Working in Amsterdam The Netherlands
The capital and largest city of the Netherlands, Amsterdam has a population of about 2.2 million in its greater metropolitan area. Amsterdam is located in the North Holland district of the Netherlands and is well known to visitors for its canal environment, coffee shops and red light district.
However, there is more to Amsterdam than these tourist attractions. The city is the major financial hub of the Netherlands and a key centre in Europe. The city experiences an oceanic climate due to its close proximity to the North Sea. Winters are cool in the city, while the summer months average highs of about 22 °C.
- Airport
- Railway Station
- Transportation
- Cost of Living
- Accommodation
- Shopping
- Emergency
- Insurance and Healthcare
Location
Tourism Video
Airport
Amsterdam Schipol Airport
One of Europe’s busiest airports, Amsterdam Schipol connects to an abundance of destinations globally, including London, Paris, New York and Moscow. Amsterdam Schipol, located about 15km from the city centre, serves almost 50 million passengers per year and is a hub for almost all major and cut fare airlines.
A regular bus service runs from Amsterdam Schipol to Amsterdam City Centre every 15 to 20 minutes. A regular train service is also available to Amsterdam Centraal Station every 15 minutes. A counter selling tickets can be located in the middle of the court area in the airport. Taxis are also readily awaiting customers near the airport’s entrances.
Railway Station
Amsterdam Central Station
Located in the heart of the city, Amsterdam Centraal Station handles more than 250,000 commuters on a daily basis. The station services local and international rail, trams, buses and has a taxi stand. The rail services to Amsterdam Schipol Airport also leave from Centraal Station. The station has 15 platforms with ticket booths and English signage located throughout the facility.
Transportation
Amsterdam has a comprehensive public transport system that features local and international trains, trams, a metro, buses and boats. The city uses a card system to navigate the city called OV-chipkaart, which was introduced in 2010. Trams are the primary form of transport and are operational over long hours. When the trams stop for the night, several night buses take their place and travel to all parts of the city, including the outer suburbs.
The metro is a four-line system which can prove to be a time saver compared to other forms of transport in the city. Travel by boat provides a unique way to view the city, with several free services found in central parts of Amsterdam.
On top of these transport options, the most popular form of travel around central Amsterdam for tourists is by bicycle. Several bike hire companies are found around Amsterdam and they usually provide maps covering how to travel from one landmark to the next. Bike hire in Amsterdam is generally inexpensive and the longer a bike is hired the cheaper it becomes by the day.
Cost of Living
The cost of living in Amsterdam is average to high by western standards for expats. The city can be an expensive place to visit as a tourist. According to online cost of living database Numbeo (www.numbeo.com), prices for typical items on current exchange rates (June 2013) are as follows:
| Food | |
| Cheap meal (inexpensive restaurant) | $21.50 |
| Three-course meal for two at mid-range restaurant | $85.80 |
| Domestic beer (500mL) | $6.40 |
| Coke (330mL) | $1.60 |
| Milk (1 litre) | $1.30 |
| Loaf of bread | $1.70 |
| Eggs | $2.90 |
| Transport | |
| One way ticket (local transport) | $3.90 |
| Monthly pass | $110.10 |
| Petrol (1 litre) | $2.40 |
| Rent (monthly) | |
| One bedroom apartment (central area) | $1715 approx |
| Three bedroom apartment (central area) | $2580 approx |
| Accommodation | |
| Hostel bed (one night) | $25 |
| Five star hotel room (one night) | $270 |
| Average monthly salary (after tax) | $2860 |
Accommodation
Amsterdam has hundreds of accommodation options, ranging from a huge selection of hostels to some of the classiest hotels in Europe. Amsterdam’s hostels are located far and wide, but generally in the city’s most vibrant areas, including the Old Centre and the Red Light District. For more exclusive accommodation, popular areas include Canal Ring and Jordaan.
A few places you might want to stay include:
Budget
Dirty Nellys Inn
Hostel Van Gogh
Flying Pig
Mid-range
Hotel Casa 400
Eden Hotel Amsterdam
WestCord City Centre Hotel
High-end
Amstel Intercontinental
Hilton Amsterdam
Hotel de l’Europe
Shopping
Shopping in Amsterdam certainly has a reputation. The city’s coffee shops and the Red Light District are well-known around the world for the goods and services they provide. But there is much more to the shopping experience in Amsterdam than that. The city is much like any other major European capital in that it has flourishing pedestrian malls and several top quality shopping centres.
The major malls in Amsterdam run from nearby Centraal Station, these being Nieuwendijk, Kalverstraat, Heiligeweg, Leidsestraat. Shoppers will find almost everything they need at these malls, from clothing and shoes to restaurants and souvenir shops. Amsterdam also has several street markets worth checking out, including Albert Cuyp, Ten Cate Market and Dappermarkt.
Emergency
Emergency telephone numbers
Police, ambulance, fire 112
Tourist medical service 020 592 3355
Insurance and Healthcare
The health care system in the Netherlands includes a public and private sector. The public sector is available to everyone in the Netherlands registered to the Dutch social insurance scheme. It includes standard care, such as medical attention from doctors, nursing, midwifes, some specialist services and dental care for children. Facilities in the country are regarded as modern and efficient.
For individuals after additional health care in the Netherlands, the European country has an extensive range of private health care services on offer. Costs for private health treatment in the Netherlands are comparable to those in Australia. Despite a high standard of health facilities in the Netherlands, DFAT recommends all Australians travelling to the country take out comprehensive travel insurance to cover any overseas costs.