Shopping in Amsterdam – use a ramp to get in, easy does it
2012-2016
During these 5 years, shops in the Amsterdam city center started using a ramp, to make the entrance accessible.
The ramps are used when needed, to avoid problems when the streets are too crowded. Within the city center over 500 ramps are in use, and they are easily recognized: the Amsterdam logo is printed on them. How cool is that!
When it is possible to leave the ramp all day out, shop owners do. ‘It is inviting customers’, they say.
‘Also, it is very practical to use for all kinds of wheels, not only for wheelchair users. Many happy parents come back, because it is easy to get the stroller inside. And our suppliers don’t complain either.’
Old historic citycenters, like in Amsterdam, can be challenging to create an accessible environment.
In Amsterdam, the use of these mobile ramps is a great solution. Not every shop can be made accessible in this way, but over 500 shops already are.
Update 2023
Most of the custom made ramps are gone. During the years of our accessibility projects in shopping areas, some other Dutch cities were interested and even a city in Italy.
Shops were renovated, new owners came or they could not be bothered to use the ramp. Others ‘forgot’ they received one and many let the huge supply trucks ride over it so they ramps were crushed.
A few shops, who understand the benefits, still use the ramp daily. If you go shopping in the city, you will find them easily.
The city has done nothing to keep the projects going. Unfortunately.
Incentive
The incentive to use the ramp provided by the city council was children in strollers.
Shop owners understood immediately what it could bring them. Sometimes, all it takes is a different perspective to end up on the same road!
