the Netherlands
Amsterdam
Away-day guide
Amsterdam is straightforward for a weekend away trip: Schiphol is close, the Arena has direct rail and metro links, and most central nightlife is walkable. Prices are high in the tourist core, so eat and drink in De Pijp, Oost or Amsterdamse Poort and take Ajax's match-specific segregation advice seriously.
🚺 To Johan Cruyff Arena
From Amsterdam Centraal, take a direct NS train to Amsterdam Bijlmer ArenA in roughly 15 minutes or metro 54 in around 25 minutes. The main stadium entrances are beside Amsterdam Bijlmer ArenA station, but visiting supporters should follow signs and police directions to the north side via Strandvliet station and entrance K.
- Nearest stop
- Strandvliet for the away entrance; Amsterdam Bijlmer ArenA for the main stadium approaches
- Lines
- Metro 50 and 54 serve both Strandvliet and Amsterdam Bijlmer ArenA; NS trains also serve Amsterdam Bijlmer ArenA.
- Walk from centre
- 100 min
- Parking
- Driving is rarely worthwhile. Arena-area car parks become busy and event tariffs or road closures apply; pre-book if driving is unavoidable. Away coaches normally use a secured area under match-specific police arrangements.
Public transport
GVB operates the city's metro, trams, buses and free IJ ferries. The simplest option for most visitors is OVpay: tap in and out with the same contactless bank card, phone or watch, including when changing vehicles. Each traveller needs a separate card or device. A GVB one-hour ticket is around 3.40 and a 24-hour GVB pass around 9.50; longer passes are available. GVB passes do not cover NS trains, including the Schiphol train. An Amsterdam Travel Ticket combines the airport train with GVB travel and can be useful for a short weekend. Use NS trains for Schiphol, Bijlmer ArenA and longer cross-city trips. Cycling is quick but the lanes are busy and local riders move fast, so walking and public transport are safer after a few drinks.
Typical prices
- Beer (0.5L)
- EUR 7
- Coffee
- EUR 4
- Meal, mid-range
- EUR 25
- Taxi from airport
- EUR 55
- Single transit ticket
- EUR 3.4
✈ Airports & cheaper alternatives
- Amsterdam Airport Schiphol AMS primary 17 km NS trains reach Amsterdam Centraal in roughly 15–20 minutes and Amsterdam Bijlmer ArenA in about 15 minutes. Tap in and out with a contactless bank card or buy an NS ticket before boarding. The obvious choice and usually worth paying a little extra for because the transfer is quick. Direct trains also run to Amsterdam Bijlmer ArenA, which is handy for the match.
- Eindhoven Airport EIN alternative 125 km Take bus 400 or 401 to Eindhoven Centraal, then an NS intercity to Amsterdam. The complete transfer generally takes around two hours. Ryanair and other budget fares can be much cheaper, but allow at least two hours for the onward journey and check the last train after evening arrivals.
- Rotterdam The Hague Airport RTM alternative 70 km Take bus 33 to Rotterdam Centraal, then an NS intercity to Amsterdam Centraal. Allow roughly 75–90 minutes overall. A useful alternative when the fare works, though its flight network is much smaller than Schiphol's.
🍺 Supporters' pubs
AFC Ajax
Home fans: Het Honk/Ajax Supportershome beside entrance Zuid H, Café Baco opposite the stadium, JinSo and the south side of ArenA Boulevard. Café Monico on Rembrandtplein and Café Hesp are established central gathering points.
Away fans: O'Reilly's near Dam Square has previously hosted visiting Spurs and Aston Villa fans. O'Donnell's on Marie Heinekenplein is an expat-heavy alternative, while Satellite Sports Café near Leidseplein is broadly neutral. These are not official away pubs. Avoid Het Honk, Café Baco, JinSo, Café Monico and the stadium's south side in away colours. Ajax's current visitor guidance also tells away supporters to avoid Rembrandtplein pubs, overriding older reports about visiting fans drinking there.
For European or high-risk matches, use the gathering point named by the visiting club rather than relying on old forum recommendations. Away fans are directed to the north side, Strandvliet-ArenA and entrance K; neutral clothing is sensible away from any organised escort.
Sourced from supporters' forums — always follow your club's and police advice for the fixture.
Nightlife
Leidseplein is easy for sports bars and late opening but touristy and expensive. De Pijp, especially around Marie Heinekenplein and Gerard Douplein, has plenty of bars and food within a compact area. Jordaan and the western canal belt suit a quieter pub crawl, while Oost around Javastraat and Oosterpark is less tourist-heavy. Rembrandtplein is lively but Ajax's visitor guidance advises away fans to avoid its pubs on matchday, particularly when wearing colours.
Food & drink
Try bitterballen with mustard, chips with mayonnaise or oorlog sauce, a broodje kroket and a fresh stroopwafel. Raw herring is the traditional quick snack. Amsterdam is particularly good for Indonesian rijsttafel and Surinamese roti or broodjes; De Pijp, Oost and Amsterdam-Zuidoost usually offer better value than the canal belt. Local beer choices include Brouwerij 't IJ, Oedipus and Brouwerij de Prael, though craft measures are often 250ml or 330ml rather than a full half-litre.
Cheap eats & beer
For a quick central feed, FEBO's coin-operated snack walls are useful for croquettes and burgers, while Maoz near Muntplein and Leidsestraat does filling falafel. Albert Cuypmarkt in De Pijp is good for chips, herring, stroopwafels and Surinamese food without sit-down restaurant prices. Near the stadium, walk through Amsterdamse Poort on the east side of Bijlmer ArenA station: its Surinamese, Chinese and takeaway counters are generally better value than the chain restaurants on ArenA Boulevard. Kam Yin at Bijlmerplein is a useful option for large portions. For drinks, Café Sound Garden near the Jordaan, student bars around Spui and the less polished cafés in Oost tend to beat Dam Square and Leidseplein prices. O'Reilly's near Dam Square, O'Donnell's on Marie Heinekenplein and Satellite Sports Café by Leidseplein have all been used by visiting fans, but none is a permanent official away pub; large groups should check match-specific police and club advice first.
Staying safe
Watch for pickpockets around Centraal, Dam Square, Leidseplein and on crowded trams. Do not walk in cycle lanes, and look both ways for bikes and trams before crossing. Canal edges can be poorly protected, so take extra care after drinking. Avoid street drug sellers and remember that cannabis use is not permitted everywhere simply because coffeeshops are licensed. Public drinking is restricted in several busy central areas. On matchday keep colours covered until you know the police arrangements, avoid Ajax home pubs and do not buy unofficial home-end tickets: away supporters found in home sections can be refused entry or removed.
On matchday
The away section at the Johan Cruijff ArenA is approached from the north via Strandvliet station and entrance K. Expect segregation barriers, searches and ticket or identity checks before the turnstiles; supporters holding away-club tickets should not attempt to enter home sections. Stay away from home-supporter gathering points around Het Honk, Café Baco and the south side of ArenA Boulevard, and follow the visiting club's instructions on colours and any compulsory coach or train arrangements. Police can close roads, station entrances or pedestrian routes around Strandvliet and Amsterdam Bijlmer ArenA at short notice, particularly for European, Feyenoord or other high-risk fixtures, so allow at least 45–60 minutes from arrival in the stadium district to reaching the away end.