Getting to Dutch JavaScript Conference
Beurs van Berlage sits in the medieval core of Amsterdam—5 min on foot from Centraal Station and 25 min door-to-door from Schiphol Airport. This guide covers every leg of the journey, plus visas, eSIMs, accessibility and local etiquette so you arrive like a pro.
Time is precious: all travel options below are carbon-rated so you can choose the greenest path.
✈︎ Schiphol Airport → Amsterdam Centraal
| Mode | Time | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| NS Sprinter | 17 min | € 5.90 | 8× hourly • follow “Trains ↗︎” one level down |
| Intercity Direct | 14 min | € 7.90 | 2× hourly • supplement auto-charged |
| Taxi (meter) | ≈ 25 min | € 55–70 | Official rank at Door A |
| Uber/Bolt Green | ≈ 25 min | € 45 (flat) | Pre-book & meet driver at Departures-3 |
| Hotel Shuttle | 30–45 min | € 17 return | Every 30 min • book at schipholhotelshuttle.nl |
All trains accept contactless cards (OV-pay). Carbon: Train 2 kg, Taxi 10 kg CO₂.
🚄 International & Domestic Rail
Arrive in style—and with a footprint 90 % smaller than flying. Amsterdam Centraal is wired into Europe’s high-speed spine.
High-Speed Day Routes
- Thalys → Paris Nord 3 h 20 min
- Eurostar* → London St Pancras 4 h 10 min
- ICE → Frankfurt (Main) 3 h 55 min
- IC Brussels → Brussels-Midi 1 h 50 min
Overnight Sleepers
- European Sleeper — Berlin → 08:00 arr.
- Nightjet — Zurich / Vienna (change Cologne)
*Eurostar: passport & security in the dedicated hall at track 15; arrive 45 min early.
🚋 Tram, Metro & Bus (GVB)
- OV-pay: tap your contactless card—fares capped at €5 in any 60-min window.
- GVB Day Pass: unlimited rides 1-7 days (€9 /24 h) from blue machines or GVB app.
- Closest stops to Beurs van Berlage: Tram 4 / 14 / 24 “Dam” • Metro 52 “Rokin” (Dam exit).
🚕 Taxis, Uber, Bolt & Felyx
Uber X/Green and Bolt blanket the city; a canal-ring hop costs ≈ €10. Feeling adventurous? Felyx e-mopeds unlock at €0.30 /min—helmet included in the top box.
Licensed cabs have blue number plates; tipping 5 % is polite but not mandatory.
🚗 Driving & Parking
- City centre is a Low-Emission Zone (Euro-5 diesel min).
- P1 Parking (Prins Hendrikkade 20A): 24 h “Conference” flat €20 with code DJS2025 (book ≥24 h ahead).
- Canal streets near Damrak are delivery-only—you cannot stop at the venue entrance.
- Greener hack: Park-&-Ride Zeeburg/RAI €8 / day + 12-min metro.
🚲 Cycling Like a Local
Amsterdam boasts 767 km of protected cycleways. From Centraal, the dedicated Damrak lane delivers you to the venue in 3 min.
- OV-fiets rental: €4.55 / 24 h—scan your OV-card at track 2 kiosk.
- First under-water bike garage in the world (7 000 slots) beneath Centraal—first 24 h free.
- Helmets optional; <1 % locals wear them—use your own judgement.
♿ Accessibility
- Low-floor trams on lines 4 & 14; request fold-out ramp via driver intercom.
- Beurs van Berlage step-free entrances: Damrak 243 & Beursstraat 25 (automatic doors).
- NS “Assisted Boarding” free of charge; book ≥1 h ahead: +31 30 235 78 22.
Visa & Border Info
- Netherlands is in the Schengen Area; most EU/EEA citizens travel visa-free.
- Visitors from 🇺🇸 USA, 🇨🇦 Canada, 🇬🇧 UK, 🇦🇺 Australia, 🇯🇵 Japan & 56 others also visa-free up to 90 days.
- Need a visa? Apply for a “Schengen Short-Stay – Type C” at your nearest Dutch mission ~4 weeks out.
- ETIAS pre-authorisation (~€7) rolls out in mid-2025; check djsconf.com/travel for updates.
Connectivity & SIM
- Amsterdam Airport Schiphol offers free, uncapped Wi-Fi; SSID “Airport_Free_WiFi”.
- Best eSIM deals: Airalo “Hollands” 5 GB / 15 days ~€10 • Nomad “NL-50” 20 GB / 30 days ~€24.
- Physical SIM: Lebara & Vodafone kiosks in Arrivals 2 (passport required).
Money Matters
- Cards rule. “PIN only” = Maestro / V-Pay / Debit; credit cards accepted 95 % of places.
- Taxis, GVB, NS and supermarkets accept contactless AMEX, Visa, MC & Apple/Google Pay.
- Need cash? ATMs (“Geldmaat”) inside Centraal Main Hall charge ~€3 per withdrawal.
Electricity
- Voltage 230 V • 50 Hz • Plug type C / F (two-pin).
- USB-C PD chargers are built into every seat in the venue auditoria.