Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Amsterdam Central Station (and Alternatives):
Amster-
dam's Central Train Station is being renovated—a messy con-
struction project that's expected to last through 2012 (see “Arrival
in Amsterdam” on page 35 for more details on the station). The
station's train-information center can require a long wait. Save lots
of time by getting train tickets and information in a small-town
station (such as Haarlem), at the airport upon arrival (wonderful
service), or from a travel agency. You can buy tickets ahead of time
for the next day. If you plan to use a Eurailpass and Amsterdam is
your first stop, validate it at Schiphol Airport when you arrive (best
choice), or at Amsterdam's international train office at platform #2
(take a number and expect a wait).
From Amsterdam Central Station by Train to Domestic
Destinations: Schiphol Airport
(4-6/hr, 20 min, €3.80, have
coins handy to buy from a machine to avoid lines),
Haarlem
(6/hr,
20 min, €3.80 one-way, €6.40 same-day round-trip),
Zandvoort
(2/hr direct, 30 min),
he Hague/Den Haag
(6/hr, 50 min, may
require switch in Leiden to reach The Hague's Central Station),
Delft
(4-5/hr, 60 min, some transfer in Leiden or The Hague),
Rotterdam
(7/hr, 60-70 min, some transfer in Leiden),
Utrecht
(4/hr, 30 min),
Hoorn
and the start of the Historic Triangle (2/
hr, 42 min),
Enkhuizen
and its Zuiderzee Open-Air Museum
(2/hr, 1 hr),
Alkmaar
(4/hr, 35-45 min),
Koog-Zaandijk
near
Zaanse Schans Open-Air Museum (train direction: Uitgeest, 4/
hr, 15 min),
Arnhem
(4/hr, 1.25 hrs, some transfer in Utrecht),
Ede-Wageningen
near Hoge Veluwe National Park (4/hr, 1 hr,
some transfer in Utrecht; once in Ede-Wageningen, wait to take
a 15-min bus to Otterlo near park entrance). For Waterland des-
tinations including
Edam, Volendam,
and
Marken,
or for the
Aalsmeer Flower Auction,
take the bus (see next page).
By Train to International Destinations:
Bruges/Brugge
(hourly, 3.5-4 hrs, transfer at Antwerp Central or Brussels Midi;
transfer can be timed closely—be alert and check with conductor),
Brussels
(hourly, 2.75 hrs, €35),
Ostende
(hourly, 4 hrs, change
in Antwerp),
London
(hourly, 5.5 hrs, with transfer to Eurostar
Chunnel train in Brussels; Eurostar discounted with railpass,
w w w.eurostar.com),
Copenhagen
(9/day, 11-18 hrs, most require
multiple transfers),
Frankfurt
(every 2 hours, 4 hrs direct, more
with transfer in Köln or Duisburg),
Munich
(hourly, 7-8 hrs,
transfer in Frankfurt or Düsseldorf, night train possible),
Bonn
(10/day, 3 hrs, some direct but most transfer in Köln),
Bern
(5/
day, 9 hrs, 1 direct but most transfer in Mannheim),
Paris
(nearly
hourly, 4-5 hrs, requires fast Thalys train from Brussels with €14.50
second-class reservation, www.thalys.com; save money by taking a
bus—described next).
