCity net-
work. This means lots of tourists—and tourists attract pickpockets. Watch when
boarding the trains, particularly for people who are apparently traveling without
luggage and are following you closely with only an empty shopping bag in hand.
Chances are that they are “shopping” for your wallet and they plan to leave the
train before it departs.
•
Money exchange
office “GWK” is on the street side of the station foyer.
Hours:
0800-2200 Monday-Saturday and 0900-2200 Sunday. Money exchange is
also possible at local banks.
Hours:
1000-1600.
•
Tourist information
for all of the Netherlands, including Amsterdam, is avail-
able from the VVV Amsterdam Tourist Offices located inside Centraal Station at
Platform 2 (Spoor 2).
Tel:
(0) 900 400 4040.
Hours:
0800-2000 daily except
0900-1700 Sunday; or in front of the rail station (
Hours:
0900-1700 daily); of-
fices also located at tram stops Leidseplein (
Hours:
1000-1900 daily) and Sta-
tionsplein (
Hours:
0900-1900).
•
Train information
may be obtained in the office of the Netherlands Railways [in-
formation for trains within the Netherlands (
Tel:
0900 9296), located on the far
right of the main station hall as you exit from the trains]. This office has the fa-
miliar “i” sign.
Hours:
0600-2300 daily. Take a number as you enter.
•
Seat reservations
as well as rail pass validation may be made in this office.
Complete information about the Netherlands Railways day-excursion program is
also available. Remember, when having your pass validated, write out the start-
ing and ending dates on a piece of paper, and have the railroad representative
agree to the correctness of the dates before the information is entered on your
pass.
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