Couple years ago, I took a short vacation trip to Amsterdam. I had wanted to visit this beautiful city because of the urban cycling scheme which allows visitors explore its diverse cityscape, the museums, views of its beautiful neighbourhoods, and not forgetting its many canals.
‘Amsterdam’ is derived from the city’s origins, meaning, ‘a dam in the river Amstel’. There is also the belief its name may have come from the name of a dike built some years earlier.
A popular name for Amsterdam is ‘Mokum’, from the Hebrew word ‘makom’, meaning ‘place’.
Okay. Having explored some parts of Amsterdam years earlier, I decided to take my little girls this time, to see and explore this Dutchland.
On arrival at Schipol Airport, we found our way to the Schipol Travel Assistance desk (STA Desk), where our Hotel Shuttle whisked us away to our hotel in Hoofdorp, a town in the Haarlemmermeer municipality in the North Holland province, a distance of approx. 16-25miles to Amsterdam Central, depending on your travel mode and direction.
A point to note. Traveling to Amsterdam Central from Schipol Airport by train returning same day will set you back €9.60 (adult fare).
That being said, the journey into Amsterdam Central is worth every penny. From a short ride (free) to an hour-long cruise on the IJ River (costing €11) to the beautiful buildings, cafes, museums and canals, there are loads to do and hardly any regrets.
LORHUES 