Getting around Amsterdam and the Netherlands is very easy with their safe, economical and easy-to-use public transport system. Here are the ins and outs of getting bus, rail and rental car transport from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport in 2024.
Read on to find out what to do before and after you arrive for your trip, and how I personally recommend travelling after more than 50 trips to the Netherlands. I’ve travelled through Schiphol, the very impressive Dutch airport on intercontinental flights over a hundred times and have packed this article with tips and tricks based on personal experience.
Let’s look at how I recommend getting transport from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport to the city centre of Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, and the Keukenhof Gardens, or many other cities in the Netherlands and beyond.
About Amsterdam Schiphol Airport
Amsterdam Schiphol Airport or ‘AMS’ is a world-class international airport located just south of the city of Amsterdam, in the province of North Holland, the Netherlands. The airport is home to the Netherlands-based KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and serves over 300 international destinations on six continents. It is the world’s third busiest airport by volume.
Schiphol is one of four main hub airports serving central Europe, including London Heathrow, Frankfurt Airport in Germany, and Paris’ Charles de Gaulle.
What is My Recommended Method of Travel from Schiphol Airport?
When arriving in Amsterdam, I highly recommend travelling by train on the Dutch national rail service NS Rail. This is the universally recommended mode of transport by Dutch locals and frequent travellers alike.
The rail service will get you nearly anywhere — inexpensively and quickly — within the Netherlands and on to international destinations like Belgium, Germany, France, and England.
The best part of rail travel is you won’t have to worry about getting a rental car and driving after a long flight while jet lag sets in, or maybe after having one too many mimosas in Business Class!
Train travel from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport to Destinations Within the Netherlands
Where do You Find Trains in Amsterdam Schiphol?
Amsterdam Schiphol’s Railway Station is located directly below Schiphol Airport in the Arrivals and Departures entrance area and is prominently marked. Look for the electronic rail departure boards by the entrance to find your destination and the associated track number, or the big yellow signboards with printed departure info. Next, find the escalators for your track number (or Spoor in Dutch). The trains operate 24 hours a day.
The station’s six platforms are marked Spoors 1 through 6 (Spoor being Dutch for ‘rail’) and are accessed by three corresponding escalators stretching across the front of the terminal entrance. You can’t miss them as the platform escalators are conveniently marked by the platform/spoor numbers. Elevators are also located in the middle of the platforms for easy access. Look above at the NS railway boards for the departure time and platform for where you intend to travel.
Night Trains run within what is called the Randstad area (roughly covering the areas of Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, and Utrecht) each hour, nightly after 1 a.m.
Intercity direct trains to Amsterdam Centraal depart on Spoor 1-2 and the Sprinters to Amsterdam often depart on Spoor 3. Sprinter trains offer many more stops on the way to the city centre of Amsterdam but take longer to get to Central Station. The trains get you to Amsterdam Central in less than 15-20 minutes depending on the train.
Tip! You can easily make a train that is departing within the next 3-4 minutes as the platform is directly below the escalator.
Travel by Train to Amsterdam Cruise Terminal / Passenger Terminal Amsterdam (PTA)
The Passenger Terminal Amsterdam (PTA) Crusie Ship Terminal is located near the Amsterdam Central Sation and is a safe, walkable distance of approximately 12-15 mins along the street ‘Piet Heinkade’. If you have heavy luggage you can take Tram 26 which is located directly in front of the Central station’s main exit on the east side of the Stationsplein.
Planning Netherlands Rail Travel
Before you leave home, make sure you download the NS Rail app for your phone. You can easily look up departure and arrival times in the app, as well as where to find the train you need. You can also find all of the NS Rail train schedules for current and future times on the NS Railway website as well as the app.
On the app and website, you can plan departures and purchase e-tickets as well. Download the NS app for your phone for easy access to all train schedules. Free Wifi is also available NS trains and free toilets are found on all Intercity Trains.
Purchasing Railway Tickets at Schiphol Airport
Upon arrival, you can buy tickets at the blue and yellow Kkiosks located in the main arrivals area of Schiphol Plaza, or an even better option is to use the kiosks conveniently located within the baggage claim area while you wait for your bags. The kiosks are in Dutch and English. Look to the bottom left of the screen for the language symbol!
Purchase an ‘Anonymous’ OV Chipcard for €7 at a station kiosk instead of a ticket. You can reload the card so you always can hop on and off any NS train, tram, or bus in the country. As an added benefit, you get a substantially reduced fare! You must have at least €20 loaded on the card to take Intercity or Sprinter Trains.
Frequent Traveler’s Pro-tip! I keep two preloaded OV Chipcards with €20 or more, one set to first class for when I arrive in the Netherlands and am carrying heavy luggage. This gets me on the train fast and on my way when jet lag sets in. I keep the other card set to second class, I use this card to travel around the city, and for intercity trips to save money rather than always travelling first class. You can also change your card from 1st to 2nd class at any kiosk.
Trains From Amsterdam Schiphol Airport to International Destinations
The NS rail service will get you nearly anywhere within the Netherlands and on to international destinations like Belgium, Germany, France, and England. From Amsterdam Centraal and Utrecht, you can connect to the German highspeed rail line Deutsche Bahn or ‘DB’. From Amsterdam Centraal and Rotterdam Centraal, you can catch the French Rail service Thalys ‘Eurostar’ which services Belgium and France.
I’ve often travelled from my home in Canada to the Netherlands by way of Frankfurt using the high-speed DB train to Amsterdam. You can also connect at Utrecht when travelling to Rotterdam, or The Hague rather than waiting for an additional flight connection in Frankfurt airport.
Safety and Security Precautions When Traveling by Rail From Schiphol Airport
During my many years of travelling to the Netherlands, I’ve always found the Dutch railway service to be very safe and free from violent crime. As with any tourist location, there are a few considerations you must watch out for. Namely petty theft: Pickpockets, theft of phones, laptops, and wallets.
The other common scam on trains involves two participants, one asks for your help to lift their heavy bag into the overhead compartment, therefore distracting you, while the other steals your bag and runs off.
How to get to Keukenhof Gardens from Schiphol and Nearby Cities
The world-renowned Keukenhof Gardens is situated in the tiny town of Lisse, Netherlands, about a 40-minute trip from Amsterdam. Open exclusively during the Spring from March to May, this amazing park features millions of Tulips in bloom as well as a stunning display of other spring flowers and horticulture. The various indoor gardens feature displays of every possible variation and colour of tulips as well as an exhibition on the history of the Dutch nation’s fascination with this beautiful flower.
The park packs in millions of visitors in the short window it is open each year and it is truly a Netherlands must-see.
Keukenhof Express Bus
The easiest option for getting to the Keukenhof Gardens during the springtime season is a “Combi Ticket” that provides park entrance and public transport on the Keukenhof Express from Amsterdam Schipol Airport, Amsterdam RAI (city), Leiden, or Haarlem Stations.
Tickets can be easily purchased online in advance on the official Keukenhof site. Times book up very fast so it is best to book well in advance!
Getting to Keukenhof Gardens by Rail
You can also easily reach the Keukenhof Gardens on your own from NS Rail stations across the Netherlands.
Connect to the Keukenhof at these stations:
- Schiphol – Available Daily, board the Keukenhof Express Bus 858, you will find the bus at the exit of Arrivals Hall 1. It makes 6 trips per hour to the park.
- Amsterdam RAI Station City – Available Daily, board the Keukenhof Express Bus 852 up to 8 times an hour.
- Leiden Centraal Station – Available Daily, board the Keukenhof Express Bus 854 at the bus loop near the station’s city centre exit.
- Haarlem Station – Available weekends and holidays, board the Keukenhof Express bus 850. On weekdays you can catch Bus #50.
Getting to Keukenhof By Private Car or Rental Car
If you are travelling by Car, parking can be pre-purchased online for € 6 when you book your ticket. There are also a few electric charging stations onsite in the Keukenhof parking lot.
The Address for the Keukenhof is:
Stationsweg 166A
2161 AM Lisse
Tickets to the Keukenhof are purchased online with a pre-scheduled arrival time, and prices are € 19.00 for Adults. For more information on the park and to purchase tickets see the official website of the Keukenhof. The park is open this year from the 23rd of March until the 14th of May, from 8 AM – 7:30 PM.
How to Rent a Car at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport and What Papers do you Need?
The Schiphol Rental Car Desk is located right inside of Schiphol Plaza where the terminal baggage claim exits are located. The rental car companies available at Schiphol are:
| Rental Company | Phone | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Avis | +31 88 284 7620 | www.avis.nl |
| Budget | +31 88 284 7500 | www.budget.nl |
| Enterprise | +31 20 740 0950 | www.enterprise.nl |
| Eurocar | +31 20 316 4190 | www.europcar.nl |
| Hertz | +31 20 502 0240 | www.hertz.nl |
| Sixt | +31 20 405 9090 | www.sixt.com |
What papers and requirements are needed for renting a car in the Netherlands for non-residents:
- The Minimum age for renting a car in the Netherlands is typically 21 – for Enterprise Car rentals it is a min 18 years
- You must produce a valid driver’s license that has been held for at least 1 year
- A valid passport
- Proof of hotel or accommodation in the Netherlands
- You will require an International Driver’s License if your license is written in non-English or Dutch characters that cannot be read by the rental agency.
Very Important! Ensure you completely inspect your car before driving out of the parking lot. Pull the car out of the stall where you have clear visibility. Look for glass damage, damage to body panels, scrapes, and scuffs. Ensure you report it to the rental car centre before leaving the parking lot. My colleague and I once rented a car and the underside of the bumper was very damaged. We would have been liable had we left the car park.
Conclusion
Whatever mode of travel you decide, getting around the Netherlands is usually a breeze. I’ve used the Dutch rail system extensively over the last 17 years of travel there and it is your best bet for most trips in and around the small country of the Netherlands. The rail system is highly reliable, although there are instances when the train is not running due to maintenance, accidents, etc., so it is good to always think ahead and have a backup plan.