Netherlands Transportation

buy your bus tickets from tourist information before you get the bus

If you have a long layover at Amsterdam's Schipol Airport (over 4 hours), get out of the terminal and explore the city! There are several companies that run day trips from the airport specifically for passengers in transit. Simply, exit the terminal and proceed to the counter. They even have lockers available to secure your carry-on luggage.

If you are traveling to Venlo from Germany, it is cheaper to take the Bahn to Kaldenkirchen which is still in Germany but right on the border. From there you can easily walk to Venlo, or take a cab.

When the weather is good: rent a waterbike or a small boat to go over the canals. It's the best way to discover Amsterdam. If you rent a boat: take wine and food, it's what everybody does :-)
Also go biking through the city; its the fastest way to get around. Taxis are relatively expensive and the public transport doesn't take you everywhere..

whatever you do, get your train/tram tickets from the airport into amdam via the counter agent, NOT from the ticket machine. i was trying to be independent and grabbed the wrong ticket and wound up paying a large fine (about 50usd) and they are happy to escort you to the atm to withdraw the funds to pay said fine, tyvm!