Amsterdam Day Trips
Feb 24th, 2019, 09:00 PM
#22
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I was away all day yesterday so didn't get to check out the Forum.
Menachem,
Your posts are extremely informative. It just takes me a few minutes to figure out the various places on the map.
My wife suffers from travel sickness so we try to avoid buses. She's fine on a train though. She's gotten somewhat better over the past several years by using various things such a wrist bands, etc. but we still try to avoid buses.
Touristy isn't always bad. There's usually a reason.
Though we are not all day bikers we do bike a fair amount.
Does it make any sense to rent bikes at the Amsterdam train station, train to Purmerend with bikes (is getting on those trains with bikes an issue?), bike around Edam and Volemdan, ferry to Marken with the bikes and after riding around the island (I'm a lighthouse person) we could either ride back to Amsterdam from there or depending upon the time, ferry across and train back to Amsterdam from Purmerend. Is there a route back to Amsterdam that would take us through a few towns or villages rather than ride along the sea barrier that doesn't look too exciting.
I haven't gotten to Utrecht and Rotterdam yet.
Menachem,
Your posts are extremely informative. It just takes me a few minutes to figure out the various places on the map.
My wife suffers from travel sickness so we try to avoid buses. She's fine on a train though. She's gotten somewhat better over the past several years by using various things such a wrist bands, etc. but we still try to avoid buses.
Touristy isn't always bad. There's usually a reason.
Though we are not all day bikers we do bike a fair amount.
Does it make any sense to rent bikes at the Amsterdam train station, train to Purmerend with bikes (is getting on those trains with bikes an issue?), bike around Edam and Volemdan, ferry to Marken with the bikes and after riding around the island (I'm a lighthouse person) we could either ride back to Amsterdam from there or depending upon the time, ferry across and train back to Amsterdam from Purmerend. Is there a route back to Amsterdam that would take us through a few towns or villages rather than ride along the sea barrier that doesn't look too exciting.
I haven't gotten to Utrecht and Rotterdam yet.
Maybe it's just as nice to rent cycles at Amsterdam CS, get a ferry to Noord and then cycle out to Durgerdam and do a short circuit through Waterland back to Amsterdam via Holysloot and Ransdorp.
Feb 25th, 2019, 03:29 AM
#23
Original Poster
Menachem,
Thanks again for your great descriptions.
I have since described two other options. One with a bike ride though much shorter. I copied it below. I would really appreciate if you could give me your opinion on both.
Thanks.
= = = = = = = =
Since going to Ghent is not a very good option, I'm looking at one of two things for that day if we decide to go out of Amsterdam.
1) Either train to Zaanse Schans and walk around there. Then depending upon the time, we could train to Haarlem for a few hours.
2) Train to Purmerend, rent bikes and ride to Edam, Volendam, ferry to Marken and ride around the island and to the lighthouse.
= = = = = = = =
Thanks again for your great descriptions.
I have since described two other options. One with a bike ride though much shorter. I copied it below. I would really appreciate if you could give me your opinion on both.
Thanks.
= = = = = = = =
Since going to Ghent is not a very good option, I'm looking at one of two things for that day if we decide to go out of Amsterdam.
1) Either train to Zaanse Schans and walk around there. Then depending upon the time, we could train to Haarlem for a few hours.
2) Train to Purmerend, rent bikes and ride to Edam, Volendam, ferry to Marken and ride around the island and to the lighthouse.
= = = = = = = =
Feb 25th, 2019, 12:09 PM
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Menachem,
Thanks again for your great descriptions.
I have since described two other options. One with a bike ride though much shorter. I copied it below. I would really appreciate if you could give me your opinion on both.
Thanks.
= = = = = = = =
Since going to Ghent is not a very good option, I'm looking at one of two things for that day if we decide to go out of Amsterdam.
1) Either train to Zaanse Schans and walk around there. Then depending upon the time, we could train to Haarlem for a few hours.
2) Train to Purmerend, rent bikes and ride to Edam, Volendam, ferry to Marken and ride around the island and to the lighthouse.
= = = = = = = =
Thanks again for your great descriptions.
I have since described two other options. One with a bike ride though much shorter. I copied it below. I would really appreciate if you could give me your opinion on both.
Thanks.
= = = = = = = =
Since going to Ghent is not a very good option, I'm looking at one of two things for that day if we decide to go out of Amsterdam.
1) Either train to Zaanse Schans and walk around there. Then depending upon the time, we could train to Haarlem for a few hours.
2) Train to Purmerend, rent bikes and ride to Edam, Volendam, ferry to Marken and ride around the island and to the lighthouse.
= = = = = = = =
Here's a route. The little squiggle on the way back is a visit to Erebegraafplaats Overveen, and part of the route through the dunes goes past the commemorative stones that are there to mark mass graves of executed resistance fighters from WW2.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/29390438
Last edited by menachem; Feb 25th, 2019 at 12:24 PM.
Feb 25th, 2019, 02:29 PM
#26
Original Poster
Menachem,
You ask a very good question. We are not power cyclers. If you notice I've been keeping my suggestions pretty short. We're in decent shape but we're in our mid-seventies.
A few times a week we bike about 5-6 KM to where my wife has a coffee and then we bike back.
The idea isn't to test our stamina or ability. We're visiting a foreign country and the idea is to see what's different from where we live. We don't have windmills among other things. What we would want to do is bike a while, see the scenery, stop for a bite, wander around, see more stuff and bike a bit more.
I'm an amateur photographer so I'm always looking for things to take photos.
You ask a very good question. We are not power cyclers. If you notice I've been keeping my suggestions pretty short. We're in decent shape but we're in our mid-seventies.
A few times a week we bike about 5-6 KM to where my wife has a coffee and then we bike back.
The idea isn't to test our stamina or ability. We're visiting a foreign country and the idea is to see what's different from where we live. We don't have windmills among other things. What we would want to do is bike a while, see the scenery, stop for a bite, wander around, see more stuff and bike a bit more.
I'm an amateur photographer so I'm always looking for things to take photos.
Feb 25th, 2019, 02:54 PM
#27
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The vast Vondel Park's bike paths could be more for you (except a rush hours when they may resemble more the Santa Ana freeway as this is a major north-side bikeway - but during most of day very nice - bike rentals there last I knew and you can leave the park and cycle thru on east side some and catch bike paths -ride to say the not so far Olympic Stadium - have a coffee at the FEBOs *snackbars and ride back thru a part of Amsterdam built in one fell swoop it seems in the 1920s and harmonious architecture on bike paths not nearly so mobbed as in the centrum.
Vondel Park was where Canadian troops bivouacked during WW2, one old local told me years ago.
Vondel Park was where Canadian troops bivouacked during WW2, one old local told me years ago.
Feb 25th, 2019, 07:27 PM
#28
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The vast Vondel Park's bike paths could be more for you (except a rush hours when they may resemble more the Santa Ana freeway as this is a major north-side bikeway - but during most of day very nice - bike rentals there last I knew and you can leave the park and cycle thru on east side some and catch bike paths -ride to say the not so far Olympic Stadium - have a coffee at the FEBOs *snackbars and ride back thru a part of Amsterdam built in one fell swoop it seems in the 1920s and harmonious architecture on bike paths not nearly so mobbed as in the centrum.
Vondel Park was where Canadian troops bivouacked during WW2, one old local told me years ago.
Vondel Park was where Canadian troops bivouacked during WW2, one old local told me years ago.
Feb 26th, 2019, 06:07 AM
#29
Original Poster
As I mentioned, I'm an amateur photographer so I'm always looking for different / unique subjects to photograph. Different from what we have at home.
I live between 30 and 60 minutes from motocross, the ocean with kite boarders and sandy beaches, two wetlands parks ideal for photographing birds in flight, the equestrian capital of the country and world class polo.
If it requires going to very touristy locations with many people visiting, there must be a reason they are there. The only time we've ever really been in a long line to get into a sight was years ago at the Vatican. We don't mind sharing sights with other tourists. After all, we're tourists as well.
I live between 30 and 60 minutes from motocross, the ocean with kite boarders and sandy beaches, two wetlands parks ideal for photographing birds in flight, the equestrian capital of the country and world class polo.
If it requires going to very touristy locations with many people visiting, there must be a reason they are there. The only time we've ever really been in a long line to get into a sight was years ago at the Vatican. We don't mind sharing sights with other tourists. After all, we're tourists as well.
Feb 26th, 2019, 07:46 AM
#30
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take the free pedestrian ferries from behind Central Station to the other side of the IJ or harbor for neat photo shots of Amsterdam's imposing waterfront. Plus watching the many cyclists and mopeds jockeying for position to roar off as soon as gates are lowered is neat too.
Head to the A'dam Tower for its rooftop view for miles around and Europe's highest outdoor swing - the Tower - the old Shell HQs - has an eclectic array of attractions - something different on each floor.
Head to the A'dam Tower for its rooftop view for miles around and Europe's highest outdoor swing - the Tower - the old Shell HQs - has an eclectic array of attractions - something different on each floor.
Last edited by PalenQ; Feb 26th, 2019 at 07:52 AM.
Feb 26th, 2019, 11:29 PM
#31
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take the free pedestrian ferries from behind Central Station to the other side of the IJ or harbor for neat photo shots of Amsterdam's imposing waterfront. Plus watching the many cyclists and mopeds jockeying for position to roar off as soon as gates are lowered is neat too.
Head to the A'dam Tower for its rooftop view for miles around and Europe's highest outdoor swing - the Tower - the old Shell HQs - has an eclectic array of attractions - something different on each floor.
Head to the A'dam Tower for its rooftop view for miles around and Europe's highest outdoor swing - the Tower - the old Shell HQs - has an eclectic array of attractions - something different on each floor.
Feb 27th, 2019, 03:54 PM
#34
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Michael,
Thanks. Yes, we are planning on going to Utrecht.
We really like to visit house museums so I'll look into this one.
PalenQ, Menachem,
I'll look into that area. Thanks.
Thanks. Yes, we are planning on going to Utrecht.
We really like to visit house museums so I'll look into this one.
PalenQ, Menachem,
I'll look into that area. Thanks.
Feb 28th, 2019, 10:43 AM
#35
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If you like modern avante garde architecture Amsterdam has tons of it but not in city center much - but if you take the ring railway on the east side of Amsterdam you go thru some really neat areas of really neat modern architecture in all-new cities. Or take the Ijs tram east from Centraal Station - it rolls by a string of former warehouses now converted to flats or other uses and then thru Amsterdam's Little Venice - a new housing area with lots of small canals like in Venice - then it goes under the Ij via a tunnel (or is it a bridge?) to new reclaimed islands where a new city is arising - this is a favorite tram journey of mine showing a very different atmosphere than in the inner city.
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