Layover in Amsterdam?

Question

I have a 7 hour layover in Amsterdam and was wondering if this is enough time to get out of the airport to see some things and get back in time for my next flight. I will be arriving a little before 6:00 am and my next flight departs at 1:00 pm. I'm mostly interested in the Anne Frank museum and the Van Gogh museum. Any advice or suggestions will be appreciated.

Answer 1

A 7 hour layover is fine. If your carry-on bag is big or heavy, you should rent a locker at the airport. The train into Amsterdam Centraal will take about 20 minutes and everything is listed in English.

I was just at the Anne Frank Museum last week and you MUST do as I did. BUY A TICKET ON-LINE !!
You enter a different door (left side of building) and will walk past every single person in line. After finding the building, I was in and out within 30 minutes and didn't feel rushed at all. This was at 11:15AM and the lines were extremely long. The security guard that let me in said I just saved myself 2 hours. I guess that you would be able to get out of here by 9:30AM.
http://www.annefrankhuis.nl

I personally didn't visit the Van Gogh Museum but did just visit their website. They also offer on-line tickets and It states on their website that with an on-line ticket, you can just walk right into the front door without waiting in the line.
http://www3.vangoghmuseum.nl

So, as others have stated, the main problem that you have is the opening hours of the museum. The Van Gogh opens at 10:00AM.

You should pick one and be happy with your decision. You will also have time to visit a coffee shop before the museum and even stroll around for a few minutes after the museum.

Have fun.

Answer 2

You'll have time if your plane is not too late. Let's say you clear customs by 6:30, take a train from the airport to Amsteram Centraal (about 20 minutes), so you could be in amsterdam by 7 or 7.30 for sure. Then if your plane leaves at 1 pm, and you want to be at the airport at 11.30, leave Amsterdam Central about 11.00.
From 7.30 to 11.00 is enough to walk around some in Amsterdam, but the Anne Frank House AND museum might not open until 9 or so, so you probably can't do both. Anne Frank House would be smaller. I think you'd also enjoy just walking around the center without any specific sights to see.
Just have a good map and you'll be fine.

Answer 3

The problem you're going to have will be opening hours. The Anne Frank House takes about an hour once you're in. Plan on getting there right when they open so you don't have to worry about lines.

The museum, depending how fast you move through it, might be possible but I would think you'd have to skip quite a bit to make your flight on time.

Maybe just do the Anne Frank House then just walk around for a bit. You can see Dam Square and the canals.

Answer 4

You'll probably won't carrying any luggage, since that is being transported to your next flight. So you can check in and check out quite fast.
www.9292ov.nl a site to plan all public transportation (train, tram, buses, underground). It says you'll need about 30 min to go to the Anne frank museum. Unfortunately there is no English site, but I guess you will manage, the words are quite international: you'll probably understand words like: "adres, museum, treinstation, straat". If you can't manage yourself, send me an e-mail.

www.annefrankhuis.nl, the site of the Anne Frank museum says: "A visit to the Anne Frank House lasts around one hour. There are no tours or guides", So if you're early, you'll probably have finished by 10 o'clock.
Van Gogh museum is quite a different story. It depends what kind of visitor you are: do you only want to see the top ten pieces, then you'll probably need only one hour. If you see this as a once in a life time opportunity to see van Gogh's painting, you probably can't do Anne Frank and van Gogh in one morning.

Answer 5

You would probably have to pick one of them since both are fairly impressing and take some time. I have been to both and remember the Anne Frank House has lines and it might not open as early as the Van Gogh Museum. I suggest that the museum is the better choice. Good luck and enjoy=]