Hello! I leave for Amsterdam in this evening. Please walk me through this - I land at Schipol, collect my luggage, and then what do I look for to get the train to Centraal station? What will the signs say? How do I buy the tciket?<BR>And then I assume I want to get off at Centraal Station.<BR>Thanks in advance for your help!

There are signs to follow and you can purchase your ticket from a vending machine near the escalators that take you down to the platform. Each platform entrance is clearly marked as to destination and happily, the train to Centraal Station terminates there (so it's hard to mess up). The tickets are 3.10 Euros each for one way from the airport to Centraal. I used Euro coins, but some of those vending machines may take credit/debit cards, too.

here is a website for the layout-<BR><BR>http://www.jal.co.jp/en/airport/02_euro/04_ams/ams_01.html<BR><BR>and terminal map:<BR>http://www.jal.co.jp/en/airport/02_euro/04_ams/ams_02.html<BR><BR>Hope all this helps!!

First off, don't worry: you will find plenty of signs and help.<BR><BR>After you get off the plane, you'll first go through immigration, then you'll collect your luggage and pass through customs. When you exit from customs, you'll see signs for the train.<BR><BR>If you don't have Euros, you should first stop at an ATM (or, if you don't have an ATM card, a currency exchange office) and get some. Then buy the train ticket either from the automatic dispenser or the train ticket window (which can be a very slow-moving line).<BR><BR>The train station to Amsterdam is well-marked. In my experience, the trains from the airport go directly to Amsterdam-Centraal (non-stop), and Centraal is the last stop.<BR><BR>Schiphol Airport (pronounce the name as if you were saying &quot;ski pole&quot has a very helpful web site, www.schiphol.nl (and then click 'English').

You are all wonderful!!!!<BR>Thank you thank you thank you!

and if the dispensing machines are confusing/intimidating, there is a ticket window where you can speak to a real person... separate windows for 'international' and 'local' tickets... the train system there is great.<BR>It seems to me when you walk out of customs, you need to veer toward your left and walk thru the Arrivals quite a ways. Also, there is an Information booth in Arrivals; not to mention a LOT of people heading for the train area as well.

Hey, I've got a question of my own... does the ticket window (or the machines) at Schiphol sell strippenkaarts as well? Or just tickets for the train system?<BR>Thanks.

One thing to keep in mind, just about everyone speaks beautiful english and all of the signs, ticket dispensers etc are in english as well, so you should have no problems. It you are at all unsure about the machines, just go to the ticket windows, the trip itself is just under 1/2 hour into central Amsterdam.

It's been a year since I've been through Schiphol but public transportation is easier than any other airport I've ever been in. The train ticket machines were only in Dutch then and confusing. I just got in line at the ticket window which also has the added value of someone to tell you which spoor (track) the next train leaves from- it's always been spoor 3 for me. As far as I can figure there's 2 types of trains to CS. The faster one (15 minutes) with no stops and the one that stops at Lelylaan and Sloterdijk stations (20 minutes).

Larry's right, I think, the ticket dispensers are only in Dutch (which I found surprising). There is a yellow or orange box that some people validated their tickets in, but many people did not. We did, just to be safe, but does anyone know what the story is with those things?

I can only say that for travel within the Netherlands, the ticket agent told me the tickets did not require composting or validation. Maybe it is to be done if crossing the border..?

The machines are probably for those people using the Strippenkaart instead of a specific ticket. And it was definitely platform 3 for Amsterdam CS a couple of weeks ago.

I always knew that the Dutch speak English very well, but the last time that I was there, many locals acted (when I was asking for directions)like they did not know english at all.Despite that, I had a great time. I was there when the tulips were in bloom . What a display of beauty..miles after miles of blooming tulips with the most vivid colors, spread out like a colorful carpet.. it was truly an amazing experiences .

The stamping is indeed for validating traintickets (as well as Strippenkaarten).<BR><BR>Train tickets can be purchased in advance without a date on which they are valid. By stamping them before you enter the train, the ticket becomes valid for that day. (however, most people have a ticket bought for just that particular day that does not require an additional stampp or they have a pass that is valid for a month or so thus not not requiring a stamp).<BR><BR>Strippenkaarten are used for traintravel within a city as well as any bus or any tram.