Amsterdam is by no means inexpensive. Clearly, whether you agree with this statement will depend on how much you can bring to bear -- or bear to bring -- in the way of financial resources. If you are used to the prices in New York and London, it likely won't seem too out of whack. But opportunities for scoring genuine bargains run a thin gamut from few-and-far-between to nonexistent. Remember, the Dutch have for centuries been consummate traders and middlemen. You need only look at how well-appointed their country is to appreciate how fair a job they've made of extracting money from the pockets of foreigners.

In your favor is that the Dutch themselves display a reluctance to part unnecessarily with a euro that has become proverbial. A sound rule of thumb is that if you lodge, dine, and entertain yourself in the same places where "ordinary" Dutch do, you can limit the financial damage of a visit to one of Europe's most popular tourism centers.

Currency

The euro (€) is the currency in the Netherlands. There are 100 euro cents to each euro. Eight euro coins are in circulation: .01€, .02€, .05€, .10€, .20€, .50€ (1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 euro cents, respectively), 1€, and 2€. The seven euro notes are: 5€, 10€, 20€, 50€, 100€, 200€, and 500€. The price conversions in this book are based on an exchange rate of 1€ = US$1.25, and 1€ = #1.45. Bear in mind that exchange rates fluctuate daily. For up-to-the-minute currency conversions, go to www.xe.com/ucc.

It's a good idea to exchange some money -- enough to cover airport incidentals and transportation to your hotel -- before you leave home, so you can avoid lines at airport ATMs.

ATMs

The easiest and best way to get cash away from home is from an ATM (automated teller machine). The Cirrus (tel. 800/424-7787; www.mastercard.com) and PLUS (tel. 800/843-7587; www.visa.com) networks span the globe; look at the back of your bank card to see which network you're on, then call or check online for ATM locations at your destination. Be sure you know your personal identification number (PIN) before you leave home and be sure to find out your daily withdrawal limit before you depart. Many banks impose a fee every time a card is used at a different bank's ATM, and that fee can be higher for international transactions. On top of this, the bank from which you withdraw cash may charge its own fee.

You can also get cash advances on your credit card at an ATM. Credit card companies try to protect themselves from theft by limiting the funds someone can withdraw outside their home country, so call your credit card company before you leave home. You'll pay interest from the moment of your withdrawal, even if you pay your monthly bills on time.

You can withdraw euros from ATMs at many locations in the city.

Small Change--When you change money, ask for some small bills or loose change. Petty cash will come in handy for tipping and public transportation. Consider keeping the change separate from your larger bills, so that it's readily accessible and you'll be less of a target for theft.

Traveler's Checks

These days, traveler's checks are less necessary because Amsterdam has plenty of 24-hour ATMs. However, since you will be charged an ATM withdrawal fee if the bank is not your own, if you're withdrawing money every day, you might be better off with traveler's checks, which will be replaced if lost or stolen. You can get traveler's checks at almost any bank, and from American Express, Thomas Cook, Visa, and MasterCard.

Euro traveler's checks are accepted at locations where dollar and pound checks may not be, but you'll have to reconvert any unused ones or keep them for a future trip to a euro-zone country.

Credit Cards

Credit cards are a safe way to carry money. They also provide a convenient record of all your expenses, and they generally offer relatively good exchange rates. You can also withdraw cash advances from your credit cards at banks or ATMs, provided you know your PIN.

Dear Visa: I'm Off to the Red Light District in Amsterdam!--Some credit card companies recommend that you notify them of any impending trip abroad so that they don't become suspicious when the card is used numerous times in a foreign destination and block your charges.

Visa and MasterCard (also known as EuroCard in Europe) are the most widely used cards in Holland. American Express is often accepted, mostly in the middle- and upper-bracket category. Diners Club is not as commonly accepted as American Express. Credit cards are not so commonly accepted as in the United States and Britain. Many restaurants and shops in Amsterdam, and some hotels, don't accept them at all, and others add a 5% surcharge for card payment.