Amsterdam - wheelchair accessible?

Amsterdam is a city with lots of great hotels, exhibitions and events. But... are they still great if you try to access them in a wheelchair? The aswer is yes. Most hotels, events and museums are wheel chair friendly, and welcome disabled travellers.

The old center of Amsterdam with narrow streets, bridges, millions of little pillars called Amsterdammertjes, and bicycles parked everywere - can be hard going. But many hotels and restaurants provide easy access for people with disabilities, look for the international wheelchair symbol in their windows and advertising.

Before you book a hotel room, it is good to know if the rooms have got facilities for disabled. sometimes the older hotels have no elevator and narrow stairs. Many, but not all are wheelchair accessible, wholly or partly, some with adapted toilets. Always check on accessibility at sights you wish to visit.

We have selected a number of polular hotels that are completely wheelchair accessible, and that you can book online:

NH Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky *****
Dam 9, Amsterdam
NH Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky is a phenomenon in Amsterdam, the Netherlands and throughout the world. What once began as a coffee house, became the largest *****star hotel in The Netherlands. NH Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky has 468 rooms, including 1 Tower Suite, 6 Junior Suites and 36 Apartments, a congress...
Lowest rate: EUR 139.00
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Golden Tulip Amsterdam - Centre *****
Nieuwezijdskolk 19, Amsterdam
The hotel is situated in the historical heart of the city. Within walking distance you'll find many shopping streets and department stores. Because of the unique location at a traffice free square, we can guarantee an undisturbed goodnight's sleep. All air-conditioned rooms are modern and warm decorated,...
Lowest rate: EUR 99.00
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Bilderberg Garden Hotel
Dijsselhofplantsoen 7, Amsterdam
This renowned, small five-star hotel combines international style and luxury with welcoming hospitality. The hotel offers newly decorated rooms with luxury fabrics and warm colour schemes. At Mangerie de Kersentuin you can choose high quality dishes at reasonable prices...
Lowest rate: EUR 109.00
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Ramada Amsterdam City Centre
Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 50, Amsterdam
Stylish modern hotel located in the heart of the city of Amsterdam. Close to the Dam (Royal Palace, Nieuwe Kerk), the Kalverstraat with its varied shopping possibilities, the famous canals and the Red Light District. The centrally located City Centre Hotel offers you a perfect base to get to know the...
Lowest rate: EUR 85.00
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Access

For wheelchair access, entrance or side doors need to be ramped or level, with a minimum width of 80cm (32in). Interior doors also need to be at least this width, with no steps leading into public rooms (restaurant, lounge, bar, toilets, etc).
There are many disabled people who do not use wheelchairs, but are unable to use steps or stairs. A number of accommodation guides, details of which can be obtained from Holiday Care, show where there are ground-floor bedrooms. Most of these also show where there is a lift available, so even if there are no ground-floor bedrooms, access may be just as feasible because there is a lift. If making enquiries about a hotel or guest-house with a lift, do make sure that the bedroom is as near to the lift as possible, and do ask whether there are any steps in the corridor between the lift doors and the bedroom.

General facilities

If ground-floor bedrooms are not available, there should be a lift large enough to take a wheelchair, ie at least 140cm (55in) deep by 1100cm (43in) wide.

Bedroom

The door should be at least 80cm (32in wide; there should be sufficient turning space for a wheelchair, ie 140cm (55in) by 140cm (55in), and free width of at least 80cm (32in) to one side of the bed.

Bathroom

The door should be at least 80cm wide; enough room is needed to enter in a wheelchair and close the door, with space beside the WC for a wheelchair to enable sideways transfer; support rails near the bath and WC are also needed.

Outside

There should be a route without steps and with a firm smooth surface which wheelchairs can use; this would ideally facilitate access to the swimming pool or beach without needing to negotiate steps; the availability or otherwise of a swimming-pool hoist should be indicated; the accommodation should be in a central position with shopping and entertainment facilities within easy reach, otherwise specially-arranged transport would be needed to enable disabled holidaymakers to go on trips or excursions.