GVB

The forerunner of the GVB, the Gemeentetram Amsterdam (GTA) (Amsterdam Municipal Tramway), was established on 1 January 1900 by the city after it acquired a number of private companies. The first electric tram ran on 14 August 1900. In 1925, the GTA introduced its first bus line. In 1943, Gemeentetram merged with Gemeenteveren Amsterdam (established in 1897), the municipal ferry company, to form Gemeente Vervoerbedrijf Amsterdam (Dutch pronunciation: [ɣəˈmeːntə vɛrˈvuːrbədrɛif ˌɑmstərˈdɑm]; lit. 'Amsterdam Municipality Transportation Company'). In 1977, the first metro line was introduced.

By 2002, the organization was simply called GVB. In 2007, the GVB became a public limited company under the name GVB Activa B.V., wholly owned by the City of Amsterdam; previously, the GVB was part of the City Of Amsterdam. Between 2006 and 2016, Stadsregio Amsterdam was the authority responsible for all public transport in the greater Amsterdam area; it granted a concession to the GVB to provide public transport services. In 2010, Stadsregio Amsterdam extended the concession of the GVB for the period 2012–2017, and at the end of 2013, further extended it until 2024. On 1 January 2017, Vervoerregio Amsterdam replaced Stadsregio Amsterdam as the public transport authority for the greater Amsterdam area. In 2025 the concession was extended until 2036.

The GVB operates a number of public transportation networks in and around the city of Amsterdam, including:

5 metro lines, partly elevated, no level crossings.

14 tram routes, on street, partly mixed with all other traffic, partly on lanes shared with buses and taxis, and partly on separate lanes.

46 bus routes; buses often mix with other traffic, but sometimes on lanes shared with trams and taxis, or for buses only.