Travelling by tram in Amsterdam is a convenient and fun way to get around. Whilst central Amsterdam is easily explored on foot, the tram can provide a nice rest when you’re tired and offers a scenic ride around Amsterdam streets.
Trams are operated by GVB (Gemeente Vervoer Bedrijf), the municipal public transport company of Amsterdam. GVB has 219 trams on 15 tram lines with 500 stops over a total track length of 200km.
Below we summarise the current situation with Amsterdam tram lines route-by-route.
Amsterdam Tram Lines
8 of the 14 tram lines operate from Amsterdam Central Station (CS).
There are 2 tram stop areas on the city side of Amsterdam Central station – one on the eastern side (labelled A, for services south- and east-bound) and one on the west side (labelled B, for services south- and west-bound).
Below is a full listing of the tram lines in Amsterdam with the main stops of interest highlighted.
East-side GVB Tram Routes from Amsterdam Central (A)
TRAM 4: Amsterdam Central to Station RAI via Dam/Rokin/Rembrandtplein/Utrechtsestraat/van Woustraat/Rivierenbuurt/Europaplein/RAI
TRAM 14: Amsterdam Central to Flevopark via Dam/Rokin/Rembrandtplein/Waterlooplein/Artis/Plantage/Tropenmuseum/Zeeburgerdijk (De Gooyer windmill)/Javaplein/Flevopark
TRAM 24: Amsterdam Central to VU Medisch Centrum via Dam/Rokin/Vijzelgracht/Marie Heinekenplein (Heineken Experience)/De Pijp (Albert Cuyp Market)/Beethovenstraat/Olympic Stadium/VU
TRAM 26: Amsterdam Central to IJburg via Muziekgebouw-Bimhuis/Passenger Terminal Amsterdam/Zuiderzeeweg/Steigereiland/IJburg (IJburg beach)
West-side GVB Tram Routes from Amsterdam Central (B)
TRAM 2: Amsterdam Central to Nieuw Sloten via Dam/Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal/Koningsplein/Leidsestraat/Leidseplein/Museumplein (MOCO/Rijksmuseum/Stedelijk/Van Gogh Museum)/Concertgebouw/De Lairessestraat/Hoofddorpplein/Oudenaardeplantsoen (Nieuw Sloten)
Tram 2 is listed by National Geographic as one of the top 10 ‘trolley’ (tram) rides in the world!
TRAM 12: Amsterdam Central to Amstel Station via Dam/Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal/Koningsplein/Leidsestraat/Leidseplein/Museumplein (MOCO/Rijksmuseum/Stedelijk/Van Gogh Museum)/Concertgebouw/De Pijp/Churchilllaan (Rivierenbuurt)/Amstelstation
TRAM 13: Amsterdam Central to Geuzenveld via Dam/Westermarkt (Anne Frank House)/Bilderdijkstraat/Mercartorplein/Jan Evertsenstraat (Rembrandt Park)/Slotermeerlaan (Sloterpark)/Lambertus Zijplein (Geuzenveld)
TRAM 17: Amsterdam Central to Osdorp Dijkgraafplein via Dam/Westermarkt (Anne Frank House)/Marnixstraat/Kinkerstraat (De Hallen)/Overtoom/Surinameplein (Rembrandt Park)/Station Lelylaan/Meer en Vaart (Sloterplas)/Osdorpplein/Dijkgraafplein
Other GVB Tram Routes (that don’t serve Amsterdam Central)
TRAM 1: Osdorp De Aker to Muiderpoort Station via Pieter Calandlaan/Meer en Vaart (Sloterplas)/Station Lelylaan/Surinameplein (Rembrandt Park)/Overtoom/Leidseplein/Rijksmuseum/Vijzelgracht/Frederiksplein/Weesperplein/Beukenweg (OLVG hospital/Oosterpark)/Dapperstraat/Muiderpoort Station
TRAM 3: Flevopark to Westergasfabriek via Insulindeweg (Flevopark)/Muiderpoort Station/Dapperstraat/Beukenweg (OLVG hospital/Oosterpark)/Ceintuurbaan/De Pijp/Concertgebouw (Museumplein)/Bilderdijkstraat/F. Hendrikplantsoen/Nassaukade/Van Hallstraat (Westergasfabriek)
TRAM 5: Jordaan to Amstelveen Stadshart via Eerste Marnixdwarsstraat/Marnixplein/Elandsgracht/Leidseplein/Museumplein (MOCO/Rijksmuseum/Stedelijk/Van Gogh Museum)/Concertgebouw/Roelof Hartplein/Beethovenstraat/Station Zuid/Beneluxbaan/Amstelveen Stadshart
TRAM 7: Slotermeer to Azartplein via Sloterpark/Plein ’40-’45/Bos en Lommerplein/Mercatorplein/Bilderdijkstraat/Kinkerstraat/Elandsgracht/Leidseplein/Rijksmuseum/Vijzelgracht/Weesperplein/Alexanderplein (Plantage-Tropenmuseum)/Hoogte Kadijk (De Gooyer windmill)/Azartplein (KNSM Island)
TRAM 19: Sloterdijk Station to Diemen (Sniep) via Sloterdijk Station/Bos en Lommerweg/Bilderdijkstraat/Elandsgracht/Leidseplein/Rijksmuseum/Vijzelgracht/Weesperplein/Alexanderplein (Tropenmuseum/Oosterpark)/Oostpoort/Middenweg (Park Frankendael)/Diemenbrug
TRAM 25: Amsterdam Zuid Station to Westwijk via Beneluxbaan/Amstelveen
TRAM 27: Surinameplein to Osdorp Dijkgraafplein via Station Lelylaan/Meer en Vaart (Sloterplas)/Osdorpplein
Free public transport maps of Amsterdam (including the tram network) can be picked up at the “GVB Tram Bus Metro Ferry” office outside Amsterdam central station near the eastern tram stops.
Amsterdam Tram Schedules
Trams run daily from around 6am (weekdays) and 7am (weekends) to just after midnight. You can find tram line maps and timetables at any tram stop, with major stops having electronic boards telling you the next departing services.
During the day frequency is around 5-10 services per hour (depending on the line) so you should not have to wait long for the next tram. Note that occasional maintenance work can cause tram routes to be diverted slightly.
The trams have a top speed of 70km/h – however they make frequent stops and have to cut through traffic and stop lights – so they are not always the quickest way of getting around town. The Amsterdam Metro is faster, particularly now the North-South line runs down the central spine of the city.
You can enter the tram by the front door near the driver or the double doors second from the back.
Amsterdam Tram Tickets (2023)
There are various options for buying GVB Amsterdam tram tickets. Essentially, you can either pay for your single journey or buy a multi-day ticket which can offer greater value. All passengers aged 4 or over must have a ticket.
Travel using any type of ticket requires that you check-in and check-out of your tram journey by holding it next to the special on-board card readers – located near the doors.
Amsterdam Trams: paying for a single journey
The GVB 1 hour ticket costs €3.40 – this is not really great value if you are just going 1 or 2 stops (eg – Central Station to Dam Square).
There is also a 1.5 hour Bus Tram Metro (BTM) ticket which costs €6.50 and is used for longer journeys in the region, normally in combination with buses.
These tickets can be purchased in advance at the GVB ticket office or GVB ticket machines. It is possible to buy on-board (from the driver or conductor) but note cash is no longer accepted. The ticket is simply validated on first check-in.
You can also pay for your fare on a distance basis using either OVpay or an OV-chip card (public transport smart card).
Distance-based fares in Amsterdam are calculated as a fixed €1.08 boarding fee plus a variable distance fee of €0.196 per km – calculated every 50 metres on the tram. This means a 3km trip will cost approximately €1.67.
OVpay is a new system that allows you to check-in/out using a contactless debit/credit card or smartphone. Your account will be billed as a single transaction at the end of the day.
An anonymous OV-chip card costs €7.50 (non-refundable) and lasts 4-5 years. You then need to add some credit to the ‘e-purse’ – you will need a minimum of €4 credit to travel by tram. The card can be used for travel on all public tranpsort in the Netherlands (with sufficient credit).
Amsterdam Trams: unlimited travel multi-day tickets
There are a number of multi-day tickets for unlimited travel around Amsterdam. If you plan to use public transport more frequently then these can save you a significant sum of money.
| 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.
Finally, don’t be tempted to travel without a valid ticket as there are teams of agents on the network doing regular checks – an on-the-spot fine of €37.50 applies!
For more detailed info go here: Public transport ticket types for Amsterdam
Maps and timetables can be found at GVB’s website and Dutch public transport timetables are also online at 9292.nl
This map and article was originally published in 2010 and has been regularly updated. Last update 24 December 2022.
