Page 141 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2016 - Amsterdam

Practical Information ❮❮ 139

Personal Security level. The metro is DIRECTORY
wheelchair-friendly, with
Like all major cities, lifts at every station. For DUTCH EMBASSIES
Amsterdam has its share the visually impaired, there AND CONSULATES
of bag snatchers and pick- is a PA system that Australia
pockets, with Centraal announces every stop and ∑ netherlands.org.au
Station and the Red Light the Dutch Railways (NS) Canada
District being particular offers assistance when ∑ canada.nlembassy.org
hotspots especially late at travelling by train. A folded
night. Serious assaults wheelchair will fit into Ireland
∑ ireland.nlembassy.org
are unusual to rare. most taxis, but Amsterdam
All usual precautions has a private service, New Zealand
regarding big-city travel Boonstra, specially ∑ newzealand.
apply in Amsterdam: don’t designed for wheelchair nlembassy.org
flash your wallet, keep an users. It costs the same South Africa
eye on your bag(s), keep as a regular cab, but you ∑ southafrica.
valuable items concealed, need to book at least 48 nlembassy.org
avoid poorly lit lanes and hours in advance. UK
alleys, and ignore touts Most museums have ∑ dutchembassyuk.org
offering rooms. adequate facilities for USA
Women travelling alone disabled people, including ∑ the-netherlands.org
may well find the Red wide entrances, ramps,
Light District particularly lifts and adapted toilets, TRAVEL SAFETY
unpleasant and/or although canal-house ADVICE
threatening – and museums like the Van UK (Foreign and
whichever sex you are, Loon and Willet-Holthuysen Commonwealth Office)
∑ gov.uk/foreign-travel-
you can expect grief if have no wheelchair access.
you try to photograph the It is possible to get a advice
camera-shy prostitutes. wheelchair into most US (Department of State)
Many tourists buy drugs ground-floor restaurants, ∑ travel.state.gov
from on-street dealers, but but only a handful have Australia (Department
this is illegal and highly disabled toilet facilities. of Foreign Affairs
dangerous. In the event It is prudent to call ahead & Trade)
that you have anything to check whether a ∑ dfat.gov.au/
stolen, obtain a crime wheelchair user can smartraveller.gov.au
report statement or be accommodat ed. EMERGENCY
number from the police. If you need to rent a SERVICES
wheelchair during your Police, ambulance and
Disabled Travellers stay in Amsterdam, go fire
to the Accessible Travel § 112
In general terms, Netherlands website,
Amsterdam’s narrow, click on “Assistive DISABLED
cobbled streets, uneven Devices” and then “Rent TRAVELLERS
pavements and old Wheelchair” for a list of Accessible Travel
buildings with small hire places. If you are Netherlands
entrances and steep stairs, planning to use the Dutch ∑ accessibletravelnl.com
make it a difficult city for rail network and would Boonstra
many disabled people to like assistance on the Prins Bernhardkade 1
get around. Similarly, many platform, call the Bureau § 020 613 4134
of the city’s hotels are Assistentieverlening Bureau
poorly equipped for those Gehandicapten at least Assistentieverlening
with mobility issues, though 24 hours before your train Gehandicapten
more modern hotels are departs. Dutch Railways (Disabled Assistance
often much better. As for publishes information for Office; daily 7am–11pm)
public transport, most people with disabilities § 030 235 7822
trams are accessible for on their website and in Dutch Railways (NS)
wheelchair users, with leaflets stocked at all ∑ ns.nl
central doors at pavement the main train stations.

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