Netherlands | Jan Trabandt Travel Blog

Domestic lounge at AMS Schiphol

First to FRA and then YYZ…
Not as nice as the one in the intl terminal 2 months ago… still enjoyable despite the lack of exterior windows and Bailey’s.

Hanging in Haarlem

With Bert, a cool traveler I met in Tokyo a few weeks ago

I’ve never been to Haarlem before but would recommend it. Only 18 minutes by frequent commuter train (€3.90 each way, just like the airport, with free Wi-Fi to boot). Note at Amsterdam Centraal it leaves from platform 1 which is not well signed – you have to go towards the west end of platform 2a to find it.

Lots of budding musicians there, easier vibe, less expensive/touristy but not a late night party town (for those that care)

Night in Amsterdam

In Dam Plein (main square), this wasn’t here 2 months ago. Reverse bungee too

You could see some of it all the down Damrak (the main road from the train station)

Night train to Amsterdam

Waiting in Hamburg Hbf (central train station) at midnight…
30min free Wi-Fi (in theory, it didn’t work and it would have required giving up my mobile#) but I have to pay €1 for the toilet. Really? Am I paying for cleanliness or for the automated gate they installed?

Can’t say I slept that well as the (top) couchette’s cushion was a little thin and 2 inches too short. But way more comfortable than a plane seat! You do get a pillow, sheet and blanket.

Although there were 6 couchettes but only 4 people (I paid €10 extra for a max 4 cabin)

The middle couchette flips down during the day, becoming the backrest for the seats.

1st class sleeper for2 people, which also has its own washbasin.

Amsterdam map

Amsterdam map from our August trip

Rembrandt’s Nightwatch at the Rijksmuseum

Huge painting with new (at the time) light effects. Painting was actually trimmed at one point to fit in a new location. Did you know Rembrandt was his first name?