Brief (and safe) visit to Amsterdam with 92-year-old mother

I'd rethink the plan to stay at the airport (because boring). You have plenty of time on the day of the flight. You can leave your big luggage there at the airport and just come into town with an overnight bag. And you can catch a tram right outside the station to get nearly anywhere. Loads of hotel recommendations here on the Forum. Just make sure there is an elevator because Dutch stairs are crazy steep. There is pedicab service, which probably gives closer to door-to-door service than a taxi.
1. Try YouTube for a video of getting to the train at AMS. It looks like both the airport and the train service offer assistance to folks with limited mobility. Here is the link for the train service: https://www.ns.nl/en/travel-information/traveling-with-a-disability/motor-disability
2. yes
3. Can't help you there.
4. Go for rijsttafel. You'll have to check for one with a vegan menu. The one I went to (Sampurna) has vegetarian dishes on the menu but not a dedicated vegan (or even vegetarian) rijsttafel option. There are many recommendations on the forum.

Nelly, full disclosure. I have not been to Amsterdam, but I have been researching for a potential trip.

I keep coming across information, on this site and elsewhere, that Amsterdam is often crowded, especially in the summer, and you must be on the constant lookout for bicycles while walking.

Leiden has been recommended as a good alternative to Amsterdam. Less expensive with frequent train service from the airport in about 15 minutes. A hotel in Leiden would give your mother an opportunity to rest before dinner. It sounds like a beautiful, historic town with lovely architecture and picturesque canals.

Hi Nelly!

If you do decide to stay in an airport hotel, one of my favorite things we did in Amsterdam is a 15 minute taxi ride from the airport. It's the unbelievably huge and busy and fascinating Aalsmeer flower market. There's an elevated walkway you can walk (or walker) along as far as you want to and look down on acres of flowers being zoomed around on little trucks. It's a busy sight and yet peaceful. No photos or even videos can capture what it all looks like. Smells good, too. We did not take a tour, just showed up at 7:00am.

https://www.royalfloraholland.com/en/about-us/the-cooperative/visit-the-floriculture-marketplace

My 90-pound mother also traveled well into her 90's with a walker and using wheelchairs in the airports. But I bet YOUR mother didn't make a silly joke about bombs in an airport in early 2002 and from then on was always stopped and thoroughly searched in airports. Didn't discourage her from traveling, though.

Hugs,

Nancy

I took the train from AMS (Schiphol airport) to Amsterdam Centraal station in December. The platform and train entry were level. The train coaches were modern, clean, and smooth. Although I’m not familiar with the canal tour operator that you mention assistance was provided for everyone embarking and disembarking the boat for my canal tour.

Additional information - I did have difficulty finding my way to my preferred exit from the train station. However, since I wasn’t in a hurray I lingered and enjoyed coffee and pastry there. According to google it’s a one minute walk from Centraal station to Stationsplein 18 where Captain Jack’s canal boats depart. This is easily doable based on my experience there. Finding the correct exit area may require some direction from staff at the train station.

1. does the train from the airport to Amsterdam Central have level entry/exit to the platform or does it have stairs? If stairs, we'll take a cab. Blockquote

There is an escalator in the airport to the train platform. There might be an elevator as well. You won't need to buy tickets for the train, just tap your credit cards.
Unless your mother specifically dislikes large cities, I would stick with the Amsterdam canal boat ride for your one fun day, rather than going to Leiden although I enjoyed Leiden too.