sannie

We are visiting the Netherlands during the Easter weekend and want to do a day trip with bicylcles from Haarlem to Keukenhof via the tulip fields and then take the train back to Haarlem from Leiden. I believe one can rent bicycles at Haarlem station, but could somebody perhaps tell me where we can leave our luggage for the day?

fmpden

Leave it at your hotel. All the hotels we have used have a storage area for guest to leave luggage after checking out and before they depart. We have do it dozens of times with no problems. We were in the Haarlem station last fall. It is pretty small and I don't remember seeing any luggage lockers there.

hetismij

There are luggage lockers at Haarlem. You pay for them using a Maestro logo'd debit or ATM card with a 4 figure PIN. http://tinyurl.com/cfxbsp gives you the dimensions and prices.

You could probably leave your luggage at your hotel, or why not do the bike ride on a day when you don't need to check out of the hotel.

Remember to buy tickets for the bikes as well as your selves on the return journey.

Palenque

The lockers at Haarlem station have been moved - previously were in under the tracks passage but now up top on the station level but at the far eastern end (Jan '10) - did not see any really large lockers - i am sure you could leave luggage at the bike rental place - but confirm that first, of course.

Stop by the VVV (Tourist Office) at far end of pedestrian shopping zone for detailed maps and route info

spaarne

Here's what you're in for biking from Haarlem to Keukenhof, if you have a nice day, http://tinyurl.com/y8hltjl. Easter will be a little early for a lot of tulips but Keukenhof will be open. There will be a lot of blooms in the glass houses.

My friend in Haarlem just wrote me: It seems it's getting warmer here too. Snowdrops, scilla's (a kind of small wood hyacint), and crocusses are blooming and even some daffodills peep their heads out.
But it can be nasty at night when the wind is coming from the North or East. That is the case most of the time. I guess when the temperature rises and the sun is shining, everything will pop out fast.

There are some lockers in the east tunnel of the Haarlem train station. The common name for what hetismij mentions is the chip and pin card. I didn't have mine handy so I asked a passing teenager if he would pay with his and I gave him the money in euro cash. I don't think you can use a foreign ATM card but I didn't try.

Bike rental is in the garage toward the southwest end of the station. You might be able to leave your luggage with the attendant there.

Palenque

There are some lockers in the east tunnel of the Haarlem train station.>

East end of station in Jan '10 was totally blocked off due to construction and lockers are up on top on main level of station, at eastern end

hetismij

I wasn't referring to the chip and pin credit card. Only the lockers at Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Den Haag accept (C&P)credit cards. I mean a normal debit card with a Maestro symbol on it and a four figure pin. I know European cards work in the lockers, but I don't know if US ones will.
Asking a passing Dutch person works if you don't intend to leave your luggage longer than 24 hours. More than that and you have to pay the extra fee before you can recover your bags and need a suitable card for that.
Dutch people can also use their Chipknip, which is an electronic purse, on their bank card.

sannie

Thank you everybody for your usefull info!

Palenque

Bike path etiquette is important - esp in cities on crowded bike paths - when passing someone ring your bell to let them know and when you hear someone ringing a bell from behind move over to let them go by easier.
Not doing these things can invite ire from some Dutch cyclists.
And there are both bike paths and foot paths - bike paths marked by a pictogram of a bike inside a circle and foot path picutre of a man holding hands with a young kid - do NOT bike in the footpaths, which often parallel each other and do NOT walk in the bike path or you will get yelled at.

sannie

Thank you Plenque, can you perhaps give me usefull info on visit to Volendam/Marken/Edam from Amsterdam. Is it better to take an organized day tour or do it on your own by bus?

Palenque

Well i think that it is so easy to do Marken/Volendam/Edam on your own - i have done so twice - yup by bus to Marken - boat over to Volendam then i did a lovely few-mile walk along the Isjlmeer (former Zuider Zee) dykes to Edam then took a bus from there back to Amsterdam. In summer a nice way to go to Marken is by boat from Amsterdam - contact the VVV Tourist Office by the central train station for details.

I will add more to this later.