I have 2 hrs 50 minutes in AMS this weekend - coming in from EWR before departing to TXL on KLM.

Those that have done it before - do you think that's long enough to jump on a train to Amsterdam Central station, grab a coffee somewhere out of the airport and station, and jump on a train back to AMS and get into the Schengen terminal?

Maybe there's somewhere closer to go? I've flown through AMS multiple times recently, but haven't been into Amsterdam for years, and have the itch to get on proper Dutch soil again!

In my opinion it can be done, the train to Central Station is ca 25 mins each way. They go quite frequently. Won't have much time in town, but still you can rightfully say that you've been to A'dam

I'd sort out the boarding pass for the TXL flight beforehand.

You could also quite easily go to Amsterdam Zuid station, which is only 5 minutes from Schiphol by train. You wouldn't see anything particularly 'Amsterdammish', but could wander (or tram) up to the local shops on Beethovenstreet, in the very 20s/30s Nieuw-Zuid area. It's an expensive suburb, and there's some pleasant caf�s and restaurants up here (I always used to enjoy Fidelio, on the corner with Stadionweg).

Assuming flight in is on time then perfectly possible to get into town but you won't get time to see much. Did it myself a while back, early AM arrival ex ATL, got to centre, everything closed. No romance in my soul that day. Seriously recommend you look out the window as you land, a wet grey cold Amsterdam in March is no fun. Sunny June July August different matter. Writing sat in Schipol, Crown Lounge, Schengen side. It is wet and miserable outside so my reply is biased! Soup is nice though.

Thanks for the input. I'll post what happens!

Flight from EWR got in more-or-less exactly on time, so no bonus time to play with. (Which we would have had except it took an hour in the traffic jam waiting for take-off).

Had time to buy ticket, grab a train into Central, walked around for about 15-20 minutes - it looked pretty shabby in the area near the station, which is a pity, because I remember it cleaner and less drab, but that was 10+ years ago. Maybe had I ventured further afield I would not have been disappointed. So anyway I turned around and got a train back. Good job I did, because the Schengen passport/security lines were long and slow. Got to the gate with less than 5 minutes before they started boarding.

So - 2:50 is too tight to do anything useful. AND, NS do not take any credit cards without PINs. I'm not sure if they ONLY take Chip&Pin, or if an old fashioned 20th century US issued card with a pin assigned would work. Note to self - set up PINs when I get home.....!