I have a layover in Amsterdam from 1am to 9am, what should/can I see during that time?

Answer 1

I would stay at the airport.
No town is at its best in the night.
And you will not be at your best after a longish trip, or if you started from somewhere in Europe, when you feel like you should sleep.

You would need to get a taxi into town, I quess you would not be able to get to the taxi stand before 1.30, so you would get into the center of the town by two in the morning.
If you come on a Saturday you might be able to get into the local nightlife, but during weekdays you will have to have a good taxi driver to drop you at one of the few places open all night.

You will have to be back at the airport by 7 latest to go through security, so you would have to leave the center of town by 6 or 6.30.
That would give you 4 hours in the dark in a city you have never been before.

Of course, you could go to a coffee shop, they might even be open at that time of night, but you can be sure that you will have troubles getting through security going to your plane. A very extensive check is the least you can expect, being held beyond your boarding time is to be expected.
Or you can ogle the girls in the red light district, and be robbed of all your handluggage while doing that. Even Amsterdam is not always safe in the middle of the night.

Better come back one time and plan a few days in Amsterdam.

Answer 2

I would strongly suggest that you take the advice offered by Willeke. If this were a layover from 1 pm to 9 pm, it would be reasonable to go into the city.

Mercure has a hotel on the concourse where you can get a short term room and get some sleep before your next flight. You won't have to go through security to get to it if you're arriving on an overseas flight.

Answer 3

Three words, Red Light District.