Train/Tram/Bus travel. Help!

Let's first start with planning. For that you can use 9292.nl/en . It gives you advice from door to door.

In your case I would advice to buy a 3 day Amsterdam and Region Travel Ticket. It is valid for all the trips you mentioned. For 3 days it costs 33.50 euros. It is also valid to and from Schiphol. At Schiphol and Amsterdam Centraal it can be bought at the NS ticket counters and the I Amsterdam Visitor centres.

Compared to single tickets or other passes this will be cheaper, as a single Amsterdam Centraal - Ilpendam is 6 euros and a day pass for that transport company (EBS) is 10 euros. That EBS day pass is however not valid on trains (NS) or trams, buses and metros in Amsterdam (GVB).

https://www.iamsterdam.com/en/plan-your-trip/getting-around/public-transport/region-day-ticket
https://www.ns.nl/producten/en/onbeperkt-reizen/p/amsterdam-region-travel-ticket

map: https://www.iamsterdam.com/media/pdf/visiting/artt-map-2018.pdf?la=en

It's unclear whether you're arriving in the Netherlands after a transatlantic flight. If so, i'm not sure the canal cruise is a great idea. If I sit down on my arrival dsy, I start to fall aslee
p. Bur perhsps you do better on overnight flights than I do.

Do you already have your tickets for the Van Gogh Museum? We bought ours online several months early with a specific entry time. We unfortunately scheduled the museum for our arrival day and I nearly fell asleep while walking through the various rooms - would have been much better outside in the fresh air. If you don’t already have tickets maybe do Van Gogh first on your Day 2, so you don’t have to rush from Zaanse Schans at a specific time.

It’s hard to make sightseeing recommendations since we don’t really know your interests. Tell us a bit more and we can provide more guidance. If you and daughter are interested in fashion or historic costuming, you might enjoy the museum of bags and purses- Tassenmuseum. We had a nice visit there last week including a delicious afternoon tea in one of their period rooms (reservation made online a few months ago).

Do you have an advance ticket for Anne Frank? If not, you will have hours in line and may not get in. Since your B&B is a half hour north and maybe from a bus station that is not at Amsterdam Centraal station, maybe you should put your bags in a locker. Can you get the B&B key without the owner waiting around for you? I think it is crazy to spend the time getting to Haarlem with jet lag. Concentrate on Amsterdam

Thank you all! We did not even plan on being in Amsterdam but that is how it worked out. Anne Frank house, and Corrie Ten Boom house in Haarlem are our must do.. We do like history. The Zaanse Schans sounded interesting to get a feel for Netherlands. Absolutely no interest in RLD. VG museum because we could not pass this chance up but not real museum fans. We like the country more that city.
I will check 9292. My worry was some passes were only for main Amsterdam and not all the way to Ilpendam. The one you mention might work if it covers the whole area we will be in. I've read other posts of yours, Floris, and they have been very through and helpful.

Yes, Acraven, we are arriving from U.S,.We leave San Diego at 8am. Our body will say it is 11pm when we arrive. My thought was the canal cruise while not too tired then walking around the rest of the day to stay awake. Don't know if we will sleep at all on plane. Never traveled internationally. What else would you suggest for that day?

Kathleen, I have not gotten my ticket for VG museum but that is a good idea. I'll make it for first thing on day 2, then we can go to Zaanse . Daughter likes fashion. I'll propose the handbag museum.

Tim, yes we have our Anne Frank tickets. 9:15am day 3. My thought was that Haarlem was not too large and overwhelming as I think Ams will be.I thought maybe the jet lag won't catch up to me until noon. Again, I have never traveled and never used public transportation so it is all overwhelming, but in a very good way. I really appreciate your opinion.

For everyone, I have read RS books, forums and anything else I can, but understand there comes a point when I can not absorb from a book anymore. So I ask you all. and Netherlands is just the beginning of our trip......

Just looking for other things we may like. Day 1 How about Volendam? Historical, cheese factory. We could do lunch there.(open to suggestions for lunch place) It doesn't look to far from our B&B (we can drop our luggage anytime) Thoughts??

If you plan to go to Volendam you just have to try the smoked eel ! It's delicious .

I understand the urge to try and get in as much as possible on your first trip, but as Rick says think that you will return.
Since you have never travelled internationally, you don't know how you are going to feel with jet lag. I suggest keeping the first day light and easy. Do Haarlem another time.
Canal cruise sounds like a good idea for the first day. There is one that includes cheese tasting.
Here's some ideas for walks around Amsterdam: http://leafywalks.com/amsterdam/walks-by-area/index.html
Or do a guided tour of Amsterdam on Day 1.
Anne Frank House is in the Jordaan district. You can walk around the area and have lunch after your visit on Day 3 before going to the airport.

You mentioned that the Corrie Ten Boom House is a "must do" so I disagree with the idea of doing Haarlem another trip. You can , and should, make reservations for the Corrie Ten Boom House as well. I found that I enjoyed it quite a bit. The courage of the Ten Boom family was quite inspirational. They put the needs of their neighbors above their own personal needs as they hid and helped Jews escape from the Nazis.

It is a short train ride to Haarlem and then a 10 minute walk to the house from the train station.

I also like the idea of a canal cruise. It allows you to have a different perspective on Amsterdam and is interesting enough to keep you awake while easy enough not to tire you out completely. It is important to use caution when walking around Amsterdam when you are tired. Be aware of bike lanes and do not walk in them!

I would also like to suggest that you spend a little time on "you tube." You can find all sorts of "how to" videos pertaining to public transportation specific to the Netherlands. I also find it helpful to look at the arrival videos for a new airport in advance.

If I were nervous like you about train/tram travel, I wouldn't worry about which ticket as you are only there one full day. Sometimes a few extra euros for less hassle and worry is worth it. The trams are easy. Just stick your credit card in the machine and buy a single ticket or an all day pass when you board, make sure you have the ticket read going in and out of the tram, just watch other people. If you are confused, the conductor in the middle of the tram will assist you. As far as the trains are concerned, just pick the easiest way. Don't make this more difficult by nickel and diming yourself until you are over jet lag.

As you don't know how your flight will affect you, and it seems you are quite a distance out from Amsterdam, I'd think three times about bothering with Amsterdam or Haarlem that day. I'd stay and get to know Lipendam. If there is nothing in Lipendam, why did you pick Lipendam? Again, if there is anything at all there, I'd enjoy that spot on the first day and relax, or rent a bike and enjoy that activity on that day. I strikes me that your flight and getting to the B&B would be stressful enough for the first, exhausted day.

If there is nothing to see in Lipendam, is there any chance you can change your reservation to a more convenient location? If you don't like the city, why not stay in smaller Haarlem or environs? You say the Corrie Boom house is a requirement, but as I am someone who likes the city, has spent much time in Amsterdam (and some in Haarlem), and is very familiar with public transportation, I'd find your first day stressful/horrible after an overnight flight. IMO, I would think one 'hiding' house would be enough from that distance and period of stay, but then I did not like the Corrie Boom house at all, it was just proselytizing at the time (2000). You need to consider your likes and stresses when deciding. Have you thought of the Resistance Museum and environs instead for a fuller picture and fewer trains? Or change your base?

I don’t understand why you are staying in Lipendam. What is there for you? If you don’t want to stay in Amsterdam, stay in Haarlem. You are wasting money and time by staying there when what you plan to see are in other locations.

hey iljamul1
like suki says why are you staying far away from things you want to see and so. you'll be spending money and time in traveling. i would think twice about where you are staying and get closer to amsterdam.
aloha

I don’t understand why you are staying in Lipendam. What is there for you? If you don’t want to stay in Amsterdam, stay in Haarlem.

.

you'll be spending money and time in traveling

Ilpendam isnt really that far from Amsterdam. There are direct buses from Ilpendam to Amsterdam Central station. Time wise Ilpendam - Amsterdam: 12-13 minutes (bus top to bus stop), Haarlem - Amsterdam: 14-19 minutes (station to station). In both cases you also need time to reach the bus stop/station from the place where you are staying.

Cost wise, there is no difference between Haarlem and Ilpendam as both are covered by the ARTT. If you would buy return tickets, a ticket Haarlem - Amsterdam would cost 9.60 euros and for Ilpendam a day pass would cost 10 euros.

Ilpendam is a lovely small village.
http://www.nederland-in-beeld.nl/Noord-Holland/Ilpendam/Algemeen.html
Ilpendam has several (national) monuments: https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lijst_van_rijksmonumenten_in_Waterland#Ilpendam

Thank you everyone for your input. Just a note, we chose our accommodations because it was outside the city, in the country on a canal, in a peaceful setting. The best way to start a vacation.
We will take our first day slow to see how jet lagged we are so no real plans but we will keep possibilities open! As long as we can hold out without falling asleep.

Floris, I appreciate your insight on travel. I will get the regional ticket. Then I can just ride all the different transportation with one ticket, correct? I have signed up on 9292 but when I try to put in my date of July 31, It keeps only showing me 30th. Don't know what I'm doing wrong, but I will keep trying to figure it out.

Thanks again all!

I will get the regional ticket. Then I can just ride all the
different transportation with one ticket, correct?

Yes, the transport covered by the ARTT can be seen on the map: https://www.iamsterdam.com/media/pdf/visiting/artt-map-2018.pdf?la=en
That means that all the trips you mentioned (to/from/in Ilpendam, Haarlem, Schiphol, Amsterdam) are covered by the ARTT. You can use buses, trains, trams and metros. Remember that every time you enter or exit a bus or tram and every time you enter or leave the station (train and metro) you have to check (tap/touch) in or out.

have signed up on 9292 but when I try to put in my date of July 31,
It keeps only showing me 30th. Don't know what I'm doing wrong,

As far as I can see the 31st is available on 9292: https://9292.nl/en/journeyadvice/station-amsterdam-centraal/ilpendam/departure/2018-07-31T0924
You can plan about 6 weeks in advance.