How To Ride Amsterdam Buses Like A Dutch
If you’ve just landed in Amsterdam, getting your way within the city may be difficult if you don’t know how to ride trains, buses, and metro. It may even be worse if you don’t understand Amsterdam metro prices and bus and train prices. If you don’t want to be embarrassed by simple tasks before riding on a train or bus, you need to know some basics. This article explains what you need to do to ride Amsterdam buses like a Dutch.
- Get Into The Bus Through The Front Door
Amsterdam’s trams have their entrances in the middle and front where you can purchase tickets. However, buses only have front entrances. Therefore, if you intend to get on a bus, ensure you use the front door because using any other door may make you bump into people exiting the bus. Unfortunately, the bus driver may decide to announce how you’ve messed up in Dutch through the bus’s speaker. That isn’t very pleasant, and you don’t want to go through it.
- Carry Money To Buy Bust Tickets
Single tickets on day city buses will cost you €3 for an hour’s trip. That amount is inclusive of the transfers you may make to another bus, metro, or tram. After one hour has elapsed, you must buy another ticket. If you intend to travel at night, carry €4.50. However, it’s advisable to have more money with you so that you can find ways of navigating through the city in case an emergency occurs.
If you intend to use public transport frequently, it would be best to buy a day, two days, or one-week travel cards. That way, you won’t have to worry about your ticket expiring after an hour. However, even the one-week traveling tickets include a 24-hour expiration timeline. Fortunately, you can always activate them after the 24 hours have elapsed.
- Check-In AndOut
Like trams, Amsterdam’s buses have Chipkaart pads that you must use when entering or alighting from the bus. You should show your ticket to one of the electronic pads until it gives a green light signal. You should also do the same when you exit the bus. If you don’t check out after leaving the bus yet have a one-day, two-day, or a one-week ticket, it’ll automatically become invalid. That means your money will go down the drain.
- Avoid Sitting On The Unique Seats
Every bus in Amsterdam have seats meant for the elderly, handicapped, or pregnant women. They’re always located at the bus’s front and may be labeled with a uniquely designed fabric. If you sit on any special seat, and an elderly or handicapped person enters the bus, you must surrender it for them. To avoid embarrassments and inconveniences, find seats that are meant for regular passengers.
Once you board the bus, you’ll have to exit. When exiting, ensure you use the middle or rear door. Never use the front door because it’s the entrance and you’ll block those getting in. It would be best if you also remembered to check out.
Conclusion
Knowing the basics of riding on an Amsterdam bus can save you from embarrassment and help you keep your reputation. These tips can help you ride on any bus like a pro.
