lreynold1

I am having a dispute with my 21 year old son about how he should spend the time between his arrival in Amsterday airport at midnight and his departure on a 9 am flight. He is a fairly savvy traveler and can pretty much take care of himself, but I still have my doubts about the wisdom of his going into the city to while away the night. Have any of you been out and about in Amsterdam during these hours? Is there public transportation to and from the airport at these hours? We have lived in Madrid and I think my son envisions something like the all night Madrid night life, but I'm afraid that downtown Amsterdam will be less savory than downtown Madrid in the wee hours. I'd appreciate hearing about some first hand experiences. Many thanks.

WillTravel

He wouldn't have to hang around the Red Light District, which could be unsavory, although I don't know personally. He could go to the clubs and bars around Rembrandtplein or Leidseplein. My only experience with nightlife at this hour (near Rembrandtplein) is hearing it through my hotel window, but I never heard anything threatening. I know lots of people go out to clubs and bars at night in Amsterdam without incident. I wouldn't hang around deserted areas, but I can't imagine a problem in heavily populated areas.

Tulips

Is this during the week or at the weekend? Though I have no (recent) personal experience of nightlife in Amsterdam, I don't think it will be a problem. Amsterdam is not a particularly dangerous city. He will find plenty of places open in the Leidseplein/Rembrandtplein area. During the weekend it will of course be much busier.
Check www.ns.nl for train info from Schiphol to Amsterdam.

vakantie

I don't know where you got the idea from that Amsterdam in the wee hours might be less savory than Madrid but I disagree with it. In general Amsterdam is considered to be a very safe city. I live in the center and have walked the streets at night many times (and I am a woman) and always feel safe. Ofcourse there are areas (as in any other city) that are better avoided during the night but anywhere in center city it will be ok. There will be many other people around as well.

One thing to consider however is that most bars close around 2 or 3. There will be some clubs, like for example Odeon and Jimmy Woo, that stay open till around 4 or 5.

There are trains during the night between Schiphol and Amsterdam central station but very few. Check out the website Tulips gave you.

I hope your son has a good time and that you can go to sleep feeling a little bit better!

Intrepid1

I'd be interested in what YOUR recommendation for spending that time would be.

If he is fairly savvy and can take care of himself you already KNOW that if wants to go into the city he is going to find a way to get there.

I've been out and about in Amsterdam MANY times during those hours and the downtown isn't any more or less "savory" than any other city at that hour. Some clubs stay open until 2-3 AM and some private ones stay open longer than that. There are plenty of venues BESIDES those in the RLD which he might end up in.

Your son is correct: there IS an all-night nightlife in A-Dam but it doesn't involve dining at 11:30 at night as it does in Madrid.

I suspect the more you "caution" him (indicating you have some knowledge he doesn't have.."what ARE you trying to 'protect' me from?&quot the more interested he is going to get.

I know you are interested in his safety but he is 21 now, like it or not. And I suspect ahetever he does end up doing you'll hardly hear the full story anyway.

lreynold1

Thanks to all for such a quick response. I apologize if I implied a slur on Amsterdam as a safe city, that was a hasty reaction to my son's plan to spend the night walking around. Thanks, Vakantie for pointing that out. I agree that a much better idea is to give my son the information he needs about how to get downtown on public transportation and where to go when he gets there.(Thanks, Intrepid1 for making that point so graciously) Tulips, thanks so much for the website. I have gotten some information there, but note that there are 7 Amsterdam stations listed. Which one would be the best for getting to the places some of you recommend (e.g., Rembrandtplein or Leidseplein)? He will be there on a Sunday night-Monday early morning, so I assume his choices are going to be more limited. Vakantie, where are Odeon and Jimmy Woo? Are they clubs? Are those two squares you mentioned the best places for him to go to find bars/pubs, etc? Now that I'm much relieved about the plan, any suggestions about specific places and establishments would be great. Thanks again to all.

111op

Just walking around in the city can be interesting. I took a walk around 4 or 5 am one morning when I was there.

He should figure out when the last train leaves from Schiphol and when the first train leaves from Amsterdam central. Train service is not 24h (I think), but check schedules on Dutch rail or bahn.de.

PalQ

I've never heard of folks being mugged in Amsterdam at any time of day or not - in Madrid i've talked to many who have been, including a close relative who was attacked around 8am in front of Atocha station. I wouldn't worry about his safety in Amsterdam as long as he doesn't pay any attention to street types selling drugs. Cannabis is sold legally for all practical purposes in many coffeeshops all over town so no reason to deal with street types who may pickpocket you if they lure you into a isolated place. Stay in the crowds and it's as safe as any place - there are pickpockets around however - no more than in Paris, Rome, etc. but always keep valuables in a money belt and leave all his stuff in Schipol airport's luggage lockers. Yes there are many nice clubs full of young folks around the Leidesplein area. Trains run 24 hours to the airport.

nytraveler

Well - since he's 21 I presume he's going to do whatever he wants - unless you're going to be there holding his hand.

Don;t understand the purpose of your post. And if you have doubts about the wisdom of your 21 year old taking care of himself - you need to find other things to worry about - cause he's cooked and nothing will change him now.

wally34949

I hope he doesn't have to carry his suitcase around with him from bar to bar. Just bring the toothbrush.

PalQ

I find you question to be very appropriate - though he'll probably do what he wants when he gets there no matter what he tells you if will comfort you to realize that he can't really get into any trouble in Amsterdam - especially since he is an adult. But your type of concerns mirror those my parents had when at age 20 i took my first trip to Europe - they didn't have a fathom of an idea what it was all about and your concern as a parent is justified - i wouldn't get into a dispute with him that you can't win however - and i feel, after have been in Amsterdam for weeks and weeks on end at times that he is right and you're wrong - but your question is a valid concern.

suze

If his luggage is not checked thru there are lockers at the airport. The train into the city is easy enough. He might want to get a hostel bed? So he could party for awhile then have a place to sleep for a few hours before heading back to the airport?

suze

I'm afraid I'm with the other posters who are kindly wondering why a 21 year old man need his mother's approval for how he spends his time in Europe.

That said, yes he would likely be better off heading somewhere with lively nightlife (Leidseplein?) not hang around redlight district and the train station.

Intrepid1

Actually, to be honest, the original poster never said the son was seeking approval...only that there was a dispute.

There are worse places right in the USA for someone to discover things than in A-dam...much. much worse....and lots of those other places don't even HAVE decent rail service, much less a place to store luggage at the airport!

Tulips

Take the train to Amsterdam Centraal, and walk or take a tram from there. It's not a big city. I'm not sure about the hours of the tram service, but Leidseplein is not far to walk, Rembrandsplein is in the same area. There is construction going on at Centraal Station, but walk along Damrak towards Dam Square and on from there. Cafe Luxembourg on Spui is a popular place; don't know till what time that stays open.

vakantie

There won't be any trams running by the time he gets to Amsterdam. Amsterdam Centraal is the station he wants to go to get to the Leidse plein and Rembrandt plein area (also central station is the only place that the train stops at night). You could walk to both Leidse- and Rembrandtplein from the trainstation, Rembrandt- is probably a 15/20 min walk and Leidse- 20/25. There will also be taxis waiting in front of the central station.

The fact that your son will be in town on a sunday night does change things a bit. He might find things a bit slow. Odeon is a nice club with a restaurant, bar etc about a 15 min walk from the train station in the direction of the Leidse plein I think the bar will probably be open but the club might be closed. Not really sure though since I've never been on a sunday ( my sundays are a bit slow as well ... He can check out their website for info www.odeontheater.nl (in english as well).

Jimmy Woo is a trendy club in the Leidseplein area. It will be open sunday night but closes around three. It's also not always easy to get into if you're not on the guest list (strict door policy).

There might be some other places that stay open longer but before I list everything what is he looking for? Hip, trendy? Student bar? What music is he into?

PalQ

The Milky Way (Melkweg) is an Amsterdam institution - a youth club run by the city right off the Leidesplein - inside this old facotry entered by a drawbridge are film theatres, cafes and a concert hall with top notch groups geared to his age - very popular with Dutch youths - it stays open very late so he can stay in there until the wee hours and then walk back to Centraal Station, or take the night buses, and go back to the airport, get his bags from the locker, go thru Customs and catch a nap inside the departures area. The Odeon mentioned above is also a nice place - not familiar with others but probably fine as well. Tell him to get some euros at the ATM in Schiphol Airport just outside of the Customs exit before heading for town. The Paradiso is a similar city-run youth club, this one in an old church, also near the Leidseplein and is more a concert hall with big name groups often. Sunday night is a party night in Amsterdam as many folks don't work on Monday till noon so cafes and clubs should be hopping.

WillTravel

The idea of getting a prebooked hostel bed is a good one. That way, he has a place to store his luggage, and access to a shower and other facilities, even if he doesn't plan on doing much sleeping. For 20 Euros or so, a pretty good deal.

Rich

Or window shopping . . http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060217/...s_prostitution

lreynold1

Thanks to those who have suggested places to go. My son says he will take the names of the four places mentioned here near Leidseplain (Odeon, Milky Way, Jimmy Woo and Paradiso) and see what he can find on Sunday night. He says he likes most any kind of music, Vakantie, and is more interested in seeing the scene than hearing any particular kind of music. But as between "hip and trendy" and "student", he's definitely in the latter category (he's a junior at a Big Ten university). He was encouraged to hear that more things might be open on Sunday night, but also would just like to walk around to see the old part. We've looked at a map and wonder if there are any suggestions on where to find a good walking tour that he could do in the early morning before getting back on the train to go to the airport. I have passed on the idea of booking a hostel room as well. Thanks for all the help.