About Amsterdam

About Amsterdam

Last-minute concerns always arise before a trip, and many of them can be resolved by taking a look at our general information about Amsterdam.

Necessary Documents

Find out the necessary documentation to visit the Netherlands and see if you need a passport or visa to travel to Amsterdam, depending on your nationality.
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Travel insurance

If you are traveling to Amsterdam, you might want to look up the various types of travel insurances that exist for the Netherlands like the EHIC.
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Language

Dutch is the official language of the Netherlands. Learn how to say the basic words in Dutch to get by during your stay in the country.
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Prices

Amsterdam is not one of the cheaper destinations in Europe, so it's important to know how much things cost so you can budget well and save money.
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Climate

The weather averages in Amsterdam are very similar to those in London, although the temperature is a little lower and level of rainfall somewhat higher.
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Public Holidays

Find out when the Netherlands celebrates its public holidays and when the most important festivities take place and what landmarks and museums close.
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Opening times

Opening times in Amsterdam aren't much different to other European capitals. Get to know the opening times for shops and museums.
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History of Amsterdam

History of Amsterdam

Learn about the history of Amsterdam: how it was founded, the Spanish influence, its independence, its golden age and how it continues to develop.
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Curious facts about Amsterdam

Curious facts about Amsterdam

Amsterdam is an extremely special and unique city, full of surprising things. It is worth reading about its fun facts and then watch out for them.
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More Information

Amsterdam Facts & Figures

Amsterdam has a population of more than 900,000 people.

Electricity and Plugs

The Netherlands uses the classic “Euro” plug, also known as type C and type F. If you are from the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, Australia or the United States, you’ll need to bring and adaptor or ask to borrow one at your hotel.

Healthcare

If you are an EU or UK citizen, you have access to the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) that will enable you to have access to healthcare at a reduced cost or sometimes for free. For citizens from the United States, Canada, Australia or other non-European countries, we recommend getting health insurance before traveling to The Netherlands, as any healthcare needed won't be covered. However, we recommend getting some type of travel insurance before travelling since healthcare can occasionally be expensive. 

You can purchase our travel insurance before your trip for peace of mind.

Time Zone

Amsterdam is in the Central European Time Zone (GMT+1).

Business Opening Times

Shops in Amsterdam open from Monday to Fridays (9am – 6pm) and Saturdays from 9am until 5pm approximately. Some stores also close on Monday mornings.

Contrarily, souvenir shops are open until 10pm every day.

Important Phone Numbers

  • Country code for Holland: +31
  • Area code for Amsterdam: 20
  • Emergencies: 112
  • General Police: (+31) 9008844