Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Left
Prescriptions at an
apotheek
Right
A&E dept, Onze Lieve Vrouwe Gasthuis
Security and Health
Emergency
Dial 112 if you need
police, ambulance or fire
brigade. English-speaking
operators man the 24-
hour switchboard, and
you can phone free from
a call box.
Victim Support
Get help from the
Amsterdam Tourist
Assistance Service
(ATAS), which offers
support and practical
advice. De Eerste Lijn
helps victims of rape and
sexual assault. d
Amster-
dam Tourist Assistance
Service: Nieuwezijds
Voorburgwal 104-8. 020
625 3246
•
De Eerste Lijn.
020 613 0245
dental treatment
(see
p140)
.
d
Central Medical
Service: 020 592 3434
Embassies and
Consulates
If you lose your passport
or get into trouble with
the authorities, you will
need to contact your
embassy or consulate.
Most embassies are in
The Hague, but some
countries, including the
UK and the USA, have
consular facilities in
Amsterdam. d
UK
Consulate: Koningslaan
44. 020 676 4343.
www.britain.nl
•
US
Consulate: Museumplein
19. 020 575 5309.
www.usemb.nl
Personal Safety
Don't carry your
passport, ticket and other
valuables around with
you. At night, stick to
well-lit streets, avoiding
dodgy areas like De Pijp,
Nieuwendijk and the
seediest part of the Red
Light District around
Zeedijk.
Hospitals
Of the central
hospitals, only Onze Lieve
Vrouwe Gasthuis, has an
accident and emergency
department.d
Onze Lieve
Vrouwe Gasthuis
•
Oosterpark 9. emergency:
's-Gravesandeplein 16. Map
G6
•
020 599 9111
Theft
Make sure that your
possessions are insured
before you travel. Should
you have anything stolen,
report it immediately to
the nearest police station
and ask for a copy of the
police report for your
insurers. If your passport
is stolen, you must also
contact your consulate
(see below)
.
Sexual Health
The Dutch take
sexual health seriously:
prostitutes are subjected
to rigorous checks.
Should you contract a
sexually transmitted
disease, the GG&GD
provides a Mon-Fri walk-
in clinic: phone for details
or an appointment. An
HIV checkpoint is run by
the Servicepunt HIV
Vereniging every Friday
evening. The Schorer
Stichting provides
information for gays. An
AIDS helpline operates
2-10pm Mon-Fri. d
GG&GD: Groenburgwal 44.
Map P5. 020 555 5822
•
Servicepunt HIV Vereniging:
Eerste Helmersstraat 17.
Map C5. 020 689 2577
•
SAD Schorer Stichting: 020
662 4206
•
AIDS-STD
Helpline: 0900 204 2040
Pharmacies
For non-prescription
drugs or toiletries, go to
a chemist
(drogist)
. To
have a prescription made
up, go to a pharmacy
(apotheek)
. Normal open-
ing times are 8:30am-
5:30pm Mon-Fri. A notice
will direct you to the
nearest pharmacy open
outside of these hours.
Police
The Amsterdam police
have a reputation for
being friendly and helpful.
Their headquarters, the
Hoofdbureau van Politie,
is in Elandsgracht. There
are main police stations
in Prinsengracht,
Beursstraat and
Lijnbaansgracht.
d
Prinsengracht 1109. Map
E5
•
Beursstraat 33. Map
P2
•
Lijnbaansgracht 219.
Map C5
•
0900 8844
(central no.)
Doctors and
Dentists
Your hotel, local pharmacy
or tourist office will give
you the name and address
of an English-speaking
doctor or dentist, as will
the Central Medical
Service
(Centrale
Doktersdienst)
. EU
citizens are entitled to
reductions on medical and
142
