Amsterdam City Information

Population: 725,000
Elevation: Below sea level, but protected from flooding by an extensive network of dikes and drainage canals.
Time Zone: When it is noon in Amsterdam, it is 6AM in New York City.
Annual Temperature Range.
When to Visit: Weather-wise, the best months for sightseeing are April, May, June, September, and October. The maritime climate of the Netherlands is very changeable, though, and during these months expect weather ranging from cool to pleasant to wet and windy to hot and sometimes humid. Winters in Amsterdam can be very cold from December through February and March.
ATMs: Among the centrally located automated teller machines (ATMs) accessible by cards linked to the Cirrus and Plus networks, and the major credit cards and charge cards, are those at ABN-AMRO Bank, Dam 2 (tram: 4, 9, 14, 16, 24, 25) and Leidsestraat 1 (tram: 1, 2, 5), at Leidseplein; Rabobank, Dam 16 (tram: 4, 9, 14, 16, 24, 25); and Fortis Bank, Singel 548 (tram: 4, 9, 14, 16, 24, 25), at the Flower Market.
Babysitters: Many hotels can arrange babysitters. A reliable local organization is
Business Hours: Banks are open Monday through Friday from 9am to 4 or 5pm, and some to 7pm on Thursday. Open hours for offices are Monday through Friday from 9 or 10am to 4 or 5pm. Regular shopping hours are Monday from 10 or 11am to 6pm; Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9am to 6pm; Thursday from 9am to 9pm; Saturday from 9am to 5pm; and some stores are open Sunday from noon to 5pm.
Convention Center RAI Convention Center,: Europaplein (020/549-1212; Metro: RAI), in the south of the city.
Currency: The Euro is the currency of the Netherlands. Euro notes come in denominations of EUR500, EUR200, EUR100, EUR50, EUR20, EUR10 and EUR5. The euro is divided into 100 cents, and coins are available as EUR2 and EUR1 and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2, and 1 cents.
Dentists: Call the Central Medical Service (tel. 020/592-3434).
Doctors: Call the Central Medical Service (tel. 020/592-3434).
Drugstores: For such items as toothpaste, deodorant, and razor blades, go to a drogerij (drugstore), or a supermarket.
Electricity: the Netherlands runs on 220 volts electricity (North America uses 110 volts). You will need a small voltage transformer (available in drug and appliance stores and by mail order) that plugs into the round-holed European electrical outlet and converts the Dutch voltage from 220 volts down to 110 volts for any small appliance up to 1,500 watts.
Embassies & Consulates: The U.S. Consulate in Amsterdam is at Museumplein 19 (tel.
Emergencies: For police assistance, an ambulance, or the fire department, call tel. 112.
Holidays:
January 1 (New Year's Day)
March/April: Good Friday; Easter Monday;
April 30 (Queen's Day/Koninginnedag)
Ascension Day
Pentecost Monday (50 days after Easter)
December 25 (Christmas) and 26.
(The dates for Easter, Ascension, and Pentecost change each year).
Hospitals:
Two hospitals with an emergency service are the Onze Lieve Vrouwe Gasthuis, Eerste Oosterparkstraat 179 (tel. 020/599-9111; tram: 3, 7, 10), in Amsterdam Oost; and Academisch Medisch Centrum (AMC), Meibergdreef 9 (tel. 020/566-3333; Metro: Holendrecht), in Amsterdam Zuidoost.
Internet Access: In the City center, easyEverything (www.easyeverything.com) has two locations: Damrak 33 (tel. 020/320-8082; tram: 1, 2, 4, 5, 9, 13, 16, 17, 24, 25); and Reguliersbreestraat 22 (tel. 020/320-6291; tram: 4, 9, 14). Both are open 24 hours a day and access begins at 1.15€. A less-crowded choice is Internet Café, Martelaarsgracht 11 (tel. 020/627-1052; tram: 1, 2, 5, 13, 17), open Sunday through Thursday from 9am to 1am, Friday and Saturday from 9am to 3am.
Language: Dutch is the primary language, but English is the second language of the Netherlands.
Newspapers & Magazines: The American Book Center, Kalverstraat 185 (tel. 020/625-5537; tram: 4, 9, 14, 16, 24, 25), and Waterstone's, Kalverstraat 152 (tel. 020/638-3821; tram: 4, 9, 14, 16, 24, 25), and newsstands at Schiphol Airport and Centraal Station all have a big selection of international newspapers and magazines.
Pharmacies: For both prescription and non-prescription medicines, you go to an apotheek (pharmacy). Try Dam Apotheek at Damstraat 2 (tel. 020/624-4331; tram: 4, 9, 14, 16, 24, 25). All pharmacies have the name and address of an all-night and Sunday pharmacy posted on the door.
Police: The emergency number to call for the police (politie), fire department, and ambulance is tel. 112. For routine matters, police headquarters are at Elandsgracht 117 (tel. 0900/8844; tram: 7, 10, 17).
Post Office: Most post offices are open Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm.
Taxes: There's a value-added tax (BTW) of 6% on hotel and restaurant bills (19% on beer, wine, and liquor), and 6% or 19% (the amount depends on the product) on purchases. This tax is always included in the price. People resident outside the European Union can shop tax-free in Amsterdam. Shops that offer tax-free shopping advertise with a Netherlands Tax-Free Shopping sign in the window, and they provide you with the form you need to recover value-added tax (VAT) when you leave the European Union.
To make international calls: To make international calls from Amsterdam, first dial 00 and then the country code (U.S. or Canada 1, U.K. 44, Ireland 353, Australia 61, New Zealand 64). Next you dial the area code and number.
Toll-free numbers: Numbers beginning with 0800 within the Netherlands are toll-free, but calling a 1-800 number in the States from the Netherlands is not toll-free. It costs the same as an overseas call.