YES to another triumphant layover story comin’ at ya! We’re kind of mastering this whirlwind, multiple stops, 30 some odd hours in transit vacation style. If you’re okay with a little hustle in your holiday, layovers can be a perfect way to feast your eyes on iconic worldly sights and add to your country count, (cause yeah, we’re travel addicts, of course we count), while sticking to your budget and time limitations.
After a successful 12 hour stint in Taipei while making our way home from Thailand, (read about that here), I felt quite ready to take on another country in a day! So, when the cheapest flight for our February vacation in Mauritius included a 10 hour stop in Amsterdam, I was ALL for it. Pack the parka in the carry-on and let’s have a clog-hoppin’ good time.
The more I read about Amsterdam in preparation for our visit, the more I learned this is a perfect layover city! Most travel bloggers suggested that a trip into the city centre is doable and worthwhile even with just 5 hours between flights. This is possible because Schiphol Airport connects easily to the main city hub via the NS rail system. Trains run to and from the Airport a few times an hour. We chose to ride into Amsterdam Centraal (station) which was only a 15-20 minute trek and brought us in about a 30 minute walk north of the main sights we planned to see. We found the train to be accessible, inexpensive and hassle-free! Read on for how we spent 10 hours in Netherlands’ cheese-lovin’, bike-driven, free-spirited capital.
But first, Breakfast!
Our flight landed bright and early on a crisp, sunny morning. It was about 8:30am by the time we made the train ride out of the airport and into the main city hub. Google map in hand, we were set to explore! First up, Must.Fill.Belly. Obviously! On a recommendation from our lovely friend Josephine (check out her super fantastic Able Amsterdam blog!), we stopped in at Coffee and Coconuts. We loved the wholesome, hearty food, and the fresh, funky beach vibe this place had goin’ on despite being middle of winter in Europe. We sunk down into relaxed oversized couches and I warmed up with a huge mug of Haldi Doodh ‘Golden Milk’. It was everything my frozen little hands needed after our longer than expected walk over from the train station. I overestimated my body’s cold tolerance and we found ourselves ducking into any indoor shop that was open at that time in the morning, just to warm up! Now recharged on some good eats, we were ready to get back out and roam!
Meander the streets!
In my opinion, one of the best things to do in Amsterdam is just wander! Count bridges, gaze out across the canals, admire the architecture and the way the buildings line up so flat next to each other by the water. Everywhere you turn seems like a perfect photo op. Snap that iconic ‘pretty bike leaned up against canal bridge’ picture; it won’t be hard to find! We particularly enjoyed the Staalstraat area to really just admire our surroundings and feel the fresh air and sunshine that was now starting to warm up the day!
Must-do museums
Amsterdam is truly museum mania! Van Gogh, Stedelijk, Rijksmuseum, the Anne Frank House… the list goes on. This city has a got museums that house exhibits to suit a wide variety of interests! Does anyone really leave Amsterdam without admiring the works in at least one of these buildings?! Well…. we kinda did! (Insert slightly embarrassed face!) I’m SUCH a lover of all things nature and outdoors and sunshine and flowers and open spaces, and I’m also admittedly NOT highly knowledgeable of all things fine arts and history. So, navigating between concrete walls filled with thousands of other tourists who are usually bigger, taller and pushier than me, doesn’t get me too excited. We’re also a big fan of free 😉 So, while I thoroughly admired the beautiful outside of the Rijksmuseum, we popped in for a bathroom break only, and then continued on our way. However, I can appreciate that these museums have much to offer, and from my quick research, the major ones are at least partially accessible, so I would definitely still suggest adding one, or two, (or more) to your itinerary if this is your jam!
Bloemenmarket on the Singel River.
This place is so cute and pretty and just feels so classically Amsterdam with shops upon shops selling Netherland favourites – tulips, clogs, windmill magnets, and more tulips, in EVERY color. Some of the shops are small and a bit narrow to navigate in a wheelchair, but all are on flat, smooth, level pavement.
Zaanse Schans
After spending a good portion our day just wandering, and with only a few hours left, we decided to give ourselves a little break and jump in a cab and head over to Zaanse Schans, about a 30 minute drive outside the main city. We are so happy we did! This little trip just added that perfect ‘extra’ to our day. Zaanse Schans is a unique area filled with windmills by the water, wooden homes and handicraft shops. The pathways to roam were accessible, as was the information centre, complete with an accessible washroom. We spent a good hour taking photos, watching the ducks lined up against the water and becoming mesmerized by the windmills spinning in the background. It was the perfect, relaxed way to spend our last few hours in Amsterdam and breathe in the fresh air, before being stuffed back into an airplane!
A few other suggestions and notes on accessibility
I knoooow, you might be thinking, ‘ummmmm, WHERE is the canal boat cruise in this itinerary?!’, and that is an excellent point! Images of Amsterdam are rarely without it’s entwined canal circuit and there really is something magical about a city built up between sparkling waterways. A canal cruise is a popular attraction in Amsterdam and a relaxing and informative way to learn about the city and it’s history. We initially planned to make this part of our day and so in doing my research was pleased to learn that Blue Boat Cruise company offered accessible boats! Send them an email and they’d be happy to make arrangements for you. Unfortunately we felt like we just wouldn’t have quite enough time and didn’t want to lock ourselves down to a pre-booked schedule. This just gives us a reason to come back!
It’s worthwhile to mention that just behind Amsterdam Centraal station is Star Bikes Rental. I thought it was so cool that this bike shop includes rentals of bikes suitable for wheelchairs, as well as motorized wheelchair attachments like the FireFly! Thank you Star Bikes!
Overall, we found the accessibility of Amsterdam to be quite good! It’s a pretty walkable/wheelable city with main attractions being fairly close together and lots to take in and see within a reasonable distance. Curb cuts existed readily and pathways were wide enough. There was the occasional hill or cobblestoney ground but nothing completely unmanageable! And finally, contrary to my imagination, I never once felt endangered by an excessive amount of racing bikes!
