Alphen aan den Rijn

Alphen aan den Rijn is a town in the western Netherlands. The city is situated on the banks of the Old Rhine between Utrecht and Leiden. The area around Alphen aan den Rijn has been inhabited for 2000 years. During the Roman Empire, the Old Rhine was the head branch of the Rhine. On the modern center of the city, the Romans built a fortress (Castellum Albanianae). Remnants of the Romans have been found and can be seen in Leiden at the National Museum of Antiquities.

Get in
Alphen aan den Rijn is in the middle of four big cities (Amsterdam, Utrecht, Rotterdam, The Hague) in the Randstad, the West-Center of the Netherlands, also known as the Green Heart. The large cities are a half hour drive away by car.

By train
Alphen aan den Rijn has a railway station. Trains arrive coming from Leiden, Utrecht and Gouda.
 * From Leiden, take the train to Utrecht.
 * From Amsterdam, go to Leiden and change to Utrecht.
 * From the Hague, go to Leiden and change to Utrecht.
 * From Rotterdam, go to Gouda and change to Leiden or go to Leiden and change to Utrecht.
 * From Utrecht, take the train to Leiden.

By bus
From Schiphol Airport, there is Bus 470 directly to Alphen aan den Rijn. Depending on transfer times between trains, or if the bus departs sooner than the train, it can be a few minutes faster than transferring trains at Leiden Centraal. The full bus ride to and from the airport is about 36 minutes. Buses depart every 15 minutes weekdays and every 30 evenings and weekends. Night service is available every night.

It is sometimes faster to change to Bus 470 at Schiphol coming from Amsterdam, depending on transfer times.

By car

 * From Amsterdam take the A4 to The Hague and Rotterdam. At crossing 4, Nieuw Vennep, take the N207 to Alphen aan den Rijn.
 * From The Hague take the A4 to Amsterdam and at crossing 6a. Zoeterwoude Rijndijk, take the N11 to Alphen aan den Rijn.
 * From Rotterdam take the A13 to The Hague, proceed over the A4 to Amsterdam and follow the route given for the Hague.
 * From Utrecht take the A12 to Rotterdam/the and at crossing 12a Bodegraven take the N11 to Alphen aan den Rijn.

Get around
Buses in this area are operated by Arriva.

Buy
Alphen aan den Rijn is a regional town with a lot of shops in the center of the city. The finished Masterplan has created more shopping facilities at the other side of the Old Rhine.

Eat
Most restaurants are located in or near the city center so make reservations. The given list is just a small selection of all restaurants in Alphen aan den Rijn.
 * De Gelaarsde Kat (Puss in Boots), Hooftstraat 81, 2496 GE, 0172-491401, French-Dutch, has a veranda at the Old Rhine.
 * De Monnick, Raadhuisstraat 106, 2406 AH, 0172-495254, French Restaurant, higher prices but also better quality.
 * El Caballo, Rhenanialaan 1, 2406 GS, 0172-424843, Argentina Meat Restaurant.
 * Hong Kong City, P. Doelmanstraat 12, 2405 CE, Chinese Restaurant with a view at the Alphense Bridge and the Old Rhine.
 * Is Morus Pizzeria, Raadhuisstraat 186, 2406 AK, 0172-475606, Not only Italian pizza's, but also meat and fish dishes.
 * Proto Tapas Restaurant, Rijnkade 5, 0172-476566, Spanish Tapas, but the owners are Greek, situated at the Old Rhine with a view on the new city center.

Although there are very good restaurants in the center, it is worthy to look for restaurants outside the center.
 * Alfred's Diner, C. Geellaan 43, 2406 JE, 0172-425757, French, higher prices but also better quality, situated in a park.
 * Lubo Steal Grill, van Nesstraat 1a, 0172-499441, Balkan kitchen.
 * Original Chines Palace, Burg. Bruijn Slotsingel 20, 2406 AE, 0172-436655, Located near the Zegerplas and in a Chinese pagoda.
 * Sari Djawi, Gouwsluisseweg 48, 2405 XS, 0172-472316, Indonesian kitchen, situated in an old mill at the old Rhine.
 * Zorba the Greek, van Nesstraat 21, 2404 AV, 0172-493335, Greek kitchen with a very friendly owner.

Drink

 * La Caleche, Hooftstraat 157, 2496 GG, 0172-492932.
 * Kwatro, Hooftstraat 126, 2406 GM, 0172-472549
 * Meeting Point, Thorbeckeplein 2, 2406 CG, 0172-474004
 * De Natte, Julianastraat 19, 2405 CG, 0172-426193, Special Beer café
 * Querelle Swing Café, Julianastraat 32, 2405 CH
 * Under the Bridge, Hooftstraat 165, 2406 GH, Blues Rock Café

Go next

 * Keukenhof - The best way to visit Keukenhof is to go to Leiden which can be used as a base by many to explore the tulip district in April and May. From the Central Station in Leiden there are special busses going directly to Keukenhof. (Bus service 54). If you want to avoid half an hour in a cramped bus for an extra 500 m walk, just ask which busses go to Lisse (50, 51 and 57).
 * Rijksmuseum van Oudheden. (National Museum of Antiquities). Includes an outstanding collection of ancient Egyptian antiquities, and a small temple that was given to the Netherlands by the Egyptians for their help with the Aswan monuments transfer project. It also features an exhibition on the archeological history of the Netherlands including dug-up burial treasures and the like.