Public transport
The municipality of Amstelveen has a well established, intricate public transport system. Virtually all the housing in Amstelveen can be reached by public transport.
Main public transport directions exists between:
- Amstelveen and the city of Amsterdam by urban rail and bus (urban rail line 5 or 51*, bus line 347/357/174)
- Amstelveen and Schiphol Airport (fast and frequent bus connection with bus line 300).
Amstelveen’s bus station, situated to the west of the city centre, is the central hub for most public transport bus lines. There are tram stops and the express tram to the east of the city centre. For more information about any public transport in the Amstelveen area visit the website of GVB www.gvb.nl
OV- chip card
You can use the OV-chip card at the public transport. When getting on or off a bus or tram you need to check in or out at the card readers. At the end of the ride the fare will be automatically deducted from your OV-chip card. At metro 51 you need to check in and out at the platform or entries of the stations.
Where to buy the OV-chip card
In Amstelveen you can buy disposable or anonymous cards from an automat on an urban-rail stop (at the platform). These automats always have the possibility to load extra money on your card. Using credit cards is not possible. You can pay by PIN or cash (coins and notes). At the Amstelveen Bus station (in the corner) there is a selling point with counter and automat, called ‘Breaxx’. At Breaxx you can also order a personal card. Another counter which provides all chip card facilities is to be found in the railway station ‘Amsterdam Zuid’. This counter is called ‘GVB Tickets and info’. Some tobacco shops or supermarkets in Amstelveen also have simple automats to recharge your OV Chip card, but here it is only possible to pay with ‘PIN’ (no credit cards or cash).
On www.gvb.nl/ovchipcard you can see where a loading point in your neighbourhood is available. For more information on the OV-chip card please call 0900 0980 or www.OV-chipkaart.nl (English version available).
Trains
The nearest train stations are WTC, Amsterdam Bijlmer/ArenA and Schiphol. The three stations provide excellent national and international train connections. Tickets can be bought from the desk at the station or from a machine where you can pay with coins or a credit card.
Taxi
Unlike the situation in some other countries, taxis cannot be hailed in the streets. A taxi must be booked by telephone or you can catch one at a taxi stand.
For more information about any public transport in the Netherlands you can call the information line on 0900 9292 or you can go to www.9292.nl