When to visit

Late April to June and September–October are our picks: long light, fewer crowds than midsummer, and the city lives outside. July and August are busy; winter is dark but cosy — though museums and bruin cafés often shut for renovations then.

From the airport

Schiphol is basically in the city. Skip the taxi queue — trains to Centraal run every few minutes, take about 15 minutes, and you can pay by tapping your bank card. Just always tap in and tap out with the exact same card or device.

Getting around

Tap in and out on trams, buses, and metro with any contactless card. Better: do as locals do and get on a bike — but ride like you mean it, lanes here have rules and speed.

Working hours

Shops open late-ish (11:00 is normal), close around 18:00, and many stay shut on Monday mornings. Thursday is koopavond — late shopping night. Kitchens close early; don't plan dinner after 21:30.

Tips

Service is included. Rounding up or leaving 5–10% for good service is appreciated, never expected.

What to know in advance

Book the big museums (Rijksmuseum, Vincent van Gogh Museum) well ahead. If you're staying longer or expect to come back often, get a Museumkaart — a subscription covering almost every museum in the Netherlands — or a Cineville card for cinemas; the city has a lot of wonderful ones. Bank card is king — some places don't take cash at all. And check out our neighbourhood guide before picking where to stay.