Schiphol

The airport has excellent train and bus services to cities such as Leiden, Amsterdam and Utrecht. Nature reserves or the beach at Zandvoort are also easy to reach.

Schiphol is celebrating its 100th birthday in 2016! The airport was built in 1916 on the bottom of the reclaimed Haarlemmermeer at 4 metres below sea level. It was used in the First World War as a military airfield and in the Second World War by the Germans as a base for their air raids on England. The airport grew quickly in the 1970s and has been growing steadily ever since.

It takes 15 minutes to get to the centre of Amsterdam from Schiphol airport. Spend the day shopping in The Nine Streets, stop for a drink in the Jordaan or go to the Albert Cuyp Market. Leiden is also a 15-minute train ride away. The Museum Volkenkunde (National Museum of Ethnology) and the Waag (weigh house) are definitely worth visiting.

The beach at Zandvoort, which is 9 km long and up to 100 m wide is only a 30-minute train ride from Schiphol and a great place to relax with the kids. Not far from Zandvoort lies National Park Zuid-Kennemerland which is the perfect place for nature lovers. Chances are you’ll even see European bison (wisent), Scottish highlanders and deer.

Schiphol has excellent train services to the bigger cities such as Amsterdam, Leiden, Rotterdam and Amersfoort. It takes about 2 hours and one transfer to get to cities such as Leeuwarden which is quite a way north. Schiphol is on the A4 motorway which is convenient if you're travelling by car and would like to stay somewhere a little different at the beginning or end of your holiday.

Make sure your hotel has parking so you can leave the car there while you're out exploring. City parking can be very expensive and public transport in the Netherlands is generally excellent.

If you're not travelling by car and have time before your flight, you can always leave your luggage at the airport and take a train into Amsterdam for a last-minute visit. Schiphol really is conveniently located!