We needed to come to the Centraal Station to catch a train to visit Zaanse Schans yesterday. You…read moretap in with your credit card (or a pass if you got one for lots of public transit in a week or month). In order to enter the station. The digital directory screen was very easy to follow once we looked online to see which train we needed. There are intercity trains and sprinter trains which are slower or quicker because of the number of stops I think. We needed the 11:13 train on platform 5a to Uitgeest. We were t hungry yet but if we had been, the station has multiple places to buy pastries or snacks for travel. We only had to wait on the platform for about 15 minutes. The seats were comfortable and had options for 2 together or 4 facing each other for families. The ride was very smooth with only 2 stops before ours. You tap out at the platform of arrival at a little tap screen about waist height there.

Very large and a bit daunting for someone new to train travel. Once I figured out the platform…read moresystem, it was a bit easier, but many of the escalators are broken (June 2026), which makes moving around a challenge. Platforms are outside, which is not ideal during the worst heat wave in Amsterdam history.

Large train station, it was not the easiest station to navigate. Nor did the station have many…read moreemployees, for a station of this size, with so many people transferring you would think they have more than just one employee by the gate. He was very helpful and friendly but they probably should have at least one other person working. They had a bakery here, a Starbucks, I saw a small market, of sorts, and another place called Julia. However, I expected a few more options but what do I know, I am probably just a spoiled American... Kudos to the friendly worker who helped me find everything I needed here.

This train station is only six minutes away from the Amsterdam Central station. To avoid crowds and…read moreexpensive hotels downtown Amsterdam, you can stay here as there a few hotels within five minutes walk of this station. There are no staff here most of the time for ticketing assistance. The only time I saw a staff here, I asked a question about how to show the QR ticket of a eurail pass on "rail planer" app and she doesn't recognize the "rail planer" app. There is a Spar convenience store next to station where you can buy, fruits, sandwiches, coffee, water, instant noodles, and other snacks.

Haarlem it's about 10 minutes away from Amsterdam Central Station by train. It is a small station…read more Lots of different restaurants in stores. Much quieter city to wander around than it is in Amsterdam. Great option for a half day trip here.

I had no idea that this station was the oldest station in the Netherlands. It's a beautiful…read morestation, that runs efficiently. It is easy to purchase tickets, and easy to find which platform your train leaves from. There is also a huge bike parking lot for those who want to park and ride. There are a few small shops on the platforms, and many coffee stands. Trains were on time, and no problems getting to my destination.

This is an excellent metro station, very modern and clean. The M52 metro line stops here in both…read moreNorth and South directions, during peak hours it stops every several minutes to around 10-12 minutes during non-peak times. Escalators and elevators are available to reach the train platforms. It takes a few minutes to get to train platform level as the escalators go very deep underground. There is also an elevator from the outside ground level to the lower level station entrance on the Northeast corner of Nieuwe Vizjelstraat and Weteringshans. Once you reach the station entrance level you must scan your ticket (physical or digital), chipped credit card, or QR code from relevant transportation pass at the electronic turnstile entrances to enter. You must also scan the same method upon exit, so make sure you have enough funds or time on your card so you don't get stuck inside a station! Ticket machines are available at the station entrance level too. Happy travels!

The Amsterdam Metro is extremely clean and efficient. The trains are wider, it seems, than Paris…read more The cleanliness is reminiscent of the Washington, DC, Metro. The announcements are both loud and clear.

Station Schiphol is one of the easiest to navigate…read more The train station literally just outside the exit from Bagage Claim & Customs. How simple is that? The trains run every 8 minutes to downtown Amsterdam Centraal Station and costs only €5.70 (2nd class) or €8,85 (1st class) each. There are bight Yellow Ticket Kiosks throughout the station. You reach the downstairs platforms, via escalators or elevators in the main hall outside of Baggage Claim & Customs (photo). Trains usually leave from track 1, 2, or 3, eight times an hour We found it to be a breeze, no hassle, relaxing 17 min ride. Btw, if you are taking a Viking or another liner's Cruise, the docks are about a tenth of a mile east of the Centraal Station (see photos)

A huge train station under Schiphol airport. Not just for the plane travelers, a great transfer…read morestation. I use it to switch trains from Amsterdam centraal to Rotterdam or Den Haag. Go right upstairs to the Schiphol plaza, dozens of food places, restaurants and toilets! Very clean and large. Numerous escalators and ramps to upstairs. Platform 1 is usually what you need to get to Amsterdam.

Wonderful restaurant, the atmosphere was fantastic. Lots of locals and the staff were super nice…read more Food was on point, my wife is gluten free and they modified the menu to accommodate her. If you're in this area the juice is worth the squeeze.

It's a small cruise terminal in a city called IJmuiden. I'd say it's about a 35 minute drive to the…read morecenter of Amsterdam. It initially doesn't look like much when you first arrive to this port. There are vendors inside selling souvenirs and Dutch products. The tour buses are easy to find in the parking lot. The whole process of getting from the ship to the terminal was smooth and seamless. Everyone was friendly and helpful. For those not taking shore excursions, there's a walking trail known as the "Bunker Walking Route" that will lead you to all kinds of WWII era German bunkers. It runs along what used to be the fortified Atlantic Wall. There's even a Bunker Museum nearby that gives the history of the German fort (Festung IJmuiden) that was built after they destroyed most of IJmuiden. There's also a beach nearby. You'll see all the rows of tiny wooden beach huts along Kleine Strand as you cruise into the port. It didn't look so pleasant on a cold & windy spring morning, but I can see it being a nice summer destination for those who love the beach. The natural beauty of the beaches here are pretty much preserved. It does give off an heir of being desolate, which is kind of nice for those who want to get away from city life. It's a good starting point for shore excursions. We decided to take a tour of the polders to the north of Amsterdam. It was everything we wanted in a cultural tour. The return to this terminal was just as easy as when we arrived. I hope to visit again in the future.

Pretty basic. Just about no facilities. If you you need to eat do it before you get there and wait…read moreand wait to board the ferry.

A few years ago, some friends moved to The Netherlands, and they live in Leiden, so we have…read moreutilized this train station to see them when visiting. It is convenient to their home (not a far walk). If you visit Leiden, it is close to the medical center and university. Tons of trains arrive and leave here, so we never had to wait for very long for the train we needed. Dutch trains are very much on time, unlike Germany! If you need a snack or drink, there's a small Albert Heijn and a Backwerk on the lower level, as well as kiosks on the platforms where the trains are. Toilets in the train station do cost so have some euros for that.

Great train station in Amsterdam not far from the airport. Clean and easy to navigate…read more Many places to eat and buy necessities before embarking to your destination. The station provides an easy jumping off point to cities like Leiden, Haarlem or even The Hague. Ask for assurance at the information desk and they'll walk you through the steps to get where you want to go

Not much to this station. It is a platform near the IKEA in Haarlem. It is NOT Haarlem. Passengers…read moreoften ask me if that station is for Haarlem. It's a long walk from there, but nice! Great view of the tracks on the bridge. Be ready to climb some stairs if you're going in the opposite direction. If you're living without a car, this is a convenient stop for the ikea and of course if you're going to Spaarnwoude it's the perfect stop!

Amsterdam Amstel is all about the location. It's not a major structure when you see it but a major…read morelocation. This is a high end area and this station could be passed without noticing the trains or the trams. I give it five stars for the beauty of the architecture blending in with the surroundings as well as the travel options this station allows. If I were lazy after visiting friends out here and didn't want to cycle home, I could either get on a train or tram to eventually get home (hint - cycling is always faster and more reliable in Amsterdam). Nice station for going towards Utrech or Amsterdam Centraal. From those two options - you can get everywhere in Western Europe.

Amstel Station was the closest station to our hotel, so we were in and out of it quite a lot. It…read morewas bright, spacious, and easy to navigate. The workers were all very helpful whenever we needed assistance. We were most appreciative that the convenience store was open later for when we would come back from the main part of the city late at night and need snacks and beverages. We used the train to get to Centraal Station, but used the tram system just outside the station to visit the Museumplein. Both systems are very user friendly and easy to navigate for foreigners. 5/2020