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Train from airport in Amsterdam to city central station

Where do I buy a train ticket after arrival by plane in Amsterdam from USA? Is there a special way to use the ticket? Any other tips for this travel? I can walk to my hotel from central station. Thanks. I"ll be there on Wednesday this week (May 18)
Bill

Posted by
2648 posts

Easy peasy - just follow signs to the train (it's under the airport, middle of arrivals hall), use the bright yellow kiosk to buy a ticket to Amsterdam Centraal. Make sure to tap your ticket on the card reader before you get on train (watch other people do it).

This YouTube video covers it (along with taxis and uber, just fast forward).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChFsMxtpdns

And this is the airport info https://www.schiphol.nl/en/page/by-train-from-schiphol/

Bon voyage.

Posted by
18 posts

Great! This brings up another question. Later in the week I'm going to Alkmaar and another day to Arnhem. I assume that the OV chipcard will work for these travels as well? And if so that would be the way to go rather than buying the one way ticket to City central, right? Is there a time limit on the OV chipcard. I"ll be in the Netherlands for 1 week.

Bill

Posted by
1551 posts

The OVchipkaart is a card you load money on. The card itself costs €7,50.
Each time you use public transport, you hold your card against the reader (check in). In busses and trams these readers are located inside the vehicle. When you use train and metros these readers are located at the entrance/exit of the station. You must check in and out at each individual journey.
Whether or not a OVchipkaart is worth it depends on your itinerary. You can also buy point to point train tickets. Or (multi)day passes for instance for bus, tram and metro in Amsterdam.

Posted by
18 posts

The OV chipcard is only for Amsterdam. right? I can't use it to go to Alkmaar for instance, right?

Bill

Posted by
1551 posts

No, the OVchipkaart can be used throughout the entire country on all modes of public transport. Like I said, it’s nothing but a card you need to load money on. It’s basically an electronic purse in the form of a credit card sized card. You pay €7,50 just to buy the card and then you need to load money on it. Depending on your itinerary the OVchipkaart might not be the best and/or cheapest option.

Posted by
18 posts

Thank you. Now I understand. The OV option will work best for me since I"ll be going to other cities.

Bill

Posted by
590 posts

the OV chipkaart worked well for us because we visited Delft, Haarlem and almere. You can use it on all the Amsterdam trams, buses, metro (and get a discounted fare). Just remember, to use it on the trains, including the one from the airport to Amsterdam Centraal, you need a minimum of 20 euros on the card.So if you load it with 20 at the airport and ride to Amsterdam Central, you use 4.65 euros and now your card value is less than 20, so to go to other cities by train, you will need to refill the card (it’s easy to do) to get the amount to 20 or more. On Amsterdam transport, there is no minimum limit, we ran our cards down to 0.59 cents before we had to refill. At the end of your trip in the Netherlands, take the card to the NS office at the trains station or airport and get a refund of the remaining balance , minus a 2 euro fee. You get to the keep the empty card (since you paid for it). On buses and trams, remember to tap in and TAP OUT.