Centraal Railway Station
It is almost a certainty that when you rent apartments in Amsterdam you will, at some stage, pass through Central Station. This station (spelt Centraal Station in Dutch) is the main overland transport hub for the whole of Amsterdam, for visitors to the capital and for locals.
Central Station was built in 1889 after an extensive construction project. Three man-made islands were built to provide the initial site foundations; the Neo-Renaissance building itself was designed by Dutch architects Petrus J.H. Cuypers and Adolf L. Gendt. The facades of the grand exterior and the walls of the vast interior space were sumptuously decorated by painter George Sturm.
Despite approximately 200,000 passengers passing through the station each day, Central Station remains in an almost constant state of construction (currently due to the building of a new metro line). Most people pass through the station quickly, but when you rent apartments in Amsterdam it is sometimes worth taking some time to look around. Look up and you will see the grand cast-iron station roof and, in the eastern part of the station, keep an eye out for the Queen’s Waiting Room. It is not possible to enter this royal station pavilion but the richly decorated gate is quite a sight.
Central Station is located at the IJ Lake – getting there is not a problem as nearly all forms of Amsterdam public transport have lines running to the station. When you rent apartments in Amsterdam you will soon realise that the station is a focal point of the city: buses, taxis and even ferries depart from in front of the station. The station is also the starting point for metro lines 51, 53, and 54 and both trams and trains have regular departures.
When arriving at the station you will have two principal points of exit: the Amsterdam Centre side (Centrum) or to the Amsterdam North (Noord). If wanting to travel by ferry to northern Amsterdam then take the North exit; otherwise, take the Centre exit and you will find plenty of options for further travel within and around the city centre.
For first time visitors looking to rent apartments in Amsterdam the bustling Central Station may seem overwhelming. Thankfully, advice can easily be sought at the nearby Amsterdam Tourist Office in front of the station’s Eastern Entry. In the same building is the public transport information service.
