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Time Differences: Central European Time, which is 1 hour ahead of GMT London in (Dutch) Winter, 2 in Summer, New York is 6 hours behind in Winter, 7 in Summer "LA" is 9 hours behind in Winter, 10 in Summer. Sydney is 9 hours ahead in Winter, 8 in Summer.
Click for 7 Day weather Forecast Welcome to the Netherlands ! Arrival Schipol Airport A modern, award winning, Single Terminal Airport with integrated International Railway station.There are several 24 hour Bank owned money change booths at Schiphol - "ABN Amro" and "GKN Bank" offer the best rates. Avoid the others or run the risk of being ripped off. Frequent trains run from Schipol Airport to Centraal ("Central") Station - every 10 mins or so 0600 -0031hrs - hourly after 0100 hrs (on the hour) until 0500 hrs ). Journey is about 20 mins and usually departs from "Spoor" (Platform) 3 - confirm this when buying ticket. Turn right on exiting Customs and follow overhead signs for Rail station,along a short and fully covered walkway of shopfronts , "ABN-Amro" Bank have a "Change" on the way. There are also places to buy food including a 24 hour "Burger King" next to the rail ticket counters - handy to wait in if you arrive early in the morning and have to wait for a train. Schipol to Central Station Train cost - €2,90/US$2,90/UK£1.95p aprox (Single journey ("Enkele reis")) (Sept 2002) Journey is 15-20mins Please read "Your Safety"/"Your Safety 2" re need for care of luggage etc. at Amsterdam Centraal Rail Station. The Netherlands main railway system is excellent, with clean, modern electric trains, reasonable fares and a usually punctual service. Sept 2002: This visit I used the train to go to Haarlem from Amsterdam twice, It cost me €5,20 for a Day Return ("Dagretour") (about US$5,20, UK£3.47p (!!!)) on each occassion. Journey time was about 20 mins each way , mainly at high speed and with 2 stops. Some trains go direct for the same cost. 4 very pleasant, comfortable journeys with no delays or any other problems. The city of Haarlem is well worth a visit from Amsterdam, whatever your interests. N.B. Haarlem has 2 Stations, the first a stopping train ("Stoptrein") will come to is "Haarlem Spaarnwoude" , an open air station, stay on the train, and a few minutes later the train will stop at "Haarlem Centraal" a large enclosed station, this is where you get off.
There is also the KLM bus but this is expensive ( €10 !), and takes much longer than train in getting to Amsterdam (55 mins)and stops only at a few selected up-market Hotels. Useful if it stops at the hotel you are staying at, otherwise a waste of time & money. Taxi from Airport to your Hotel - €30/UK£20/US$30 upwards ! Taxi office is in rail booking hall near the station main entrance Central Amsterdam is NOT good for car use. Trams, totally anarchic cyclists & moped users, narrow canal roads - often one way, - the heavy local traffic, "stoned" and otherwise distracted tourists who do not look before crossing roads, very restricted street parking and a big car crime problem - do you really want to handle all of this on your vacation/holiday ? Certainly not a good idea for "Coffeeshop Tourists" !!!! |
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