Wendy

Has anyone traveled by train or bus from Amsterdam to Alkmar and Zaanse Schans? I am thinking of taking the train to Alkmar in the morning, then visiting Zaanse Schans in the afternoon. Does anyone know if this is logisticly feasible? Thanks for any help you can offer.

Hmh

Hi, Just posted a message about Aalsmeer and the Flower Auction and in it, I mentioned Alkmaar. We took the train from CS and it took about 45 min, I think. There is quite a walk from the train station to the Cheese Auction area but there is a bus depot close to the train station and probably one of the busses would take you there--there was an info desk, but we decided to walk to see the sights. If my memory serves me, I think that you would buy a Day Return ticket to Alkmaar and include a stop at Zaanse Schans on the return--the person at CS will tell you how to do it. There is a walk from the Zaandaam station to ZS, but again, it is interesting to walk through the town. Probably could hop a bus there too. There is a Netherlands train site, but can't remember what it is. on it you can get routes and times. I got it through Search, but can't rember what it was. Hope this info helps.

Sjoerd

There is a travel planner for the Dutch railways at: <BR>http://www.ns.nl/reisplan2.asp <BR>Alkmaar to Koog-Zaandijk (for the Zaanse Schans is 25 minutes, a train every half hour) <BR>Zaanse Schans has a website at: <BR>http://www.zaanseschans.nl/ <BR>

Sjoerd

Forgot to say that all Dutch railway tickets allow you to stop in as many places on the way as you like, and board a later train (on the same day) to your final destination. <BR>For instance, if you buy a return ticket Amsterdam to Delft, you may stop in Leiden and The Hague without any additional costs. <BR>

Marion

Wendy, <BR>We were in Amsterdam several years ago & did just that trip in one day (if my memory without my notes is correct -- ZS is the 3-windmill park, correct?). Walked from train station to Cheese Market -- there are signs. The route is round-about so you pass the open-air market & souvenier shops. Go early & be prepared to "hold your spot" vs. bus loads of Japanese tourists. There's a row of cafes opposite the Cheese Market. <BR>We walked a more direct route back to the train station. <BR> <BR>Again, there's a walk from train station to the windmills, but it's past a nice neighborhood (gives idea of local housing) & then a cocoa factory & the smell of chocolate is one I still remember. Had lunch there and then returned to Amsterdam for evening. <BR> <BR>Enjoy your trip. <BR>