Overview
The Amsterdam Metro (Dutch: Amsterdamse Metro) is a rapid transit system serving the city of Amsterdam and extending into the neighboring municipalities of Diemen and Ouder-Amstel. Operated by GVB, the municipal public transport company, the metro provides a reliable way to navigate the city's various districts. To ride the metro, you can board at any of the 39 stations along the five lines; the system is integrated with other local transport modes like trams and buses, making it easy to transition between different parts of the capital.
The network
The Amsterdam transit network consists of several distinct modes of transport:
- Metro: The metro system includes five lines: 50 (Ringlijn/Ring Line), 51, 52 (Noord/Zuidlijn), 53, and 54.
- Tram & Light-rail: An extensive tram network provides local connectivity throughout the city. Note that a portion of what was once line 51 is now served by the Amsteltram.
- Suburban Rail: Regional and intercity trains are operated by Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS).
- Buses: A wide variety of bus lines serve both local and regional routes.
- Ferries: These provide water-based transport across the IJ river and other waterways.
Tickets & fares
When traveling through the city, you can use several payment methods for metro, tram, and bus services. You may use an OV-chipkaart or the OVpay system to pay your fares. For specific regional travel, such as from Eindhoven Airport, prices are approximately €2.83 to €3.22 for local buses using OV-chipkaart or OVpay. Train fares vary significantly based on distance and operator; for example, a single train ticket from Eindhoven to Amsterdam is approximately €25.60 (2026 pricing). For those traveling by car, you can utilize P+R (Park and Ride) locations where parking costs roughly €8-13 per day if you use an OV-chipkaart or a disposable GVB OV-chipkaart.
From the airport
Depending on which airport you arrive at, there are several ways to reach the city center:
- Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS): You can take a train directly to Amsterdam Centraal.
- Eindhoven Airport (EIN): Take a local bus (such as the Bravo/Hermes 400 or 401) to Eindhoven Centraal, then catch a train to Amsterdam Centraal.
- Rotterdam The Hague Airport (RTM): You can take a city bus (RET airport shuttle bus 33) to Rotterdam Centraal and then transfer to a train to reach Amsterdam.
Etiquette & customs
While specific behavioral rules like "standing on the right" are not detailed in the source material, it is standard practice to follow local signage and instructions provided at stations and on vehicles to ensure a smooth journey for all passengers.
Consider using an OV-chipkaart or OVpay for easier navigation across different transport modes within the city.