Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Buses
While you'll mostly use trains in the Netherlands, a few desti-
nations are reachable only by bus. The national bus system, both
within and between cities, runs on a uniform system of strip tick-
ets (strippenkaart) ; each time you board, the driver or conductor
stamps your strippenkaart, deducting the fare of a ride. (Single-
ride tickets are sometimes available, but usually cost more than
using strips.) Buy strippenkaart at tobacco shops, newsstands, and
machines at train stations, or—for an extra charge—from the
driver. If you're caught riding without a strip ticket, you have to
take off your clothes. For all the details on this seemingly complex
but elegantly simple system, see “Strip Tickets” on page 38.
Confusingly, there's no unified national bus company—var-
ious destinations are served by different companies. The biggest
companies serving towns near Amsterdam include Arriva (www
.arriva.nl) and Connexxion (www.connexxion.nl).
From Amsterdam by Bus to: Edam and Vole nd a m (Arriva
buses #112, #116, #110, or #118; 30-45 min depending on bus—
see page 284 for details), Marken (Arriva bus #111, 2/hr, 40 min),
Aalsmeer Flower Auction (Connexxion bus #172, 4/hr, 50 min).
Buses depart from just southeast of Amsterdam's Central Station
(exit station to the left and cross the street). Once in the coun-
tryside, buses can also be helpful for connecting the dots (see the
“Transportation Connections” for each destination).
To Paris by Bus: If you don't have a railpass, the cheapest
way to get to Paris is by bus (Eurolines buses make the 8-hour
trip every 2 hours, €35 one-way, €60 round-trip; check online for
deals, bus station in Amsterdam at Julianaplein 5, Amstel Station,
five stops by metro from Central Station, tel. 020/560-8788, www
.eurolines.com).
Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport
Schiphol (SKIP-pol) Airport, is located about 10 miles southwest
of Amsterdam's city center. Like most of Holland, it is user-friendly
and below sea level. With an appealing array of shops, eateries, and
other time-killing opportunities, Schiphol is a fine place to arrive,
depart, or change planes. A truly international airport, Schiphol
has done away with Dutch—signs are in English only.
Information: Schiphol f light information (tel. 0900-0141;
from other countries dial +31-20-794-0800) can give you f light
times and your airline's Amsterdam phone number for reconfirma-
tion before going home (or visit www.schiphol.nl). To reach the
airlines directly, call: KLM and Northwest—tel. 020/474-7747;
Martinair—tel. 020/601-1767; SAS—tel. 0900-7466-3727 (toll
call); British Airways—tel. 020/346-9559; and easyJet—tel. 0900-
265-8022 (toll call).
 
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