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Café Kale de Grote - Amsterdam

Coffee Shops

end of our tour

Three types of gable..........

Forum Posts

Travel routes

by FraMauro

I checked the following routes on journeyplanner9292ov.nl. Please tell me if they are good or are there any faster routes.

1. Schipol to Centraal - Walk to trainstation platform 3, take intercity train destination Lelystad centruum to centraal.

2. Keukenhof - take Intercity destination Hoofddorp from platform 15b. Get off at trainstation 'treinstation Schiphol' (arrival platform 4). Walk to busstop 'Plaza/NS' in Schiphol. Take bus 58 dest. Lisse & get down at Keukenhof.

3. Madurodam - take Fasttrain destination Den Haag Centraal from platform 13a. Get off at trainstation 'treinstation Centraal' in Den Haag (arrival platform 9). Walk to tramstop 'Centraal Station Beneden' in Den Haag. take Tram 9 destination Noorderstrand. Get off at tramstop 'Madurodam (Noord)' & walk to attraction.

4. Zaans Schans - train going to Uitgeest and stop at station Koog-Zaandijk.

I arrive at Schipol on Apr 25-Sun around 0800 hrs. and have the whole day for sightseeing. The others are for days 2,3 & 4. I believe the sunset is around 2100 hrs. Is it really bright until that late? Are 2 hrs. enough for Anne Frank museum (Sunday at 7pm). I chose Keukenhof for Monday since I hope it will be less crowded on a weekday. Which kind of ticket/card/pass should I buy keeping all the above in mind? Where can I change USD at Schipol and do I need coins for the train to Centraal?

Thanks

Re: Travel routes

by pieter_jan_v

1. The Schiphol train platfrom for a direct train to Amsterdam Centraal may vary, depending which train at what hour you take.
There are electonic message boards that give the first connection to Amsterdam Centraal in the Plaza Hall; see: http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/tp/18636f

2. The same as for 1. For the right Amsterdam Centraal train platform for a direct Schiphol train check the station info boards.
Bus 58 at Schiphol is OK (look for a busstop overview map sign just outside the Plaza hall).

3. As for 2. Check the info boards first for a direct train to Den Haag Centraal. Tram 9 is OK.

4. Looks OK (by that time you will be an expert at the Amsterdam CS).
It's a 15 minutes walk from the Koog Zaandijk station to the Zaanse Schans.

Sunset at 21.00 is not that bright. Can be cloudy and grey.

2 hours are enough for the Anne Frank house. Are you buying tickets in advance to avoid a long waiting time in the queue?

Schiphol train tickets; see:
http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/tp/18636d/

You can buy the train tickets yourself at a vending machine that accepts major credit cards and where you can set the language to English. Just buy a second class ticket! (that's not the deafault setting that will be presented).

Schiphol ATM; see:
http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/tp/1863cd

You have two ticket options:
The old fashioned way: Seperate train tickets for the train rides and a "Strippenkaart" for the Amsterdam trams & busses, the bus 58 to the Keukenhof ( or you buy a combined bus ride/Keukenhof entrance ticket) and the The Hague tram 9

or

use the new electronic ticket (re-chargable with money at soecial machines); more info at: http://www.ov-chipkaart.nl/allesoverdeov-chipkaart/

{J

3.

Re: Travel routes

by nhoolb

Very well planned!

You can also take a train to Den Haag HS=Hollands Spoor (the one going to Dordrecht/Breda via Haarlem) instead of Den Haag Centraal Station and take tram 9 from there also for Madurodam-so you have 2 options.
Compare on:

www.ns.nl

There is also a bus from Leiden Central Station to Keukenhof.

http://www.keukenhof.nl/13/accessibility/
Again, compare.
You can buy entrance tickets on-line for Keukenhof.

Yes, sunset is around 2100. As said, if it's cloudy it will not be "bright" but definitely there is enough dailight until at least 2000 hrs more or less.

www.timeanddate.com

For cash transactions: there are banks in the arrivals hall when you wait for your luggage as well as ATMs. The train ticket machines accept bank and credit cards as well.
Mind: you can also buy all your required train tickets there without a date on it. However, on the day you travel you have to validate the ticket in a (yellow) machine which will print the date on the ticket.

Travel Tips for Amsterdam

Centeral to Everything

by max144

I can't find my faverite hotel on the VT list but it is the only place I stay while in Amsterdam. The Barbizon Palace Hotel is accross from Central Station which mean it has continent wide transportation out side your door. Also it is only a few blocks from Dam Square and trollys to anywhere in Amsterdam. I stay in room 17 which looks accross a canal to an English Pub. The pub regulers' reaction to the boats going by can only be compaired to New Orleans Mardus Gras floats waving at the crouds on the balconies. Max It was a total surprise to find that there were more people in Amsterdam who spoke English than than here in L.A.

Amsterdam Tip

by minchanka

Amsterdam has two special features, which make the city incomparable. The first one is simplicity and exceptional beauty of its half-rounded building plan. It seems like channels embrace the center. The second one is city’s size. Being not very big for a tourist and not too small simultaneously, Amsterdam is supposed to be a pedestrian city. The atmosphere is democratic and friendly. People from all over the world are walking down the streets, drifting on boats, sitting in cafes, shopping souvenirs, feeding pigeons on the central square – a very peaceful picture.

Amsterdam Tip

by JUNLI

This is the *roof garden* of a small boat parking on the canal. The boat is poky, but its *garden* is maintained in good condition. That only means the flowers are definitely the love of Dutch life.

Damrak

by Erkmen

When you go out from the Central station just walk to the front where you can see many people leading to..

This is one of the most famous street of Amsterdam called Damrak.. Here you can find many souvenir shops as well as tourist offices for Hotel reservation and tours...

The Rijksmuseum.... Jan Beerstraten

by sim1

Jan Abrahamsz Beerstraten (1622-1666)
The battle of Terheide

This is one of the pictures I took myself in the museum. You are allowed to take pictures here, but it is not allowed to use a flash or a tripod.

Opening times of the Rijksmuseum:
Daily 10.00 - 17.00 Closed on 1 January

Ticket prices :
Individuals
< 19: free
Adults (from 19): euro 8,-

How to get here :
- From Central Station: tram 2, 5 or circletram 20 (to Hobbemastraat)

- From Zuid/WTC Station: tram 5 (to Hobbemastraat)

- From Sloterdijk Station: tram 12 (to Concertgebouw)

- From Amstel Station: Metro to Weesperplein, from there tram 6, 7 or 10 (to Spiegelgracht)

- From regional bus terminal on Marnixstraat: bus 26, 65, 66 or 170 (or a 10-minute walk).