Hi guys,
I am going to be traveling to the netherlands for the first time this week, and I am wondering a few things!
1 - any recommendations for what to do in Rotterdam? Is the euromast cool? Is a pancake boat tour worth 14 euro? Anything else fun?
2- does anyone know about transportation from Amsterdam to Rotterdam? How long does this take?
3- What about from Rotterdam to The Hague? Is that possible to go there and back just for a day from Rotterdam?
Thanks for your help!
1.shopping, seeing sights, doing a harbor=port tour (SPIDO is most fanous for that), check out the many foreigners areas with their quaint own way of living-f.e. Chinesem T"urk, Moroccon, Cabo Verde etc. a multi-nation major port-city! Take the metro to SOUTH=Zuidplein-where it runs above-ground and see the harbor sights-visit a big concert in AHOY=near Zuidplein, various Museums, like Boymans van Beuningen-world famous, or thenew style KUNSTHAL
I dont knwo whta people mean with ''cool''-and it certainly seems to personal to give an answer too. Homemade pancakes cost about 14 cts-decide all for yourself if thats worth it-its mainly a famly/kids affair
2.why even ask? In school we learn its named transport-without ''ation''it only shows you can only be some dumb USAer-these 2 major cities have fairly fast and usually quite full intercitytrains-4/6 per hour-taking like 65-75 mins. By full I mean you may have to struggle to find a seat empty-in the peaks- ALL trains are UNreserved-just like a NYC subway or Caltrain or so-so you may even ask some dumb dutch student on free passes to take away his feet from the seat and remove his luggage/bags-so anyone can sit.
3.all these trains run via and also stop in den Haag-with even more local trains RTM-Dhg-more frequent as that NYC RTD-takes about 22 mins.
#1, I don't think there's any need to be rude when answering a perfectly legitimate question.
For information on train-timetables use www.ns.nl (also see the FAQ at the top of this thread). Rotterdam - The Hague takes around 25 minutes. Rotterdam - Amsterdam a little over an hour.
If you would like more precise tips on sightseeing options in the 3 cities you've named, it helps if you state your own interests (architecture, museums, just strolling around, shopping etc.).
Going from Amsteram to Rotterdam by train one has three options: a. via Haarlem, Leiden, the Hague and Delft, b. via Schiphol, Leiden, the Hague and Delft and c. via Abcoude and Gouda. I, personally, like option c, because it goes through the "green heart" of Holland. Option a, the old route, goes mainly through urban areas. Option b, may be the fastest.
thanks minimi, i didn't really think the rudeness was really necessary either.
I guess I am interested in just unique things to the netherlands. I love parks, picturesque areas, hole in the wall but good cafes, unique shopping (souvenirs or markets, but not mainstream stores), not so much into architecture or museums.
Liberat - thanks for the three options. That is something to consider. Are they different lengths of time? The only thing is that it will probably be dark when I make the trip, so it may not end up making a difference.
Hmmm, if you're not into architecture or museums, you might want to reconsider going to or staying in Rotterdam - those are it's 2 main attractions, IMO. Rotterdam is many things, but can't really be described as being picturesque. If you want a picturesque environment and non-mainstream shopping, instead of Rotterdam, you might want to consider Utrecht or Haarlem. Or consider a daytrip to National Parc De Hoge Veluwe (near Arnhem). This can be done as a daytrip from Amsterdam or Utrecht.
You could also visit Dordrecht which is just minutes away from Rotterdam by train and quite picturesque.
Pity that you aren't in to museums. The Hague has a really good (small) one (Royal collection) with Vermeers and more.--> [http://www.mauritshuis.nl/index.aspx?siteid=54]
1 - any recommendations for what to do in Rotterdam? Is the euromast cool? Is a pancake boat tour worth 14 euro? Anything else fun?
Booymans Van Beuningen is a very nice museum, have lunch at 'Hotel New York (great view, nice menu).
2- does anyone know about transportation from Amsterdam to Rotterdam? How long does this take?
A train runs at least twice and hour and the trip takes an hour.
3- What about from Rotterdam to The Hague? Is that possible to go there and back just for a day from Rotterdam?
Easy peasy, defo doable for a day trip. Though I personally find that there's more to do in The Hague than in Rotterdam...
Other daytrips easily doable by train from Rotterdam: Utrecht, Leiden, Delft and Haarlem.
It all depends on your travel experience. If you have seen NY or Hong Kong, the Rotterdam skyline will not be particularly impressive. R'dam is a good option if you want to see the other side of Holland, if you are into architecture, or if you want to see some art museums, or if you want to visit huge harbour (I actually quite enjoyed the harbour tours). Euromast and pancake boats are not the fist things I would recommend in Rdam though - nice, but too expensive for what yo get.
Rdam is a very open city though and has something because of the river, and the high rises along it (esp. Wilhelminapier). The Hague is an entirely different city: cosy, old buildings, upmarket shops, and a beach.
