About Amsterdam

General Information

Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands is the largest city in the country with a population of just over 790.000 inhabitants. Amsterdam is located in the province ‘Noord-Holland’, situated in the west. It is one of the most popular destinations in Europe, receiving more than 4.5 million tourists annually.

Weather in Amsterdam

The warmest months are from June to August, with temperatures between 20 – 27 degrees Celsius. There are rarely extreme temperatures in Amsterdam. The air is relatively humid and fog is common in autumn and spring. The weather in Amsterdam is fairly mild during wintertime. However temperatures can drop below freezing. The chance of extreme cold is sporadic. On some days there may be snow fall.

Language in Amsterdam

The official language in the Netherlands is Dutch. But from the age 7 to 77, almost everyone can speak perfectly English!

Currency in Amsterdam

The European euro (€) is the currency in Amsterdam and in the rest of the Netherlands.

Electricity & Power Outlets & Water in Amsterdam

As in most of Europe, the Netherlands uses 230 (220-240) volts AC (50 cycles), compared to 110-120 volts AC (60 cycles) in the United States and Canada. Upward converters that change 110-120 volts to 220-240 volts are difficult to find in Holland, so bring one with you.

Tap water is safe to drink. The Netherlands (and especially Amsterdam which has the best water in the country) has the safest and cleanest tap water in Europe.

Important Phone Numbers in Amsterdam

Call 112: In life-threatening situations, call the emergency helpline by dialing 112. An ambulance, fire department or police will be dispatched to help you.

If you are deaf or hard of hearing, you can call a text equivalent via 0800 8112.

Telephone Country code: +31
Telephone Area code: 020
Emergency number: 112 (for first aid, police, fire department)

Time Zone in Amsterdam

Amsterdam is on Central European Time (CET), which is Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), or Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), plus 1 hour.

Shopping Hours in Amsterdam

Monday from 10 or 11am to 6pm
Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 9am to 6pm
Thursday from 9am to 9pm
Saturday from 9am to 5pm
Sunday stores are open from noon to 5pm