We will be in the Netherlands in June and are planning a day trip to Hoorn and Enkhuizen. In the RS Netherlands book, Rick lays out an itinerary, going to Hoorn, continuing on to Enkhuizen and then returning back to Amsterdam from Enkhuizen. I am thinking about doing this day trip in reverse, going to Enkhuizen first, because I am very interested in the Open-Air Museum, and if we start to tire later in the day could cut short our time in Hoorn rather than at the Open-Air Museum.
For those of you who have gone to both these places, can you think of any disadvantages of doing the day trip this way?
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23267 posts
When we did it it was on a single ticket from Amsterdam and we didn't have a choice about direction. Personally I would put the open air village at the end because it could consumer a lot of time. The return train is very flexible as to times so it is easy to spend as much time there as you would like. For us the rest of the trip ran on a tighter time schedule. You could do it independently in reverse.
Posted by
OP
Birmingham, AL
104 posts
Frank,
I am a bit confused by your response that you had a single ticket and did not have a choice about direction. The train that goes from Amsterdam to Enkhuizen (and vice versa) stops in Hoorn, so it is a simple matter to stop at Hoorn and get off, either on the way up or way back. And best as I can tell, trains run twice per hour in both directions throughout the day.
Posted by
Orange Park, Fl
985 posts
David, you stated you really want to see Enkhuizen so I would go there first. Once there, if the visitors center is open right after departing the train you can purchase a ticket to ride the ferry to the open air museum - saves on the feet because you are going to be doing a lot of walking. There is a wonderful cafeteria at the open air museum for luncheon. Walking back toward town you can visit the indoor Enkhuizen museum. It is very good and worth the stop in. We left Amsterdam on an early morning train and didn't get back until dinner time and only went to Enkhuizen. Need be, you could easily and fairly cheaply visit Hoorn on another day if you use all your time at Enkhuizen.
Have a wonderful visit to Amsterdam!
Note - edited to remove train misinformation
Posted by
The Netherlands
1304 posts
“ David, when I look at train tickets on ns.nl the trains between Amsterdam Centraal and Enkhuizen are direct with no stops. ”
I’m sorry, but this is not correct. There are no trains from Amsterdam Centraal to Enkhuizen that don’t stop at the intermediate train stations. Trains from Amsterdam to Enkhuizen always stop at the following 6 train stations; Amsterdam Sloterdijk, Hoorn, Hoorn Kersenbogerd, Hoogkarspel, Bovenkarspel Grootebroek and Bovenkarspel-Flora.
If you buy a return/round trip ticket from Amsterdam to Enkhuizen and back, you’re allowed to interrupt your journey somewhere along the route. This means you’re allowed to get off the train at Hoorn, but also at Hoogkarspel for instance.
Posted by
Orange Park, Fl
985 posts
I see I must have been mistaken saying the train is direct. How very odd that none of us remember stopping six times during such a short train ride. I'd still advise the outdoor park first if that is your priority for the day.
Posted by
The Netherlands
1304 posts
It’s a 1 hour train ride from Amsterdam to Enkhuizen. In terms of the Netherlands that really isn’t a short train ride and it’s perfectly normal for the train to stop 6 times during such a ride. It’s actually the way our train system is designed, especially in the densely populated western part of the country.