We are planning a couple of days in Friesland and Groningen to visit areas where my husbands grandfather lived before coming to the US, and want to be explore the area for a couple of days. We are taking the train from Frankfurt to Amsterdam. trying to decide between taking the train from Amsterdam to Groningen and renting a car there, or renting a car in Amsterdam and driving. Have heard that Amsterdam can be challenging for driving so looking for advice. Thanks!!
Posted by
Green Bay
21250 posts
Well certainly challenging from central Amsterdam, but if you pick the car up at Schipol airport, you're in auto-land.
Posted by
the Netherlands
2487 posts
There are some car rentals like Hertz and Sixth near the Centraal Station at locations which bring you quickly out of the city to the motorway.
Posted by
Tilburg, Netherlands
2829 posts
No need to rent from Schiphol with hefty airport fees. As long as you don't rent a car in the inner canal belt of Amsterdam (where I don't think any rental car agency has a permanent office) you will be perfectly fine. It is easy to get out of the city into one of the avenues that will lead you to the freeway ring.
Posted by
Long Beach, California, USA
3398 posts
Definitely rent somewhere outside of the central city...driving in central Amsterdam is extremely challenging!
Once you are out of the city, driving in the Netherlands is very easy, especially up in Friesland. Lovely roads, relatively uncrowded, readily available public parking. We have many relatives in that area and travel there often...it's isn't a very long drive from the Amsterdam area.