7hr layover in Amsterdam --what can we do?

This question gets asked at least once a week: if you run a search, I'm sure you'll come up with all the information you need. 7 hours should be enough for a quick stop.
Trains run regularly between the trainstation at Schiphol (in the central hall) and Amsterdam Central Station (Amsterdam Centraal) and take around 15 minutes, just make sure you get on the right train (one that goes to Amsterdam Centraal NOT in the direction Amsterdam Zuid/Rai/Bijlmer). This is quite clearly indicated, though, so if you pay attention, you'll be fine.

If both your flights are on the same ticket, your luggage will probably be checked through automatically to your final destination. In that case you will probably be given boarding passes for both legs of your journey at check-in in India.

The van Gogh Museum opens at 10 a.m. If you already have your boarding passes it would be possible to spend an hour or so there and be back at the airport around noon.

Keep in mind that in late december it doesn't get light until 8.30 a.m. Shops, and museums usually open at 9 or 10.

approx. 15-20 min on train from schipol to amsterdam central station....after that, i'd say take a stroll toward Dam Square, check out the great architecture, and eventually wander into one or two "coffee shops" as well as to the red light district. I'd definitely go "shopping at Abraxas or the Greenhouse and meander toward thr RLD, and have a fresh Heineken at Stone's Cafe. You can partake in your purchased goods at the cafe while enjoying a beer, whreas beer is not sold in coffeeshops that also sell "greenery." Perhaps you may not "shop" inthe RLD, but its definitely worth a view considering this littl epiece of Amsterdam legacy will probably be gone in the the very near future due to ultra-conservative leanings in the governemnt these days. Going to Amsterdam without participating in one of the two above activities is like going on a fishing trip without a pole. Have fun and make sure you stay alert in A-dam. There are all types of seedy individuals who "hunt" in packs waiting to take advantage of wide eyed travelers (even in daylight hours).

"Going to Amsterdam without participating in one of the two above activities is like going on a fishing trip without a pole. " Oh please.

Sorry to go off topic, but #3 is an excellent example of the type of tourist that makes many Amsterdam locals support the current, more restrictive policies towards coffeeshops and prostitution. The present city council, by the way is dominated by the Social Democrats, the Green Party and Liberals. Ultra-conservatives are a small minority in the city.

Thanks Batara,

We would like to carry our backpacks on the plane with us (they are small enough to do so), so what are our options for holding luggage at the airport? If it is too much of a hassle, we may consider checking thru before we leave India, but we'd prefer to keep them with us on thte plane. Can someone confirm that we will have to go thru customs on our way in and out of the airport? How much time should we set aside for this? Is returning to the the Airport at 11:00am enough time to get thru customs again for 1:15pm departure?

Thanks,
Kiwimoo

Of course you will have to through customs, since you will be entering and leaving the country.
Lines can be long, but especially if you're already checked in for your onward flight, being at the airport at 11.00 am would give you plenty of time for the 1.15 pm flight.

There are lockers at the airport where you can leave your backpacks. An hour and a half should be plenty of time to go through immigration and security and get to your gate.

customs is hardly the thing to fear: they only are interested in luggages-and wont even bother you if flite 1 comes froma Schengen country
IMMIGRATION is-they do the passports. Please cannot even Englsih speaker use that language properly?
also: going to the US the most time-eating thing is the NEW Checks-an ''interview'' with silly questions and most likely a more thorough new luggage check=it may pay to check luggage anyway! lots of prohibited things they will remove!. You MUST be at Airport back 2 hrs before.
in facvt trains to ZUIDWTC CAN even be the better way to go-but note that a ticket must be used to the station bought for-as it has a direct tram to the museumarea-much quikcer as via CS-but HORRIBLY overcrowded early morning peak-a few million officeworkers+students going.
and No red lights at all till dusk.