Amsterdam Centraal Station © 2012 Mikestravelguide. All rights reserved.

Amsterdam Centraal Station – The Gateway to Amsterdam

With access to buses, trains, trams, metro, ferries and the ever-present bikes, Amsterdam Centraal Station is a busy hub that will get you to any destination in and around Amsterdam. Centraal (Central) Station is your gateway to the city. Currently undergoing renovations and improvements, which are scheduled to be completed by 2020, Amsterdam Central has taken on construction in a big way with the addition of High Speed Rail lines, new underground tunnels for bikes and pedestrians, a new central bus terminal, shopping arcades, and a north/south metro line, among other projects.  Construction issues aside, visitors to Centraal Station number in the hundreds of thousands.  Per day.  Which is not at all surprising since this hub allows travelers to arrive or depart from anywhere in Europe and has a direct line to Schiphol International Airport (a 20-minute ride). With just a little planning you can get where you need to go…

For travel within Amsterdam, trams, buses and ferries depart Central Station regularly, and if you’re not sure which ‘ticket’ to buy, visit the city’s public transportation website or consider the I amsterdam City Card which offers ‘unlimited access to the city’s public transportation system for 24, 48 or 72 hours’. Our recommended in-city destinations are easily reachable from Centraal Station.  Here’s a quick run down of the various sites and public transit options:

Anne Frank House – Trams 13, 14 and 17 to Westermarkt

Het Grachtenhuis Museum – Trams 1, 2 and 5 to Koningsplein

Het Rembrandthuis – Metro 51, 53 and 54 to Waterlooplein; Trams 9 and 14 to Waterlooplein or a 15-minute walk from Central Station

Het Rijksmuseum – Trams 2 and 5 to Hobbemastraat

Van Gogh Museum – Trams 2 and 5 to Hobbemastraat

And, if you’re traveling internationally, Amsterdam Central Station is a great starting point, especially if you’re flying in through Schiphol.  There are various Rail Lines with service from Amsterdam to places like Paris, Brussels, and Cologne.  For those passing through with only a few hours to see Amsterdam, Central Station has convenient storage lockers for luggage.

Amsterdam Central Station baggage

Amsterdam Central Station baggage lockers

Original construction of Amsterdam Centraal Station began in 1869 and was completed in 1889. Located on three artificial islands on the IJ River, the historical building reflects the classic and rich decorative style of architect Pierre Cuypers, best known for his design of Het Rijksmuseum.  It’s said that he saw Centraal Station as the port through which travelers entered the city.  In essence, the Gateway to Amsterdam…

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2 Trackbacks

  1. By Getting from Amsterdam Central Station to Zaanse Schans 25 Oct ’15 at 9:31 pm

  2. By Things to do in The Hague, Visit the Binnenhof & Ridderzaal 5 Jun ’16 at 10:53 am

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