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Voykit pocket guide · Netherlands
Amstelveen
Skip as a base unless you have a reason: 1 night max, or a half-day from Amsterdam for the Cobra Museum and Stadshart.
Amstelveen is a green, low-rise suburb south of Amsterdam, built up after 1945 and still growing into the polder. It has no old centre to wander: the draw is the Cobra Museum, the Stadshart mall and the Amsterdamse Bos forest on the doorstep. Tram 5 runs from Amsterdam's Leidseplein to Stadshart in about 30 minutes, so most visitors see it as a half-day or a cheaper bed near the Zuidas business district.
- Country
- Netherlands
- Best months
- Apr–Jun, Sep
- Avoid
- Nov–Feb (grey and wet)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- EUR
- Money
- Currency is the euro (EUR). Cards dominate; some shops and cafés are card-only and a few supermarkets accept debit cards but not all credit cards, so carry both.
- Daily spend
- Budget €60–90 excl. bed · Mid €90–150 excl. bed · High €150+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- KPN, Vodafone and Odido run the networks; Lebara and Lyca sell cheap prepaid SIMs in supermarkets and at Schiphol.
- Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance 112
- Plugs
- Types C, F · 230 V · 50 Hz · Standard continental two-pin; UK and US plugs need adapters.
- Tipping
- Café: Round up.; Restaurant: 5–10% for good service; tell the server the total when paying by card.; Taxi: Round up.; Hotel: Not expected.
- Water
- Tap water is among the best in Europe; restaurants may charge for it, so ask.
- Toilets
- Stations charge about €0.70–1; cafés expect you to buy something; free urinals (and a few public toilets) in city centres.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | €2.50–4 |
| Lunch main | €10–18 |
| Dinner main | €18–30 |
| Beer, café / supermarket | €4–6 / €1–2 |
| Tram ride, 1 h ticket | €3.40 (check) |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | €8–20 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- AMS · Amsterdam Schiphol
- About 15–20 min by car or bus; the A9 links the airport to Amstelveen.
Typical fares
- Tram 5 Stadshart → Amsterdam Leidseplein
- about €3.40, about 30 min (check)
- Taxi Schiphol → Amstelveen Stadshart
- €35–50 (check)
- Bus Amstelveen → Aalsmeer
- about €3–4 (check)
Get around
Tram 5 links Stadshart with Amsterdam Zuid station and Leidseplein; tram 25 runs Amsterdam Zuid to Uithoorn and bypasses Stadshart. Buses from the Amstelveen bus station reach Aalsmeer, Uithoorn, Haarlem and Amsterdam Bijlmer. The centre is walkable; the Amsterdamse Bos is best reached by bike or bus.
See and do
Known for
- Cobra Museum of Modern Art
- Amsterdamse Bos
- Stadshart shopping centre
- Japanese and Korean restaurants
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Amsterdam | Tram 5 from Stadshart to Leidseplein, about 30 min | About 40 min |
| Aalsmeer | Bus 171, 257 or 357 from Amstelveen bus station | About 30–40 min |
| Hoofddorp | Bus or train via Schiphol | About 45 min |
| Diemen | Tram to Amsterdam Zuid, then metro and bus | About 1 h |
Sleep
- Stadshart
- Tram 5 terminus, mall, restaurants and aparthotels; best for a car-free stay.
- Oude Dorp (Dorpsstraat)
- Small old-village strip with bars and restaurants, near the museum tram stop.
- Zuidas / Bavincklaan edge
- Business hotels and budget chains; walk to Amsterdam Zuid station for metro and trains.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | HalloHAH-loh |
| Thank you | Dank je weldahnk yuh vel |
| Excuse me | Pardonpar-DON |
| How much is it? | Hoeveel kost het?hoo-VAYL kost ut |
| Can I pay by card? | Kan ik met kaart betalen?kan ik met kart buh-TAH-lun |
| Where is the tram stop? | Waar is de tramhalte?var is duh TRAM-hal-tuh |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Firm handshake with eye contact; three cheek kisses among friends; avoid: Hugging new acquaintances
- Directness: Say what you mean; expect honest, blunt answers; avoid: Taking bluntness as rudeness
- Punctuality: Be on time; diaries plan weeks ahead; avoid: Dropping in unannounced
- Money: Split bills; pay your share; avoid: Showing off wealth
- Homes: Bring flowers or a small gift; congratulate everyone at a birthday; avoid: Expecting dinner if invited for coffee
Scams and watch-outs
- Amstelveen is a suburb, not a sightseeing town: do not book three nights expecting a historic centre.
- The museum tram from Amsterdam runs Sundays Apr–Nov only, and is shortened to Molenweg until 2026 (check).
- Stadshart shops close at 18:00 on most days; Sunday and Monday hours start at 12:00.
- Bikes have priority on cycle paths; look both ways before crossing.
Amstelveen is one of the safer places around Amsterdam; the real risks are bikes on cycle paths, wet cobbles and pickpockets on tram 5 into the city.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Amstelveen yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Cobra Museum of Modern Art
- Amsterdamse Bos
- Stadshart shopping centre
- Japanese and Korean restaurants
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Amstelveen municipality: www.amstelveen.nl/
- GVB Amsterdam public transport: www.gvb.nl/en
- Connexxion Amstelland-Meerlanden: www.connexxion.nl/en/our-routes/travel-areas/amstelland-meerlanden
- Cobra Museum: www.cobra-museum.nl
- Amsterdamse Bos: www.amsterdamsebos.nl/
- Wikivoyage: Amstelveen, revision 5293576 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5293576
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Amstelveen
Naar dit adres, alstublieft
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, fire, ambulance112
No embassies in Amstelveen; most are in The Hague, some consulates in Amsterdam.
Tram 5 runs from Amsterdam Leidseplein to Stadshart; check the last departure before a late night in the city.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/amstelveen). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.