Getting from the airport to the city in Netherlands

Schiphol is 9 km south-west of the city and you never go outside - the NS railway station is directly beneath Schiphol Plaza.

• NS train - direct to Amsterdam Centraal up to 8 times an hour by day and hourly through the night, in 16 to 17 minutes. Tapping in with a contactless card via OVpay, or an e-ticket bought in advance, costs about EUR 5.50; a disposable ticket from the yellow machines is around EUR 6.20 once the single-use card fee is added. Platforms 1-3 are down the escalators from the main hall, and the yellow OVpay posts are in the hall before you reach them - tap in there.
• Amsterdam Airport Express, bus 397 - Connexxion runs it to the south-west of the centre (Museumplein, Rijksmuseum, Leidseplein) in about 30 minutes for EUR 6.50, from stops B15-B19 directly outside Schiphol Plaza. Worth it only if your accommodation is near those stops.
• Official taxi - the rank is outside Schiphol Plaza, and licensed cars have blue number plates and a roof sign. EUR 45 to EUR 65 into the centre depending on traffic; licensed drivers must accept cards.
• Uber and Bolt - both operate, from a dedicated pick-up zone on the airport approach road rather than at the kerb.
• What to watch out for - people inside the arrivals hall offering rides are not licensed taxis and charge whatever they think you will pay. Decline anything offered indoors and walk to the official rank.

Eindhoven handles most low-cost flights and has no railway station of its own.

• Bus plus train - buses 400 and 401 reach Eindhoven Centraal in 20 minutes for roughly EUR 3.50 to EUR 4.50 on OVpay. Intercity trains from there to Amsterdam Centraal leave every 15 minutes, take 1 hour 20 minutes and cost EUR 23 to EUR 26.
• Direct coach - AirExpressBus runs the airport to Amsterdam Centraal in about 1 hour 45 minutes, EUR 25 to EUR 30 booked in advance.

• Solo traveller - the NS train from Schiphol, tapping in with OVpay.
• Family or group of three to four - a taxi or Uber at around EUR 50 to accommodation outside the historic core, which saves wrestling suitcases up tram steps and over canal bridges.
• Night arrival between 01:00 and 05:00 - NS runs hourly all night to Amsterdam Centraal, possibly with a change at Amsterdam Bijlmer ArenA. Night bus N97 is the fallback.
• On a budget - fly into Eindhoven and take the local bus plus an off-peak Intercity.