Netherlands: Northern Ireland Fans' Embassy Blog
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AONISC
Oct 6, 2019, 3:11:02 PM10/6/19
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Our Northern Ireland Fans' Embassy Site Visit to Rotterdam took place at the end of July. Here's the information we've been able to put together for those travelling to the Netherlands next week. Please share this and tag your friends.
We'll be including a few bits of information about Amsterdam, but most of our blog will be about Rotterdam, where the match is being played.
ON ARRIVAL
After arriving at Schiphol Airport, you can access the city of Amsterdam quite cheaply by bus (€6.50) or train (€5.50). Buses are located outside the Terminal building and there's a Railway Station within the airport, all well signposted.
Like most major cities, there are also multiple-use travel passes which give you access to Public Transport (train, bus, tram, metro and ferries) within Rotterdam for 1,2 or 3 days. These cost €17, €22,50 and €28. Tickets can be bought from the many dispensing machines throughout the Terminal.
GETTING TO ROTTERDAM
The regular train journey from Amsterdam to Rotterdam takes 50 minutes. There's an 'Intercity Direct' service, which takes 25-30 minutes (there's a €2,60 surcharge for this service). Trains run through the night, our advice is to pre-book.
Please note that Return tickets are valid for 28 hours from the beginning of the day on which they're purchased.
A one-way Second Class ticket from Schiphol Airport costs €13, a Return is €26 if purchased online. There's a group discount for four or more travellers (an example being €64 for 4 people). Tickets can be purchased at https://www.ns.nl/en/
You can also get the bus. Tickets range from €5-€7 each way and the journey takes between 50 and 70 minutes.
EATING AND DRINKING IN ROTTERDAM
You can get a bottle of beer from €3,80 but as you'd expect, imported beers will cost more. As with everywhere, have a look at the prices in a few places - it does vary.
A beer in the supermarket is €1,50-€2 depending on the brand. Not all of the supermarkets sell spirits (Spar stores do)and will cost from €14 for a bottle of Vodka. Also, not all of the stores accept Visa, so it's probably a good idea to ask when you go in.
A main course in the restaurant starts from around €13. All the usual 'fast food' outlets are available (McDonald's, KFC, Subway, Kebabs). Fast food ranges from around €6 for a kebab with chips and a soft drink. A Subway with a soft drink was around €7 and a 'Big Mac' meal was just over €8.
AREAS TO EAT AND DRINK IN ROTTERDAM
The 'Cool' district and the area near the city hall (Stadhuisplein) are within reasonable walking distance of the Centraal Station.
There are numerous bars and restaurants in these streets as well as supermarkets and fast food outlets.
MATCH DAY
The Dutch police have suggested the 'Oude Haven' harbour area on matchday - this is their advice and this area has been used by many away fans as a meeting place.
It's a walk and tram ride away from the other areas mentioned and there are fewer places to eat and drink. If you are going there, you can get Trams 21 or 24 from near Centraal Station and get off at the 'Beurs' stop.
GETTING TO THE GROUND
Due to distance, a walk to the stadium is not expected and the recommended means of transport to get to the stadium is by train. There's a stop right at the stadium (Rotterdam Stadion).
You can get the train from Rotterdam Centraal. We're told that there is NO FREE MATCHDAY TRAVEL, however we have asked for final confirmation of this and will share this information once we have it.
GETTING IN
Once you get off the train, there's a 'holding area', leading to four sets of turnstiles. This is where your match tickets are checked.
You then climb stairs, walk along a tunnel, down more stairs and then there's another walkway for the entrances to our sections.
There are 90(!) steps to climb to reach Sectors EE, FF, GG.
GROUND RULES
Alcohol will be on sale on the concourse. The Dutch are quite relaxed about our fans sitting among the home sections, but best advice is not to make a nuisance of yourself or you could be 'seen off the premises'. You WON'T be moved to the Northern Ireland sectors, so unfortunately that ploy won't work!
We're waiting on confirmation about early admission to allow people to hang their flags and banners. The indication is that the largest size allowed is 1.5m x 2m but again we've asked for confirmation about this.
There's no 'Left Luggage' area in the stadium and we're told that the maximum size of bag allowed is around the size of an A4 page.
AMSTERDAM - HAVE FUN, BUT STAY SAFE!
Drugs - recent changes to the law mean that the legal regime relating to drugs is not quite as liberal as many people believe. The tolerance for Cannabis use exists only within designated premises, known as 'coffee shops'; Buying or smoking so-called 'soft drugs' in a public place is an offence in Amsterdam.
Avoid confrontation with anyone offering you drugs on the street; There are some aggressive drug dealers around, who are not averse to stabbing people who refuse to buy from them.
Beware the 'Three Silent Killers of Amsterdam' - trams, bicycles and canals. Trams are deceptively quiet and there's also a real risk of being clattered into by one of the country's 11 Million cyclists!
Please take care near canals, especially if you've had a few beers. It's reported that there are 400 incidents a year involving Emergency Services dealing with people falling into the water. 88 people lost their lives as a result of drowning in canals over a four-year period.
If you're caught urinating in public, this carries a fine of €149!
We hope that you find the information in this blog useful. If you run into difficulties, the Amalgamation's Mobile Network can be contacted on +447943 542 100. Remember, all of our work is entirely voluntary.
Have a safe and enjoyable trip!
We'll be including a few bits of information about Amsterdam, but most of our blog will be about Rotterdam, where the match is being played.
ON ARRIVAL
After arriving at Schiphol Airport, you can access the city of Amsterdam quite cheaply by bus (€6.50) or train (€5.50). Buses are located outside the Terminal building and there's a Railway Station within the airport, all well signposted.
Like most major cities, there are also multiple-use travel passes which give you access to Public Transport (train, bus, tram, metro and ferries) within Rotterdam for 1,2 or 3 days. These cost €17, €22,50 and €28. Tickets can be bought from the many dispensing machines throughout the Terminal.
GETTING TO ROTTERDAM
The regular train journey from Amsterdam to Rotterdam takes 50 minutes. There's an 'Intercity Direct' service, which takes 25-30 minutes (there's a €2,60 surcharge for this service). Trains run through the night, our advice is to pre-book.
Please note that Return tickets are valid for 28 hours from the beginning of the day on which they're purchased.
A one-way Second Class ticket from Schiphol Airport costs €13, a Return is €26 if purchased online. There's a group discount for four or more travellers (an example being €64 for 4 people). Tickets can be purchased at https://www.ns.nl/en/
You can also get the bus. Tickets range from €5-€7 each way and the journey takes between 50 and 70 minutes.
EATING AND DRINKING IN ROTTERDAM
You can get a bottle of beer from €3,80 but as you'd expect, imported beers will cost more. As with everywhere, have a look at the prices in a few places - it does vary.
A beer in the supermarket is €1,50-€2 depending on the brand. Not all of the supermarkets sell spirits (Spar stores do)and will cost from €14 for a bottle of Vodka. Also, not all of the stores accept Visa, so it's probably a good idea to ask when you go in.
A main course in the restaurant starts from around €13. All the usual 'fast food' outlets are available (McDonald's, KFC, Subway, Kebabs). Fast food ranges from around €6 for a kebab with chips and a soft drink. A Subway with a soft drink was around €7 and a 'Big Mac' meal was just over €8.
AREAS TO EAT AND DRINK IN ROTTERDAM
The 'Cool' district and the area near the city hall (Stadhuisplein) are within reasonable walking distance of the Centraal Station.
There are numerous bars and restaurants in these streets as well as supermarkets and fast food outlets.
MATCH DAY
The Dutch police have suggested the 'Oude Haven' harbour area on matchday - this is their advice and this area has been used by many away fans as a meeting place.
It's a walk and tram ride away from the other areas mentioned and there are fewer places to eat and drink. If you are going there, you can get Trams 21 or 24 from near Centraal Station and get off at the 'Beurs' stop.
GETTING TO THE GROUND
Due to distance, a walk to the stadium is not expected and the recommended means of transport to get to the stadium is by train. There's a stop right at the stadium (Rotterdam Stadion).
You can get the train from Rotterdam Centraal. We're told that there is NO FREE MATCHDAY TRAVEL, however we have asked for final confirmation of this and will share this information once we have it.
GETTING IN
Once you get off the train, there's a 'holding area', leading to four sets of turnstiles. This is where your match tickets are checked.
You then climb stairs, walk along a tunnel, down more stairs and then there's another walkway for the entrances to our sections.
There are 90(!) steps to climb to reach Sectors EE, FF, GG.
GROUND RULES
Alcohol will be on sale on the concourse. The Dutch are quite relaxed about our fans sitting among the home sections, but best advice is not to make a nuisance of yourself or you could be 'seen off the premises'. You WON'T be moved to the Northern Ireland sectors, so unfortunately that ploy won't work!
We're waiting on confirmation about early admission to allow people to hang their flags and banners. The indication is that the largest size allowed is 1.5m x 2m but again we've asked for confirmation about this.
There's no 'Left Luggage' area in the stadium and we're told that the maximum size of bag allowed is around the size of an A4 page.
AMSTERDAM - HAVE FUN, BUT STAY SAFE!
Drugs - recent changes to the law mean that the legal regime relating to drugs is not quite as liberal as many people believe. The tolerance for Cannabis use exists only within designated premises, known as 'coffee shops'; Buying or smoking so-called 'soft drugs' in a public place is an offence in Amsterdam.
Avoid confrontation with anyone offering you drugs on the street; There are some aggressive drug dealers around, who are not averse to stabbing people who refuse to buy from them.
Beware the 'Three Silent Killers of Amsterdam' - trams, bicycles and canals. Trams are deceptively quiet and there's also a real risk of being clattered into by one of the country's 11 Million cyclists!
Please take care near canals, especially if you've had a few beers. It's reported that there are 400 incidents a year involving Emergency Services dealing with people falling into the water. 88 people lost their lives as a result of drowning in canals over a four-year period.
If you're caught urinating in public, this carries a fine of €149!
We hope that you find the information in this blog useful. If you run into difficulties, the Amalgamation's Mobile Network can be contacted on +447943 542 100. Remember, all of our work is entirely voluntary.
Have a safe and enjoyable trip!
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