My husband and I will be traveling to Netherlands in April--tulip time--and want to see Amsterdam as well as small scenic towns in Netherlands and Belgium. We're in quandery as to whether to drive or take trains. The train option seems surprisingly more expensive and would have some hastle factor for parking, traffic, etc. However, not having your own wheels and having to take cabs is added expense and hastle. If we choose the train option we may add on Berlin. What can some of you seasoned travelers tell us? We are ages 70 and 68 but have driven in Europe.
Drive or train Netherlands, Belgium, possibly Berlin
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I would use the train. When we were in Belgium and (a long time ago) in the Netherlands, we used the trains exclusively. The time spent on train rides is about the same as what one would spend on subway rides from outer boroughs to Manhattan in NYC; but in this case, it represent a ride from Amsterdam to The Hague. Between the cost of daily rentals, the fuel, and parking costs, I can't imagine the train to be that much more expensive, and if the town is a few km. from the station, look into renting bicycles; others on this forum might know if they are readily available at various stations.
It really depends on where you are planning to go. Most of the popular sites in the Netherlands are accessible by train/tram/bus. Taxis are not advisable - expensive and slow. You can rent a bike at most major stations if you want to cycle, but be wary - cycling in Dutch towns, especially Amsterdam is an art apart.
Parking in Amsterdam is expensive, petrol is expensive, and a one way rental would be expensive.
If you want to see some of the less touristy areas then renting a car for a day or two would be a great idea. You could then book a hotel somewhere away from Amsterdam, with easy parking, and see more of the country.
The train journey to Belgium is going up in price soon due to the use of Fyra high speed trains. The old IC trains will no longer run as I understand it. Fyra will still be cheaper than Thalys, but more expensive than IC trains were/are.