LAYOVER IN AMSTERDAM...what to do?

[sjb95u]

I'm hoping a few people with this experience can help me out...

 

My KLM Flight from DFW to BCN has a layover in Amsterdam. Recent changes in flight times made it necessary to have a 4-hour layover at the Amsterdam airport while waiting for my connection to Barcelona.

 

Question: Will my DH and I be able to leave the airport during this amount of time and is there anything nearby that would be worth seeing, albeit briefly?

 

I've never been to Amsterdam/The Netherlands and would love to see anything if given the chance!

 

Thanks,

Susan~

http://www.freewebs.com/summitnov1/

[ab0si]

Four hours is a bit short to to take the train to and from the city.

 

You have to go through passport control (whether or not you are leaving the airport), catch the train (which is downstairs from the arrival hall, spend a short time in the city, get back on the train, go through security to get back into the departure area of the airport and walk to your gate. That's a lot to do in 4 hours. I wouldn't suggest it. There is not much to see in the immediate vicinity of Schiphol

 

At AMS, there is a branch of the Rijksmuseum (one the top art museums in the world). Brilliant idea!

Check out: http://www.rijksmuseum.nl/tentoonstellingen/ex_191?lang=en

 

There is also a casino (which I am told gives truly terrible odds) and some of the best duty free shopping at any airport. Also, expensive internet cafes and anything/everything else you'd expect at a major airport.

[kannna]

THe little museum is a lovely quiet spot. An oportunity to see true masterpieces without leaving the airport.

 

K

 

Oh and we just came off the summit had a great time. Hope you do too : )

[PKB]

We also have a layover in Amsterdam to Barcelona. Do we have to claim our checked luggage to go through customs?

[LHT28]

We also have a layover in Amsterdam to Barcelona. Do we have to claim our checked luggage to go through customs?

 

It should be through checked to BCN.

You just need to go through passport control & find you way to the gate.

[sjb95u]

Thank you all! The museum will fit the bill nicely. May just wander outside for a few minutes so that I can at least say I've stepped on the soil there!

 

Thanks for the info about the luggage being checked all the way through, hopefully we'll get there with our things!

 

Susan~

http://www.freewebs.com/summitnov1/

[Hambagahle]

Schipol is an efficient airport and checked luggage that is transferred to another flight should be OK.

A word about immigration and customs - you are arriving in the Netherlands, which is a part of Schengen. This is a group of European Union and a couple of other countries that have agreed common passport control. So you go through passport control (immigration) at your point-of-entry into the Schengen territory. After that you no longer have to go through immigration when you arrive in another Schengen country, though you may have to show your passport for ID purposes to the airlines. Your bags, checked through, are sent directly to the new flight and you do not clear Customs at the point-of-entry, but at the place (in your case, Barcelona) where you pick them up and leave the airport.

Once inside Schengen, you do not have to show your documents to cross borders by land, sea or air. Schengen countries include Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Greece, Denmark (and with agreement through them Norway), Sweden and as of this November, Switzerland which is not EU. (Switzerland is impementing this in stages and the control counters at the airports will be kept until the spring...)

[Wendy The Wanderer]

I agree that 4 hours is too short to get into the city. But Schiphol is really the most civilized airport I've ever been in. The shops are also great, and as I remember, you can buy uncut diamonds, among other things!

[Ine]

4 hours is indeed too short to go into Amsterdam with the many secuiry-rules nowdays.

For more information about the airport, what to see and do, check their website on:

www.schiphol.nl

[HeinBloed]

There are transit sightseeing programmes for those passengers with a long layover:

 

http://www.schiphol.nl/web/show/id=86630/langid=42

 

Regards,

HeinBloed