If you fly to the Netherlands with a budget airline you will often land at Eindhoven Airport, about an hour and a half from Amsterdam.
Why fly via Eindhoven
The country's second airport is small, easy to navigate and above all cheap, which makes it popular with budget travellers.
Over 70 destinations: carriers such as Ryanair, Wizz Air, Vueling and Transavia fly from Eindhoven across Europe and beyond, often for a fraction of the fares from Schiphol.
Small and quick: the airport has a single compact terminal, so you are usually back outside within twenty minutes of landing.
No railway station: unlike Schiphol, Eindhoven Airport has no station of its own. You always take a bus to Eindhoven Centraal first and change onto the train there.
Allow for the journey: the whole trip to Amsterdam takes roughly an hour and a half to two hours, so factor that into your arrival and departure days.
To Amsterdam by bus and train
For most travellers this is the cheapest and most reliable route, in two stages.
The bus first: from the bus station on the ground floor of car park P1, next to the terminal, route 400 (Airport Shuttle) and route 401 run to Eindhoven Centraal. Both take about 20 to 25 minutes.
Frequent and long hours: during the day the two routes together provide up to ten buses an hour, from early morning until around 00:30. Check the current bus timetable before you set off.
Bus ticket: a single costs around €6 and a return about €11. Buy it from the machines at the airport, from the driver, or online in advance.
Then the train: from Eindhoven Centraal several trains an hour run to Amsterdam Centraal. The journey takes about 80 minutes, sometimes direct and sometimes with a change at Utrecht. See the train timetable here.
Train ticket: a single second-class ticket costs around €25. Buy it from the yellow machines, at the ticket desk or online.
Take a combined ticket:NS sells a combined ticket covering both the train and the Airport Shuttle. It saves hassle on arrival and usually works out cheaper than separate tickets.
To Amsterdam by direct coach
Long-distance coaches also run, letting you skip the change at Eindhoven.
Straight into the city: a direct coach takes you from the airport to Amsterdam without changing, which is welcome when you have a lot of luggage.
A little longer: allow around 105 minutes, so slightly longer than the bus and train combination.
Book ahead: seats are limited and departures are less frequent than trains, so book your ticket online before you travel.
Check the times: these coaches do not run all day, so make sure a departure matches your flight.
To Amsterdam by taxi
Comfortable and direct, but over this distance considerably more expensive than public transport.
Journey time: a ride to the centre of Amsterdam takes about 90 minutes, longer during rush hour on the A2.
What it costs: expect to pay 150 to 225 euros for the trip, depending on the number of passengers and your destination.
When it makes sense: with a group of four or more, a lot of luggage or a late arrival, the cost per head compares reasonably with four separate train tickets.
Book in advance: reserve online for a fixed price, or take a taxi from the official rank in front of the terminal. Never go with anyone who approaches you inside the building.
Staying near the airport
With a very early flight, a night in Eindhoven is often wiser than travelling from Amsterdam overnight.
Why stay over: between roughly 01:00 and 05:30 there are hardly any buses to the airport, so a seven o'clock flight is difficult to make from Amsterdam.
Inside the terminal: the Tulip Inn Eindhoven Airport is located in the terminal building, so you simply walk to the check-in desk.
Close by: the Novotel Eindhoven is about a kilometre and a half from the airport.
A few things will stop you missing your flight on the way back.
Give yourself time: for the return journey from Amsterdam allow at least three hours before departure, including the change at Eindhoven and security.
Pay contactless: on the train and bus you tap in and out with a bank card or phone using OVpay. Do not forget to tap out, including when changing between bus and train.
Travel off-peak: train fares are often lower outside the rush hour, and you will have far more room for your luggage.
Other cities too: direct trains run from Eindhoven Centraal to Rotterdam, The Hague, Breda, Tilburg and Maastricht, so you need not go via Amsterdam at all.
Stop off in Eindhoven: with a long wait the city centre is worth a look, with the Van Abbemuseum and the Strijp-S district within walking distance of the station.
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