Ever since I transited Amsterdam Schiphol Airport when I traveled to the USA for the first time in 2003, I had always wanted to visit Amsterdam and the Netherlands. During this trip, I managed to get connecting flights from Zurich to Amsterdam on Swiss, and then from Munich to Mumbai on Lufthansa, with a 23-hour and 45-minute layover in Amsterdam. Technically, this was still a connection and not a break in the journey. My flight from Zurich arrived around 9:10 AM; I exited the airport and took the shuttle bus to Hampton by Hilton Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.
I was able to check in early and get to my room. The weather outside was cold and wet, and I didn’t really feel like going out. However, I only had one day in Amsterdam before my flight to Munich (and onward to Mumbai) the next day at 8:55 AM. So, I decided to give it a go and headed out with my rain jacket and umbrella. I bought a 1-day Amsterdam & Region Travel Ticket at the hotel front desk for around €21.00. While I knew I wouldn’t use the ticket to its full potential, it was the easiest way to get from Hoofddorp to Amsterdam Centraal and back. I caught the train from the Hoofddorp station, which serves as a quiet residential gateway just minutes away from the airport.
After reaching Amsterdam Centraal, a stunning Neo-Renaissance building, I walked to De Oude Kerk (The Old Church). This is the city’s oldest building and parish church, where I joined the Free Walking tour of Amsterdam 🔗 at 11:00 AM. After a couple of hours, the tour ended at Dam Square, the historical heart of the city. I decided to hang around there for some time, admiring the vast cobblestone plaza that has been the site of many historical events.
I then took a tram to have a quick look at the Rijksmuseum, the national museum of the Netherlands dedicated to Dutch arts and history. The city was decorated for the upcoming holiday season, so it was beautiful to see the historic Amsterdam streets and stone bridges all lit up, reflecting in the dark canal waters.
I decided to quickly get some dinner before I headed back to the hotel, so I stopped at Wok to Walk Damstraat. This small, popular eatery serves fresh, quick stir-fry, and the food was surprisingly nice. Eating hot, flavorful Asian food in the cold, wet weather made it even better.
While walking back, I passed the National Monument on Dam Square, a 22-meter-high white stone pillar dedicated to the victims of WWII. Just across the square stood the Royal Palace Amsterdam (Koninklijk Paleis), an imposing 17th-century masterpiece that serves as one of the official residences of the Dutch monarch.
I then walked back from Dam Square to the bustling halls of Amsterdam Centraal and took the train back to Hoofddorp. It was nice to be back indoors, warm and dry, at the hotel. I definitely want to visit Amsterdam again when the weather is better.
🚆 Hoofddorp to Amsterdam Centraal
🛏️ Hampton by Hilton Schiphol Airport
🍽️ Wok to Walk Damstraat