Submitted by Alain Lemaire, who says:

this map might interest you – in response to your blog post of Joan Zalacain’s Amsterdam tram map.

It seems the 30/60 degree paradigm is indeed well suited to Amsterdam’s topological layout. Too bad this once official map is no longer in use today.

Transit Maps says:

Thanks to Alain for sending this beauty in! Simply put, this is lovely work. What I really like about this map is the way it combines multiple tram routes into just four colours, each representing a different service pattern:

• Red for trams from Amsterdam Centraal station to points west.
• Blue for Amsterdam Centraal to points east
• Green for east-west “inner ring” cross-town services
• Yellow for east west “outer ring” cross-town services

This approach also has the benefit of implying service frequency: the thicker the line, the more often a tram comes along. Other services — the Metro and NS trains are incorporated with a minimum of fuss, and there’s clear information about connecting services where appropriate. Large bodies of water (but only the Amstel, not the city’s famous canals) give some geographical scope to the map. If I have one complaint, it’s that I’m never really a fan of keylining a yellow route line with black: it always looks a little overpowering to my eyes.

Our rating: Fantastic, restrained, useful European 1980s design. Four-and-a-half-stars.