THE NETHERLANDS - Best of Europe 2014 - page 1293

Tourist Information
“VVV” (pronounced “fay fay fay”) is Dutch for “TI,” a tourist information office. Amster-
dam'stouristofficesarecrowdedandinefficient—avoidthemifyoucan.Youcansaveyour-
self a trip by calling the TI at 020/201-8800 (Mon-Fri 8:00-18:00) or trying 0900-400-4040
(Mon-Fri 9:00-17:00). From the US dial 011-31-20-551-2525.
The main TI at Central Station is busy, but is convenient for anyone arriving by train
(July-Aug Mon-Sat 9:00-19:00, Sun 10:00-17:00; Sept-June Mon-Sat 9:00-18:00, Sun
10:00-17:00). An affiliated office is in the AUB/Last Minute Ticket Shop on Leidseplein,
tucked into the side of the giant Stadsschouwburg Theater (Mon-Fri 10:00-19:00, Sat
10:00-18:00, Sun 12:00-18:00; doesn't book hotel rooms). These TIs outside of Amsterdam
arehelpfulandlesscrowded:atSchipholAirport(daily7:00-22:00)andinthetownofHaar-
lem (see next chapter).
Tickets: AlthoughAmsterdam'smainTIsellstickets totheAnneFrankHouse(€1extra
perticket,same-dayticketsavailable)andtheVanGoghandStedelijkmuseums(nofee),it's
quicker to get tickets in advance online (see below).
Maps and Brochures: Given the city's maze of streets and canals, I'd definitely get a
good city map (€2.50 at Central Station TI, same map given away free at the TI in the AUB/
LastMinuteTicketShop—gofigure).Alsoconsiderpickingupanyofthewalking-tourbro-
chures (€3 each, including tours covering city center, former Jewish Quarter, Jordaan, and
funky De Pijp neighborhood). For entertainment, get a copy of Time Out Amsterdam (€3,
€1.50 if bought with city map); for additional entertainment ideas, see “Entertainment in
Amsterdam,” later.
CurrencyExchange: AtCentralStation, GWKCurrencyExchange officeshavehotel
reservation windows where clerks sell international phone cards and mobile-phone SIM
cards,andanswerbasictouristquestions,withshorterlinesthantheTI(Mon-Sat8:00-22:00,
Sun 9:00-22:00, near front of station in both the east and west corridors, tel. [phone]).
Resources for Gay Travelers: A short walk from Central Station down Damrak is
GAYtic, a TI specifically oriented to the needs of gay travelers. The office stocks maps,
magazines, and brochures, and dispenses advice on nightlife and general sightseeing (daily
11:00-20:00, Spuistraat 44, tel. [phone], www.gaytic.nl ) . Pink Point, in a kiosk out-
side Westerkerk, next to the Homomonument, is less of a resource, but has advice about
nightlife (usually daily 10:00-18:00).
Advance Tickets and Sightseeing Cards
During high season (late March-Oct), you can avoid long ticket lines at the Rijksmuseum,
Van Gogh Museum, and Stedelijk modern-art museum by booking tickets online, getting a
Museumkaart sightseeing pass (described later), or buying tickets in advance. At the Anne