I'm Brian Posted April 22, 2023 Share Posted April 22, 2023 Got a 12 hour stopover at Schipol in August, and intend spending it in one or t'other. Had the unfortunate experience of Schipol's queue to security last year(very nearly missed my connection), so that will mean 8 hours free time out the airport. What would folks recommend? Just a wander around and a spot of lunch. Leaning towards The Hague but have heard good things about Leiden. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshbairn Posted April 22, 2023 Share Posted April 22, 2023 (edited) 4 hours ago, I'm Brian said: Got a 12 hour stopover at Schipol in August, and intend spending it in one or t'other. Had the unfortunate experience of Schipol's queue to security last year(very nearly missed my connection), so that will mean 8 hours free time out the airport. What would folks recommend? Just a wander around and a spot of lunch. Leaning towards The Hague but have heard good things about Leiden. Last time I had a wait at Schiphol I spent the time in Haarlem, 20 mins by bus right in front of airport entrance. Pleasant enough place even in shite weather and the middle of Covid. Been to the Hague years ago and it seemed a bit dull, maybe I was in the wrong bits though, just visiting a friend on the outskirts, can't remember if we went into the centre. Edited April 22, 2023 by welshbairn 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Holiday Song Posted April 24, 2023 Share Posted April 24, 2023 On 22/04/2023 at 08:52, I'm Brian said: Got a 12 hour stopover at Schipol in August, and intend spending it in one or t'other. Had the unfortunate experience of Schipol's queue to security last year(very nearly missed my connection), so that will mean 8 hours free time out the airport. What would folks recommend? Just a wander around and a spot of lunch. Leaning towards The Hague but have heard good things about Leiden. I live in Den Haag and work in Leiden. Go to Leiden. It's more compact with some nice canals and places to eat and drink next to them. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul-r-cfc Posted April 24, 2023 Share Posted April 24, 2023 Also thought the Hague was pretty dull when I was there a few years back. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
placidcasual Posted April 24, 2023 Share Posted April 24, 2023 The Hague was like a building site when I was there a few years ago. Not sure about Leiden but Haarlem is a nice town. Or go further out on the same line to Zandvoort. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morrison Posted April 26, 2023 Share Posted April 26, 2023 Not quite the glowing review of Den Haag I was hoping for, given I'm there for a long weekend in May! We were planning a day in Amsterdam and possibly one in Rotterdam, too. We haven't pinpointed specific things we want to do yet. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshbairn Posted April 26, 2023 Share Posted April 26, 2023 5 minutes ago, morrison said: Not quite the glowing review of Den Haag I was hoping for, given I'm there for a long weekend in May! We were planning a day in Amsterdam and possibly one in Rotterdam, too. We haven't pinpointed specific things we want to do yet. The boat trip around Rotterdam docks is worth a go, the scale of it is unbelievable and some of the architecture is pretty wild too. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevieKTID Posted April 26, 2023 Share Posted April 26, 2023 I'd choose Leiden over Den Haag, as @welshbairn said Haarlem is also a nice option used to live there and head through whenever I get the chance, if you do go to Haarlem check out Jopen brewery. Also the security situation at Schipol seems to have improved considerably since last year. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Holiday Song Posted April 26, 2023 Share Posted April 26, 2023 2 hours ago, morrison said: Not quite the glowing review of Den Haag I was hoping for, given I'm there for a long weekend in May! We were planning a day in Amsterdam and possibly one in Rotterdam, too. We haven't pinpointed specific things we want to do yet. Look into Delft too. A lot smaller but quite a charming wee place. In between Den Haag and Rotterdam. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I'm Brian Posted April 27, 2023 Author Share Posted April 27, 2023 12 hours ago, stevieKTID said: Also the security situation at Schipol seems to have improved considerably since last year. That's the best news I've heard in a while. It was one of the worst experiences of my life(which is quite the statement given my footballing allegiances) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stellaboz Posted April 27, 2023 Share Posted April 27, 2023 Leiden is cute without being amazing. Recommend Haarlem, lovely wee town. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevieKTID Posted April 27, 2023 Share Posted April 27, 2023 6 hours ago, I'm Brian said: That's the best news I've heard in a while. It was one of the worst experiences of my life(which is quite the statement given my footballing allegiances) The only part that still needs some work is the baggage situation but if it's a stopover i imagine you won't have to deal with that side of it, I've been through Schiphol 3 times in the last few months and my girlfriend travels a lot for work and we've had no issues getting through security, it's still not perfect but it's much better than it was. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshbairn Posted April 27, 2023 Share Posted April 27, 2023 Passed through Schiphol a few times in the last couple of years, and if you're flying to or from a Schengen country it's delightful and seemless, not if it's the EU border between it and the UK, total pain in the arse. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ned Nederlander Posted May 10, 2023 Share Posted May 10, 2023 I'm sure you know what you're doing but I used to stopover at Valkenburg Naval airbase in Lieden and head into Amsterdam Leiden, as I remember it anyhoo, was fairly unremarkable. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I'm Brian Posted May 15, 2023 Author Share Posted May 15, 2023 Thanks for the info folks. Only 20 mins according to Google between Leiden and Haarlem, so going to try a few hours in each. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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