Amsterdam advise - please
 

Hi,
We'll be flying in to Amsterdam from Africa on March 6,06 at 5:20am NWA and departing at 2:15pm NWA - almost a 9 hr. layover. I read in a previous thread that we can store our luggage if the need be or if NWA doesn't do the tranfer for us - we may need to get into those bags anyhow, for cold clothes unless we plan ahead properly - We're actually going to TRY to put all of our stuff into carry on's - we'll see. I'm assuming that it will seem rather cold to us having been close to the equater for 4 weeks.
At any rate, my question is - does anyone have any suggestions on possibly a late breakfast, early lunch or something else semi relaxing to do. I would probably rather take cabs - if not horribly costly and don't need particularly to do anything too touristy. Good, real food is always a plus. A little walking is ok as well, as long as we don't freeze. I have been to Amsterdam many years ago on a very tight shoestring and would guess lots of things haved changed.
Any help is appreciated;
Sherry

I am assuming that your inbound segment to Schiphol is actually on KLM equipment code shared with NWA. I would also expect there would be a luggage check-through so you probably don't have to claim and re-check at Schiphol but the airline will tell you for sure.

If you DO need to store anything at the airport there are both lockers and a checked luggage room available (they are adjacent to one another and well-marked in the terminal.

Suit yourself but the rail station is one flight below the so-called "Schiphol Plaza" area of the main terminal; trains depart for Amsterdam Centraal at least four times per hour; tickets can be bought in the machines or at the windows on the main level. the trip into the center takes no more than 15-20 minutes one-way.

What you finally decide to do is obviously up to you but with 9 hours you certainly have more than enough time to venture into the City.

Dear Sherry,

As a FF on NWA/KLM, I traveled through Schipol six times this summer and fall. It's a city unto itself. Check out the following web site, look under airport information, including restaurants, shopping and entertainment (you will see that there is a museum outpost of the Rijkmuseum, a section on all the airport lounges, one for chair and aqua massages and place that tells you where you can take showers!)

http://www.schiphol.nl/home/Index.jsp

If you have the energy to leave Schipol, the train is (IMHO) the best way to get to the city. We had a five hour layover in the evening and took the train into Amsterdam Centraal. Took less than 20 minutes. We hadn't been to visit the city before, so when we arrived at the Centraal station, we walked across the street, bought tickets for the "hop on, hop off" water taxi canal tours, and road around for about 40 minutes enjoying the views. (The boats have an enclosed seating area with large windows, so you won't have to endure too much "cold shock.")

We hopped off near the Ann Frank house, found a great place for dinner and walked back to the Centraal Station to see the city from foot for a while. It was really easy and enjoyable and very relaxing. My only caution is the time of your arrival, which may make this suggestion less practical.

Good luck with your planning.

SusanEva

Thank you for your responses. It sounds as though the train is easy enough to get to, so I guess we'll do that. Rather nice that's it's all in one location.
Does anyone have any favorite places to eat, people watch or have a drink? Any other recommendations for activities would be appreciated.
Thanks;
Sherry

<Does anyone have any favorite places to eat, people watch or have a drink?>

Centraal Station is right at Dam Square. Best place to do the people watching. Did not eat anywhere around there so can't advise you on that. Sorry.

Enjoy your trip!

Hi Cybor,
I used to live near Amsterdam and agree that the train from the airport to Centraal Station is a good option.
Cafe De Jaren is a bar/cafe next to the Hotel L'Europe, right at the intersection of the river Amstel and one of the canals. A favorite with locals - students,professionals, all types. Walk straight out of the station, down the Damrak past all the tacky cafes and tourist traps. When you come to a small brick church with a clock tower (Muntplein), the Hotel L'Europe is on your left. Another good place is Cafe Luxembourg on Spui square - better food menu, for sure. There's also a Wagamama and a Hard Rock Cafe near Leidseplein. The cafe in the train station on Track 1 is worth a look-in, for sure - a classic old station cafe with a decent menu and prices. Enjoy your trip..

Thanks so much for your insightful information - it's always best getting these suggestion s from those who have been there rather than out of a travel book. You've truly given me some good places to start. If you could say, which resturant would be your absolute best recommendation or favorite for an early lunch? Can you recommend any regional food choices, as I'm not fimiliar with the local foods? I always like to try what the locals are into when possible.
Sherry

Seconding Cafe de Jaren. Big place (used to be a bank, I believe), several levels of seating. Keeps late hours, which would not be so useful to you, but a nice place none the less, and serves food non stop all day. I made it my "local" when I stayed at the Doelen Hotel next door. Maybe you can sit on the waterside terrace and see a group of cafe-goers arrive via small boat - definitely not something you'd see at home!

Your tips sound wonderful - thank you;
Sherry

Dutch food can be rather stodgy and filling. Typically 'Dutch' things would be herring (you'll see street stands selling 'haringfilet') and other fish, but at that time of year a good bet would be thick pea soup (erwtensoep), which will usually have some bits of ham in it - a filling meal in itself. But if you're going to have to be at the airport in time for a 2.15 flight, you're really looking at coffee and cakes - typically "appelgebak" - in Amsterdam and lunch at the airport.

A nice place to try Dutch food and do people watch is Restaurant de Rode Leeuw (Red Lion) opposite the big shop Bijenkorf on Damrak, almost at Dam square.
They have the Peasoup, bitterballen, and other dutch food.

I would try one of the Indonesian restaurants. We very much enjoyed PURI MAS and I think it is open for lunch. I don't have the address right now, but will look in my files.

WIth 9 hours in Amsterdam, you could also consider taking a short canal cruise which is a great relaxing way to take in some of the city sights in a short time.

Just reread your post. With a 2:15 departure time, you really won't have time for lunch. What about one of the famous pancake houses? There are several around DAM SQUARE, maybe someone else here has the names?

Well, it sounds as though we could eat our way thru Amsterdam with all your great advise. Peasoup (yum) on a cool day with a glass of nice wine (how's the bread there?) - that is if we can have a very early lunch before heading back. This perhaps could be after an early breakfast of pancakes or Appelgebak ? apple cake. I'm also curious about bitterballen - can you tell me what it is - I'm entrigued. Enough of you have suggested the water taxi, so I'll definetly try to do that as well - sounds like a wonderful way to get a nice overview. Please bear with me on this part, as I'm not sure that this is how to do this:
1. we go to a bottom level below the airport and catch a train heading toward the center of Amsterdam (Dam sq. perhaps - is this where all these great recommendations are?) - get off (not sure where) ?eat
2. then catch a water taxi in that general area, stop off eat, drink and people watch, perhaps -
3. water taxi or train and head back to airport.
I'm sure I've confused you with my above question, as I guess I'm not sure of the logistics of getting around - I'm assuming that the watertaxi does not get close to the airport - Is that true? I'm also guessing that you can petty much get everywhere one needs by rail - again please correct me if that's not true. can anyone rec. an inexpensive map of Amsterdams streets,rails and watertaxi canals? I'd love something that I can look at online and download.
Again, I appreciate your kind and insightful responses.
Cheers;
Sherry

Hi cybor,

The train station is very clearly marked at Schipol Airport. There are self serve kiosks where you can buy a round trip ticket to Amsterdam Centraal.

Centraal is the station that you want, and depending on the ticket you buy, it will either go directly there, or make one stop at a station on the outer area of Amsterdam before taking you to Centraal.

You will take the this train to and from the airport, so buy roundtrip tickets.

When you leave the Centraal train station, there are water taxi stands across the streets/tracks. The water taxis follow a fixed route that eventually comes back to the same location in a big circle. If I remember correctly, you can pick between three or four different routes. Each route has a time schedule and you can get off and then get back on again, to see some of the sites.

When you purchase your water taxi tickets, you can tell them which restaurant you plan to go to, and what you wish to see, and they can advise the best route.

In our case, we only rode the taxi about 2/3 of the route, and then hopped off and walked through the city streets, eventually making it back to the Centraal train statio on foot.

If you're familiar with the "hop on/hop off" tourist buses in the US, like at Washington DC, you will get the concept of the water taxis.

Hope this helps. SusanEva

Thanks your information helps tremendously.
Many Thanks;
Sherry

cybor; bitterballen are small, round deep-fried snacks, filled with a meat ragout (if that makes any sense) and eaten with mustard as a snack with a beer.
Kroket is the same thing, but shaped like a sausage, and eaten on a roll, with mustard; good snack or quick lunch.
Another Dutch food is 'poffertjes'; a mound of tiny pancakes served with butter and icing sugar. You sometimes see stands selling these.