Can I see Amsterdam on a layover?

Question

I have a twelve hour layover in Amsterdam on my way to Italy. I would like to "day trip" Amsterdam from the airport.

Two questions:

1. Is there a place to leave hand carry luggage? If not, what can I do with it?

2. Transport from the airport- how far to the sites, price, etc?

3. Is this even feasible with the time I have?

I have no grand delusion that I will absorb the whole of Dutch culture in less than one day but was wondering if I could dip my toes in. I'm an art nerd so the Rijksmuseum or Van Gogh would probably be my biggest interests.

Anyone?

Answer 1

There are left luggage lockers on the railway station Amsterdam Centraal.
But also ask at Schiphol, as it will save you lugging it into town.
It is a 20 minutes (or less) trainride and will cost 6,20 Euro return from the ticket machine. (Maybe a little more when you buy at the ticket window, and you have to have your ticket before going to the platform.)
At least 6 trains each hour.
The station is very close to the center of town, but for the museums you might want to take a tram.
Ask for which one, they are right outside the station.

Rijksmuseum and van Gogh museum are on the same (big) square, it is the back of the Rijksmuseum, so you may need to walk a little farther to go to the front entrance.
As the queue for the Van Gogh museum can be long, it is best to go there first. If you are willing to get a ticket online you will be able to ignore the queues:
http://www3.vangoghmuseum.nl/vgm/index.jsp?page=101&lang=en
http://www3.vangoghmuseum.nl/vgm/index.jsp?page=327&lang=en

There are many more museums in town, but it is also nice just to wander through town, see the canals, and maybe go on a canal cruise.

12 hours, (minus the time you need to get out of the airport and the time you need to return and get through savety checks,) is enough to get a good impression of Amsterdam. There is a lot more to see in the Netherlands, of course, but you can save that for a next visit.

Before you leave the airport, ask what time you need to be back, because the checks can take a long time. (Sometimes you need to be back at the airport more than 2 hours before flying time, just to be on time for boarding.)

Answer 2

Not sure about the hand luggage but I would think they'd be some kind of lockers in the airport.

12 hours is enough time for sure. I would recommend the Rijksmuseum definitely. I am not an art buff so I didn't care for Van Gogh but you probably would.

There's also the Anne Frank House which takes about an hour.

Answer 3

hehe, two questions? ;)

Anyway, first of all, you'll want to make absolutely sure that you'll be allowed to leave the airport! If not, there's plenty to do at the airport too...

1. You can store your luggage in a luggage locker at the airport for up to 168 hours (7 days).

Charges for luggage lockers depend on the duration of use and the size of your luggage:

EUR 5.00 per 24 hours, small (S) Size: 43x34x80
EUR 6.00 per 24 hours, medium (M) Size: 58x34x80
EUR 8.00 per 24 hours, large (L) Size: 90x51x80
EUR 10.00 per 24 hours, extra large (XL) Size: 120x50x80
You will find lockers at various locations in the Terminal. For passengers:

Lounge 1
Lounge 2
Lounge 3
Lounge D-pier
Arrival 3
Kelderplein


2. You can take a train like Willeke has explained in detail, but since you'll have very limited time a taxi might be a better idea. It will cost you about €30 to €40 for it to take you right to where you want to be in Amsterdam and since you'll have so little time it might be a better idea than public transport... (Dutch taxi's are usually reasonably new Mercedes luxury cars so you'll be comfortable, unfortunately I can't guarantee a friendly driver) If there's more than one person in your party a taxi won't even be very much more expensive than public transport but it will probably be faster, depending on traffic... (if you take a train to amsterdam, you'll have to find and pay for city transport when you get there, you could also take a train to amsterdam and a taxi from there but that won't save you much time or money)

Here's a site where you could book one; http://www.schipholtaxi.nl

and here's information from the airport site which you definitely should check out (the answer to question 1. was copied and pasted from it too) http://www.schiphol.nl

Schiphol Transfer Assistance (STA)
If you have ordered a taxi for your onward journey following your arrival at Schiphol, please report to the Schiphol Transfer Assistance (STA) desk. The staff there will bring you - and any fellow travellers - into contact with the (waiting) taxi driver of the taxi company responsible for taking you on
your onward journey. Most taxi companies participate in this service.

The STA desk is located at Schiphol Plaza and is open 24 hours a day. You cannot book any taxi rides at the STA desk.

3. Yes, it's definitely feasible, but like I said, make very sure you'll be allowed to first!

And apart from http://www.schiphol.nl also check out http://www.iamsterdam.com

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