Amsterdam in a Day? Suggestions/Tips/Recommendations

OakeyDokey

Going to be in Brussels at the end of February for a few days and I have a free day with nothing to do so I thought I might take a train up to Amsterdam and check it out. I have never been before and don't have any plans to go there anytime soon so it might be an idea to check it out now.

Basically I want to know what I should check out while I'm there, I understand the Van Gogh Museum and Rijksmuseum are closed for the next couple of months but what about The Heineken Experience or Anne Frank's house? I've heard good and bad things about them and seeing as I wont have much time I'd love to here your experiences/thoughts/tips.

Also what is the best train I could take there? I would like to get on the earliest train possible from Brussels and come back the latest I can? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

keithclancy

Hey,

Fastest most direct train is the Thalys from Brussels Centraal to Amsterdam Centraal.

Schedule may vary slightly depending on day.

First one in the morning is:
08:20 + Brussel-Centraal Antwerpen-Centraal +
Reisdetails: Fiets meenemen niet mogelijk , Toeslag Schiphol - Rotterdam , Int. Reserveren verplicht
10:19 + Amsterdam Centraal 13a

Last fast train back is:
20:41 + Amsterdam Centraal 13a Schiphol +
Reisdetails: Fiets meenemen niet mogelijk , Toeslag Schiphol - Rotterdam , Int. Reserveren verplicht
22:38 + Brussel-Centraal

You can make a reservation on www.nshispeed.nl

Stuff to do in Amsterdam... I basically just see whats on, theres so much to do there.

Checkout whats on during the days your visiting:
http://www.iamsterdam.com/en-GB/experience/what-to-do/whats-on

Other option is to get an NS Day Card, on special at the moment via Blocker:
http://www.blokker.nl/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDetails?mpe_id=27013&catalogId=10002&categoryId=112606&productId=119366&evtype=CpgnClick&intv_id=59942&langId=-104&storeId=10001&ddkey=http:ClickInfo

On sale until the 20th of Jan and valid for travel between 7th Jan and the 17th of March.
Pretty good deal as its normally around 48 euro for a day card.

This way you would only have to get a cheap ticket to Roosendaal from Brussels and then have the flexibility to take any train you like all over the Netherlands for the day, whereas with the Thalys your stuck with the train you pick since you have to have a seat reservation.

gregers85

I was there with the OH and a few friends and we did the Heineken Experience and Anne Frank House, there both ok! We got a good laugh in the heineken to be fair! and you get 3 free drinks with the admission ticket! Anne Franks is expensive if I remember correctly and you'll be queuing for a good hour or so to get in!! It's only ok! very interesting to be fair loads of facts and stuff to read as you go round - but the attic is sealed off you can only see it through a perspex glass and mirror setup - id recommend doing one of the boat trips round the canals! get to see a lot of the city that way!! (there sort of like a dublin bus tour kinda thing and you can hop on and off) other then that all we did is eat nd drink

keithclancy

gregers85 wrote: »

I was there with the OH and a few friends and we did the Heineken Experience and Anne Frank House, there both ok! We got a good laugh in the heineken to be fair! and you get 3 free drinks with the admission ticket! Anne Franks is expensive if I remember correctly and you'll be queuing for a good hour or so to get in!! It's only ok! very interesting to be fair loads of facts and stuff to read as you go round - but the attic is sealed off you can only see it through a perspex glass and mirror setup - id recommend doing one of the boat trips round the canals! get to see a lot of the city that way!! (there sort of like a dublin bus tour kinda thing and you can hop on and off) other then that all we did is eat nd drink

There's no need to queue, just go to the Ticket office on Damrak, its usually cheaper and you don't need to queue for tickets you can just go in the side door.

Or you can buy them online also:
http://www.annefrank.org/en/Museum/Practical-information/Online-ticket-sales/

ProudDUB

OakeyDokey wrote: »

I understand the Van Gogh Museum and Rijksmuseum are closed for the next couple of months

Heard Amsterdam being discussed on a travel program last week. They mentioned that while the museums are closed for now, the top 500 or so works from them, have been moved to another location so that art lovers visiting the city will at least have the chance to see a greatest hits collections from them. Not sure where this other location is, but I imagine its somewhere close to the city center.

ardmacha

The Rijkmuseum has a restricted set of exhibits in its new wing.
The Van Gogh collection has been moved to the Hermitage Amsterdam Museum, tram 9 or metro to Waterlooplein.

Both had queues last week, but further away from the New year it shouldn't be problem.

The Thalys is the fastest train but the FYRA is only half the price and takes 10 minutes longer, although the one I was on last week was delayed by an hour!!

keithclancy

ardmacha wrote: »

The Rijkmuseum has a restricted set of exhibits in its new wing.
The Van Gogh collection has been moved to the Hermitage Amsterdam Museum, tram 9 or metro to Waterlooplein.

Both had queues last week, but further away from the New year it shouldn't be problem.

The Thalys is the fastest train but the FYRA is only half the price and takes 10 minutes longer, although the one I was on last week was delayed by an hour!!

Yeh that Fyra thing is a joke, 10 years to set it up and a friend of mine took it, that last part was a frikking bus !!

RebelRed90

OakeyDokey wrote: »

Going to be in Brussels at the end of February for a few days and I have a free day with nothing to do so I thought I might take a train up to Amsterdam and check it out. I have never been before and don't have any plans to go there anytime soon so it might be an idea to check it out now.

Basically I want to know what I should check out while I'm there, I understand the Van Gogh Museum and Rijksmuseum are closed for the next couple of months but what about The Heineken Experience or Anne Frank's house? I've heard good and bad things about them and seeing as I wont have much time I'd love to here your experiences/thoughts/tips.

Also what is the best train I could take there? I would like to get on the earliest train possible from Brussels and come back the latest I can? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

I did a similar trip as u 2 months ago. Flew to Brussels and then got the bus up and down to Amsterdam, stayed in amsterdam for 2 nights and brussels for another night after that. Was gonna get the train but I was late looking it up and it would cost me a fortune (on a jobbrige internship so id to do it as cheaply as possible). Got the eurolines bus from Brussels-Noord station. took only 3 and a half hours and it was very cheap for a return, think like e22. Was tired and hungover going up and coming back to brussels which helped as I past out asleep for both journeys, ideal.

Amsterdam is quite mad. Being just outta college I just got drunk and visited a few coffee shops, and to be honest the whole 2 days kinda past me by a bit, didn't do anything touristy or anything. Will have to go back again to do it properly, granted i still had a great time there.

Been to Brussels about 7 times before as my brother lives there. Great city, architecturally beautiful, especially around the grand place. My favorite bar ive ever been in is there too, Delirium cafe.