You can reach Amsterdam in any number of ways.
Probably the least suitable way to come is by car.
(The parking place you take may be mine!)
If you do decide to drive, plan on spending € 6 per hour to park in the center
and another € 300 to replace your car radio.
Often, it is more appropriate to reach the city by train or bicycle, or
via one of the many waterways leading to and through town.
You can also, of course, come in by air.
Reaching CWI from Amsterdam by bicycle is a snap. Holland is flat,
meaning no hills, meaning no problems. Unfortunately, "no hills" also means
that nothing will break the wind, which always seems to be blowing from the
direction you are heading. "No hills" also implies that there is nothing to
stop the rather constant stream of rain-bearing clouds that visit the country
from the North Sea. Keep in mind that, once in the city, you will be confronted with Amsterdam's
bridges; although not exactly as challenging as the Alps, the bridges do
provide enough of an energy drain that you may be forced to stop off for a snack now and again at one of the city's fine pastry shops.
A better way to get into town may be to take the train. At present, the
Dutch railways (NS) is busy with a monumental program to double the number of
tracks and to increase the number of trains. The short-term effect of this
project is that all of those cute yellow trains that used to run on time
now barely make it to their intended stations. Of course, they will eventually
make it to some station; get off there, rent a bicycle, and follow the
red and white ANWB signs to the city's center.
This section is recovering from recent climate-change induced floods. Stand by for new material.
While land and sea approaches to the city have their charms, the most direct
way to get to Amsterdam is by air. Amsterdam is served by a number of airlines,
all of which fly into Schiphol Airport.
(You can use the Schiphol reference to find information on airport layout,
airline information and general facilities.
Information on ground transportation to the city centre is also available there.
If you want to fly into Schiphol yourself, you can either take your chances
on the weather and enter via the VFR sector,
or you can file IFR and use one of Schiphol's IFR approaches.
(In both cases, keep in mind that general avaition is not one of the airport's
priorities -- no self-respectin mainport likes passengers to see a row of
Pipers and Cessnas parked on the field.)
The landing fee of approximately € 144 also serves as a general disincentive.
If you are visiting CWI, you should follow the Institute's
directions.
For my current addresses (both professional and personal),
please see my address information page.
Last Updated: 10 November 2010