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Short stay in Amsterdam

Posted by (Oregon) on

I have an overnight layover in Amsterdam at the end of February. I land at 1:45pm on a Monday and leave at 10:30am the next day. I have a hotel a few blocks from the Central Station.

I’m considering booking a canal tour with Drift Away/Bow’s Journeys at 7pm or 9pm. Might I also be able to spend a few hours at a museum when I arrive? I’m torn between the Van Gough Museum and the Street Art museum. I love all kinds of art. I’m thinking I may have 1.5-2 hours max. Any thoughts or recommendations?

One other question: How late is “too late” to be out walking around? I will be coming from Spain and will likely be used to 10pm dinners and the like. Is it ill advised to stroll around the central station area or red light district at that hour?

Posted by
8586 posts

I would think you should be able to squeeze in a museum. Personally I loved the Van Gogh museum, so that would be my choice (or the Rijksmuseum), but all three 3 (including the Street Art ) close at 5 pm, so I would choose the one you like the best.

I think you'll be fine out late but would limit your wanderings to the main streets. I stayed in the de Pijp neighborhood and never had any problems in the evenings, but I was never out past 9 pm.

Posted by
2867 posts

Definitely book that canal tour! Jack is excellent and very engaging. We went with him lat February at the suggestion of our hotel and we were so happy we did. I would opt for the 7pm one so that if you want, you can wander a bit after the cruise, or just meander back to your hotel.

That trip was with my adult daughter. We do not stay out late, so I can't help with the after 10pm stuff, but from what we saw I would not worry about wandering the red light district at that hour, but I tend to avoid train stations unless I am traveling on one.

Posted by
612 posts

I think I would opt for the later boat trip. You'd be finishing up around 10:30. Maybe you could talk to the other passengers and see who's going your way or just wants to tag along to the RLD.

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