Amsterdam Travel Guide

Most disabilities shouldn't stop anyone from traveling. There are more options and resources out there than ever before.

The old center of Amsterdam -- filled with narrow cobbled streets, steep humpback bridges, zillions of little barrier pillars called Amsterdammertjes, and bicycles parked all over the place -- can be hard going. But many hotels and restaurants provide easy access for people with disabilities, and some display the international wheelchair symbol in their brochures. It's always a good idea to call ahead to find out about accommodations before you book; bear in mind that many older hotels have steep, narrow stairways and no elevators. Many, but not all, museums and other sites are wheelchair-accessible, wholly or partly, and some have adapted toilets. Call ahead to check on accessibility at sites you wish to visit.

Schiphol Airport has a service to help travelers with disabilities through the airport. Not all trams in Amsterdam are easily accessible for wheelchairs, but newer trams have low doors that are accessible, and most buses are accessible. The Metro system is fully accessible, but that's not as good as it sounds because few Metro stations are near places where visitors want to go. Taxis are also difficult, but the new minivan taxis are an improvement. Call ahead to book a wheelchair-accessible cab from Taxi Centrale Amsterdam (tel. 020/677-7777).

There's comprehensive assistance for travelers on Netherlands Railways trains and in stations. Call tel. 030/235-7822 for information, or visit www.ns.nl. Give this organization a day's notice of your journey (by visiting a station or calling ahead), and they'll arrange for assistance along the way.

A good source of travel-related information in the Netherlands is the ANWB Disabled Department (tel. 070/314-1420; www.anwb.nl).

Many travel agencies offer customized tours and itineraries for travelers with disabilities. Among them are Flying Wheels Travel (tel. 507/451-5005; www.flyingwheelstravel.com); Access-Able Travel Source (tel. 303/232-2979; www.access-able.com); and Accessible Journeys (tel. 800/846-4537 or 610/521-0339; www.disabilitytravel.com). Avis Rent A Car has an "Avis Access" program that offers such services as a dedicated 24-hour toll-free number (tel. 888/879-4273) for customers with special travel needs; special car features such as swivel seats, spinner knobs, and hand controls; and accessible bus service.

Organizations that offer assistance to travelers with disabilities include MossRehab (www.mossresourcenet.org); the American Foundation for the Blind (tel. 800/232-5463; www.afb.org); and the Society for Accessible Travel & Hospitality (tel. 212/447-7284; www.sath.org). AirAmbulanceCard.com is now partnered with SATH and allows you to preselect top-notch hospitals in case of emergency.

The iCan website (www.icanonline.net/channels/travel) has destination guides and several regular columns on accessible travel. Also read the quarterly magazine Emerging Horizons (www.emerginghorizons.com) and Open World magazine, published by SATH.

The Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation (RADAR), Unit 12, City Forum, 250 City Rd., London EC1V 8AF (tel. 020/7250-3222; minicom 020/7250-4119; www.radar.org.uk), publishes three holiday "fact packs" for £2 ($3.80) each or £5 ($7) for all three. One provides information about planning and booking a holiday, insurance, and finances; a second outlines transportation options available when going abroad and equipment for rent; the third covers specialized lodging accommodations.