Amsterdam airport for layover. Time to see something?

You can take a train downtown in about 15 minutes from Schiphol. You still won't have that much time on the ground. Look for luggage storage at the airport, however.

Do you mean we won't have much time on the ground to accomplish this, therefore we should not attempt it? Naturally I'm concerned about doing something dumb and getting on the wrong train to come back and missing a flight, but if possible...

You may be very surprised at all that airport has to do in it. I think you could get into town and back but be very clear about what you want to see and how to get there.

Assuming your plane is on time, you could have two hours or so in the city. As mentioned it is an easy 15-minute train ride to Amsterdam Centraal, and trains run every 10 mins.
Don't plan any activities, but just have a look and a lunch. You'll love the area around the Brouwersgracht, which is 5-min walk from the railway station.
You can buy your tickets in advance at the website of NS, the Dutch railways, saving you standing in the queue or figuring out the ticket machine.

You do realize that you will spend time standing in line for immigration and customs to exit the airport, then immigration and security on the return to the airport, hours before flight time? Unpredictable how much time. I'd stay at the very nice airport, myself, but then I'm older and less adventurous these days.

Getting out of the airport with only hand luggage won't take ages. It being an internal European flight within the Schengen zone, and in low-season February, two hours is sufficient for getting the flight to Rome.

Thank you so very much everyone! I appreciate the help and advice.