FAQ Amsterdam

On this page you find the most Frequent Asked Questions (FAQ) about Amsterdam. By pressing on one of the titels, you answer will automatically appears below.

Where is Amsterdam?

Amsterdam is the capital city of the Netherlands. It’s in the province of North-Holland. Amsterdam is the largest city of North-Holland. The Netherlands is bordered in the East by Germany and in the South by Belgium. Also the North Sea covers most of the borders of the country.

What language do people speak in Amsterdam?

The official language of the Netherlands is Dutch. Dutch is spoken in Amsterdam but due to the city being a popular tourist destination, English is also spoken, among other languages like German, Italian, Spanish, French etc.

How many people live in Amsterdam?

In 2025, the population of Amsterdam was estimated to be around 934,374 citizens.

What is the airport code for Amsterdam?

The IATA Code for Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is AMS, and the ICAO Code is EHAM. Schiphol is only 9 kilometres Southwest of Amsterdam. For a long time, it was one of the biggest airports in the world. Although it is no longer on that list, it still has flights to all continents of the world. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol remains the main airport of the Netherlands.

What does Amsterdam mean?

It all started with people settling around the famous River Amstel. Like most of the city, Amsterdam grew around a river, where the natives, mostly fishermen, built a dam in the Amstel. However, this is not how Amsterdam received its famous name.

Is it safe to drink tap water in Amsterdam / The Netherlands?

Yes, tap water in Amsterdam and in other parts of the Netherlands is perfectly safe to drink.

What is the number of bicycles in Amsterdam?

There are no exact records of the number of bicycles, as they are not registered. However, in 2012, it was estimated to be 881.000, meaning that there were more bikes than citizens.

How can I find housing in Amsterdam? Can ThingstodinAmsterdam.com assist me?

The housing market in Amsterdam is extremely competitive. Don’t think you’re not doing things right. It is common knowledge that finding (affordable) housing within the city borders and beyond is very difficult, even for locals. Therefore, we warn everyone to be cautious of scammers abusing this situation. Never pay money upfront, before seeing the house, paperwork and owner. Please note; that ThingstodoinAmsterdam.com can not help you in any way, we’re not into real estate, nor have connections. That said, we can recommend you to have a look at the following housing websites;

• Funda.nl; is the biggest real-estate website in the Netherlands for both rental and sale.

Is it legal to smoke weed in Amsterdam?

Yes, it is allowed to buy and smoke marijuana for adults 18 years and over. You can buy it at the so-called coffeeshops. Ask for advice at the counter, if you want to buy weed, because the weed and hashish are twice as strong compared than other countries. For more info check out the entire page of Amsterdam coffeeshops.

How many canals does Amsterdam count?

Amsterdam is home to 165 canals. If you combine all these canals they would have a total length of 100 kilometres. That is about 60 miles in total.

What is King’s Day?

King’s Day is the replacement of Queens Day. Since April 30, 2013, King Willem-Alexander has ascended the Dutch throne after his mother Queen Beatrix abdicated. King’s Day is on April 27 and is the birthday of the King. It is a day when the entire country celebrates this with the Oranje family. It is also a national holiday. On King’s Day, locals wear orange clothing, and there are also street sales/flea markets, boat parties on the canals and outdoor parties all over the country.

Is it legal to visit a prostitute in Amsterdam or the Netherlands?

Since 2000, the ban on brothels has been lifted. With this policy, Amsterdam became responsible for its prostitution policy. Prostitution is legal, but the rules are strict. Which means that it has to take place in a transparent and legal way. Things like abuse of women, money laundering and human trafficking are completely illegal.

Furthermore, the minimum age for a prostitute starts at 21. And the minimum age to visit a prostitute or sex worker is 18. For more info, take a look at the page about the Red Light District in Amsterdam.

Would you like to know more about Amsterdam? All the practical information is useful to prepare yourself for your visit to Amsterdam.

If your not complete satisfied with the answer on your question, feel free to give us feedback! We do love to hear from you and improve the website. Also, if you have any suggestions for frequent asked questions that are missing, contact us and we will get back to you in 48 hours.

Take a look below at the other useful information and popular activities in Amsterdam.