Money

Amsterdam is by no means inexpensive. Clearly, whether you agree with this statement will depend on how much you can bring to bear -- or bear to bring -- in the way of financial resources. If you are used to the prices in New York and London, it won't seem too out of whack. But opportunities for scoring genuine bargains run a thin gamut from few-and-far-between to nonexistent. Remember, the Dutch have for centuries been consummate traders and middlemen. You need only look at how well-appointed their country is to appreciate how fair a job they've done extracting money from foreigners.

In your favor is that the Dutch themselves display an almost proverbial reluctance to unnecessarily part with a euro. A sound rule of thumb is that if you lodge, dine, and entertain yourself in the same places where "ordinary" Dutch do, you can limit financial damage.

Currency

The euro (€) is the currency in the Netherlands. There are 100 euro cents to each euro. Eight euro coins are in circulation: 0.01€, 0.02€, 0.05€, 0.10€, 0.20€, 0.50€ (1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 euro cents, respectively), 1€, and 2€. The seven euro notes are: 5€, 10€, 20€, 50€, 100€, 200€, and 500€. The 200€ and 500€ notes are pretty much unusable because few businesses accept them. The price conversions in this guide are based on an exchange rate of 1€ = US$1.25, and 1€ = £0.70. Bear in mind that exchange rates fluctuate daily. For up-to-the-minute currency conversions, go to www.xe.com.

ATMs

The easiest and best way to get cash away from home is from an ATM (automated teller machine). The Cirrus (tel. 800/424-7787; www.mastercard.com) and PLUS (tel. 800/843-7587; www.visa.com) networks span the globe; look at the back of your bank card to see which network you're on, then call or check online for ATM locations in Amsterdam. Be sure you know your personal identification number (PIN) and daily withdrawal limit before you depart. Note: Remember that many banks impose a fee every time you use a card at another bank's ATM, and that fee can be higher for international transactions (up to $5 or more) than for domestic ones (where they're rarely more than $2). In addition, the bank from which you withdraw cash may charge its own fee. For international withdrawal fees, ask your bank.

If you have a 5- or 6-digit PIN number, be sure to obtain a 4-digit number from your bank to use in Amsterdam. Some cards with 5- or 6-digit PIN numbers might work, but this depends on which bank you're with. The best advice is still to get a 4-digit number from your bank.

You can withdraw euros from ATMs at many locations in the city.

Credit Cards

Credit cards are another safe way to carry money. They provide a convenient record of all your expenses, and generally offer relatively good exchange rates. You can withdraw cash advances from your credit cards at banks or ATMs, provided you know your PIN. Keep in mind that you'll pay interest from the moment of your withdrawal, even if you pay your monthly bills on time. Also, note that many banks now assess a 1% to 3% "transaction fee" on all charges you incur abroad (regardless of whether you're using the local currency or your native currency).

Visa and MasterCard (also known as EuroCard in Europe) are the most widely used cards in Holland. American Express is often accepted, mostly in the middle- and upper-bracket category. Diners Club is not as commonly accepted as American Express. Credit cards are not as commonly accepted as they are in the U.S. and Britain. Many restaurants and shops in Amsterdam -- and some hotels -- don't accept them at all. Some establishments tag on a 5% charge for card payment.

Traveler's Checks

These days, traveler's checks are less necessary because Amsterdam has plenty of 24-hour ATMs. However, since you'll be charged an ATM withdrawal fee if the bank isn't your own, if you're withdrawing money daily, you might be better off with traveler's checks, which will be replaced if lost or stolen. You can get traveler's checks at most banks, and from American Express, Thomas Cook, Visa, and MasterCard.

Euro traveler's checks are accepted at locations where dollar and pound checks may not be, but you'll have to reconvert unused ones or keep them for a future trip to a euro-zone country.

Traveler's checks are offered in denominations of $20, $50, $100, $500, and sometimes $1,000. Generally, you'll pay a service charge ranging from 1% to 4%.

The most popular traveler's checks are offered by American Express (tel. 800/807-6233 or, for cardholders, tel. 800/221-7282 -- this number accepts collect calls, offers service in several languages, and exempts gold and platinum cardholders from the 1% fee). AAA members can obtain Visa (tel. 800/732-1322) checks for a $9.95 fee (for checks up to $1,500) at most AAA offices or by calling tel. 866/339-3378. For MasterCard, call tel. 800/223-9920.

If you carry traveler's checks, keep a record of their serial numbers separate from your checks in case they're stolen or lost. You'll get a refund faster if you know the numbers.