Johan Cruijff ArenA away guide

Amsterdam has frequent direct flights from across the UK, so there is no hub detour here: fly into Schiphol, then take the intercity train direct to Amsterdam Bijlmer ArenA in about 13 minutes, or metro line 54 from the centre to Strandvliet (Amsterdam Tips). Away fans sit in the North Stand, sections 416 and 417, through Gate K (Football Ground Guide). European allocations run to around 2,600 (Football Ground Guide).

Fast facts

Getting there from the UK

Amsterdam is a rare away day where you get a genuine choice of how to travel, so it is worth weighing the options rather than defaulting to a flight. Schiphol takes direct flights from most UK airports, so there is no hub detour: fly, take the 13-minute train out to Bijlmer ArenA and you are there (Skyscanner). From London the Eurostar runs city-centre to city-centre with no airport at all, and if you are watching the pennies a Flixbus coach is the cheapest way over, provided you can stand the hours. All costs below are rough estimates and swing with how early you book.

Getting there from Schiphol Airport

The quickest route from Schiphol is the intercity train direct to Amsterdam Bijlmer ArenA station, roughly 13 minutes, with up to four services an hour (Amsterdam Tips). Football Ground Guide gives a similar journey of about 20 minutes on the direct intercity toward Amsterdam Bijlmer ArenA, then a short walk to the ground (Football Ground Guide).

Getting there from Amsterdam Centraal and the city centre

Metro line 54 (and line 50) serve Bijlmer ArenA and Strandvliet from Amsterdam Centraal and the city centre, roughly 15 to 20 minutes (Football Ground Guide). The mainline train from Centraal to Bijlmer ArenA takes about 15 minutes, so metro and train are broadly comparable (Amsterdam Tips). Tickets can be bought through the stadium mobility portal via NS, the national rail operator, or GVB, Amsterdam public transport, or you can tap a contactless card with OVpay (Johan Cruijff Arena).

Nearest station and walking to the ground

The nearest stations are Amsterdam Bijlmer ArenA and Strandvliet, both a few minutes' walk from the turnstiles (Johan Cruijff Arena). Strandvliet is usually the quieter of the two and sits right by the away Gate K, so it is the better choice for the North Stand (Football Ground Guide). Football Ground Guide puts the walk from Bijlmer ArenA station to the ground at about 4 minutes (Football Ground Guide).

Inside the stadium and the away end

Away fans are housed in the upper tier of the North Stand, usually sections 416 and 417, accessed via Gate K, which sits a short walk from Strandvliet-ArenA station (Football Ground Guide). It is a proper climb: expect around 130 steps up to the away concourse, and roughly 70 more if your seats are near the back, so leave time and go easy if steps are a problem (Football Ground Guide). Turnstiles open about two hours before kick-off (Football Ground Guide). Steer clear of the South Stand, which holds the Ajax ultras, and do not wear away colours in home sections (Football Ground Guide). For high-risk domestic fixtures such as Feyenoord, PSV and FC Utrecht, a dedicated rail halt is used to move supporters on segregated trains (Wikipedia).

What you can bring in

Bags may be no larger than A4, specifically 30 cm x 21 cm x 10 cm. Anything larger, plus suitcases, is refused entry and cannot be stored at the gates, though lockers are available at Lockerpoint (Johan Cruijff Arena). Prohibited items include bottles, glasses, cans, sticks, chains, blunt or pointed weapons, fireworks and any discriminatory or provocative material; banners are only allowed at football matches (Johan Cruijff Arena). You cannot bring in alcohol or drugs, cannot enter drunk or under the influence, and the stadium is non-smoking except in designated areas (Johan Cruijff Arena).

Where to stay

Most away fans base themselves in the city centre near Amsterdam Centraal, Dam Square or the canal belt, then ride the metro out to the ArenA on matchday. The area around the stadium in Amsterdam Zuidoost is a modern entertainment and business district rather than a place to stay, so keep the ArenA for the football and the centre for the trip (Football Ground Guide).

Where to drink

The ArenA sits in Amsterdam Zuidoost, a modern entertainment strip rather than a pub neighbourhood, so most away fans drink in the centre first and head out later. Reckon on roughly €6 to €8 a beer in city bars (Expatistan).

• Soccer World, Arena Boulevard: the closest bar to the ground, a big two-floor sports café on the boulevard with a large terrace, handy for a last pint before the walk to Gate K (Football Ground Guide).
• Euro Pub, Dam Square: a common away meeting point near Centraal, plenty of screens and a broad beer list, about a 12-minute walk from the station (Football Ground Guide).
• Three Sisters, Rembrandtplein: English-pub feel, room for around 200 and 20-plus TVs for the football (Football Ground Guide).
• Belushi's, near Centraal: a reliable, boisterous sports-bar option popular with visiting fans (Football Ground Guide).
• Satellite Sports Café, centre: sport on the screens and easy to find a spot for a group (Football Ground Guide).
• Café 't Smalle, Jordaan: a proper old brown café for a quieter pre-match pint and a plate of bitterballen (I amsterdam).

Avoid the Ajax home ends and their locals, keep colours away from the South Stand crowd, and go steady with Amsterdam's nightlife before a segregated away game (Football Ground Guide).

Where to eat

• De Ballen Bar, Foodhallen: bitterballen done seven ways, from classic beef to vegan, the quick and cheap Dutch pub snack to try first (I amsterdam).
• Foodhallen, Oud-West: a lively indoor food market with Dutch classics and world food under one roof, good for a group that cannot agree (I amsterdam).
• Albert Cuypmarkt, De Pijp: street-food stalls for fresh stroopwafels, poffertjes and raw herring, cheap and on the hoof (I amsterdam).
• Moeders, centre: hearty traditional Dutch home cooking, stamppot and the like, a proper sit-down feed (I amsterdam).
• Café Luxembourg, Spui: a grand old café with a classic terrace where bitterballen are treated as a city ritual (I amsterdam).
• The Pantry, near Leidseplein: small, snug and Dutch to the core, good for stamppot and hachee (I amsterdam).

Local dishes to try: bitterballen with mustard, raw herring with onion, stroopwafels warm off the griddle, poffertjes and a plate of stamppot (I amsterdam).

What to do

• Rijksmuseum: the national museum, Rembrandt's Night Watch and Vermeer in the Museum Quarter.
• Van Gogh Museum: the world's largest Van Gogh collection, next door on Museumplein.
• Anne Frank House: the canal-side hiding place, book timed tickets well ahead as it sells out.
• The canal belt: the UNESCO-listed ring of canals, best seen on foot or a short boat trip.
• Jordaan district: narrow streets, brown cafés and independent shops, the pick for an afternoon wander.
• Dam Square and the Royal Palace: the central square by Centraal, a natural meeting and starting point.
• Vondelpark: the big central park, a good spot to walk off the night before.

Common questions

How do you get from Schiphol Airport to the stadium?

Take the intercity train direct from Schiphol to Amsterdam Bijlmer ArenA station, roughly 13 minutes with up to four an hour, then a walk of a few minutes to the ground (Amsterdam Tips). It is one of the simplest airport-to-ground hops in Europe, no changes needed (Football Ground Guide).

Which airport do you fly into for Ajax, and is there a direct flight?

Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS), and yes, it takes direct flights from most UK airports, so there is no hub or detour to worry about (Skyscanner). From London you can also take Eurostar straight to Amsterdam Centraal if you would rather not fly (Skyscanner).

Where do away fans sit at the Johan Cruijff ArenA?

Away fans are housed in the upper tier of the North Stand, usually sections 416 and 417, accessed through Gate K near Strandvliet station (Football Ground Guide). It is directly opposite the Ajax ultras in the South Stand, which you should keep away from (Football Ground Guide).

What is the away allocation?

For European ties the away allocation runs to around 2,600 seats, as when Brighton visited in the Europa League (Football Ground Guide). The stadium as a whole holds 55,865 for football (Wikipedia).

What time should you arrive?

Turnstiles open about two hours before kick-off, and there is a real climb to the away concourse, roughly 130 steps up and about 70 more for the back rows (Football Ground Guide). Get there early, both for the steps and for the security checks on a segregated away section.

Can you drink in the ground?

Yes, there are concourse bars inside the ArenA, though you cannot bring your own alcohol in and you will be refused entry if you are drunk (Johan Cruijff Arena). For a proper pre-match pint, Soccer World on the boulevard is the closest option to the away gate (Football Ground Guide).

How much is a beer?

Reckon on roughly €6 to €8 for a beer in a city-centre bar, though a standard Dutch lager in a plainer pub can be nearer €4 to €5 (Expatistan). Inside the stadium concourse prices sit at the higher end, as usual.

Is Amsterdam safe for away fans?

Amsterdam is a well-run, tourist-friendly city and away trips here are generally trouble-free (Football Ground Guide). Keep colours away from the Ajax home ends and the South Stand crowd, go easy on the nightlife before a segregated away game, and watch for pickpockets in busy central spots (Football Ground Guide).

Where are the away-friendly areas to drink?

The centre is your best bet, with the Dam Square and Rembrandtplein bars such as Euro Pub, Three Sisters, Belushi's and the Satellite Sports Café used to visiting fans (Football Ground Guide). Near the ground, Soccer World on Arena Boulevard is the go-to for a last one (Football Ground Guide).

Does the match ticket include free local transport?

No. Unlike some German grounds, an Ajax ticket does not include free travel, so buy a GVB or NS ticket, or tap in and out with an OVpay contactless card (Johan Cruijff Arena). For high-risk domestic games, segregated transport may be arranged for away supporters (Wikipedia).

How far is the stadium from the city centre?

The ArenA is out in Amsterdam Zuidoost, about 15 to 20 minutes from Amsterdam Centraal by metro line 54 or by mainline train (Football Ground Guide). It is far enough that you would not walk it, but close enough to base yourself in the centre and travel out on matchday.

Where should you stay?

Base yourself in the centre near Centraal, Dam Square or the canal belt, then metro out to the ground (Football Ground Guide). The area by the stadium is a modern business and entertainment district rather than a place to stay, so keep the two separate (Football Ground Guide).

How do you avoid the post-match crush at the station?

Walk to the far end of the Bijlmer ArenA platform, or use the quieter Strandvliet stop right by Gate K, which is usually less crowded (Amsterdam Tips). Expect heavy crowds either way in the first few minutes after full time.