The metro in Amsterdam is a light rail network which is useful for travel down the central spine of the city and can get you to the outer suburbs of Amsterdam.
The metro in Amsterdam is run by the municipal transport company GVB and is part of the R-NET network in North Holland. There are 5 lines (M50/M51/M52/M53/M54) with a total network length of 43km which includes 39 stations. There are 90 metro trains in the fleet.
Amsterdam Metro Map
Below is our exclusive map of the Amsterdam Metro network which also highlights NS train lines. Note that Amsterdam Schiphol airport is accessible by train and not the metro. In the coming years line 52 may well be extended to the airport.
For reference, also see our Amsterdam Rail Network Map
The metro network is fast and efficient and passes through all the main business and office districts of the city including many Amsterdam rail stations. The metro is the quickest way to get from say Central Station to Waterlooplein or De Pijp.
The Amsterdam Metro first opened back in 1977. There are 4 different types of train stock being used, the newest of which are the silver and red Alstom “Metropolis” M5 metro trains which can carry nearly 1,000 passengers. The next generation CAF M7 trains are currently being tested.
Amsterdam Metro Tickets (2023)
There are a number of different public transport ticket options available for Amsterdam. You have the choice of the following:
- Buying a GVB 1 hour single ticket at €3.40
- Bus Tram Metro (BTM) 90 minute ticket at €6.50 if also needing a regional bus.
- Travel at standard distance-based fares using credit on an OV-chipkaart (OV-chip card). The fare is calculated as a €1.08 flat boarding fee plus €0.196 per km travelled.
- Travel at standard distance-based fares with the new OVpay system using contactless debit/credit cards.
- Buying one of the multi-day tickets (see below) which can potentially offer better value to visitors. These can be ordered online in advance.
Amsterdam Transport: Multi-Day Ticket Options
| Best Value & Validity | Best for AMS airport | Best for Excursions |
 |  |  |
| Unlimited GVB Day/Multi-Day tickets | Amsterdam Travel Ticket | Amsterdam & Region Travel Ticket |
| 1-7 days | 1/2/3 days | 1/2/3 days |
| €9-€41, child €4.50/day | €18/€24/€30 | €21/€31.50/€40.50 |
| Valid on all GVB transport (trams/metro/buses) in Amsterdam | Valid on all GVB transport in Amsterdam + airport train/bus | Valid on all GVB transport in Amsterdam + regional train/bus |
| 24 hour basis | Calendar day basis | Calendar day basis |
| Order here | Order here | Order here |
We highly recommend the GVB 1-7 day tickets as it can really improve your stay in Amsterdam giving you the flexibility to just hop-on and hop-off public transport as required.
Passengers are always required to check-in and check-out of their journeys using the card readers either at the gate barriers or on platforms at smaller stops.
There are GVB Service & Tickets desks at Amsterdam Central, Amsterdam Bijlmer ArenA, Amsterdam Zuid and Station Noord. There are also GVB ticket machines at all metro stations.
Amsterdam North-South Line 52
In July 2018 the M52 Amsterdam North-South line opened which links the Amsterdam North suburb to Amsterdam South via the city centre.
The North-South line (Noord-Zuidlijn) can be useful to city visitors with stops at Central Station, Rokin, Vijzelgracht, De Pijp and Europaplein (RAI). It has reduced journey times, particularly on routes where trams were in use beforehand.
The 9.7km line was under construction between 2003 and 2018 and cost €3.1 billion.
All of the M52 stations feature some form of artwork. For example the Flyways birds on the platform at Noord, the 7 Gates brickwork sculpture at Noorderpark, the tiled walls and historic artefacts on display at Rokin and the light installation Ramses Shaffy, Lifelines at Vijzelgracht.
Note: In March 2019 the M51 line stopped running south from Amsterdam Zuid to Amstelveen and instead runs north with line M50 to Isolatorweg.
This map and article was originally published in 2010 and has been regularly updated. Last update 7 December 2022.
