ATMs and Money, Amsterdam

Favorite thing: ATM's are widely spread at Amsterdam, You will find them at stations, major shopping streets (at banks and inside some shops), supermarkets and shopping malls.

Before using check if the machine will accept your credit- or bank card.

Favorite thing: GWK (Grens Wissel Kantoor) is one of the oldest and reliable currency exchanges bureaus in the Netherlands. Most major train stations have a branch.

These are the Amsterdam locations:
-Stationsplein 1 (Amsterdam Centraal station-West pedestrian tunnel)
-Orlyplein 107 (Amsterdam Sloterdijk station)
-Damrak 1-5
-Damrak 86
-Kalverstraat 150
-Leidsestraat 103
-Leidseplein 31A
-Julianaplein 1

Limited service:
-Waterlooplein 169
-Westerstraat 114
-Beukenplein 6
-1e van der Helststraat 39
-Van Woustraat 60
-Javastraat 72
-Rijnstraat 59
-Buikslotermeerplein 100
-Katrijpstraat 305
-Stadionweg 139
-Bos en Lommerweg 260

Favorite thing: Money in the Netherlands is called the "Guilder" -- oops! I haven't been to the Netherlands in a few years. Netherlands money is now called the Euro, and it's used by most of western Europe. I guess my Guilder are collectors items now.

Money is never much of a problem in the Netherlands. Credit Cards are accepted everywhere, and ATMs accepting US cards are very common. The only money problem you'll have is trying to afford the luxury items -- the Rijksmuseum, the weed at the local cafes, and fun at the red light district...

Favorite thing: I would recommend you used ATM card directly to get your cash. I found that the exchange rate of using ATM card is more favorable than using the counter to exchange money. I probably wouldn't use credit card to get your cash as the exchange rate normally wasn't that good.

If you have a Credit Union ATM card, a lot of them don't charge you transaction fee when you take money out other than their branch. The only issue with ATM card is their daily limit. Most ATM card has a daily limit of $300 - $500. You may want to check with your bank to check what is your limit. Most of the time you don't really need that much money daily unless your hotel doesn't accept credit card.

Another thing I would check is whether your ATM card has one of those logo - either 'Plus' or 'Star'. Both 'Plus' and 'Star' are pretty common around the world and most ATM machine will accept them.

If you are using your credit card, then definitely inform your credit card company that you will be traveling abroad, otherwise they will put your credit card on hold until you give them a call.

Favorite thing: You can find current rates and all sorts of information at the website of GWK

To find a branch, go to menu Contact and choose Find a Travelex Branch
Once you arrive in the list Amsterdam, choose any of the offered addresses.

CENTRAL STATION
Branch Name : Amsterdam Centraal
Address : Stationsplein
City : Amsterdam
Country : Netherlands
Zip/Postal Code: 1012 AB
Phone No: 0900- 0566
Hours of Operation
Monday : 08:00 - 22:00
Tuesday : 08:00 - 22:00
Wednesday : 08:00 - 22:00
Thursday : 08:00 - 22:00
Friday : 08:00 - 22:00
Saturday : 08:00 - 22:00
Sunday : 09:00 - 22:00

Favorite thing: Look for this sign when searching for an ATM or Geldautomaat in Dutch.

All machines have English options are very easy and convenient to use.

Fondest memory: There are ATMs all over town, but one of my favorite places is located on the Rembrandtplien. It is a large room with about 5 or 6 machines, very private and safe.
This photo was taken at that ATM.

Favorite thing: There are ATMs all over the city and in the Central Station, also the airport, and most accept all major credit cards. I used them exclusively to get cash and had no problems at all, except maybe long lines at some of them - especailly in the Central Station!

Just make sure you know your pin number and how much you can withdraw:))

Fondest memory: This is THE best way to get the most out of your money conversion rate when getting cash out of your account. Also using a credit card to pay for things will give you the best conversion rate too.

Favorite thing: The currency used in the Netherlands is the Euro expressed as EUR or €. (To remember the list of countries use the phrase "Baffling pigs").
Euros are divided into 100 cents. There are coins of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents, and 1 and 2 euros. There are notes of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 euros
The Dutch Guilder is no longer usable. You have to exchange old coins and notes in a bank.

There are many places to change money in town. Post offices usually give the best rates. The GWK at Central station is also good. Compare rates carefully at the exchange offices in town. Hotels are usually an expensive way to change money. Banks can be slow. There's an American Express on the Damrak, and a Thomas Cook on the Dam.
Credit cards are not as widely accepted in the Netherlands as in many other lands, but it's getting steadily better. Always enquire first if you intend to pay by credit card.

If you have an ATM card (a card for getting money out of a machine in the wall) it will most likely work in the Netherlands (indeed throughout Europe), so you don't need to take traveller's cheques. Check with your bank before leaving though. Such cards, certainly if they have a Maestro logo on them, can often also be used for direct debit payments in shops (shops that display the blue "PIN" sign, which is almost all shops).

Like in all big cities the world round, there are cheats looking for an easy target. A typical trick in less reputable establishments is, if you pay with a note, to give you change as if you tendered a note of one denomination smaller (for instance to give you change for 50 euros if you give them a 100 euro note) and then pretend it was a mistake if you notice. The best way to avoid this happening is to speak the value of the note as you hand it over ("100 euros"), so they can't claim not to have noticed.

Favorite thing: In my experience, I can use the ATM machines (not that many around compared with the US). You get cash in local currency but the bank does the conversion and debits your account with the correct amount. Easier than getting the exchange at the airport. Also, remember to keep enough local currency to buy food at the airport or pay the taxi \ train

Fondest memory: When Colm and I came back from Ireland we went home from the airport and it was rather late already (around 10 pm). We were starving because the last food we had had been the breakfast in Dublin in the morning. We decided to call our favourite Pizza Delivery Service (see my Restaurant section).

As the people who deliver the pizza for safety reasons only carry a small amount of change they asked you to pay with almost perfect change. We counted our Dutch money and found out that we either had a 100 Guilders note (way too much) or 42 Guiders in small coins (2 Guilders less than the bill would be).

Suddenly Colm remembered that we have had a 2 Guilders coin in the toilet for months - I accidentely dropped it there ages ago and we never could get rid of it :) He went to the toilet and it was gone! I realised that I flushed it down the morning we went to Ireland and that I forgot to tell Colm that we finally got rid of it HEHE.

Luckily the guy who brought our pizza had enough change so that we could pay!!! :-)

Favorite thing: Bank to look for while in Holland, there will always be an ATM conveniently at these banks also.

Fondest memory: This bank is located at DAM Square