I am travelling with a group of 36 students aged 15 - 18 in March 2008 to France and Spain. Our original flights were to take us directly from Toronto to Paris, but we have a better deal now flying via Amsterdam. We arrive at 7:30 a.m. in Amsterdam and have a 4:50 p.m. flight to Paris (same day). I have been told there is an excellent train that goes directly from the airport to downtown Amsterdam taking about 15 minutes. We'll have only our carry on luggage (checked luggage will be unavailable to us). Any suggestions on how we can fill our day?

Use the luggage lockers in the basement of Amsterdam Schiphol airport to stow the carry-ons. Each student should have a day bag with water bottle, TP, film, map, guidebook, etc.

Buy about 10 <i>Strippenkaarten</i> of 15 strips each at the VVV tourist office in Schiphol. Maybe there are student deals. Get free system maps for the trams and metro. Each tram ride will cost 2 strips per rider.

Take the train into Amsterdam. Arrive at Centraal Station in about 15 minutes. Get outside the station ASAP. Take a tram to whatever is your first choice to visit. That will probably be Anne Frank Huis or Rijksmuseum. See it and move on to choice two.

Get some French fries and mayo. Keep moving. Use the buddy system to try to hang onto all your kids. Stay off the tram tracks and off the bicycle paths when in Amsterdam.

Be at Centraal Station by 2 PM to catch a train back to Schiphol.

Thanks hopscotch. Any chance of doing a short canal ride if the weather is good?

I would guess that you have time to take a canal boat ride. I think that they are less than an hour. But I am probably the only Fodorite who thinks that these rides are a waste of time and money. Maybe because I know the city so well I regard the canal boat rides as clutzy and touristy. But many people love them as an easy introduction to the city. There are about half a dozen boat companies on the left side of the Damrak as you go south out of the train station. There is also one in the Openhaven just in front of the station.

The Rijksmuseum is great - REmbrandts and all. The Van Gogh is also terrific. Either one is a winner.
Anne Frank haus is thoroughly memorable, especially if the kids have read the book or even seen the film. Assign them to do that and go there.

And have an ijshorn (ice cream cone) while there. Not especially Dutch, but I love saying it.

By the way, hopscotch, that was one of the best, comprehensive single answers to a posted question I've ever seen here! Do what hopscotch says!!

If you decide on the Anne Frank house arrange it with them before hand - you will get a better deal and a tour as a student group. Likewise for the Van Gogh museum. You also won't have to queue, which will save precious time.
The boat trips take about an hour and give a reasonable view of the city for a first timer, I always send my visitors on the Rederij Plas tour, from the Damrak.

Thank you all for your input. I would like to include the Anne Frank Huis and one other attraction. I am getting responses from the students about a walk through the red light district. We'll have to see about that one.

I certainly appreciate the clues and hints about how to use our time and save some cash.

The red light district: a possibly amusing social construct, but not worth missing one of the other, richer experiences. Truly.

Wait till they start asking about stopping at a &quot;cafe&quot; ...

You know, it would be wise to plan for an 8 hr stop, and if you get the full 10, consider it a bonus.

Anne Frank Haus: great for history

Canal boot: I loved it!

Rijksmuseum: might be overkill if you are visiting other museums as well.

Red light district: If you do the red light district (and it will truly leave a lasting impression), do it with a tour guide. They'll explain the regulations, doctor visits and history behind this colourful quarter.

Hop the train to city center and find your way to Puccini Bomboni at Staalstraat 17. Best chocolate I have ever eaten.

I don't know of many students ages 15-18 interested in museums. Perhaps take a poll of what they want to see and do in a limited time frame. I'm a big fan of first timers taking a cruise or city tour of some sorts.

make sure everybody has a map .. very easy place to get lost in

Thanks all. When we travel, everyone has a map and contact number everywhere we go. I wonder what activity will keep us the most awake since we will have just flown from Toronto to Amsterdam and my young charges may feel a bit dopey. I can imagine the red light district might be eye-opening!

The red light district is at best interesting, at worst an extended joke. I'd consider it educationally, culturally, or entertainment-wise a low priority.

If you visit Rijksmuseum, look for the vendor nearby who has a life-size repro of REmbrandt's &quot;The Night Watch&quot;, with the faces cut out. A funny souvenir photo op.

Just want to add a wrap up comment to this thread. We desperately tried to have our time in Amsterdam extended to allow us a city visit. Sadly it did not work in our favour. There are 40 in our group and they could not accommodate us on the later flight from AMS to CDG. This means we have a 3 hour layover in Amsterdam - not enough time to leave the airport.

I do find it disappointing because of the plane change it means we lose about 6 hours of Paris time - and that is precious. We'll just have to use our time more wisely. Thanks everyone for your help. I hope other readers of your contributions will be able to get value from your supportive comments.

teacherCanada

That's a shame. But you can maybe still have a look at the Rijksmuseum Schiphol to kill some time. Plus lots of shops, cafes etc to relax in.
I'm not sure I understand how getting an earlier flight loses you Paris time - surely it adds Paris time?

hetismij - We were originally scheduled for a direct non-stop flight from Toronto to Paris. The tour company tried to save money ($170 per seat) by flying via Amsterdam to Paris. I complained vociferously and asked them to either give us direct non-stop or allow us a good visit time in Amsterdam. They tried (I truly believe they tried) to get us on later flights out of Amsterdam, but they couldn't get us all on the same plane. Hence we are back to our 3 hour layover at Schiphol airport in Amsterdam.
By this time, of course, the most affordable direct non-stop flights from Toronto to Paris were not available.

Oh well, in the big scheme it's just a small bump.

Wow - amazing (to me) to see this post at the top once again. On Oct 13, 2007. we were suddenly faced with an unanticipated 9.5 hour layover in Amsterdam (our flight out of SFO was delayed by three hours, which meant we missed our connection to Athens). Neither of us had ever been to Amsterdam, nor did we have a clue as to how we were going to kill the time.

We pulled out our laptop and consulted Fodor's while still at SFO - found this very post in the archives, and we ended up taking the train into Amsterdam and having a really great time. We wandered the streets, and took a canal boat tour.

It was like getting an &quot;extra&quot; stop on our month-long itinerary, which included Greece, Turkey, Venice, and Paris.

Thanks to the great posters here, we were actually happy to have had the unanticipated layover (except when we arrived in Athens at 2 a.m. with no idea as to how to get to our apartment...but that's another chapter)