Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
riding a train to any big town, note that “CS” always stands for
“Central Station”—usually the one you want (unless I note other-
wise). You'll find train information online at www.ns.nl.
Driving:
Although the roads are excellent, densely populated
Holland can be a time-consuming place for drivers. Traffic con-
gestion is epidemic, especially around rush hour near Amsterdam,
Rotterdam, Utrecht, The Hague, and other big cities. Everything in
this topic is covered by the excellent, detailed ANWB Wegenkaart
Nederland midden
map (1:200,000, €6, sold at bookstores).
The Historic Triangle
The Historic Triangle (De Historische Driehoek) is a manageable
and enjoyable one-day journey through the Dutch countryside.
You'll start in the small town of
Hoorn (an easy train trip from
Amsterdam or Haarlem), catch
a toot-toot steam train to the
town of Medemblik, then sail on
a 1920s-era boat to Enkhuizen,
home of an excellent open-air
folk museum (see route on map
on page 273). Particularly good
for families—and a fantasyland for trainspotters—the Historic
Triangle trip is a charming way to pass a day. Dutch grandmothers
feed snacks to towheaded toddlers, gusts of steam billow gracefully
behind the engine, and cows nod sleepily in the fields.
OrIENTaTION
Cost:
Allow about €50 per adult for the entire trip, including
the open-air museum in Enkhuizen. Here's how the price breaks
down per leg: Train from Amsterdam to Hoorn-€7.10; steam
train to Medemblik-€10.70; boat to Enkhuizen-€8.90; museum
entry-€12.50; train from Enkhuizen back to Amsterdam-€9.70
(Enkhuizen to Hoorn is €3.50). A railpass only covers the
Amsterdam-Hoorn and Enkhuizen-Amsterdam sections (not
the steam train or boat). If you're in a hurry, you can skip the
steam train and boat and go directly by train from Amsterdam to
Enkhuizen (€17.80 day return ticket).
A variety of
combo-tickets
are available to save you a couple
of euros. If you're not doing the museum in Enkhuizen, get the
€18.50 ticket covering just the steam train and boat (then buy your
Amsterdam-Hoorn and Enkhuizen-Amsterdam train tickets
