Getting to Dutch JavaScript Conference
Beurs van Berlage sits in the historic heart of Amsterdam, a five-minute walk from Centraal Station and 25 minutes door-to-door from Schiphol Airport. Whether you are arriving by plane, train, car or bicycle, this guide covers every step of the journey—including ticket tips, accessibility notes and local customs.
✈︎ Flying into Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS)
Airport → Amsterdam Centraal
| Mode | Time | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| NS Train | 17 min | €5.90 single | 8× per hour. Follow “Trains ↗︎” signs downstairs to platforms 1-2. |
| Intercity direct | 14 min | €7.90 single | Slightly faster; supplement automatically added when you tap in/out. |
| Taxi | 25 min | €55–70 | Official rank outside Door A. Fixed-price €45 with Uber Reserve or Bolt Green. |
| Hotel Shuttle | 30–45 min | €17 return | Runs every 30 min to most downtown hotels; book atschipholhotelshuttle.nl |
🚄 International & Domestic Trains
Arriving by rail is both scenic and climate-friendly. Amsterdam Centraal is on Europe’s high-speed backbone with direct services from six countries.
High-Speed Routes
- Thalys → Paris Nord 3 h 20 min
- Eurostar → London St Pancras 4 h 10 min (security screening in Centraal hall 2)
- ICE → Frankfurt (Main) 3 h 55 min
- IC Brussels → Brussels-Midi 1 h 50 min
Overnight Options
- European Sleeper Berlin → Amsterdam 08:00 arr.
- Nightjet Vienna & Zurich (transfer at Cologne)
Tip: Book early on nsinternational.com or Trainline for the best fares; tickets open 6 months out and often start at €35 from Paris.
🚋 Tram, Metro & Bus (GVB)
- OV-pay (contactless): Simply tap your credit or debit card at the gate/reader—fares are capped at €5 for any 60-min window.
- GVB Day Pass: Unlimited travel from 1–7 days (€9 /24 h). Buy at blue GVB machines, ticket offices in the station hall, or the official GVB app.
- Closest stops to Beurs van Berlage: • Tram 4, 14 & 24 “Dam” • Metro 52 “Rokin” (exit Dam).
🚕 Taxi, Uber, Bolt & Felyx
Uber (X, Green, Black) and Bolt operate city-wide with typical fares of €9-11 from Centraal to most canal-ring hotels. For ultra-short journeys, electric “Felyx” mopeds can be unlocked via app starting at €0.30 /min.
Licensed taxis are black saloon cars with blue number plates; tipping is optional but 5-10 % is appreciated.
🚗 Driving & Parking
- Amsterdam city centre is a Low-Emission Zone; Euro 5 diesel minimum. Check your rental paperwork.
- P1 Parking Amsterdam Centraal (Prins Hendrikkade 20A) offers a 24-h conference flat rate of €20 with promo code
DJS2025. Book online at least 24 h ahead. - Streets around Damrak are for delivery vehicles only—youcannot stop in front of the venue.
Consider Park-and-Ride lots (€8/day) at Zeeburg or RAI and hop on the metro (12 min).
🚲 Arriving by Bicycle
Amsterdam boasts 767 km of protected cycle lanes. The city recently opened a 7,000-slot underwater bike garage beneath Centraal Station—your safest place to park (first 24 h free). From there, ride the dedicated Damrak bike lane straight to Beurs van Berlage.
- OV-fiets rental: €4.55 per 24 h—scan your OV card at the yellow kiosk next to track 2.
- Helmets: Not legally required; ~1 % of locals wear them. Use your own judgement.
♿ Accessibility Notes
- All trams on lines 4 & 14 are low-floor; request the fold-out ramp via the driver intercom.
- Beurs van Berlage has step-free entrances at Damrak 243 and Beursstraat 25, each with automatic doors.
- NS offers free Assisted Boarding at Schiphol and Centraal—book 1 h ahead at +31 30 235 78 22.