Roadtrip to Amsterdam

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Jam Rock

Original Poster:

460 posts

209 months

Thursday 25th June 2009
quotequote all
The Mrs and I are going on a bit of roadtrip and I was wondering if anyone had any advice on the best route to take. Seeing as it is her first roadtrip, and i am trying to show her that taking the car is far superior to flying.... I was hoping for a scenic route through to Amsterdam as motorways are a bit boring, i have not driven to Amsterdam before either so am unsure of any routes other thaN the motorway so i thought i would ask the PH massive lol ......anyone else done the run up from calais or dunkirk to Amsterdam? Any places of interest we should def stop at? any nice places to eat on the way? all helpful advice will be much appreciated....

cheers

Jam





Motorrad

6,811 posts

186 months

Thursday 25th June 2009
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It isn't the most scenic direct drive in the world, northern France and that part of Belgium aren't much to look at and driving off the highway is slow and more dangerous in my opinion.

If you must go fairly direct then go from your departure point to Zeeland in Holland via the Breskens tunnel and then cross Neeltje Jans which is a massive storm defence built to stop the cheeseheads drowning.



If you have more time then you have more options but all of them involve driving away from, rather than directly to, Amsterdam and then looping back.

madforit95

16 posts

178 months

Friday 26th June 2009
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ive done this many of times and i would recommend 2 options:

1. dover to calais, and then drive through belgium, hook of holland into amsterdam, nice quite plesant drive. Off the top of my head about 3-4hr drive from calais depending on speed.

2. This ive not don, and that is to catch a ferry from newcastle to the hook of holland, and i think the drive from there is about an hour.

You need to decide which is closer for you, newcastle or dover.


wildoliver

8,766 posts

215 months

Friday 26th June 2009
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Or Harwich and Hull.

nickd01

610 posts

214 months

Friday 26th June 2009
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I wouldn't call heading to Amsterdam a "Roadtrip" - it's only 3.5 hours from Calais!
It's an easy drive, but not very interesting.

We did it a few weeks ago, early evening Eurotunnel to Calais then over to Amsterdam arriving around midnight. You can then park outside your hotel as parking tends to be free from Midnight -> 9am. Parking in Amsterdam is expensive, look for the Park & Ride for around 10 EUR a day; there's 3 or 4 dotted around and stick the car there.

No need at all for a car in Amsterdam, bike or tram is the way forward.

I wouldn't head to Amsterdam for a "Roadtrip" but if you need to go there anyway and want to use the car as an alternative then go for it.

rpla102

333 posts

220 months

Friday 26th June 2009
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I'm driving to Amsterdam on Saturday and then on to Hamburg...i shall report back with findings should you so wish....

Chris_w666

22,655 posts

198 months

Friday 26th June 2009
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Take her to Paris instead, make a detour towards Reims to see the old F1 circuit on your way back and you have a good trip.

Lots of intersting places to stop at on the way down to Paris too, plenty of none autroute choices and loads of Chateau hotels to drink wine and eat cheese in.

As others have said the trip to Amsterdam is dull and it is one city I would never choose to drive into.

Carfiend

3,186 posts

208 months

Friday 26th June 2009
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rpla102 said:
I'm driving to Amsterdam on Saturday and then on to Hamburg...i shall report back with findings should you so wish....
Just so you know between Bremen and Hamburg there is about 8-9 sets of roadworks which slowed me down a bit. Make sure you hit Hmaburg outside of rush hour as well as queues for the tunnel under the river get long as well if you are heading that way.

As for getting to Amsterdam takes me about 4-5 hours including ferry. Maybe closer to 6 if the traffic is bad.

rpla102

333 posts

220 months

Friday 26th June 2009
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Thanks carfiend, we shall bear this in mind...

nobrakes

2,972 posts

197 months

Friday 26th June 2009
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Chris_w666 said:
Take her to Paris instead, make a detour towards Reims to see the old F1 circuit on your way back and you have a good trip.

Lots of intersting places to stop at on the way down to Paris too, plenty of none autroute choices and loads of Chateau hotels to drink wine and eat cheese in.

As others have said the trip to Amsterdam is dull and it is one city I would never choose to drive into.
top tip as an alternative.

Maty

1,232 posts

212 months

Friday 26th June 2009
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We did this about 9 years ago when I was 17. 4 of us in a stty Astra! We went from Harwich to the Hook of Holland. The plan was to find a camp site outside of Amsterdam and get public transport in everyday. It didn't work out like that! We ended up driving straight into Amsterdam and finding a hotel, parking outside was about 40 euros a day!! The route wasn't scenic, in fact there was a road on our map which took us straight from the ferry port to amsterdam, we found when we got there that this road wasn't finished yet, so it took alot longer than we expected!

Because of the parking we ran out of money, so we drove back to the ferry port early, we had to wait 39 hours for our ferry! When we finally got back to the UK it was dark and raining, we got lost!

However all in all it was a great weekend, one I will never forget!

Jam Rock

Original Poster:

460 posts

209 months

Friday 26th June 2009
quotequote all
some top tips, thank you all, I appreciate Dam isnt the best destination for a (and its only 3 hrs from dunkirk), but seeing as the other half is a flyer rather than a driver, i thought it would ease her into the roadtrip experience..... with regards to the car, have managed to find a hotel in dam square with parking on site for an extra 25 euros a night! so its not too bad....still now you guys got me thinking i should have flown!!....bugger!!!

Rakizmo

203 posts

177 months

Friday 26th June 2009
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Chris_w666 said:
Take her to Paris instead, make a detour towards Reims to see the old F1 circuit on your way back and you have a good trip.

Lots of intersting places to stop at on the way down to Paris too, plenty of none autroute choices and loads of Chateau hotels to drink wine and eat cheese in.

As others have said the trip to Amsterdam is dull and it is one city I would never choose to drive into.
It has wes and drugs...How can that be boring?!

Motorrad

6,811 posts

186 months

Friday 26th June 2009
quotequote all
Instead of driving into the centre of town which is a royal pain in the ass why not use one of the park and rides?

My favourite was this one at the old Olympic Stadium, 6 euro a day and then a 10 min ride into town on a tram which is included in the parking fee.

http://www.amsterdam.info/parking/park-ride/

Edited by Motorrad on Friday 26th June 18:44


edit to add: they will even lend you a bike at the olympic stadium venue which is the best way to see Amsterdam.

Edited by Motorrad on Friday 26th June 18:45

Chris_w666

22,655 posts

198 months

Friday 26th June 2009
quotequote all
Rakizmo said:
Chris_w666 said:
Take her to Paris instead, make a detour towards Reims to see the old F1 circuit on your way back and you have a good trip.

Lots of intersting places to stop at on the way down to Paris too, plenty of none autroute choices and loads of Chateau hotels to drink wine and eat cheese in.

As others have said the trip to Amsterdam is dull and it is one city I would never choose to drive into.
It has wes and drugs...How can that be boring?!
Amsterdam is fab, but boat and bus or aeroplane are the best ways to get there, that way you arrive pissed and save time for more we hunting.

alsem

580 posts

189 months

Friday 26th June 2009
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If you search a little you can get parking for about 10 euros a day,
I found one underneath the Olympic stadium that was 6 euro a night
otherwise you can park your car outside the city or at a smart spot.

go there, smoke a joint and walk through Amsterdam cloud9

davidjpowell

17,768 posts

183 months

Saturday 27th June 2009
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Look at one of the overnight ferry's from Hull or Harwich. The ferry at least from Hull is modern with cabin's amd decent facilities including entertainment.

The attempt at conversion from flyer I suspect is not best suited to this route. The drive is quite boring, and some of the routes towards Amsterdam can be very busy.

My partner is also a 'flyer' amd it is a pain in the ass. Particuarly as she also does not like long flights. She classes a 6 hour drive to Cornwall as long. I think it's a walk in the park. I did get her to the Loire in France once, but fear that achieving that again would be difficult.

I suspect that your conversion will be long, slow and difficult. Certainly my partner was brought up with no real long journey in the car. Her parents have recently said that the 3 hour journey to our house is too far to drive!

Good luck though - I admire your quest!

Engineer1

10,486 posts

208 months

Saturday 27th June 2009
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I wouldn't have chosen Amsterdam for a road trip, in my opinion the key thing you should have looked for in the attempt to convert your Mrs is a nice easy long run, 8 to 10 hours in the car and getting from the channel to the Med is more suited as once you avoid Paris the traffic is next to nothing and you keep flowing along, a similar time in the car spent sat in queues doesn't relax anyone or help convince them that the car was a good choice.

dcb

5,834 posts

264 months

Saturday 27th June 2009
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Engineer1 said:
8 to 10 hours in the car and getting from the channel to the Med
The Alps are closer than that, only 7 - 8 hours from Calais
to places in Western Austria.

If time is pressing, go via Germany and cruise at
any speed you want.

Or, cut the 700 mile run into two with an overnite
stay in somewhere nice half way.

You could even factor in a bit of light shopping in
low tax places like Luxembourg.

Road trip to Amsterdam is a bit like going to Norfolk
for the mountaineering.