islandgirl1959

I've done some research on the Holland Pass and feel it will work for me. I just don't understand the transportation part of it. On the web sight it mentions you can pick up the pass at the airport and use it to get into the city. What kind of transportation would this be? Are there trams or a metro that leave the airport?I would like to use the transportation part to get to Schipol, as we fly home from Amsterdam. Would that be possible?
What are everyone's thought on the Holland Pass?

PalenQ

The HollandAmsterdam Pass - used to just be the Amsterdam Pass - gives a limited number of free admissions to museums and sight and transportation to and from the airport via train - commuter trains that run every 15 minutes from Schiphol into the city.

The minimum pass costs 33 euros and gives 2 free entries and round-trip trains - if you are going to be in Amsterdam for more than a few days I would suggest buying the National Museum Card which gives free entry to zillions of museums in Amsterdam and throughout Holland - the train ticket in is only a few euros - the Holland/Amsterdam Pass seems overpriced for what it gives.

Tulips

Get a museumkaart - its 49,95 and is valid for almost all museums in the Netherlands. And it lets you bypass the queues. Not that there were any last week at the Rijksmuseum, but still, the Museumkaart lets you walk right in, they just scan it before you enter.

hetismij2

The Holland Pass is not valid on the train from Schiphol.
It is valid on all GVB trams, buses and metro, and on the express bus from Schiphol, but that will cost you one of your tokens on the card, and you need to exchange it for a ticket at the pick up point at Schiphol.
http://www.hollandpass.com/things-to...t+express.html

Save your money, take the train into town and buy a museum card if you think you will get your moneys worth from it.
Remember to prebook for the Anne Frankhuis, with or without a museum card.

PalenQ

is valid for almost all museums in the Netherlands. And it lets you bypass the queues>

No not nearly in all museums IME of having several cards - at times I had to wait in the ticket line just to have my pass scanned. I remember waiting what seemed like hours at the Troppen Museum when a large group had to buy tickets one by one. At some museums it does but even at the Van Gogh Museum last time I used it I had to wait in ticket lines.

Well that is just my experience and maybe things have changed in the few years since I have been to museums with a pass.

hetismij2

No, the museum card doesn't cover all museums, but it does cover a lot more than the Holland Pass does.
At the Rijks you queue too. The museum websites usually say if you have to queue or not with the card. At Anne Frank, which only recently started accepting it you still need to reserve a time slot online if you don't want to spend an hour or more in the queue.

And it is Tropenmuseum, one p .

islandgirl1959

The reason I like the Holland Pass is because it also covers attractions as well as museums. I've booked the Anne Frank House and the 30 minute film shown beforehand. I've also booked tickets to the Rjiks that include a "highlights" tour. We're traveling with my 7 year old grandson and I believe that tour will be just enough for his attention span.
The Holland Pass covers the Heineken Experience, which my kids want to do. Also the zoo, NEMO and a few other attractions we plan on seeing.
I'll buy train tickets to Schipol separately. I'll use the transportation tickets for a canal ride and Hop on Hop off bus or boat.
Thanks everyone!

menachem

Your kids will love Artis and nemo. Make sure to check out the revamped Maritime Museum too. Easy with the museum jaarkaart. Is that in the Holland Pass too?

Tulips

No queue at the Rijskmuseum last week at all - we just walked to the entrance of the galleries and the card was scanned there. There was a short queue to buy tickets, but not for those with museum cards.
Quiet day maybe?

PalenQ

Last i used a museum pass at many museums I had to wait in line and get a free ticket that then would let me in. Maybe now they are just wanding Museum Cards?

islandgirl1959

Menachem, yes it is included.

PalenQ

Artist and NEMO are not included in the pass last I knew but the superb Maritime Museum is - also have your kids trek over to the Dutch Resistance Museum before visiting the Anne Frank House - graphic portray of the brutal Nazi occupation in Amsterdan.

And yes kids will also love the Tropen Museum - where life in third-world countries is re-created with actual street scenes rebuilt and also some cutting-edge art, etc.

Tulips

I suppose it depends on the museum. At the Hermitage there is a machine that scans the card and gives you a ticket. If there is a queue to get into the building, you cannot bypass that.
But you can bypass the ticket queue and use the machine once you're inside.
At the Rijksmuseum, we did not need a ticket.