AMSTERDAM — Compact and densely packed with old gabled buildings, the world's most photographed city is renowned for its tranquil houseboat-lined canals. It's easy to forget when bicycling around the narrow streets — occasionally stopping for refreshments in snug cafés — that the world's first ever stock exchange was set up here. Unlike its fellow waterway-centric city of Venice, Amsterdam is no museum piece. From the canals, young internet entrepreneurs strike deals across Europe from their houseboats. With its outward-looking orientation and genuinely international business climate (representatives of 177 different nations live and work here, and more than 1,400 foreign companies have set up offices), the city is well equipped to deal with business visitors. The rise in smart restaurants, trendy shops and stylish luxury hotels has been prolific in recent years. Most Amsterdam businesses are located in the city centre or in the new commercial district in the southwestern part of the city around the World Trade Centre, where an astonishing array of innovative architecture is revitalizing the city edge. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is the Netherlands' main international airport and is considered to be among the best in the world. The direct rail link to Amsterdam's Centraal train station is the easiest way of getting into the city. Trains run every ten minutes and the journey takes about 25 minutes. Tickets cost €3.60 for a single fare. Taxis are also readily available; the journey to the city centre takes about 30 minutes and costs around €40. A shuttle-bus service runs every ten minutes to more than 100 hotels; tickets cost €11 for a one-way journey and can be bought in the arrivals hall. Most of the major car-hire companies are represented with offices in Schiphol Plaza. Metro, buses and trams are the best way to get around, in that order (the subway service is limited). A single-fare ticket for use on the tram, metro or bus costs around €3, and a return €4. Visitors can also buy a money-saving ‘strippenkaart' from train stations, post offices and many newsagents; this costs €6.50 and provides 15 tickets. Passengers must validate their ticket on board the vehicle. Central Amsterdam is compact and flat. Destinations in the centre can be reached easily and safely on foot or bicycle. There are several good bike rental firms, offering a range of rental deals for tourists. Mac Bike is the biggest. Taxis are relatively expensive: fares starts at €7.50 and cost €2 for every mile travelled thereafter. A journey within the city centre should cost around €15. Taxis are not normally hailed in the streets, but are hired at stands near stations and at other key points. Hire cars are widely available. However, parking spaces in Amsterdam can be difficult to find and expensive. The one-way system and cycle lanes can also make driving difficult for visitors. — Reuters
