Number of people using Amsterdam public transport drops by more than half
According to the GVB, the number of people using public transport has dropped dramatically, currently standing at only 35 or 40 percent of regular capacity.
Amsterdam public transport
According to the Amsterdam public transport company GVB, the number of public transport users has increased significantly since May of this year but remains far below usual levels. Currently, 300.000 people travel by public transport in the Dutch capital on a weekday. This is a drop of over 600.000 people, as before the coronavirus pandemic there were 938.000 daily users.
However, at the beginning of May, only 10 to 15 percent of the normal number of travellers were using public transport, so the number of travellers has risen following the easing of coronavirus restrictions set by the Dutch government.
A spokesperson for the GVB stated the company hopes numbers will continue to rise this summer, and that 70 percent of travellers will be back on public transport by the end of the year.
Effects of coronavirus on the GVB
The GVB (Municipality Transport Company; Gemeente Vervoerbedrijf) is in charge of public transport for the municipality of Amsterdam, operating metro, tram, bus, and ferry services across the capital. The drop in public transport users that the GVB has experienced since May led to the company suffering losses of up to 20 million euros per month.
The transport company states they have implemented several measures to ensure the GVB will survive despite huge losses. Budgets and investments have been adjusted, and fewer external employees are hired, specifically for non-essential positions.
Although many coronavirus restrictions have been relaxed, a rule is still in place that requires all public transport travellers to wear a mask to limit the risk of spreading the virus.
WE HAVE MORE NEWS FOR YOU!
Subscribe to our weekly newsletter
By clicking subscribe, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy. For more information, please visit this page.
Victoria Séveno
Victoria grew up in Amsterdam, before moving to the UK to study English and Related Literature at the University of York and completing her NCTJ course at the Press Association.
Amsterdam Sex Clubs
Amsterdam is known by many as the city of sin and has a reputation as a place where anything goes. Amsterdam sex clubs, brothels and strip shows are famous the world over and everybody has heard of the Amsterdam Red Light District. Between the coffeeshops and sex shops, the narrow streets are filled with girls who pose suggestively in their windows, beckoning passing tourists inside for some illicit pleasure, but there are also many other forms of sexual entertainment available throughout the city.
If interested in this topic don’t forget to check our Amsterdam escorts page.
How to find Amsterdam erotic entertainment
One thing to keep in mind when visiting Amsterdam sex clubs is the infamous “taxi scam”, in which a club will have a deal with taxi drivers to take customers to their door even though they may not be the closest or best club nearby. It is best to know in advance where you wish to go and get a taxi to the address, or even a street or two away to avoid confrontation.
Amsterdam Sex Shows
For those who may not feel like hiring a girl but still want the famous thrill of Amsterdam sex, one of the city’s strip clubs or live sex shows is the way to go. In these establishments, visitors pay an entrance fee to watch stage shows ranging from stripping to girls performing tricks with ping pong balls and candles all the way to live shows where couples have sex on stage. Be sure to bring your wallet for any of these shows, as titillation in Amsterdam does not come cheap.
One of the most well known Amsterdam sex shows is the Banana Bar in the Red Light District. This bar is exactly what the name suggests and, once you have paid your entrance fee, you will find yourself surrounded by alluring hostesses bearing trays of drinks who are willing to perform various tricks, with or without bananas, for an additional payment. Nearby, the Moulin Rouge and Casa Rosso are two of the most popular live sex shows, with more of a theatre feel and less audience interaction.
Amsterdam Brothels
For those who want to get more involved, Amsterdam sex clubs and brothels offer a chance to meet discreetly with a willing lady to engage in a little adult fun. Not to be confused with Amsterdam escorts, these clubs generally do not do business away from their premises, so you will have to go to them. In most of these clubs prices can vary depending on what you wish to do and with whom, so be sure to arrange everything with the girl of your choice beforehand.
One of the largest chains of sex clubs in the Netherlands, Jan Bik has ten businesses throughout the country. The Amsterdam branch is on the western side of the city centre, just off the busy Haarlemmerstraat. This is one of the best value Amsterdam sex clubs and here you can rent a girl and a room or just a room if you already have a partner with you. For a more high-end experience, sex club Asmara can be found further outside of town at Willem de Zwijgerlaan 70 and offers high class girls, excellent facilities and less hidden charges, although the up front price can be a little higher than elsewhere.
Swingers Clubs in Amsterdam
If you already have a partner and are looking for a way to expand your boundaries, one of the many Amsterdam swingers clubs might be for you. These clubs tend to charge entrance based on whether you are a couple, single lady or single guy and offer a place for like-minded people to come and engage in a wide variety of adult activities.
The Candyclub bills itself as the oldest swingers club in Amsterdam and can be found very close to Oosterpark, east of the city centre at Eikenweg 29. Candyclub has a more relaxed, informal attitude than many Amsterdam sex clubs and prides itself particularly on its easy to join group activities. Another very popular choice for the sexually adventurous in Amsterdam is Sameplace, west of the city centre at Nassaukade 120. This club is also very relaxed, although certain “speciality nights” may involve a particular dress code, such as the fetish nights where black leather is the way to go and the dungeon downstairs gets a lot of use. Sameplace is notable for actively refusing to participate in the “taxi scam” and it can, in fact, be difficult to get a taxi driver to bring you here.
Gay Sex Clubs in Amsterdam
Not all sex clubs in Amsterdam are exclusively for straight people, including the gay-friendly Sameplace swingers club mentioned above, and there are plenty of places for some paid gay fun in Amsterdam. These establishments range from gay saunas where likeminded guys can engage their desires to more formal arrangements where you can hire a professional partner.
Thermos, at Raamstraast 33, is by far the most famous and well-established gay sauna in Amsterdam. Thermos offers traditional spa and sauna facilities as well as its more adult offerings and is open day and night from midday until 8am. For more of a paid service, Boys Club 21 can be found right in the city centre at Spuistraat 21 and has a selection of professional guys as well as themed rooms to hire.
How Many Days Do You Need in Amsterdam?
How many days do you need in Amsterdam to enjoy all that the city offers? While this might be a tricky question to answer, as it depends on what an individual wants, here is an all-inclusive guide on an average stay in Amsterdam.
How long is the average trip to Amsterdam? Typically, 3 to 4 days is quite enough to enjoy the beauty of the “city of canals.”
You’ll even get some extra time to take a half-day tour, to see the beautiful tulips at the Keukenhof Gardens. Although some people might say that that’s too many days as the city is relatively small, what Amsterdam can offer is quite immeasurable.
As the capital city of the Netherlands, Amsterdam is famous not only for the numerous canals that traverse the entire city but also for its rich culture and warm-hearted locals.
When you’re here, you won’t even realize when your vacation days are over – it’s a home away from home. This article will answer that exact question – how many days do you need in Amsterdam, as well as explore the most amazing things you can do while there.
So, why is 3-4 days in Amsterdam enough time? Why not one or 10 days?
Table of Contents
Why You Need Up to 4 Days in Amsterdam
By understanding what Amsterdam offers, we can easily gauge how many days in Amsterdam are enough. But how do you plan your day to ensure that you not only visit all the city’s attractions but also enjoy each visit? Here is a breakdown of your days in Amsterdam that will help maximize your stay.
First Day: Get to Know the City
Before anything else, you should first get acquainted with the city. This way, you can learn some history, explore the streets and the winding canals, as well as know exactly where some of the most renowned sites are.
And, the best way to do this is through a walking tour, a bicycle ride, or even better, a canal tour.
Walking Tour
A walking tour is an excellent way to get a historical overview of almost every landmark in the city, as well as the city itself. You can choose to either use Free Walking Tours or even paid private tours. Most of these tours take between 2 and 3 hours, which means you can do several other things afterward.
An excellent example of such a tour is the “2-Hour Best of Amsterdam Walking Tour” by GetYourGuide. This 2-hour tour usually starts around 3:00 pm, which means that it’s quite ideal for the arrival day.
You will get a guided tour of the top old Amsterdam sites, including the famous Red Light District, the historic Dam Square, and historical buildings, as you walk at the edge of the picturesque canals.
You should definitely take note of these sites, in case you need to visit them later.
A Canal Tour
Amsterdam canals are among the most incredible features of the city. The extensive canal network that traverses the entire city makes Amsterdam what it is.
The city grew around these canals, which makes the two inseparable. A canal tour allows you to experience the city’s beauty in a totally new dimension. And, you don’t have to take expensive boat tours – there are numerous pocket-friendly options that guarantee the best experience.
For just €13.65, you can enjoy a 75- minutes Canal Day Cruise, as you see various historic landmarks like the Amsterdam ship, Skinny Bridge, and the Golden Bend.
Sail through the city’s canals in style, and discover the magnificence of one of Europe’s most famous cities. Check out this Amsterdam canal cruise that we took during our visit.
Amsterdam Bicycle Tour
Besides being known for its numerous canals, Amsterdam is also a city of cyclists. In fact, the Netherlands as a whole is famous for its riding culture. So, what better way to see the city’s landmarks than on a bike? You can easily rent a bike for a few bucks in various shops within the city.
And, if you don’t want to ride alone, you can opt for a group ride around the city. An excellent option for this is the “Small-Group Bike Tour of Central Amsterdam,” a 3-hour tour that includes a local tour guide.
Ride a bike and socialize with a group of around 15 cyclists as you see various old warehouses, charming drawbridges, as well as the city’s most iconic buildings.
Second Day: Visit the Famous Museums
With a total of 50 museums, history, culture, and art lovers, have so much to enjoy. While you might not be able to visit them all, you can pick a few and still get a taste of Amsterdam’s history.
Van Gogh Museum
Although the crowds here are enormous any day, this shouldn’t deter you from visiting this incredible museum. Van Gogh Museum is perhaps the most famous museum in Amsterdam, as well as the most visited site.
The best artwork of Vincent Van Gogh, one of the most influential post-impressionist painters in Western art, is all found here. This means that if you are an art enthusiast, you shouldn’t miss a tour of this museum.
The museum maintains a large collection of Van Gogh’s work, such as the Sunflower, Irises, The bedroom, and the Almond Blossom. All these are arranged chronologically, right from his earliest to the latest artwork. You can reserve the 90 minutes tour with GetYourGuide for just € 21 per person and avoid the long queues.
Visit the Rijksmuseum
Its proximity to the Van Gogh Museum makes Rijksmuseum the next best museum stop, after enjoying Vincent Van Gogh’s work. The museum contains artwork from exemplary Dutch painters like Rembrandt van Rijn, Johannes Vermeer, and Frans Hals.
Some of the famous paintings in this museum include “The Night Watch,” “The Milk Maid,” and “The Marriage Portrait.” There’s so much to see in this museum, with over a million artworks, historical items, and craftworks, which are perfectly preserved.
Visiting MOCO Museum
If you are more of a contemporary art person, then the Modern Contemporary Museum Amsterdam (MOCO) is an excellent place to end your museum tour. This museum, which sits at the heart of the Netherlands capital, is dedicated to exhibiting both modern and contemporary artwork.
Here you can interact with the work of some of the best contemporary artists such as Banksy, a street artist whose real name remains a mystery. A 1.5-hour tour here is sufficient to satisfy your love of contemporary art.
Third-Day: Visiting the City Beaches
Although it might come as a surprise to some people, the city of Amsterdam does enjoy the presence of some great city beaches. While many people are used to visiting beaches near the city, like Zandvoort and Scheveningen, the city offers quite incredible alternatives.
For your third day, you can decide to take a swim or just sand-walk on one of the following beaches.
Strand Zuid Beach
The beach, which sits between the Beatrixpark and Amsterdam RAI, boasts not less than 6,600 square feet of artificial beach property, all for your amusement.
If you are visiting Amsterdam and wish to experience some beach fun, you don’t need to search far from the city. Strand Zuid, although seen as a luxury beach, offers various fun activities for you and your family.
Whether you want to sip some cocktails under the summer sun, take a swim, or just relax on the lounge chairs and hammocks, this is a great place to be.
Pllek
This is another city beach found in the northern part of Amsterdam city. It’s situated along the IJ river, next to the NDSM-Werf.
Although swimming might be impossible, you will undoubtedly enjoy walking on the sandy beach and basking in the sun. You will also enjoy the incredible view of the IJ river.
It’s also home to the PLLEK restaurant where you’ll love the live music performances, art exhibitions, and several other cultural events, as you get a taste of the Netherlands’ best cuisines.
IJmuiden
Ijmuiden is an incredible beach to spend your afternoon at. Sited at the mouth of River IJ, the beach is quite famous for the various water sports that take place here.
If you desire more than a cool, relaxing time on the beach reading a favorite book, you can try out kitesurfing, Blokarting, or paddleboarding. There’s so much to do here to occupy your entire afternoon.
Fourth Day: Explore Beyond Amsterdam City
There are dozens of things to do and sites to see near Amsterdam city. And, you can dedicate that fourth day to just that. Here is what you can’t afford to miss: A tour to the Netherlands isn’t complete without the sight of the beautiful Tulips.
Keukenhof is one of the largest flower fields in the world, and in Europe, it’s even nicknamed the Garden of Europe. These fields occupy 32 hectares of land, with over seven million flowers planted each year, and it’s a sight you can’t forego.
Located around 40 km from Amsterdam, you’ll just need approximately 40 minutes to reach the fields. You can decide to take a private short road trip from Amsterdam or book a guided half-a-day tour to the Tulips gardens.
A Guided Half-Day Keukenhof Tour and 1 Attraction by GetYourGuide is a perfect tour to conclude your stay in Amsterdam.
So, How Many Days Do You Need in Amsterdam?
Frankly speaking, even with a whole month’s stay in Amsterdam, you can never run short of things to do or see. Whether it’s within the city or beyond its borders, the number of days to spend in Amsterdam will always be debatable – it’s all about how much time you have.
However, an average of 3 to 4 days is sufficient to give you a taste of the city’s best offerings. But that’s only with proper planning. We hope that this guide on how many days you need in Amsterdam, answers your questions and that your next trip here will be amazing.
Source https://www.iamexpat.nl/expat-info/dutch-expat-news/number-people-using-amsterdam-public-transport-drops-more-half
Source https://www.amsterdam.info/sex-clubs/
Source https://viatravelers.com/how-many-days-do-you-need-in-amsterdam/