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Our first international trip - The Netherlands & Germany

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Hello!

My husband and I are first time international travelers and seeking information/help on a few things. We are arriving and staying in central Amsterdam on September 11-16, then heading to Munich, Germany. In Amsterdam, we would like to see many of the museums, but also visit The Hague and Zwolle. I have various questions:

  1. I know that train travel is likely the best mode for transportation, but is there a particular pass that would cover all areas?
  2. How much time would you recommend allowing for visits to The Hague and Zwolle?
  3. Has anyone used the City Pass for attractions to visit? Is it worth it?

We are planning on traveling by train to Munich from Amsterdam on September 16. Asking again about train recommendations. We will have luggage as well, so not sure if there are "rooms" that would be best to book? We are meeting up with a group in Germany, so we are all set on that end, except in the transportation area.

Lastly, any weather expectations/dress we should look out for in September?

Thank you in advance! We are so excited to travel!

Posted by
2763 posts

NS, the Dutch national train company, offers a 1-3-day train pass which definitely will save you some euros on the cost of travel to Zwolle and Den Hague. The 3-day pass is just €30 per person and it covers intercity trains along with trams and buses within cities. All that makes it a great bargain.
At €65 for 24 hours, €90 for 48 hours and €108 for 72 hours—- the Amsterdam City Card might pay off for some, but I personally could not visit enough museums in that short a time period to make it pencil out. A daytrip to The Hague should include the Binnenhof Palace where today’s legislative branches of the Dutch government meet. You can tour the Binnenhof when the parliament is not in session. Tickets should be booked online in advance. Be sure to walk around the moat of the Binnenhof to enjoy the water fountains and also go inside to see the interior courtyards, even if not touring the palace’s interior.
The Mauritshuis Art museum and M.C.Escher art museum also are at the Binnenhof complex and are highly recommended.
Embassy Row is near the Binnenhof and downtown has a beautiful shopping arcade. Den Hague makes for a relaxing daytrip that can take an entire day. You also can split your time between Den Hague and Delft, as Delft is just a 15-minute train ride from Den Hague. Even more scenic is the tram ride from Den Hague to Delft.
For your Amsterdam to Munich train trip, I recommend taking the “Nightjet” train which departs Amsterdam in the evening and arrrives in Munich the next morning. You may want to reserve a sleeper car in advance as the Nightjet train does sell out. A two-berth sleeper car will take the place of a hotel room for the night of September 16 and you will be able to secure your luggage in your own sleeper car. The “Comfort” Sleeper cars on the new Nightjet trains include a toilet and shower wand. www.Seat61.com will have photos and info on the Nightjet trains
I’m not familiar with Zwolle and its attractions, so not sure what amount of time is needed there.

Weather in September should still be comfortable with cooler evenings and the possibility of showers always a reason to have a waterproof windbreaker.

Have a great trip!

Posted by
1818 posts

Oh dear. Is there any way you can change your dates? Or switch Amsterdam and Munich around? I ask this because you managed to pick dates that coincide with the IBC convention held from September 12-15 in Amsterdam. This huge convention attracts more than 40,000 visitors/participants from all over the world. They all need a place to sleep and this means that hotel prices in Amsterdam skyrocket during this time.
If you can’t change tour dates, you might want to look into staying in nearby cities like Haarlem or Leiden.

Posted by
8551 posts

Just to tag onto Dutch_traveler...then for Munich, Oktoberfest starts the 20th, maybe that is the goal of the trip, but book hotels early or look at some nearby towns, you do not mention those plans.

In addition to the three day pass for the trains in the Netherlands mentioned, all travel by train, local buses, trams, metros, can be done by tapping your credit card (each need one) or phone.

For Germany, depending on how much you have planned, there are regional daily passes, or even a monthly pass good for all of Germany that is very reasonable.

Posted by
1818 posts

“NS, the Dutch national train company, offers a 1-3-day train pass which definitely will save you some euros on the cost of travel to Zwolle and Den Hague. The 3-day pass is just €30 per person and it covers intercity trains along with trams and buses within cities. “

I’m afraid you might be thinking about the Amsterdam Travel Ticket which indeed costs €30 for 3 days but is only valid on trains between Schiphol and Amsterdam and on busses, trams and metros within Amsterdam.
See here; https://www.ns.nl/en/tickets/amsterdam-travel-ticket
There is a Holland Travel Ticket which is valid on all public transport throughout the entire country, but it costs €70 per day or €48 per day if you travel during off-peak hours https://www.ns.nl/en/tickets/holland-travel-ticket

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