Your Guide To Accessible Amsterdam
Accessible Public Transport
Getting around Amsterdam in your wheelchair using accessible metro, bus or taxi
Accessible Attractions
The accessible facilities available at the most popular attractions in Amsterdam
DIY Walking Tours For All
Accessible DIY Walking Tours in Amsterdam
Amsterdam is famously very flat. Which makes Amsterdam a very accessible city to visit.
A word of caution though:
Cobbles abound (especially around Dam Square in central Amsterdam).
And it’s not just the smaller roads that are a bit bumpy. Many pavements in the central Amsterdam area have been laid with those brick-like stones. Not impossibly bumpy, but they can get tiring after a while. Look great though.
Accessible & Flight-Free Travel from the UK to Amsterdam
There are two different accessible ways to get to Amsterdam from the UK.
Train (from London) and ferry (from Newcastle).
And your starting location in the UK will have a big say in how you get to Amsterdam:
Accessible Eurostar Train to Amsterdam from London
- Amsterdam in under 4 hrs
- Assistance from Boarding Gate to Train
- Wheelchair Accessible Toilet on Train
- Meal/drinks served at your seat
The direct London to Amsterdam train takes just under 4 hours (just under 5 hours to Amsterdam when you include the time difference).
However, you’ll need to be at London St.Pancras Station by around 6pm at the latest, to catch the last London to Amsterdam train. Otherwise, you’ll have to spend the night in a London hotel, and travel on to Amsterdam the following morning.
There’s a real benefit for wheelchair travellers travelling on Eurostar trains though:
When I first researched the wheelchair accessibility of Eurostar trains from London to Amsterdam, initially my heart sank.
You see, there ARE wheelchair accessible spaces on all Eurostar services to Amsterdam. But these spaces are ONLY available in the Standard Premier and Business Premier class carriages. So my initial thought was that it would indeed be possible – BUT it would be extra expensive (and wheelchair accessible travel is expensive enough as it is).
But the more I read up on the wheelchair accessibility of Eurostar trains, the wider my smile became:
Yes, these spaces are only available in the Standard Premier and Business Premier class carriages. But they are sold to wheelchair using passengers at a set Standard Class rate.
And, although your companion/assistant also has to buy a ticket (no free companion tickets here I’m afraid), they also travel at this same reduced rate.
So even though there’s an additional expense for needing to use a wheelchair when you need a companion – Eurostar make up for this by letting you both travel in Standard Premier or Business Premier class, at a seriously discounted rate.
Accessible Ferry to Amsterdam from Newcastle
- Wheelchair Accessible Ferry
- Accessible Cabins Available
- Overnight Sailings
- Accessible Taxi Transfers in Amsterdam (FREE)
The ferry between Newcastle and Amsterdam is also accessible.
And accessible cabins are available on the ferry.
The biggest plus is that the ferry crossing is overnight. So, not only do you save on a night’s accommodation, you arrive in Amsterdam in the morning – ready to go.
There’s also a huge benefit when you travel from Newcastle to Amsterdam by ferry:
The ferry actually stops some way away from the centre of Amsterdam at the port of Ijmuiden. And to complete the journey, DFDS run a shuttle coach service from Ijmuiden to the centre of Amsterdam.
But, being a coach, this shuttle service is definitely not accessible.
However, DFDS do take accessibility very seriously. So they arrange an accessible TAXI to transfer wheelchair users between Ijmuiden and central Amsterdam (and back again at the end of your accessible Amsterdam visit of course).
FREE!
You just need to call DFDS directly (UK tel: 0344 848 6090) so that they can arrange your accessible taxi transfer to central Amsterdam (and for your return journey too).
Getting around Amsterdam using Accessible Public Transport
Public transport in Amsterdam is very accessible.
All Metro services, and all buses in Amsterdam are fully wheelchair accessible.
As are all of the newer Amsterdam trams.
See the wonderful Able Amsterdam website for full details of public transport in Amsterdam.
The Most-Popular Accessible Attractions in Amsterdam
#1. Accessible Anne Frank House, central Amsterdam
- Only Partially Accessible
Due to the age of the older part of the Anne Frank House, the most-popular attraction in Amsterdam is only partially accessible. The older part of the building, which houses the attic where Anne Frank hid from the Nazis, involves climbing a lot of very narrow, and very steep, stairs. The newer part of the Anne Frank House in central Amsterdam is totally accessible though. There is a special entrance for people using wheelchairs which provides access to the modern part of the museum, the temporary exhibition, the Anne Frank House museum cafe, and the museum shop.
As the original part of the Anne Frank House is inaccessible, I’d recommend that you just read “The Diary of a Young Girl” instead (a seriously moving story). And spend your limited time in Amsterdam elsewhere.
#2. Accessible Rijksmuseum Amsterdam
- Accessible Lifts to all Floors
- Accessible Museum Tours
- Accessible Toilets
- Accessible Cafe
The entire Rijksmuseum is fully wheelchair accessible.
You can borrow a wheelchair, rollator, pushchair , walking cane or foldable museum stool at the Rijksmuseum information desk (free of charge). A floorplan showing the location of accessible lifts, seating areas throughout the museum and the location of the disabled toilets in the Rijksmuseum is also available at the information desk. Wheelchair accessible lifts will take you to all upper floors, and also to the main Rijks Café, located above the Rijksmuseum shop in the central atrium.
#3. Accessible Van Gogh Museum Amsterdam
- Fully Wheelchair Accessible
- Accessible Lifts to all Floors
- Accessible Toilets
- Accessible Cafe
A floor plan which includes information about accessible facilities, is available from one of the Information Desks at the Van Gogh Museum. There are lifts to the upper levels of the Van Gogh Museum (and there is a PDF guide to the width of these accessible lifts on the Van Gogh Museum website).
Wheelchairs are available to loan.
#4. Accessible A'DAM Lookout, Amsterdam
- Accessible Lift
- Accessible Toilets
- Accessible Restaurant & Cafe
- Swing not accessible
The lift that takes all visitors to the top of the building is wheelchair accessible. The “Over The Edge” swing on the rooftop of the A’dam Lookout is only accessible if you can walk for a few steps though. Otherwise, just enjoy the 360-degree views over Amsterdam. Or take a seat in the Amsterdam VR Ride, put on the VR glasses – and take a lifelike roller coaster ride right through central Amsterdam.
#5. Accessible National Maritime Museum Amsterdam
- Wheelchair Accessible
- Accessible Lifts to all Floors
- Accessible Toilets
- Accessible Cafe
The entirety of the main Amsterdam National Maritime Museum building [Het Scheepvaartmuseum in Dutch] is wheelchair accessible. Wheelchair accessible lifts will take you to all exhibitions on upper floors. The replica East Indiaman ship (the “Amsterdam”) is only partially wheelchair accessible though. A wheelchair lift and (fairly steep) ramp allows wheelchair access to the lower deck. However, there are then stairs leading up to the main deck.
Powered mobility scooters are not permitted in the National Maritime Museum. However, manual wheelchairs are available to borrow. Bags larger than A4 size are also not permitted in the National Maritime Museum in Amsterdam either. However, there are free lockers available to store any larger bags.
#6. Accessible NEMO Science Museum, Amsterdam
- Wheelchair Accessible
- Accessible Lifts
- Accessible Toilets
- Accessible Cafe
The NEMO Science Museum in Amsterdam is a science museum aimed at children (so for “wheelchair accessible” read “pushchair accessible”). Kids will absolutely love it here. However, if the noise of children excitedly screaming with joy is a problem for you, then maybe it’s best to skip the NEMO Science Museum altogether when you’re visiting Amsterdam (the National Maritime Museum, also wheelchair accessible, and also on this same route from Amsterdam Centraal, is very near).
There are five floors to the sloping Amsterdam NEMO Science Centre building. All floors, with the exception of the rooftop Energetica open-air exhibition, are wheelchair accessible. At the very minimum, expect to spend 2-3 hours visiting the NEMO Science Centre (although some people have spent all day here – and have visited just one floor!).
And because the roof slopes to mimic the shape of a boat, there are numerous steps up to the Energetica exhibition. However, the rooftop terrace at the foot of these steps, which has the most amazing views over central Amsterdam, is completely wheelchair accessible.
Accessible DIY Walking Tours in central Amsterdam
Accessible Highlights:
Amsterdam Centraal Station > NEMO Science Museum > National Maritime Museum > Wertheimpark > Hortus Botanicus > Museum Rembrandthuis > Dam Square > Koninklijk Paleis (The Royal Palace) > Damrak
Accessible Highlights:
Heineken Experience > Rijksmuseum > Van Gogh Museum > Stedilijk Museum > Vondelpark > Blue Boat (Accessible Canal Cruise)
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Thank you so very much – and have a great time in Amsterdam!