How to arrange for a day trip to National Park de Hoge Veluwe and National Museum Paleis Het Loo?

Question

I'm interested in a day trip from Amsterdam (close to Centraal Station) to both National Park de Hoge Veluwe, specifically for Krőller-Műller Museum, and National Museum Paleis Het Loo. Checked a few rental car companis like Avis/Hertz and the work hour are something like 8/9am to 5/6pm. It seems to be too rush to go back by 5/6pm if I'm visiting both places.

The question is more of three:

1. Is there a rental car company close later, say 8/9pm, that's close to Centraal Station?

2. Is public transportation a viable option? I heard it's about an hour's train plus 45 min bus to just one of the place.

3. Is there any tour company organizing such tour that I can just sign up for it?

This is going to be part of my family's vacation in Amsterdam next week.

Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

If you want to rent a car outside office hours (then without checking all of the companies) I know from experience that the branches of major companies (Hertz/Avis/Europcar/Sixt etc) are open longer hours from Schiphol airport.  E.g. Avis at Schiphol is open 06:30 - 23:30 uur http://www.avis.nl/avisonline/nl/avis.ns...

Then it is just a matter of hopping on the train to Amsterdam Centraal which is simple and regular (about 15-20 mins max), so this could be an option for you.

I checked the public transport planner online http://www.9292ov.nl and there is of course a possibility to get to both by public transport (using times from today)

e.g. Amsterdam Centraal to Krőller-Műller Museum

11.22 From A'dam CS by train to station Ede-Wageningen (train heading Nijmegen)

12.43 From ede wageningen by bus108s (heading apeldoorn) to rotonde, otterlo

13.01 From rotonde, otterlo by bus106 ( heading hoenderloo) to kroller muller museum

13.08 Walk 4 mins from bus stop to museum

From kroller muller museum to National Museum Paleis Het Loo:

13.44 From kroller muller museum walk 4 mins to bus stop

13:48 From kroller muller museum stop by bus106 (heading otterlo) to rotonde, otterlo

14.00 From rotonde, otterlo by bus 108s (heading apeldoorn) to apeldoorn

14.39 From Apeldoorn bus station by bus104 (heading harderwijk) to gedenknaald, apeldoorn

14.43 From gedenknaald, Apeldoorn walk 13 mins to museum paleis het loo apeldoorn

From National Museum Paleis Het Loo to Amsterdam CS

17.57 From museum paleis het loo apeldoorn walk 3mins to bus stop tuinmanslaan, apeldoorn

18.00 From tuinmanslaan stop to Apeldoorn train station by bus10 (heading Richtersweg)

18.23 From Apeldoorn train station by train to Amsterdam CS takes 50 mins

Personally, looking at the amount of time & connections, I would go by car and so pick the rental car option

I am afraid I do not know any tour companies specifically for these two museums specifically - maybe someone else can help with this

Good luck

Answer 2

Dutch car rental companies can take as much as a 3,000 dollar hold on you credit card. Different international policies for Avis/Hertz etc.

Do you know whether they will do this? Call ahead and ask...and plan accordingly. Many people cannot afford that type of deduction.

....and they will do it as a matter of course....so be savvy.

Answer 3

I have been to Het Loo, and I have been to Krőller-Műller Museum and the park around it. Both by public transport, from near Amsterdam.

I would advice against doing the both by train in one day.

If you have one day each, OK, but it does take more planning getting from one to the other.

You can find details when using the public transport planner, in Dutch only:

http://www.9292ov.nl/

I did a run through for you:

Leaving Amsterdam Centraal 8:07 you can reach the Krőller-Műller Museum 9:42

Leave the museum 12:44, arrive at Het Loo 14:04, giving you 3 hours to see the place before it closes.

But if you miss a train or bus you can easily spend one more hour traveling, or even two.

Tourist information Amsterdam should be able to help you to sort this out too.

For renting a car, even the places running office hours often can arrange an pick up the afternoon before and a late drop off, so just phone a few of them, otherwise, the advice of Bla bla is good.

But as far as I know the rental companies on Schiphol are a little more expensive than those in town.