Air Canada Vacations

Before you leave Canada

Entry requirements

A valid Canadian passport is required for Canadians intending to visit the Netherlands. The passport should be valid for at least the expected duration of stay in the country. For all other nationalities, consult your consulate or tourist board for details. You can also visit www.voyage.gc.ca for up-to-date information.

Baggage
Please refer to aircanada.com for Baggage Information.

Airport check-in
It is recommended that you present yourself at the airport counter of the airline indicated on your voucher 3 hours prior to departure. Air Canada or Air Canada Vacations representatives will be available starting at 5 a.m.

During your stay
Getting around
Amsterdam boasts an impressive public transport network including metros, buses, trams, ferries and trains to help you get around the capital.

Train
If arriving in Amsterdam by train, it's likely that your journey will terminate at Amsterdam Central Station. However, in total, Amsterdam has nine train stations.

Amsterdam Central
•    Amsterdam Central Station: 10-minute walk from the Dam and Nieuwmarkt. Near the ferry of Amsterdam-Noord (Amsterdam north)

Amsterdam-Oost (Amsterdam east) and Watergraafsmeer  
•    Amsterdam Muiderpoort Station: get off here for Amsterdam-Oost (Amsterdam east), Dappermarkt
•    Amsterdam Amstel Station: this station is located next to the Rembrandttoren. The Amstel river is a 10-minute walk away.

Amsterdam-West (Amsterdam west)
•    Amsterdam Sloterdijk Station: 5 minutes by tram/bus to the Bos en Lommerdistrict
•    Amsterdam Lelylaan Station: get off here for Amsterdam-West, and the Slotervaart/Overtoomse Veld districts

Amsterdam-Zuid (Amsterdam south)
•    Amsterdam RAI Station: get off here for the RAI and the Rivierenbuurt
•    Amsterdam Zuid/WTC Station: get off here for the World Trade Center and Buitenveldert

Amsterdam Zuid-Oost (Amsterdam southeast)
•    Duivendrecht Station: get off here for north entrance Amsterdam ArenA
•    Amsterdam Bijlmer Station: get off here for south entrance Amsterdam ArenA, Heineken Music Hall, Woonmall Villa Arena and shopping centre Amsterdamse Poort

Car
For those wishing to navigate Amsterdam by car, the most important road to be familiar with is the A10 Ring Road, which loops around the city. This road is intersected by 18 S-routes, each offering a direct path into a separate district of the city. If you know which S-route to use, your journey is likely to be much simpler. Before arriving, it is advisable to learn about the city's motorways, roads and parking options in order to make the most of your trip.

Public transport – tram, metro, bus and ferry
Travelling within Amsterdam is straight-forward and convenient. There is an extensive transport network connecting city districts, and commuters can choose a variety of methods to reach their destination as efficiently as possible. Passengers can purchase an OV-Chipkaart (chipcard) for use on all public transport in Amsterdam including buses, trams and metros.

Tram
Trams are common in Amsterdam, with routes heading out from the centre in all directions. Trams are ideal for short journeys around the city centre, as well as for travelling to other districts.

Metro
Amsterdam's metro runs from Central Station to the outer districts. This can be a fast and efficient way to travel, though the trains only run overground away from the centre, so you lose out on the picturesque view.

Bus
Amsterdam operates a full bus network, which will take you anywhere you have to go.

Ferry
Behind Central Station, ferries hustle their way across the River IJ, transporting passengers to various locations in the north of Amsterdam. Some specialist ferries also travel along the river to other districts of the city.

Cycling
Cycling is a fun, efficient and easy way of getting around Amsterdam – just like the locals do! With bicycle rental shops all over the city, it’s quite simple to pedal away. And it’s quite safe if you follow a few simple rules!  Also, follow any instructions the vendor might give you to park and lock-up the bike in authorized locations only. MacBike offers a free multi-lingual leaflet on how to cycle safely through Amsterdam.

Taxi
Taxis are a popular form of transport in a city where many residents don't own a car and tourists are plentiful. You don’t have to search far if you want to travel by taxi in Amsterdam. About 3000 taxis were registered in the city as of August 2009. These taxis can be hailed on the street or found at one of more than 50 official taxi ranks located around the city.


Shopping
The Nine Streets
Amsterdam’s historic canal ring was dug into nine little streets (‘negen straatjes’) during the 17th century. These narrow streets intersect the main canals between the Leidsestraat and the Jordaan district, and are dotted with great restaurants, cafés, art galleries, jewellers, boutiques and vintage stores. With an exceptional array of styles, trends and prices, this area is truly a shopper's paradise.

Upscale designers and labels
The Museum District (Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum and Stedelijk Museum) is home to the majority of Amsterdam’s luxury boutiques and designer stores. The P.C. Hooftstraat is Amsterdam’s most upscale and exclusive shopping street. Along three short blocks is every label and designer you desire: Chanel, Louis Vuitton, DKNY, Mulberry, Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger and more.

Department stores
The Maison de Bonneterie is an upscale department store on the Kalverstraat with labels such as Armani Jeans, Burberry, Diesel, Dolce & Gabbana, DKNY, Ferragamo, Gant, Hugo Boss, Polo Ralph Lauren, Riani and Marc Cain. Vroom & Dreesmann, the largest department store of the Netherlands, offers easy and affordable shopping. De Kalvertoren shopping centre, home to some 45 shops, sells many leading labels including Mango and Tommy Hilfiger Denim. Magna Plaza, an exclusive shopping centre in a stunning monumental building, is located close by at the Dam Square. Located right on Dam Square is the Bijenkorf: a trendy, dynamic department store with a broad collection, innovative themes and consumer initiatives.

The Kalverstraat and Leidsestraat
The two main shopping streets in Amsterdam’s city centre are the Kalverstraat and the Leidsestraat. Of the two, the Leidsestraat has the more exclusive shops such as Filippa K, Karen Millen, Paul Warmer and Shoebaloo. The Kalverstraat is home to all the shops you would expect in a large city like H&M, Mexx, Zara and Miss Sixty. There are also several department stores here.

The Haarlemmerdiijk
The Haarlemmerdiijk is a fantastic shopping street, nice and long, filled with shops all the way to Central Station. It is a lively strip where you will find everything from shoes, independent labels and second-hand clothes to food, interior design and Dutch collectables.

Opening hours
Shops are open from Monday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Saturday until 5 p.m. and Thursday evenings until 9 p.m.). Sunday noon to 5 p.m.

Dining

Amsterdam is a cultural and, consequently, a culinary melting pot. There are plenty of restaurants and cafés specialising in every cuisine your pallet desires.

Typical Dutch cuisine consists of hearty pea soup, dinner pancakes, meat croquettes, thick fries with real mayo and wholesome variations of meat and potato dishes are just a few examples. Fresh seafood, such as herring, mussels and shrimp are available all year round. There is also a strong Indonesian influence in Dutch kitchens, with nasi goreng (fried rice) and peanut sauce as common as the Dutch kibbeling (deep-fried cod) and poffertjes (mini-pancakes).

The Dutch also have their fair share of fast food. Apart from the international chains, there are plenty of deep-fried products to be found in snack bars throughout the city. There are also “Febo” snack bars where, after inserting some change, you can get your treat right out of the wall. Brown cafés and pubs normally serve up great sampling plates with bitterballen (mini meat-croquettes), or cubed Dutch cheese and liverwurst served with a strong mustard. All are best complimented with a pint of Dutch beer.

Sightseeing

The Old Church
Situated in the heart of the Red Light District, Amsterdam’s Oude Kerk presents visitors with a puzzling contrast at first sight. The earliest church built in Amsterdam, it has witnessed 700 years of city history. Today, this oldest surviving city monument still charms visitors with its architectural and cultural treasures.

Museums
In Amsterdam there are 37 museums with incredibly diverse collections and exhibitions. The biggest and most well known include: Van Gogh Museum, Rijksmuseum, Stedelijk Museum, Hermitage, Anne Frank Huis and Rembrandthuis. There are also many small museums, which offer specialist collections and ever-surprising special exhibitions. There is literally something for everyone.

The Canal District
Amsterdammers have known for centuries that the canal district is a special area. The canals have been praised and immortalized in numerous songs, poems and stories and some of Amsterdam’s best-known events take place in the canal district. And now Amsterdam’s canal district has been added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Flowers
Amsterdam is famous for its flowers, and the floral industry is a blooming important sector.   One of the first stops should be the Bloemenmarkt, otherwise known as the floating flower market. Rain or shine, summer or winter, the Singel flower market is one of the most colourful and fragrant places in Amsterdam. All the stalls are on floating barges along the canal, which is a relic from the days when the flowers were shipped in from the horticultural areas around the city by barges.

The Tulip Museum
Located in the Jordaan, the Tulip Museum pays tribute to this delicate flower – which ignited great passion and great envy over the centuries. The museum details Holland's fascinating horticultural history.

Canal cruising
Amsterdam has 165 canals with a total length of 100 km.  For an entirely different perspective, Amsterdam has got to be seen from the water. There are a number of excellent tour operators offering a variety of canal cruise experiences – from open-top sightseeing by day to romantic candlelit dinner cruises.
 
The Red Light District
Leaving nothing to the imagination, most stereotypes about this area are true: there are plenty of sex shops, peep shows, brothels, an elaborate condom shop, a sex museum and of course prostitutes in red-lit windows. The best time to see the fluorescent red glow of the Red Light District is once the sun goes down. The area is bustling with visitors and groups of tourists. It is best to travel in a pair or in a group, as the area also attracts some seedier characters. Grab a map and venture out or if you’re keen to learn more, take one of the many specialised tours.


Entertainment & nightlife

Amsterdam is home to many orchestra's, theatre and dance troupes, comedians and experimental performance groups. It is a city which inspires and is a breeding ground for budding talent and creative innovation.

Amsterdam has dozens of cinemas. Near Munt square you’ll find two cinemas with several halls: Pathe De Munt and Pathe Tuschinski. The Tuschinski cinema is worth visiting for its beautiful art-deco interior alone. There’s another mega-cinema complex near the Arena stadium: Pathe Arena. All cinemas and most cafés show a playlist of current movies.

Lovers of arthouse films will find plenty to their liking, too. Many film theatres present both commercial and arthouse films. A good example is The Movies, housed in a former brothel.

During the summer months, open-air performances are staged in Vondelpark almost every evening. They may vary from cabaret and dance to loud pop music.

Coffeeshops
It is permitted to smoke cannabis or hashish in a coffeeshop in Amsterdam. It is useful to know, however, that most other establishments do not allow this. Coffeeshops are permitted to sell a customer a maximum of five grams and the possession of this, although technically against the law, is tolerated by the authorities. Coffeeshops are taxed and strictly regulated. You must be 18 years of age to enter a Coffeeshop. All hard drugs and the sale of soft drugs on the street are strictly illegal and therefore punishable by law. Please note that smoking regular tobacco in a coffeeshop is not allowed due to the smoking ban.


Casinos
In the Netherlands, gambling is largely state-controlled. Certain games of chance such as Black Jack, Poker and Roulette may only be played in government-controlled casinos. There are two in Amsterdam: Holland Casino at Max Euweplein (near Leidseplein) and another at Schiphol airport.

The nightlife in Amsterdam is versatile, cosmopolitan and never sleeps. Enjoy an intimate dinner or dance to top DJs until 5 a.m. From night theatre to lounge bars; coffeeshops to clubs; cosy pubs to grand cafes, Amsterdam offers something for every taste.

Your departure from destination
Hotel checkout
Hotel checkout times may vary depending on the property but generally you must vacate the room by 12 p.m. (noon).

Duty-free shopping
After an absence of 7 days or more, Canadian residents are permitted to return with a maximum of 750 CAD of merchandise per trip without paying duty. Each time you leave Canada for at least 48 hours, you are eligible to declare up to 200 CAD of merchandise. A written declaration may be requested. Each adult is allowed 1.1 litres (40 oz.) of liquor, 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or cigarillos, 200 tobacco sticks and 200 grams (7 oz.) of manufactured tobacco. To calculate the number of days absent, do not count the day you left Canada but include the day you return. If you include cigarettes, tobacco sticks and loose tobacco in your personal exemption allowance, only a partial exemption will apply. You will have to pay a minimum duty on these products unless they are marked “Canada-Duty paid.” Canadian made products sold at duty-free shops will be marked this way.

During your holiday
Need help or assistance with your vacation?
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