Question 7 hours in Amsterdam - what should I do?

[adar]

In a couple of weeks I'll have a stopover of about 7 hours in Amsterdam. What should I do there? Any technology oriented museum? Any great hobby store with lots of e-stuff? Any electronics flea-market?

I know of all the famous tourist stuff, but I'm looking for something that would be interesting for an electric airplane hobbist.

Thanks,

Michel

[Andy W]

If you're out at the airport, getting into town is going to eat into your 7 hours. So is getting in and out of the airport, security, check in, etc.
See if you can stay overnight - it's a nice place to spend an evening.
..a

[adar]

Thanks. Yes, I agree that staying for longe would be nicer, we will do that on the way back with the family, but first I'm traveling alone, so I was hopping to get to visit something that would not be as interesting for the rest of the family but interesting from the technology or model airplanes point of view. I understand that getting into the city by train is not a problem from the airport.

[jandirks]

Adad,

I am from The Netherlands! Let me know what you are interested in and I'll look it up for you.

Here are some suggestions:
- Computer museum: http://www.science.uva.nl/museum/
- Film museum: http://www.filmmuseum.nl/index_eng.html
- 35 Museums in Amsterdam: http://www.amsterdammuseums.nl/eng/museums/index.htm

From airport to city by train is not a problem at all. I checked it for you, it will take you 14 minutes from airport to central station. A return ticket costs Euro 5.60 (~US$ 7.07).

Jan-Dirk

[rorywquin]

Originally Posted by adar

In a couple of weeks I'll have a stopover of about 7 hours in Amsterdam. What should I do there? Any technology oriented museum? Any great hobby store with lots of e-stuff? Any electronics flea-market?

I know of all the famous tourist stuff, but I'm looking for something that would be interesting for an electric airplane hobbist.

Thanks,

Michel

I lived outside Amsterdam for several years and worked right next to the airport. There are a couple of small hobby shops around the area but, nothing to really write home about (and none in central Amsterdam)! As Jan-Dirk mentions, the train station is in the airport building and it is a short journey into Amsterdam. Given your time available (assuming your flight arrives on time ), I suggest you just pop into Amsterdam for a couple of hours & take in the sights. It is a very safe city and Central station is well located in a busy tourist area - just watch out for pick-pockets as it is extremely busy in Amsterdam this time of year. There is some sort of aviation museum at the airport, but I have never been there - remember everything in The Netherlands is scaled down - it is a tiny country!!.

[jandirks]

Originally Posted by rorywquin

There is some sort of aviation museum at the airport, but I have never been there - remember everything in The Netherlands is scaled down - it is a tiny country!!.

If I am correct, the aviation museum has moved to Lelystad. The 7 hours you have are too short to visit this museum. There is an 'Aviation Hobby Shop (Luchtvaart Hobby Shop)' near the airport. You could take a taxi to visit them, nothing for r/c aircraft there though.

Talking about scaled down - A trip to Madurodam should be possible to do in 7 hours. In Madurodam you'll find everything that has made Holland famous. Everything is built very detailed in scale 1:25. Madurodam is located in The Hague (Den Haag in Dutch). It will take you around 30 minutes to get there, I think.

Let me know if you need details for Madurodam.

Apologies for my Holland promotion ;-)

Jan-Dirk

[rorywquin]

Originally Posted by jandirks

If I am correct, the aviation museum has moved to Lelystad. The 7 hours you have are too short to visit this museum. There is an 'Aviation Hobby Shop (Luchtvaart Hobby Shop)' near the airport. You could take a taxi to visit them, nothing for r/c aircraft there though.

Talking about scaled down - A trip to Madurodam should be possible to do in 7 hours. In Madurodam you'll find everything that has made Holland famous. Everything is built very detailed in scale 1:25. Madurodam is located in The Hague (Den Haag in Dutch). It will take you around 30 minutes to get there, I think.

Let me know if you need details for Madurodam.

Apologies for my Holland promotion ;-)

Jan-Dirk

Jan-Dirk

I used to work next-door to that shop- it is very interesting and they also do big flight-sim gear - the problem is getting a taxi to take you from the airport to the shop - they dont want to do it because it is only about 3km and they have been waiting in a line all morning to get a customer for Amsterdam or Rotterdam. I suppose if he arranged with the taxi to wait, it would be easier. We always had a problem with the taxi drivers getting to our offices. I forgot that the museum had moved to the Lelystad airport.

Groetjes

[jandirks]

rorywquin,

Yeah, taxi's are always a problem at Schiphol airport. Just interested in the bigger trips....

The simulators they are selling are interesting. Really cool stuff!

Did you happen to work at Unisys?

Jan-Dirk

[Andy W]

We walked outside with our luggage, and climbed right in a taxi. There were plenty just sitting in line. The ride was longer than 15 minutes, however - we stayed at the Victoria hotel in the center of the city - right across from the station.
..a

[vintage1]

I don't think I want to recommend how to spend 7 hours in amsterdam. This is a family forum.

[Ron van Sommeren]

Originally Posted by rorywquin

... remember everything in The Netherlands is scaled down - it is a tiny country!!.

Yeahyeahyeah, nuf said

Originally Posted by jandirks

If I am correct, the aviation museum has moved to Lelystad. The 7 hours you have are too short to visit this museum ...

Yes, too bad really, too far: http://www.aviodome.nl/

Met vriendelijke groeten Ron
• diy outrunner discussion group
• int. E fly-in & diy outrunner meet, Nijmegen, the Netherlands -> 2005

[Up&Away]

As an ex-Dutchman I could give you plenty to do in Amsterdam, but this is a family oriented site, so I won't. The moderators would surely ban me !

The train from Schiphol takes about 20 minutes to the Central Station. It is right opposite the Victoria Hotel, so you'll know the area.

As mentioned, there's not much R/C business in Amsterdam. Also you'll probably find the prices way higher then what you pay at home.
So take in the sights, relax, enjoy. That time of the year you'll find lots of things going on in the streets, from South American bands to living statues. Have a drink on one of the terraces at the "Leidsche Plein" (there used to be some good Jazz clubs in that area as well, but only at night), or if it's raining one of the closed terraces at the "Rembrandt Plein".
Maybe visit the Heineken factory ?

[Suntzu]

You could go the the "coffee shop" and chill.............

[rorywquin]

Originally Posted by jandirks

rorywquin,

Yeah, taxi's are always a problem at Schiphol airport. Just interested in the bigger trips....

The simulators they are selling are interesting. Really cool stuff!

Did you happen to work at Unisys?

Jan-Dirk

I worked for a company called Metromedia - in Starpark (near the Schiphol Raddison)- just before the dot-com crash!! Our building backed on to that shop!

[rorywquin]

Originally Posted by Andy W

We walked outside with our luggage, and climbed right in a taxi. There were plenty just sitting in line. The ride was longer than 15 minutes, however - we stayed at the Victoria hotel in the center of the city - right across from the station.
..a

Andy there is no problems getting to A-dam / R-dam etc. It is the short trips that the drivers baulk at doing - although legally they have to take you !!