Page 435 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - The Netherlands

PR A C TIC AL INFORM A TION  433

Opening Hours
In Amsterdam and other major
cities, all main pedestrian Although until recently just
crossings are equipped with about every shop in the
sound for the blind. For country was open from 9am
disabled people travelling by to 6pm, today there is an
train, the NS has issued a pack increasing variety in shop
entitled Gehandicap ten. This opening hours. Many retail
The Museum Card allowing entry to a contains information on Dutch stores and supermarkets are
majority of museums railway stations and what open until 7pm or later. In the
facilities they have, and also cities, shops tend to stay open
Museum Card lists the stations (there are longer. Many towns have a
The Annual Museum Card approximately 150 of them) “shopping evening”
(Museumjaarkaart) has where people in wheelchairs (koopavond) once a week,
quickly risen to huge can get assistance when when most shops remain
popularity. It costs €59.90 for boarding and alighting from open until 9pm: Thursday in
people over the age of 18, trains. Many trains have Amsterdam and The Hague,
and €32.45 for under-18s. It wheelchair-accessible doors, Friday in Utrecht. In an
gives the holder free entry to and most new double-decker increasing number of towns
over 400 museums in the trains have wheelchair- shops open on Sundays at
country. However, you often accessible toilets. If you least once in the month. Many
have to pay a supplement need help, it’s best to shops have half-day closing
for special exhibitions. The contact the Bureau one day a week, usually
card is available at all Assistentieverlening Monday, but varying from
participating museums Gehandicapten at least one region to another.
and at VVVs. It can also be three hours before travelling. Banks are usually open on
ordered online from www. weekdays from 9am to 5pm,
museumkaart.nl. and VVVs are also open on
Mondays to Fridays from 9am
or 10am to 5pm (sometimes
Travellers with on koopavond until 9pm). On
Disabilities Saturdays they close early or
Most public buildings have even all day, and most are
good facilities for travellers closed on Sundays. Some VVVs
with disabilities. Museums, art are closed during the winter.
galleries, cinemas and theatres Many museums are shut
generally are wheelchair- on Mondays, and open from
accessible. Only some 10am to 5pm for the rest of
establishments in very old the week. On Sundays and
buildings are less accessible, public holidays they tend
but there are always staff who to open later. Practically all
are able to lend a hand. If you museums are closed on
require assistance it’s a good Christmas and New Year’s
idea to phone in advance. Day. Open-air museums
Accessibility information for Assistance to travellers with disabilities at and small museums tend
hotels is given on page 390. wheelchair-accessible tourist office to close for the winter.
DIRECTORY
Tourist Netherland Board VVV Utrecht Travellers with
Information of Tourism Domplein 9. Disabilities
PO Box 63470, 2502 JL Tel 030-2360004.
ANWB Main Office The Hague. Bureau Assistentie-
ver lening
Wassenaarseweg 220, Tel 070-370 5705. Entertainment Gehandicapten
∑ holland.com
2596 EC ∑ avg.ns.nl
The Hague. VVV The Hague Ticket Service
Spui 68. Tel 070-3618860. Tel 0900-3001250.
Tel 088-2692222.
VVV Maastricht ∑ ticketmaster.nl
I Amsterdam Kleine Staat 1.
Visitor Centre Tel 043-3252121. Museum Card
Stationsplein 10, 1012 AB VVV Rotterdam Stichting
Amsterdam. Coolsingel 195. Museumjaarkaart
Tel 020-7026000. Tel 010-7900185. ∑ museumkaart.nl

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