This is a lot of discussion for a 5-minute walk I'd have done without even thinking about it!

Heaven help us if we actually need to make a long journey... ;0)

be aware that for the "easy exit from platform 1" you need to go down via a serious flight of stairs. not easy with luggage.>

True but navigating thru crowds in the station and out front is hard to at times but a good point.

I find that the easternmost tunnel is often the most quiet. And they've widened the middle tunnel so that ones less chaotic also.

The Renaissance is our go-to hotel in Amsterdam. Enjoy your visit!!

<i>PalenQ on Aug 4, 16 at 6:09pm
oops- WESTERN end of platform 1 - an exit few people use and you do not go thru the main part of the station at all.</i>

Agree. However, less than half of the trains from Schiphol arrive at platform 1, and half of those which do also require a transfer at Slooterdijk, an extra 15 minutes to your journey.

My experience at Amsterdam Centraal is that getting in or out of the station is no big problem. And within it is also relatively easy. The Dutch have excellent signage, everywhere.

The problem in leaving Centraal comes after you cross the bridge. Then you need to cross the Prins Hendrikkade street toward the Damrak, Hotel Victoria, etc. This crossing is one of the worst crunch points in the world. You have a wall of people marching south versus a wall of people marching north. Tardy folks in the back who don't get across before the light changes are greeted by a CLANG CLANG of the tram bell. Dutch "drivers" add to the mess.

To get to the Renassiance you then walk west a block and turn south another block or so. The west portion opposite the station is not the best sidewalk in Amsterdam, whether you have luggage or not.

An easier approach to the Renaissance is to walk west directly in front of the station to the stairs mentioned by PalenQ and then south across that Westerlijke brdge. Continue south two blocks.

Thanks everyone for the insights. Yes, it really is an easy walk. The initial trip took a bit longer as I was sure I knew the right street so I had to do a bit of backtracking. But, as most of you have said, Amsterdam is a very walkable city. While there we walked all over the city but did take the bus for the Van Gogh museum. On the way to the river cruise we walked back through the train station and along the river to the Viking cruise boat. Our traveling companions opted for a taxi to the boat and spent 16 euro for a really short ride. After that we walked over to the Resistance museum as the cruise wouldn't start till the evening. BTW we really enjoyed the Renaissance and some of the close by restaurants.

The Ren is our go-to hotel in Amsterdam. We will be there 4 nights at the end of November.