Layover in Amsterdam

If you were traveling in the opposite direction, you would have just enough time to make a quick visit into the city center. But the security screening for transatlantic flights out of Amsterdam are extra thorough these days, you need to be at the gate (where the screening is done)90 minutes before your flight departs. I wouldn't risk it, there's plenty of things to do and see at Schipol, like the airport branch of the Rijks Museum and the Casino.

That's disappointing. Have been to that airport before and it is very nice and interesting but I don't know if I can occupy myself for all those hours there! Also, I didn't know there was a casino there.

Here us something I found that saved us a little time getting out of the airport, though things may have changed since Christmas Eve. Anyway, even though you are not picking up baggage, if you go downstairs to the baggage pickup the line through passport/
immigration was non-existent. We had carryons and were the one people in the line. They barely looked at our passports before stamping them, then we walked out through customs and caught the train into the city. Like I said, things may have changed but it did save some time though I have never had to wait too long there.

I haven't been through Amsterdam in a several years but the last time I was there I found a travel desk that arranged bus tours for folks on layovers. Where you could go and for how long depended on the length of your layover. Don't know if they are still there...