Maps and Directions

Finding your way at Schiphol

Depending on which airline you have flown on, you will arrive on terminal 1, 2, or 3. The last time we were there, the cashiers at the counters of the train station did not accept credit cards, and hence you need cash to pay for your train tickets. If you did not get Dutch money in the U.S., you will find it easy to get it at Schiphol. There are several banks. You may find it convenient to try and go to the bank that is in the baggage claim area. It is called `ABN AMRO'. These and other banks can be found throughout the terminal. Find your way around with a map of schiphol (in PDF format, but also in GIF format. Comprehensive information on Schiphol can be found at the Schiphol website.

Finding the trains

Now that you have money, it is time to get a train ticket to Enschede. The ticket counters can be found on the terminal 1 and 2 side of the main hall, called the Schiphol Plaza. Return tickets are only available when the entire trip is completed in one day, so you have to ask for a one-way ticket to Enschede. A oneway ticket in 2nd class will be about 50 guilders, 1st class about 80 guilders. The cashiers will also be able to tell you what platform the trains will leave from. Usually the trains to Enschede leave from platform 1. Also, the information is clearly posted in the Schiphol Plaza. There are two trains to Enschede each hour. The one that leaves 23 minutes past the hour is not a direct train. If you take this one, you have to change trains in Amersfoort. The train that leaves for Enschede at 7 minutes to the hour is direct.

If you would like to find out more about the train schedule, e.g., to plan other trips in the Netherlands, you can go to the Dutch rail website.

If you do not want to use the trains

If you prefer to take a car, rather than the train, you will find that several Car rental agencies can be found at Schiphol. For most companies, cars can be reserved online through the U.S. websites. The car rental agencies can also be found in the Schiphol Plaza, but closer to the terminal 3 side.

If you decide to rent a car to go to Enschede, and you need directions, please contact us at wedding@robandcindy.net.

From the train station to the hotel

If you are staying in the Dish Hotel, the quickest way to get there is simply to walk. It is about quarter of a mile, and it is straightforward to get from the train station to the hotel. When you enter the main hall coming from the platforms, you will see two exits. One is straight ahead, which is where the taxis are, the other is to the right. This is the one you want if you intend to walk to the Dish Hotel. The road straight ahead that you can see from this exit leads directly to the Dish Hotel. Watch out after you have come down the stairs from the exit: despite the fact that it seems you are on a plaza, buses and sometimes taxis drive there! Keep going straight. After about 200 yards the road makes a slight turn to the right, and from there you can see a high-rise building: the Dish Hotel.

The walking route from the train station to the Dish Hotel is dislayed to the right (a slightly larger version is also available), and here is a map of the city center of Enschede.

Alternatively, you can take a taxi. Usually, several taxis will be waiting outside the main entrance of the train station.

From the Dish Hotel to City Hall

City Hall is where the civil ceremony will take place. To get an idea what the City Hall looks like, have a look at the photo to the right. With its high tower and its clock with a blue dial, it is quite recognizable. Just in front of City Hall is a fountain, constructed from bricks, with a few bronze statues in the middle.

It is a short walk from the Best Western Dish Hotel to City Hall. Unfortunately, there is a lot of building and remodelling going on in the area, making it hard to give exact directions. Basically, cross the street immediately after leaving the Dish Hotel, and turn right. You will cross one street (which is for buses only). After about 50 yards there will be a walkway to the left. You should be able to see City Hall from there. Follow the walk way until City Hall. The walking route from the Dish Hotel to City Hall is shown below.

To get the latest picture of what the square just in front of the City Hall looks like, have a look at this life webcam.

After the civil ceremony, we will go have a drink, followed by dinner.

Walking route to City Hall

From the Dish Hotel to the Church

You can take the bus to get to the Church. Take line 3 from the train station at 10:10 am. Verify at the front desk that these time is still accurate. Once on the bus, ask the driver to signal you when the bus is near the kerkstraat, and walk the last bit to the church. The route of the bus and the location of the church are indicated on this map.

However, it is a lot easier to ask the front desk to call a taxi. It is probably a good idea to order the taxi the evening before. A rough guess is that the taxi fare would be about 40 guilders.

To the reception site and back to Schiphol

Information about this is given under transportation.

Last update: Mar 3 2001