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Welcome to the Netherlands, and a warm welcome to Amsterdam. On this page we will present you with general information about the city of Amsterdam and about the Netherlands. Of course we will provide you with detailed information about our bid.

The Dutch team is currently developing the content of this bid page and your help is more than welcome! Feel free to make improvements or to add content. If you want to participate more actively with our bid, please contact MarkW (Mwpnl) or Effeietsanders through email, user page or Freenode IRC (#wikimania-nl).

Amsterdam is the capital of the Netherlands, and its largest city. The city is known for its historic port, the Rijksmuseum, its red-light district (de Wallen), its liberal soft drugs policy ("coffee shops"), and its many canals which have led to Amsterdam being called the "Venice of the North". Amsterdam has two universities. During the Dutch Golden Age, Amsterdam was one of the most important ports in the world, with innovative developments in trade, and became the leading center for finance and diamonds. The city, founded in the late 12th century as a small fishing village, has grown to become the largest city in the Netherlands with a population of about 1 million inhabitants, containing at least 172 nationalities.

Amsterdam and its surrounding metropolitan area have a population of 1 million to about 1.5 million people, depending on definition, and is part of the Randstad conurbation. The Randstad (literally "Rim City") is a conurbation in the western part of the Netherlands. It consists of the four largest Dutch cities (Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague and Utrecht), plus their surrounding areas. With its 7.5 million inhabitants (almost half of the population of the Netherlands; when other conurbations connected to this area are also taken into consideration, it would have a population a little over 10 million, almost two-thirds of the entire Dutch population) it is one of the largest conurbations in Europe.

Amsterdam has a very lively music scene and is internationally renowned for its jazz and improvised music (Bimhuis), contemporary music (Muziekgebouw aan het IJ) as well as classical music (Concertgebouw), but also world music (Tropenmuseum) and diverse pop- rock or other contemporary young music (Paradiso, Amsterdam Arena, Heineken Music Hall).

The 7000 historic monuments in the city center make Amsterdam’s well-preserved beauty hard to miss, even for those without a particular interest in architecture. A web of picturesque canals determines the main layout of the center. This set of concentric waterways is called the Grachtengordel ("Girdle of Canals") and was dug during the Dutch Golden Age, as part of a carefully planned city expansion. These canals, along with the 90 islands and over 1500 bridges in the city, have gained Amsterdam the title "Venice of the North".

With around 175 different nationalities living in the city, Amsterdam is a highly multicultural and diverse place. The city is known for its liberal character and welcoming attitude towards visitors. Tourists generally find that just about everyone they encounter speaks reasonable to fluent English, including bus and tram drivers. Amsterdam is popular with visitors and the city is well organized to meet their needs. Information regarding tourist attractions and public transportation is widely available in English, as are menus in bars and restaurants. Places of worship are available for all major religions.

Amsterdam is often called the "gay capital of Europe" and is a popular destination for gay and lesbian travelers. The Netherlands was the first country in the world to legalize gay marriage and is perhaps the most progressive country when it comes to equal rights for gays and lesbians in general. Gay nightlife is lively in Amsterdam and festivals are numerous. The spectacular Amsterdam Gay Pride, in the first weekend of August, is considered to be one of the best in the world and attracts over half a million people. Highlight of the Pride is the colorful canal parade, in which celebrities and government officials take part as well.

For more information about tourism opportunities in and around Amsterdam, visit Wikimania 2010/Bids/Amsterdam/Tourism.

Amsterdam has many tourism opportunities. Its long history makes Amsterdam an great place to visit, with lots of architectural interesting buildings and of course its canals. Amsterdam has over 6,800 officially recognized historical monuments, ranging from the 15th to the 19th century. Museums and galleries are plentiful in Amsterdam. Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum owns probably the largest collection of Golden Age paintings, among which Rembrandt's famous Night Watch. Right next door are the fine Van Gogh Museum (designed by Rietveld), with the greatest collection of the artist's work, as well as the Stedelijk Museum for contemporary art. When sightseeing Amsterdam, the Amsterdam Mobile Guide is a great help, with routes to and information about almost 200 interesting locations easily accessible on your cellphone.

If you plan on enjoying the city of Amsterdam during Wikimania, it a good idea to buy the I Amsterdam Card^[1] . With the I Amsterdam Card you get free access to lots of museums, free public transportation in Amsterdam (bus, tram, metro), a free canal boat tour, and many discounts for attractions and restaurants. There are three cards available:

• 24 hours = € 33.00
• 48 hours = € 43.00
• 72 hours = € 53.00

The I Amsterdam Card is available in all local tourist information offices.

Museums etc.	Prices
Rijksmuseum (Nachtwacht!)	€ 11,-
Van Gogh Museum	€ 12,50
Sex Museum Venustempel	€ 3,-
Allard Pierson Museum	€ 6,50
Artis Zoo	€ 18,50

The Netherlands is a modern country located in Northwestern Europe. It is connected to Germany in the east and Belgium in the south, and facing the North Sea in the west and north. The Netherlands is one of the main transportation and distribution countries in the world, located at an intersection of air, sea and rail connections. The Netherlands is famous for its abundance of water, and its international economical focus. More traditionally, the Netherlands is known for its bikes, tulips, cheese, clogs and windmills. The country has been an open society with a long standing tradition of tolerance and is known for its liberal policies toward various lifestyles.

The Netherlands is a geographically low-lying country, with about 27% of its area and 60% of its population located below sea level. Significant areas have been gained through land reclamation and preserved through an elaborate system of polders and dikes. Most of the country is very flat, with the exception of foothills of the Ardennes in the far south–east and several low-hill ranges in the central parts created by ice age glaciers.

The country has an international outlook. The Netherlands is a melting-pot of different cultures: of the 16.5 million inhabitants, over 3.2 million are of non-Dutch origin. The Netherlands is a founding member of the European Union (EU), NATO, the OECD, and has signed the Kyoto protocol. The country is host to five international courts, including the International Court of Justice.

Are you a lover of art, renaissance or modern? Are you interested in science? Do you like to walk through picturesque cities or do you love the countryside? How about staying at the beach? The region where Wikimania may take place has all of this.

More information about the Netherlands can of course be found on Wikipedia (de, en, es, fr, it, ja, nl, pl, pt, ru, etc).

The typical Dutch way of transportation in Amsterdam is by bike. You will see them everywhere and they are for rent as well. Be sure to rent a big chain with lock as well though.
Amsterdam has a complex network of trams and buses, for less adventurous people. Some time in 2009, the Public Transportation Smart Card (OV-chipkaart) will replace all tickets, passes and the common 'strippenkaart'. This card is valid for travel by tram, train, bus, ferry and metro. It is available at kiosks, cigar shops and supermarkets.

Taxis are available throughout the city and a canal taxi can make your ride just a bit more special.

Prices from
Local bus fare	~ € 1
Rent a bike	~ € 10 a day
Taxi Schiphol to Amsterdam (downtown)	~ € 37
Taxi	~ € 5 + € 2 / km
Canal Bus	~ € 16 (day pass)
Canal boat (tour)	~ € 8

In July it's summer in the Netherlands. The Netherlands has a moderate sea climate and enjoys pleasantly warm summers with an average temperature of around 22°C (72°F) in July and August. The summer period brings the Dutch cities to live, with various open air festivals and many cafés moving their seating outdoors. Although an occasional shower can occur, July and August are the sunniest months of the year, with an average of 200+ hours of sunshine. Light summer clothes with a rain jacket for the occasional rainy day should suffice for visitors.

Weather averages from KNMI De Bilt
Month	July	August
Daily high temperature	22.1°C (72°F)	22.3°C (72°F)
Daily low temperature	12.5°C (55°F)	12.0°C (54°F)
Total precipitation	70.0 mm (2.75")	58.2 mm (2.3")
Days with rainfall	19 (5% of the time)	19 (4% of the time)
Sunshine	208 hours	201 hours

The currency used in the Netherlands is the euro (€). Most hotels, upmarket restaurants and many large stores accept all major international credit cards. However, cash is still a very common way to pay for daily expenses and you'll find plenty of ATMs around. They usually accept cash withdrawals from credit cards such as Visa and MasterCard/Eurocard, as well as cash cards that use the Cirrus network.

Cost of living in the Netherlands are generally comparable with other northern European countries. Although prices can be slightly higher in Amsterdam, the city is still much less expensive than London or Paris. With a wide choice of top-end hotels and restaurants, as well as upmarket shopping opportunities, it's not hard to spend a small fortune in Amsterdam. However, there is an ever wider array of budget and mid-range places to choose from if you're on a budget. If you're staying for a couple of days it's worthwhile to check out the available discount passes, for they can save loads on admission fees and public transport costs. The local Wikimania team will help you and provide useful information.

Supermarket	Prices from	Bar / common restaurant	Prices from
Bread	€ 0.89	3-course meal	€ 22.50
Milk (1 liter)	€ 0.50	Hamburger (McDonald's)	€ 1,-
Coca Cola (1 liter)	€ 1.25	Beer (25cc)	€ 2,-
Beer (30cc bottle)	€ 0.45	Cup of coffee/tea	€ 2,-
Candy bar	€ 0.60	Sandwich	€ 2.50
Package of stroopwafels	€ 1.50	Dutch raw herring (with fresh chopped onions, of course)	€ 1.50

<Kort overzicht van activiteiten die rond die tijd plaatsvinden (juli/augustus 2010)>

>General information about the bid<

>More information about the venue: Halls, location, atmosphere etc<

>More about the accommodation: Number of rooms, doubles/triples etc, type, cost etc<

Amsterdam is known as a city that never sleeps. With over 1200 bars and cafés, some 36 clubs and another 1250 restaurants, the city accommodates all tastes and budgets and has a vibrant nightlife. Party opportunities are numerous and are not limited to the large selection of traditional party venues. Whether it's a prestigious floating party on a large party ship on Amsterdam's waterfront, or a casual barbecue in its romantic public Vondelpark: there is plenty of room for creativity.

<De partylocatie (of mogelijke locaties) die we willen aanbieden>

><

>Which partners have supported the bid, who have shown interest?<

Located on the Western coast of Europe, The Netherlands is easy to reach by air, by land and by water. Schiphol, one of the world's top 3 busiest airports by international passenger traffic, is conveniently located at just 20 minutes from the Amsterdam city center. The small size of the country places the other large cities (Rotterdam, The Hague and Utrecht) all at distances of just 30 to 60 minutes by train. The Netherlands is well connected to all major European train and bus routes, offering interesting alternatives to flying.

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is a major airport with almost 50 million passengers per year and has many direct connections with cities all over the world. The airport is modern, maintains a high quality (voted best airport in Europe by Business Traveler) and is very well connected to the public transportation system with an intercity train station directly underneath the main hall. Besides Amsterdam Airport, the city of Amsterdam is very well connected with other airports in Europe, which makes the possibilities for a cheaper flight numerous.

Within the Netherlands, Rotterdam Airport and Eindhoven Airport serve a few price fighters flying within Europe, but also the airport of Brussels is only a three hour train ride from the city center of Amsterdam. Paris and Frankfurt, other main air hubs, are also at a decent distance with 4:45 and 3:45 hours respectively.

All prices are for round trip flights from city of departure to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, unless otherwise noted ("(E)" indicating Eindhoven). Flights include a weekend in August 2009 as data for 2010 are unavailable as of yet. Taxes are included. Euro to dollar exchange rate as of mid-February 2009.

From Costs Europe Frankfurt 85ドル Lisbon 217ドル London 70ドル Madrid 81ドル (E) Moscow 391ドル Paris 164ドル Rome 84ドル (E) Vienna 125ドル Warsaw 154ドル

From Costs $ Costs € North America New York 872ドル 681ドル San Francisco 1014ドル 799ドル Toronto 866ドル 677ドル Central America San Salvador 1627ドル 1271ドル Panama City 1302ドル 1017ドル South America Rio de Janeiro 1212ドル 952ドル Paramaribo 1301ドル 1017ドル

From Costs $ Costs € Oceania Sydney 1324ドル 1050ドル Auckland 1520ドル 1186ドル Africa Cairo 544ドル 425ドル Johannesburg 818ドル 639ドル Nairobi 1119ドル 875ドル Asia Delhi 717ドル 560ドル Hong Kong 1158ドル 905ドル Jakarta 1206ドル 957ドル Seoul 1023ドル 799ドル Taipei 1271ドル 993ドル

Several local airports, within 2 hours travel from Amsterdam city center, such as Eindhoven Airport and Rotterdam Airport, offer considerably cheaper international flights. Among those are Eindhoven Airport (France, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Spain, Turkey, ...) and Rotterdam Airport (Austria, Denmark, England, France, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, ...). Brussels Airport (Bulgary, Canary Islands, France, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Morocco, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, ...) is a 3-hour drive from Amsterdam. These airports have busses to stations with good train connections to Amsterdam.

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is the Netherlands' main airport, easily accessible from anywhere in the world, as one of the main hubs of the world. The airport is located southwest of Amsterdam, in the municipality of Haarlemmermeer in larger Amsterdam. The city center of Amsterdam is directly accessible by train; a train station is located at the airport. Trains to Amsterdam arrive and depart every few minutes. It takes about 20 minutes by train or car to the city center (17.5 km or 10.8 miles).

From your airport	Fare	Travel time
Schiphol - Amsterdam Central Station (train, single fare)	€ 3.90	20 min.
Eindhoven Airport - Eindhoven Central Station - Amsterdam Central Station (bus+train, single fare)	~ € 20	1 hr. 45 min.
Rotterdam Airport - Rotterdam Central Station - Amsterdam Central Station (bus+train, single fare)	~ € 15	1 hr. 30 min.
Brussels Airport (Brussel Zaventem) - Amsterdam Central Station (train, single fare)	€ 19[2]	3 hrs.

The Netherlands has an extensive network of fine motorways which ensures good road access from both Belgium and Germany, as well as between cities. With hardly any peak hours in summer and no border controls, traveling by car can be a convenient alternative for Wikimania participants from surrounding European countries. A few examples of travel times to Amsterdam:

• Brussels - 2 1/4 hours (211 km)
• Frankfurt - 4 hours (440 km)
• Paris - 5 hours (503 km)
• London - 6 hours (334 mi/534 km) (through the Channel Tunnel)
• Berlin - 6 1/4 hours (656 km)
• Bern - 7 3/4 hours (840 km)
• Copenhagen - 8 hours (789 km) (with the Rødby-Puttgarden ferry)
• Prague - 8 1/4 hours (878 km)

To avoid parking fees in the city center, consider parking at Park & Ride, which is considerably cheaper.

The Netherlands has direct train connections to many major destinations in Germany, Belgium and France, with multiple border crossing options and of course no border controls. Direct trains also run to the United Kingdom (through the Channel Tunnel) and Switzerland. With one or two changes in neighboring countries most other major Western European destinations are connected, making the train an easy, budget friendly and environmentally responsible way of travel.

Booking well in advance will provide some serious discounts. Young people (<25) and anyone who is planning on exploring a couple of other European destinations before or after Wikimania, should check out the Interrail Global Pass, which allows several days of travel in no less than 30 (!) countries - all on 1 ticket.

From Costs (round trip) from Duration Paris (Thalys) € 50 4 hours Brussels (Thalys) € 38 2 3/4 hours London (Eurostar, Thalys) € 99 5 3/4 hours Berlin (CityNightLine) € 58 6 hours Frankfurt (ICE) € 78 4 hours Cologne (ICE) € 38 2 1/2 hours

• Paris - Amsterdam (4 hours) with the Thalys, direct train, stops in Brussels (2 3/4 hours) and Antwerp (2 hours)
• London - Amsterdam (5 3/4 hours) with the Eurostar and Thalys, change in Brussels
• Berlin - Amsterdam (6 hours), direct CityNightLine which also serves Hannover (4 1/4 hours) and Köln (2 1/2 hours), among others. Also possible via InterCity (via Hannover and Osnabrück; change in Amersfoort) or ICE (change in Duisburg).
• Frankfurt - Amsterdam (4 hours), direct train (ICE, 78€ round trip), stops in Cologne/Köln (2 1/2 hours) and Düsseldorf (2 1/4 hours)

For more train destinations and prices, see the website for international train services of the Dutch Railways

Prices are indicative and are based on a single journey with a car and 2 people

• Newcastle - IJmuiden (16 1/2 hours, GBP 129) DFDS Seaways
• Hull - Rotterdam (10 hours, GBP 107) P&O Ferries
• Harwich - Hoek van Holland (GBP 60) Stena Line

The Netherlands is a member country of the European Union and part of the Schengen Area, allowing citizens of most European countries to freely enter the country, provided that they have a valid passport or ID card. Visa requirements have been waived for a total of at least 55 countries, also including the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan and a large part of Latin-America ^[3] Standard visa costs are the equivalent of 60ドル (approx. US$ 80) in the local currency of the country where the application is submitted. However, visa facilitation agreements have been signed with several eastern European countries, including Russia, Serbia, Ukraine and others, making visa procedures significantly easier, faster and cheaper, with visa fees at 35ドル.

The local team will provide letters of invitation and support to participants who require a visa. Note that a normal Dutch Schengen visa allows participants to explore other European Schengen-countries before or after Wikimania, without the need for additional visa.

More detailed information can be found at the website of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

This bid was initiated by the Dutch chapter, but the local team has grown to include several other Wikimedians. A large number of Wikimedians from the Dutch community have expressed their interest and support for the initiative. At least some 8 members of the local team have attended Wikimania before, often more than once. The local team therefore has a clear view of what Wikimania is, and what Wikimedians expect from it. Beside the personal experiences and qualities of the team members, the Dutch Chapter has organized its own annual conference which will have its fifth edition in 2009. Despite the smaller scale of this annual conference (with around 100 participants in the past two years), it has provided the chapter with experience in the field of organizational matters and fundraising. This doesn't only mean that there are several people of the chapter involved in the very organization, the chapter also has a framework of volunteers which can support the team.

>I'll help coordinate the organisation<

• Effeiets anders 03:27, 23 January 2009 (UTC) [reply ]
• MarkW /Mwpnl 14:53, 24 January 2009 (UTC) [reply ]
• Catrope Roan Kattouw 09:38, 28 January 2009 (UTC) [reply ]
• Ciell 22:34, 25 January 2009 (UTC) [reply ]

>I'll help with all sorts of stuff<

1. Fruggo 15:35, 28 January 2009 (UTC) [reply ]
2. Forrestjunky 05:44, 29 January 2009 (UTC) [reply ]
3. aleichem 11:14, 29 January 2009 (UTC) [reply ]
4. Lolsimon 11:58, 29 January 2009 (UTC) [reply ]
5. ken123 20:07, 30 January 2009 (UTC) [reply ]
6. JorritH 00:42, 3 February 2009 (UTC) (UTC)
7. Mark Bergsma 17:18, 12 February 2009 (UTC) [reply ]
8. Paul B 23:52, 12 February 2009 (UTC) [reply ]
9. Valhallasw 19:50, 16 February 2009 (UTC) [reply ]
10. Henna 14:03, 17 February 2009 (UTC) [reply ]
11. GerardM 20:52, 17 February 2009 (UTC) - particularly with organising "hacker days".[reply ]
12. User:Kim Bruning. Yet More Work. Joy. ;-)
13. Jeroen 15:44, 20 February 2009 (UTC) [reply ]
14. --Ziko 20:19, 21 February 2009 (UTC) [reply ]
15. Martijn Hoekstra 20:58, 10 March 2009 (UTC) [reply ]

>I support this bid!<

1. .Koen 10:08, 29 January 2009 (UTC) [reply ]
2. Siebrand 13:18, 29 January 2009 (UTC) (may want to get more involved some day)[reply ]
3. Laaknor 23:14, 29 January 2009 (UTC) [reply ]
4. Niels 23:15, 29 January 2009 (UTC) [reply ]
5. Erwin(85) 19:53, 30 January 2009 (UTC) [reply ]
6. Bijltjespad 10:54, 1 February 2009 (UTC) Good idea to have this in Amsterdam[reply ]
7. Rubietje88 13:16, 1 February 2009 (UTC) [reply ]
8. Dedalus 13:49, 1 February 2009 (UTC) [reply ]
9. oscar 14:02, 1 February 2009 (UTC) since the very idea (although not copyrighted at the time) of a Wikimania was in fact born in the Netherlands (ask Jimbo!), it is about time it went there as well ;-)[reply ]
10. Basvb 15:57, 1 February 2009 (UTC) [reply ]
11. BassWave 18:44, 1 February 2009 (UTC) [reply ]
12. Erik1980 19:22, 1 February 2009 (UTC) Although my name may move up to the local team one day... Just let me know if you need an event security professional ;)[reply ]
13. Multichill 20:56, 1 February 2009 (UTC) [reply ]
14. Husky 22:40, 1 February 2009 (UTC) [reply ]
15. Dolledre 23:39, 1 February 2009 (UTC) [reply ]
16. Woudloper 23:42, 1 February 2009 (UTC) [reply ]
17. Sumurai8 20:08, 10 February 2009 (UTC) [reply ]
18. Dung005 15:11, 11 February 2009 (UTC) [reply ]
19. Wutsje 16:36, 11 February 2009 (UTC) [reply ]
20. Akoopal 16:37, 11 February 2009 (UTC) [reply ]
21. Freaky Fries 20:03, 11 February 2009 (UTC) Association_of_Stroopwafel_Addicts - Buying still-hot-stroopwafels every weekend ;-)[reply ]
22. Groucho NL 19:04, 11 February 2009 (UTC) [reply ]
23. Meursault2004 01:29, 15 February 2009 (UTC) [reply ]
24. Galwaygirl 16:49, 16 February 2009 (UTC) [reply ]
25. Chris 18:10, 16 February 2009 (UTC) [reply ]
26. Emmelie 18:13, 16 February 2009 (UTC) [reply ]
27. Abigor talk 18:13, 16 February 2009 (UTC) [reply ]
28. Josq 18:54, 16 February 2009 (UTC) [reply ]
29. Laudaka 21:50, 16 February 2009 (UTC) [reply ]
30. Cbrown1023 talk 22:16, 16 February 2009 (UTC) [reply ]
31. TahR78 20:18, 17 February 2009 (UTC) [reply ]
32. J+ 21:35, 17 February 2009 (UTC) [reply ]
33. IIVQ 17:51, 20 February 2009 (UTC) [reply ]
34. Balko 21:15, 21 February 2009 (UTC) [reply ]
35. Greenday2 21:51, 21 February 2009 (UTC) [reply ]
36. Art Unbound 22:29, 21 February 2009 (UTC) [reply ]
37. Warddr 23:16, 21 February 2009 (UTC) [reply ]
38. Vituzzu 15:59, 22 February 2009 (UTC) [reply ]
39. Quistnix 16:49, 22 February 2009 (UTC) [reply ]
40. Austroungarika (talk) 13:30, 23 February 2009 (UTC) [reply ]
41. --Melos 13:57, 23 February 2009 (UTC) [reply ]
42. Chaemera 15:34, 23 February 2009 (UTC) [reply ]
43. Fransvannes 13:02, 25 February 2009 (UTC) [reply ]
44. Migdejong 14:45, 25 February 2009 (UTC) Amsterdam is the place to be![reply ]
45. Andre Engels 08:23, 27 February 2009 (UTC) [reply ]
46. Guido den Broeder 15:31, 27 February 2009 (UTC) [reply ]
47. Mardetanha ^talk 00:23, 1 March 2009 (UTC) [reply ]
48. Serenity.id 15:40, 8 March 2009 (UTC) (have faith in the core team ;-) - go, go, go!)[reply ]
49. Martijn Hoekstra 20:59, 10 March 2009 (UTC) Joy![reply ]
50. --Bernard 10:22, 11 March 2009 (UTC) [reply ]
51. ArjanH 13:11, 12 March 2009 (UTC) [reply ]

• We are looking for people interested in the idea of organising Wikimania in the Netherlands. Working out this idea requires quite some effort, and a few extra hands are always welcome! Please send an email to meedoen at wikimania2010.nl or come by on IRC on #wikimania-nl and say hi (not a very active channel). The proposal is active, but most activity takes place behind the scenes.

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