Schiphol 6:30am-4:30pm - what’s possible?

Length of layover!?!

For a long layover, I recommend taking the bus to Haarlem or the train to Amsterdam’s Central Station. Both are direct and quick allowing you to maximize your time. I would plan on getting back to AMS 3 hours before your flight. You can check your carry on bags at AMS or Central Station. Haarlem Central station also has luggage lockers.

Margie, it’s 6:30am-4:30pm.

Thank you, Jay MN! I haven’t been to Haarlem since I was a college student.

Another vote for Haarlem :)

Is there a reason you don’t want to go into Amsterdam? An early morning in the Canal Zone of Amsterdam without the crowds with just the locals biking to work and seeing the city come to life is very hard to beat.

Hi Dutch_traveler, the main reason for initially thinking something smaller than Amsterdam is that we are on our third day of traveling by the time we arrive. So, we thought something else hectic with our jet lag and being tired.

Tomorrow, an ordinary Thursday in February, is the perfect opportunity to see Amsterdam when it’s not hectic. Forget what you may have heard about crowds in Amsterdam in April during the tulip season, they won’t be here tomorrow.

Just start doing the math. Arrive 6:30, maybe get someplace by 8:00. At that time, most places are good for a walk, but not much going on until 9:00 most places. Hard to think in what day, and maybe too late, but Leiden has a market on Wednesday.

Then at the end of whatever you do, you should be back at Schiphol by 2:30.

So enough time for a morning stroll, and then some lunch.

is the 4:30 (1630) the time of departure or the time you need to be back by?

Those are flight times.

then I agree with Paul.

The forecast is for 5C (41F) when you land to about 9C (48F) when arriving back at the airport and partly cloudy tomorrow after rain today. So wrap up well and be ready for the wind.

Wherever you go you can wander until you get cold and then pop in a shop or cafe. Then head back after lunch.

Could be Leiden or Amsterdam or Haarlem, but know that it is a little bit of a walk into town from the Haarlem station.

Thank you, everyone, for your help & details! Appreciate hearing back so quickly, too!