Driving in Amsterdam

d-type · Post by **d-type** » Wed 16th Nov 2005 05:19 am

can anoyone tell me 100% sure if i can use an Australian drivers licence to drive cars in Amsterdam and what is the traffic and streets like there?

thanks.

Boner · Post by **Boner** » Wed 16th Nov 2005 11:37 am

I'm pretty sure you'd be able to drive in Amsterdam but the big question is why? The trams are excellent, they also have buses, canal buses and bikes (loads of bikes tbh) - I myself have driven for a living and class myself as a pretty competent driver but I wouldn't even think about driving in Amsterdam sobre yet alone stoned.

d-type · Post by **d-type** » Thu 17th Nov 2005 02:58 am

im not too fond of public transport but it might be the best way to go. I was going to rent a car since i will be possibly staying for a month. Plus i want to drive out of the city and goto somewhere like by a lake and get stoned in my car.

Boner · Post by **Boner** » Thu 17th Nov 2005 10:51 am

I'm not a fan on British public transport but the Dutch public transport is excellent, the train service is very good as well for travelling all over The Netherlands www.ns.nl in Amsterdam theres a park called Vondel Park www.amsterdam.info/parks/vondelpark/ lots of people sit here and have a smoke.

Post by **Lemming** » Thu 17th Nov 2005 05:15 pm

Headmaster here

I'm moving this topic from Announcements to Amsterdam General.
I've driven to Amsterdam but not around the city. The centre is so small you can walk around it quite easily. As Boner says, the public transport system is excellent when you want to go further.
Another problem with driving in the city is parking.

shroomguy · Post by **shroomguy** » Sun 20th Nov 2005 06:19 pm

I dunno about the question for the driving license.

But I wouldn't recommand to drive in amsterdam. My recommendation would be to park the car in Haarlem in the underground parking in front of the train station....then take the train which is about 15mn max.

Public transport in the netherland are cheap and efficient, and even if they catch you without a ticket you should be able not to have to pay a fine, they seems pretty relax

Boner · Post by **Boner** » Sun 20th Nov 2005 07:49 pm

shroomguy wrote:Public transport in the netherland are cheap and efficient, and even if they catch you without a ticket you should be able not to have to pay a fine, they seems pretty relax

Dont know where you get your info from but its all BS, if caught on a train from November 1st (I think) you have to pay for the fare + €35 fine.

Where are you from anyway shroomguy?

Larry · Post by **Larry** » Mon 21st Nov 2005 01:11 am

A couple of weeks ago I rented a car at Schiphol for one day leaving it parked over night in Astelveen along the #5 tram line. I spent about 400 km driving around the Northern provinces. It was pretty uneventful although I had trouble getting through most of the good sized cities but it was no big deal as I had no planned route.I had great maps but a navigator was what I really needed. City driving wasn't bad but I definately would not drive in the Centrum of Amsterdam- there's just too many other riders, drivers, walkers etc. Freeway and country driving was easy with even the small country lanes being in good condition with great signage.

One slight problem that I had was that the hold the car company put on my credit card to cover the deductible from the insurance put my card over the limit so I couldn't use it until I returned the car. Luckily I had enough cash for the day but it gave me some worry until I figured out what had happened.

Epsilon · Post by **Epsilon** » Thu 15th Dec 2005 11:19 am

I think parking in AMS runs well over 20 Euro a day ...In Haarlem it's 15 Euro daily at the car park. ( June 05 Numbers) A taxi to the city can be in the 30-45 range. The rental companies offer better rates in town vs. Schipol as one doesnt pay the "Airport Surcharge" ... With SIXT offering the best rates and least hastle (in our experience)...As for "driving by a lake" the Isselmeer should offer a few opportunities,with the town of Hoorn less than an hour out of AMS, offering a coffeeshop break (de Boot within a 100 meters of the towns Isselmeer Prominade) , then a trip across the Afsluitdyke , where theres a nice pullover or two to burn one. Next thing you know, you're in Fryslan . Great Coffeeshops in Leeuwarden, or maybe continue along the Isselmeer some more to Hindeloopen (beautiful little town) or Stavoren (where theres a ferry back to Enkhuizen in Noord Holland ) ...anyway...enjoy,but add me to the chorus for not driving in AMS .But for most certainly venturing OUT of AMS via Auto.

Bhang Buddie · Post by **Bhang Buddie** » Tue 2nd Oct 2007 06:43 am

As the saying goes, 'why drive when you can fly'. And as others have said, driving in the 'Dam is the last thing you should ever do as you should do it when leaving. I drove from London to the 'Dam and somehow found the hotel I wanted - I don't know how to this day - it's not something I'd do willingly again. Take a tram.