I will be going to A-Dam with a group of friends this summer. We are all college students and on a budget. We were kicking around the idea of camping in one of the sites slightly outside of A-Dam because we could pitch a tent for like $5-10 a night. If anyone has any good insight or experience they might give I'ld appreciate it. Also i came across this website with several places on it so if you're thinking about doing the same thing as me you should check it out. http://www.amstel.scouting.nl/scstay.html
I'm not familiar with camping in/round Amsterdam myself as I never needed to, but I'd like to give one piece of advice: make sure that you are close to public transport that will take you to Amsterdam and back (including nightbusses). You really don't want to deal with the hassle of having to walk a long distance to get some sleep. Cabs are not very cheap, but if you happen to consider taking one, make sure it's one from TCA (Taxi Centrale Amsterdam), they are the most reliable. Sorry that I can't be of any further help!
Two of the best camping sites in Amsterdam are Camping Zeeburg and Camping Vliegenbos. Both have websites and good transportation links to Centraal Station. Vliegenbos is in North Amsterdam and gets a partying younger crowd whereas Zeeburg is in the East and further out with a more hip older camper. For a small group you might look into a trekker hut, it's a little wooden cabin with bunkbeds inside for up to 4 people I believe.
Hire a bike. Sometimes you can even buy a cheap one when you get there and sell it cheap when you leave. Cycling in Amsterdam is like treading water, it's so flat. Also the bike lane system is fantastic.
I camped at www.gaaspercamping.nl/eng/index.html a real nice camp at a lake and park complex, there's even a plantarium at the park. It's just a 20 min. Metro ride. Real clean not like Camping Zeeburg or so I've heard but Zeeburg is a real party camp. Vilebenbos I heard is ok. Check out www.interhike.com they have some reviews.
The Gaasperplas area is awesome.. I live very close to it. You have to take metro 53 (direction Gaasperplas) to get there. It's a really perfect area, even though it's close to the 'ghetto' of Amsterdam (Bijlmer). The park is pretty large and has a huge lake.. some christian groups use a small sandy beach there for baptising, some voodoo people are said to be using other areas for their rituals. To me, the whole park has a pretty spiritual vibe indeed. The is a bike lane around the whole of the lake.
Yes I had hear about the bike trail but the campground has no bikes to rent. They told me I would have to rent one in town. I thougth it may be a big problem I never saw the lake as a conciquence. I was to burn out from carrying to much gear to the camp to walk it.
