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Amsterdam's massive Schiphol airport, one of the biggest in the world, has connections and services galore. Buses are the best budget way to travel, but train is very pleasant - Centraal Station is both beautiful and efficient, and you can take the Eurostar train to Britain. Ferries run from Amsterdam to Britain and Norway. The roads in the Netherlands are characteristically well-maintained; if you want to continue your love affair with the bicycle, there are loads of bike paths, and the Dutch make popping your treddly on a ferry or train cheap and easy.
Amsterdam's main train station is Centraal, which has regular and efficient connections throughout the country and to all neighbouring countries. There are train-ferry services to Britain, or you can catch the Eurostar train through the Chunnel. Eurail passes are valid in The Netherlands. Ferries also run between Amsterdam and Norway.
Freeways link Amsterdam to The Hague, Rotterdam and Amersfort - it's about a six-hour drive from Paris to Amsterdam. Standard European road rules apply.
The best and most classically 'Amsterdam' way to get around the city is by bicycle - make sure you get a lock, as theft is rife. Of course, the city is of such manageable size you can reach most places on foot, but there's also an efficient public transport system. It covers almost the whole city (though the canal belt can be tricky as trams and buses stick to 'spoke' roads). Centraal Station is the hub of it all, where tram, bus, train and metro lines converge. Trams are good for the inner city, buses go farther out, while the train is most useful for getting to the airport and the metro is best for getting to the international bus station.
Parking problems, Byzantine one-way systems, narrow canalside streets and thieves mean you're better off parking your car outside the city and riding in on public transport. Amsterdam taxis are among the most expensive in Europe and drivers are rude - though it's no wonder when you consider the conditions under which they drive. In theory you're not supposed to hail cabs on the street, but in practice no-one seems to mind.
