I Amsterdam card/value?Netherlands
 

Hi, We are trying to decide if this card is a good deal. The cost for 48 hours is 65 euros I think from the info on the Internet. (not sure I have the official site tho). It does cover the Van Gogh museum, and trams, both of which we will use, only partial pay on Rijks museum 2.5 euro, plus some other museums. Tram card is about $15. I think. Doesn't cover A. Frank house either. What do others think about this? Best to purchase ahead? Thanks for response. How much are canal rides of 1 and 1/2 hours? Are there senior rates for museums? John

I think it's of minimal value, for 65 euros. Most museums have senior rates (65+)

You can get an ordinary two-day ticket for the trams for €12.50:
http://en.gvb.nl/ontdek-amsterdam

Or you can get a combination ticket for travel on the trains from Schiphol and travel within Amsterdam for €20:
http://en.gvb.nl/ontdek-amsterdam/am...ravel-ticket-0

You can get canal tours from €10.50 upwards:
http://www.rederijkooij.nl/en
http://www.lovers.nl/en/
http://www.blueboat.nl/index_en.html
http://www.canal.nl/en

as far as I know, no museums have senior rates.

I saw no senior rates on the Internet for Van Gogh or Rijks museums. Sounds like just an ordinary tram ticket for the two days might be best? Where is it best to get the tram tickets? We will be at the airport on arrival, maybe there? Do not need for travel out side of Amsterdam.

Indeed, they changed that to stadspas: Amsterdam residents over 65 go free.

the multi day tickets are paper chipcards that you can buy from any GVB ticket machine

many hotels sell them too.

inside central station there's AKO (books/magazines) in the west tunnel
travelex money exchange and the Iamsterdam store in the new IJtunnel. The latter is perhaps the most convenient, but may be busy. My money would be on the AKO shops for a quick transaction.

http://maps.gvb.nl/nl/lagen

check "papieren dagkaart"

If you check out the GVB links above, it will list the places where tickets are on sale.

Last year we bought the two day pass from the tram driver, this was just a regular paper card, no chip. We did a couple of trips to Amsterdam last summer and bought the Museumkaart which is valid for a year, gave us free entrance to almost all museums and we found it great value. But if you're there just for a few days I'd just buy the regular entrance, there's only so many museums you can see in a short visit!

Are you Dutch, geetika? I thought the one year card was only available to residents?

I am American and I bought the one year Museum pass when I was in Amsterdam last year. Great value! We were only there four days, but we made good use of the pass.

Wit, anyone can buy the Mueseumkaart, not only the Dutch. GHreat value if you plan on making multiple trips or if you're going to be there for any length of time:)

Sorry for the typos!

The museumkaart is available to anyone. However unless you register it and include a photo it is now only valid for a month.
Many AirBnB owners were supplying MKs as a bonus with their let, so the system has gone back to personalised cards I'm afraid. Still good value if you can visit enough museums to make it worth while.
You need to book the Anne Frankhhuis online even with the MK, though the entry is free with one.
Anne Frankhuis has changed it's ticketing system, so booked tickets only until 15.30, from which time you can take your chance on a ticket on the door.

From my trip report:

"We arrived at the Amsterdam airport and immediately purchased a anonymous OV Chipkaart to use on public transportation. Here’s my take on the card: Unless one has a Dutch or German bank account, the individual chip card is not an option. I tried to arrange one by using my German cousin’s bank account, but it simply was too complicated. I have been told that even the Dutch find the card unnecessarily complicated and problematic. The anonymous chip card can be used by anyone. It must be purchased for 7€ plus a base amount for the actual usage. To use it for train travel, it must have a minimum of 20€ available when purchasing a train ticket. It therefore cannot be used for the last train ride to Schiphol or out of the Netherlands without losing the remainder of what is on the card with a base of 20€ to purchase that last ticket. My recommendation is to have the 20€ added to the card to go from Schiphol to Amsterdam (or wherever one goes from the airport by train) but then to refrain from using it except for urban public transportation. Even so, one must be careful when leaving the Amsterdam train station. I was warned that I had to use the card upon exiting and that any reader would do…Wrong!!! the readers on the Amsterdam central station platforms are for international trains and the check-in check-out location for Netherlands travel are at turnstiles (always open) at the entrances of the station itself. I made that mistake and discovered the next day that we had only 4€ left on the card when we should have had more than 20€ on each card and with the help of our friend who resides in Holland we tried unsuccessfully to get a reimbursement into his account.

The chip card is useful for urban transportation. It is generally cheaper than the standard fixed fare (the fare on the card is by distance) and more convenient; for example, we went to Utrecht to see the Rietveld Schröder house and just hopped on the bus using our card to get within walking distance of the house. There is an office next to the main tourist office in Amsterdam where money can be added to the card for a .50€ fee. In the train station there are free standing booths where on can add to the card without the fee."