The Stedelijk won't re-open until December 2010 at the earliest I'm afraid. There are occasional exhibitions of part of it's collection elsewhere in Amsterdam and indeed the Netherlands.

bookmarking - thanks for all the useful info

thanks isabel

NOTES ON MY WEEK IN AMSTERDAM DEC 31-JAN 6

CENTRAAL STATION STILL IN CHAOS
The rebuilding of Amsterdam's Centraal train station continues as well as work on the new underground Metro line that will run smack thru (under) the station from north to south.
The station's main entrance is currently closed and the whole plaza in front of it completely walled off so pedestrians must make major detours to get out the front door.
The rear of the station's expansion is somewhat done - many buses now run on the ramp built on the backside of the station (facing the harbor) and taxis and private cars also ply this area.

Centraal Station will remain chaos for some considerable time. They commence boring the new metro tunnels from CS on March 11, so things may get worse before they get better.

Also note that Rotterdam is OV Chipkaart only from today, and Amsterdam plans to follow shortly. This does not apply to the NS trains to either city yet. Current planning is for the whole country to be using it from next year. Strippenkaarten will no longer be valid then.

We'll be arriving at Centraal Station and looking for the Stop/Go bus to Prinsengracht. Should we go out the back door and turn left? Also, has the official tourist help desk moved from the front of the station? Thanks, one month to go!

melissa, go out the front door and follow the signs to the stop/go bus stop.
The tourist information is still where it always was, just a bit harder to reach than it used to be ;)

There is also a VVV or Tourist Info Office inside Centraal Station, right on track #1 - same track as the Burger King

Adjoining the main VVV office, where Hetismij confirms it is as always is the GVB or Public Transport Office where you can cop tram tickets and presumably soon the OP Chipkaart - for now Strippen Kaarts for multiple tram rides. The OP Chipkaart (name?) thing soon to be implemented may change all that - no more Strip Cards, etc.

The main door of the train station is totally blocked off (was in early Jan '10) so i assume Hetismij means another main exit to the right of the blocked off main door?

OV Chipkaart Pal. openbaar vervoer = public transport.

Amsterdam wants to drop the strippenkaart from April, but the government is not keen. Rotterdam already has dropped it. The confirmed intention is for all public transport in the Netherlands to be using the chipkaart from sometime next year.

The GVB is still opposite the main entrance, but you do have to go out the side door on the right (as you exit), and work your way back to get to it.

hetismij, I hope we get a chance to meet up in Amsterdam! I know you live out of town so it may not be convenient for you, but if it works out, great. Let's email each other closer to June; I'll be in Amsterdam at the end of that month.

You can meet at Hetismij's local Coffeeshop - Lucky Luik - they even have a special bong there with her name on it.

Right next to the one for Palenque Bob from Michigan ;).

Lucky Luik? The kraakpand? long gone.

THE NEW LIBRARY

Shanghainese on Nov 4, 09

The Library: across from the floating chinese seafood restaurant, 1,000 free computers that anyone can walk in and use in a modern and pleasing environ. From the 8th floor cafe terrace, one can have a bird's eye view of the city.

Well i agree with Shanghainese about this new library - just to the east of the main train station and yes about smack in front of the humongous floating Chinese Restaurant

I took the escalator up and down to look at every floor of the library (free to enter for all it seems) and yup zillions of computers that even on a holiday weekend were mainly all being used.

And the 8th floor restaurant - featuring a La Place(?) restaurant - kind of a cafeteria featuring deli foods, salads, hot cooked foods, etc. - in summer there is an outdoor section overlooking Amsterdam!

this has gotta be one of the neatest and sweetest libraries (or media centers/) i've ever seen.

La Place are owned by V&D and are excellent places for anything from a cup a coffee to a full meal for a reasonable price.

Yes hetismij - i love La Places - there is one that dominates the upper level of an indoor shopping mall right in the heart of the pedestrian main shopping zone, close to the Munt Plein - cafeteria style but with IMO excellent food for a decent price - it always seems jammed when i walk by it.

Hetismij - a FodorFriend living in Holland posted this useful info about the new OV chipcard (similar to London's Oyster Card i believe) coming into operation in Amsterdam this June:

Hetismij posted:

<From 3 June the OV chipcard will be the only ticket accepted on buses trams and metro in Amsterdam. This is already the case in Rotterdam.

http://www.gvb.nl/english/travellers...whichcard.aspx provides some information on the new cards. The best place to go for advice and to purchase your card is the GVB office opposite Centraal Station.>

Topping for twiggers
and also to copy from another thread artstuff's comments on the National Museumkaart and how useful it can be - in many ways and not just for art - clean free toilets all over the city - never thought of that as a part of what the card provides - as well as being able to go again and again into a certain museum rather than having to exhuast yourself doing it all in just one shot as you would if paying admission each time.

artstuff on Jun 3, 2010
We purchased the National Museumkaart the last time we were in Amsterdam, and definately got our money's worth out of it. We chose the Museumkaart over the iAmsterdam Card because we were in Amsterdam for 2 days at the beginning of our trip, and then returned for another 3 days at the end of the trip (we left to chase the ghost of vanGogh in the south of France).

Having the card made it possible to pop into some of the smaller museums/churchs that we might not have visited, for a quick look around (20 minutes to an hour). And more importantly, the card gave us access to toilets all over the city. There's a bathroom in every museum (except maybe the houseboat museum, but then there is a pissor outside, on the corner, for the men).

Since you are into architecture, another site to add to your list should be the Amstelkring (Church in the Attic). You'll have a new appreciation for attics.

Thank you so much Palenque :-)

hetismij, I'll be in Amsterdam for a short stop the end of June. I know you're not technically in town, but if convenient, drop me a line at leely again @ gmail . com and perhaps we can GTG. Although I find I'm not my usual sparkling self after a trip to Africa--post-safari blues. ;)

Hetismij holds court in her favorite Coffeeshop in Amsterdam - Mellow Yellow - the original one that purportedly was the first coffeeshop (not cafe) in Amsterdam. You'll have a high time with her there.

but i would not count on Hetismij reading this here so you should post that in a separate post IMO

Where I can find a complete listing of the benefits of the Museumkaart?

There are some churches outside of Amsterdam that I'd like to see if they are included.

At Van Gogh: Is there a separate line for the museumkaart?

Where is the best place to purchase the card?

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I'm trying to figure out the transportation in Amsterdam. I understand you can get these disposable cards (kind of like the Oyster card that London has). Are these good for trams + buses? Do trams cost money?

What amounts are advisable to put on the disposable card (4 day visit)?

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Ill be taking the train in from the airport. Can I take care of all these things right in the Centraal Station (i.e., Museumkaart + disposable transit cards)? Is it organized and easy to find?