Post · bonfire.cafe

Today I discovered something hilarious. Apparently some people online have been saying that Amsterdam Lelylaan station is a must see place when visiting the city. And some tourists have believed them.

Lelylaan station is possibly the worst in Amsterdam. It's dark, depressing, poorly designed, and has been voted the station people feel least safe at. It's scheduled for refurbishment to make it less of a depressing nowhere place. But it's unlikely to be finished before the mid 30s.

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A view of the downstairs area of Amsterdam Lelylaan station. On the left a person in ping top is using the yellow and blue ticket machine. A white glazed kiosk area contains some vending machines. 4 people mingle to the right of the kiosk. One is trying to use the grey and red GVB ticket machine. On the right stairs and an escalator head upwards. The stairs has a yellow and grey tile pattern.

A view of the downstairs NS area of Amsterdam Lelylaan station. On the right in the foreground is a grey bin. Behind that is an AH Togo with the grill down over the front. A white door to nowhere is next to ah. A grey bollard with a green light is next to it. A stainless steel lift is next to the stairs which have a red hand rail. On the left is part of an NS ticket barrier.

The NS platform at Amsterdam Lelylaan station. It's dull, grey, and depressing. Only some red hand rails and blue signs break up the dull monotone pallet. The platform surface has seen much wear. To the right a GVB metro is visible.

A grey brick and metal lift housing at Amsterdam Lelylaan station. In the foreground a black sign that is missing it's time table declares Amsterdam Lelylaan. On the left an NS Sprinter train sits. On the right beyond the tracks some trees and a brick building with solar panels.

Quixoticgeek

@quixoticgeek@social.v.st · 1 hour ago

MJ Ray

@mjr@masto.bike · 26 minutes ago

Quixoticgeek

@quixoticgeek@social.v.st · 1 hour ago

There's so much more interesting and beautiful things to see in the Netherlands that aren't in Amsterdam. And most of it can be reached within an hour or so by train for not much money. Utrecht, Groningen, Leiden, Maastricht, the Veluwe. All much nicer than Amsterdam.

But if you must visit Amsterdam, avoid Lelylaan, it's just a crap station...
3/3

Mike 🇬🇧 🇪🇺

@MikeFromLFE@cupoftea.social · 1 hour ago

@quixoticgeek
We've never been disappointed when we've visited random towns in The Netherlands.
Leiden & Haarlem were both a delight, and we enjoyed our short enforced stop over in Breda (thanks NS).
In particular I'd recommend Haarlem as somewhere to stay if you insist on visiting Amsterdam - it's cheaper and nicer with a good rail connection to 'dam.

In fact the only place we were disappointed with was Amsterdam, but we were in the touristy central area and didn't go exploring.