One day in Amsterdam: A wheelchair-friendly itinerary
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Amsterdam is a bustling city with lots of wheelchair-friendly things to see and do. Even with limited time, you can get a great sense of the Dutch capital in just one day. From cosy cafés to world-renowned art museums, beautiful historic buildings, and lush green parks, there’s something for everyone. Below you’ll find the ultimate wheelchair-friendly itinerary for a day trip to Amsterdam.
This blog post is the first in a two-part series. Read Two days in Amsterdam: A wheelchair-friendly weekend getaway for part two.
Start at Amsterdam Central Station
9:45 am
Start your day off at Amsterdam Central Station and head to the central side (Centrumzijde) of the building. From here, wheelchair-friendly public transportation will get you to your first stop: ITA Brasserie.
To travel from Amsterdam Central Station to ITA Brasserie, take tram 12 in the direction of Amsteldijk and get off at Leidseplein. The tram journey takes approximately 10 minutes/ 7 stops.
Have a coffee & croissant at ITA Brasserie
The cosy interior of ITA Brasserie in Amsterdam
10:00 am to 10:45 am
At Leidseplein, you’ll quickly spot the white facade of the Internationaal Theater Amsterdam. This 19th century theatre building hosts a range of cultural performances and has its own restaurant, ITA Brasserie.
ITA Brasserie serves breakfast from 10:00 am on Wednesdays to Sundays. The breakfast menu includes a choice of croissants, eggs, cheese, and yoghurt; granola fruit bowls; avocado on toast; or smoked salmon on sourdough bread. Eet smakelijk!
ITA Brasserie is wheelchair-friendly. The restaurant is threshold-free and includes an accessible toilet. For more accessibility information, visit the ITA Brasserie page.
Close to this location you’ll also find:
Cruise along the canals
A cruise along the picturesque canals is a must in Amsterdam
11:00 am to 12:15 pm (dependent on canal cruise schedule)
Once you’ve had your morning coffee, go to the Blue Boat Company dock for a wheelchair-friendly canal cruise. All accessible canal cruises begin and end at Stadhouderskade 501, a short distance from Leidseplein. Six out of 15 boats are equipped with a wheelchair lift.
If you require wheelchair access, you must make a reservation beforehand and call +31 (0) 20 679 1370 the afternoon before/ morning of your cruise. Arrangements can then be made for a suitable boat and departure time.
For some personal insights, read my blog post about the Blue Boat Company’s wheelchair-friendly canal cruise in Amsterdam. For more information, visit the Blue Boat Company website.
Stroll through Vondelpark
The Vondelpark on a beautiful sunny day
12:30 pm to 12:45 pm
It’s now time to go from Amsterdam’s beautiful canals to the popular Vondelpark. Vondelpark has multiple entrances, and not all are step-free.
Cross the road from the dock at Stadhouderskade 501 towards the park. The Maagd van Amsterdam statue is a handy landmark right in front of the wheelchair-friendly park entrance. Make your way through the Vondelpark for approximately 7 minutes (550 m) to your next stop: Park Zuid.
Enjoy lunch at Park Zuid
The Vondelparkpaviljoen, home to Park Zuid
1:00 pm to 2:00 pm
The Vondelparkpaviljoen is hard to miss. This building dates back to the 1880s and was designed by Dutch architect Willem Hamer. The ground floor of the building is home to Park Zuid, a wheelchair-friendly restaurant in Amsterdam. Park Zuid serves an all-day breakfast, as well as various soups, salads, burgers, and sandwiches.
After lunch, you’ll visit the Hollandsche Manege (Living Horse Museum), a unique attraction just 230 metres from Park Zuid.
Interact with horses at the Living Horse Museum
A curious horse at the Hollandsche Manege
2:15 pm to 3:00 pm
Located inside the Hollandsche Manege (“Dutch Riding School”), the Living Horse Museum is one of Amsterdam’s best kept secrets. Dating back to 1744, the Hollandsche Manege is the oldest riding school in The Netherlands.
In 2022, the Hollandsche Manege opened its very own museum — the Living Horse Museum — dedicated to the building’s history, riders, and horses. Part of this museum includes the stables where you can interact with dozens of horses.
Accessibility features of the Living Horse Museum include a lift and an accessible toilet. The building’s café is also wheelchair-friendly. For more information, please see the Living Horse Museum page.
View world-famous paintings at the Van Gogh Museum
One of Van Gogh’s colourful self-portraits
3:30 pm to 6:00 pm
Next on the itinerary is The Van Gogh Museum. This museum is dedicated to Vincent van Gogh, one of the most iconic Dutch painters in history.
The Van Gogh Museum is an 8 minute stroll (600 m) from the Living Horse Museum. Alternatively, you can take public transportation — hop on Tram 12 at Leidseplein in the direction of Amsteldijk. Stay on the tram for 15 minutes/ 9 stops and get off at Concertgebouw. Across the road, you’ll find the Van Gogh Museum.
The Van Gogh Museum’s mobility aid page includes a detailed accessibility overview, including lift measurements, floor plans, and more. Both entrances at Museumplein and Paulus Potterstraat are wheelchair-friendly. To visit the permanent exhibition, Paulus Potterstraat is most convenient.
Close to this location you’ll also find:
End with a brasserie-style dinner at Loetje
Café Loetje on the Johannes Vermeerstraat
6:30 pm to 8:00 pm
To end the day’s activities, Loetje — a popular Dutch restaurant chain — is the place to be for a brasserie-style dinner. Café Loetje on the Johannes Vermeerstraat is wheelchair-friendly and includes an accessible toilet. The restaurant is a 7-minute (550 m) stroll from the Van Gogh Museum.
If you’d like to travel back to Amsterdam Central Station after dinner, go to the tram stop at Roelof Hartplein 350 metres from Café Loetje. Tram 12 takes you directly to Amsterdam Central Station. Stay on the tram for 18 minutes/ 10 stops to the end of the line.
