Netherlands trip advice

[Bodie]

Hello,

Next month I am going to the Netherlands for the first time.
I am staying mon-fri in Amsterdam.
I will be flying into Schipol.

I've been doing a little research of my own. For starters I plan to get a GVB 5 day pass for Amsterdam. Seems a right bargain at 26 Euros.

I plan to do some none train stuff. However I really want to see the country side as well. A windmill or two would be very nice.

I haven't pre-booked any tickets online as I think the prices on the day are acceptable over there.
One place I really want to do, one day while there is The Hague. Last time I checked it was 22 Euros return including the surcharge.

Haven't been abroad in donkey's.

Way before they started this scanning stuff with your ticket.
Any tips?

Is there any sort of rover to be had? Like you can buy there and then in the UK. Doesn't have to be all the Netherlands just part.

Regardless, i'd still like to do some local lines, tram or heavy rail. Of course my GVB pass will cover all the tram routes in Amsterdam.

Any must see attractions, either railway or non railway related would be welcome.

 

[GrimsbyPacer]

There's the Sneltram in Utrecht.
But it's the double decker trains which are coolest.
Rotterdam is worth a visit. And the IJsselmeer lake is interesting as it used to be the Zuiderzee(South Sea) but has been dammed and new land made there's a really long road across the lake at the northern end. And Edam and Leerdam are good if you like cheese.

 

[306024]

I find the further north you go the more typically Dutch it gets. Unfortunately you are too early for the cheese market in Aalkmar, but Enkhuizen is worth googling. Delft is pleasant too. Look out for a trip to the tulip fields from Amsterdam if that is of interest.

 

[fowler9]

Edam and Leerdam are in my humble opinion the Budweiser of cheese, inoffensive but taste of nothing. Holland is one of the only places I have been to where I didn't feel bad going to one of the chain "restaurants" like McDonalds. Not slating Holland by the way, I love it there, my cousin lived there for 12 years and I visited frequently. Check out the cube houses in Rotterdam. Amsterdam is nice just to wander around. Must sees, the red light district, Anne Franks house, the Stadelijk museum and the Van Goch museum next door. It depends what you like. My favourite thing in Holland was the Breskens to Vlissingen car ferry, I think it is foot passengers only now. Actually no, my favourite thing was Schipol airport, it was the first time I had flown to a global hub airport and it knocked me off my feet.

 

[radamfi]

It might be worth browsing this thread for info:

http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=96101

Note that at the start of the thread there is discussion about acceptance of Visa/Mastercard. That used to be a problem but they are now accepted, albeit for a 0.50 surcharge.

There is a day ticket for the whole NS network which costs 51.50. However you have to do a lot of travelling to make that worthwhile.

http://www.ns.nl/reizigers/producten/losse-kaartjes/index.html

The GWK office in Eindhoven airport was selling day tickets for 25.00 last time I was there, which can be used any day until July 2016. Also it appears to be valid on other train companies such as Arriva and Connexxion, as the smartcard readers accepted my ticket.

The main decision you have to make is whether you want to buy an OV-Chipkaart. It is not essential for train travel as you can buy disposable smartcards for single/return trips for a 1 euro supplement, plus a 0.50 supplement for using Visa/Mastercard. Your GVB ticket will cover you for GVB services in the Amsterdam area. But if you want to use a lot of trams/metros/buses outside of Amsterdam it might be worthwhile, especially if you intend to visit the Netherlands again in the next 5 years.

You can print out single tickets for Dutch trains on the Belgian Railways website, which sometimes costs less than buying on the day, and you don't pay any bank card or disposable smartcard fees.

 

[gordonthemoron]

Lots of working windmills at Zaanse Schans.

Schevingen Panorama in the Hague.

In de Wildeman, excellent bar in Amsterdam.

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

There is a model village on the tram route halfway between the Hague and the coast, call Madurodam I think. Very good.

 

[ChiefPlanner]

There is of course the railway museum at Utrecht - check to see if the steam tram from Hoorne is running - good 1/2 day excursion - out by train / back by boat - about 14 Euros.

A trip to Haarlem and Zaandvoort is affordable - and easy for some fresh sea air at the latter.

Lots to see and do in Amsterdam

 

[Bodie]

Thanks for all the tips.

At the risk of sounding stupid, the 96 hour GVB ticket. That is unlimited travel is it not?
Only whenever I look at websites/books about travel in the Netherlands it mentions the cards being like phone cards.
Hence the need to scan the card on entry and exit.
Of course everything is by OV chip cards now.
You can get a one off card for a single or return journey or one you can top up.
Please tell me one exists for unlimited travel - it just has a time limit on it's use.

As it's only a few weeks of me going I'm getting the usual nerves. All will work out well I'm sure but I really do begin to doubt my best placed plans.

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

There is of course the railway museum at Utrecht - check to see if the steam tram from Hoorne is running - good 1/2 day excursion - out by train / back by boat - about 14 Euros.

A trip to Haarlem and Zaandvoort is affordable - and easy for some fresh sea air at the latter.

Lots to see and do in Amsterdam

Yes, there are quite a few steam lines in the Netherlands, I have been to one that runs to Simpleveld and sometimes over the border into Germany with an old diesel railcar. It starts from the main line on the Masstricht Route and is known as the Millionaires line, ZSLM,I think.

Zaandvoort by train is good as is Scheveningen by tram from the Hague.

The boat trips in Amsterdam are fine and even better are the ones that operate around Rotterdam Harbour.