Travel information for your trip to De Bilt

KNMI is situated in De Bilt, east of the city of Utrecht, approximately 30 km south east of Amsterdam. Amsterdam International Airport, called Schiphol, and Utrecht CS (Main Railway Station) are connected by train.

Trains from Schiphol Airport to Utrecht Central Station

There are trains from Schiphol Airport to Utrecht leaving from platform 1 – 2 each half hour at :14 at and at :44. Travel time 33 minutes, no changeovers necessary.

The train fare for the single trip from Schiphol to Utrecht CS amounts to Euro 7.60 (2nd Class) or Euro 12.90 (1st Class).
Further information on train connections can be found on the Internet in English:
http://www.ns.nl (click on English in the top).

After midnight there are still trains, but they will take longer with probably a changeover.

It is not possible to buy tickets in the train (you pay extra and probably a big fine, depending on your explanation). Ticket machines should accept credit cards, but perhaps it is easier to buy the ticket at the ticket windows, at a small surcharge.

From Utrecht Central Station to De Bilt

Going from Utrecht Central Station to KNMI or the hotel De Biltsche Hoek can be done by taxi or by bus.

KNMI is near a bus stop, but to get to the hotel De Biltsche Hoek a 10 minute walk from the (same KNMI) bus stop is needed.

So it is more convenient to take a taxi, but more costly: about 15 - 25 Euros. Taxis can be found on an exterior platform at the top platform of the station. Taxi drivers should know the hotel.

Taking the Bus

There are buses leaving Utrecht Central Station for De Bilt roughly every 10 - 20 minutes. The numbers are: 50, 52, 53, 74. These are regional buses (called "streekvervoer") and they start in front of the station. (Walk from the top platform of the Central Station into the direction of the town centre, turn right to go downstairs to the bus station, which you will see through the windows. Follow the indicators “streekbusstation”).

The buses have various regional destinations, so do not get confused by that.

Bus times are accessible through http://www.9292ov.nl (only Dutch).

You can buy a ticket at the bus. It is recommended to have a 5 Euro note, or even better, some Euro coins (2 – 3 Euros or so). In the Netherlands there is a general system for busses with a “strippenkaart” (a card where a number of strips are stamped according to distance; 3 strips for Utrecht to De Bilt).

The busstop for KNMI and Hotel De Biltse Hoek is called ‘Tunneltje De Bilt’, which refers to a small bicycle tunnel at the stop, see the map at B. You could try your Dutch and mention KNMI (pronounced as Kah N M Ee). After a few bus stops in town, you leave the city of Utrecht to the east direction and then it is still a few kilometres on a straight road. Bus travel time about 20 minutes.

KNMI is located at 300 meters from the busstop (see the map). You may be able to see the white radar dome on the tower.

To go to the hotel walk 30 meters away from the main road towards a little farm, walk back into the small bicycle tunnel and cross the road. After about 150m turn right into a main street, cross the traffic lights and walk another 500m towards the hotel (see map, the hotel is at the green flag at the right hand side).

From De Bilt to Utrecht Central Station

Going back to Utrecht Central Station can also be done by taxi or by bus.

If you prefer a taxi, order one at the hotel or at the KNMI reception.

Going back by bus is straightforward. The bus stops at the north side of the tunnel (the opposite side of B), so coming from KNMI you should walk through the tunnel. There is also a bus stop at the Hotel De Biltse Hoek from where you can go right to the Utrecht Central Station (only in this direction).

Weather

Information on the local weather conditions can be found via the Internet Home page of KNMI: http://www.knmi.nl

Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute/KNMI

Wilhelminalaan 10
3732 GK De Bilt

Tel +31302206911

http://www.knmi.nl/

Hotel De Biltsche Hoek
De Holle Bilt 1
3732 HM De Bilt
Tel +31302205811

http://www.valk.com/biltschehoek

Hotels

Hotel Mitland (****)

(Utrecht-east, connected with Utrecht CS by bus)
Ariënslaan 1
3573 PT Utrecht
Tel.: (+31) (0) 30 271 58 24
Fax: (+31) (0) 30 271 90 03
E-mail: info@mitland.nl
Internet: http://www.mitland.nl

Hotel De Biltsche Hoek (***)

(De Bilt, within walking distance of KNMI approx. 1.5 km)
De Holle Bilt 1
3732 HM De Bilt
Tel.: (+31) (0) 30 220 58 11
Fax: (+31) (0) 30 220 28 12<
Internet: http://www.valk.com/biltschehoek

Hotel Holiday Inn (****)

(near Utrecht CS, central railway station, and centre of Utrecht)
Jaarbeursplein 24
3521 AR Utrecht
Tel.: (+31 30) 297 79 77
Fax: (+31 30) 297 79 99
Internet: http://www.hotels-holland.com/utrecht/holidayinn.htm

Hotel Tulip Inn (***)

(Utrecht centre)
Janskerkhof 10
3512 BL Utrecht
Tel.: (+31) (0) 30 231 31 69
Fax: (+31) (0) 30 231 01 48

Park Plaza Hotel (****)

(near Utrecht CS, central railway station, and centre of Utrecht)
Westplein 50
3531 BL Utrecht
Tel.: (+31) (0) 30 292 52 00
Fax: (+31) (0) 30 292 51 99
Internet: http://www.hotels.nl/nl/utrecht/parkplaza/

Smits Hotel (****)

(Utrecht centre)
Vredenburg 14
3511 BA Utrecht
Tel.: (+31) (0) 30 233 12 32
Fax: (+31) (0) 30 232 84 51

Hotel Ibis (***)

(Utrecht-west, connected with Utrecht CS by lightrail)
Bizetlaan 1
3533 KC Utrecht
Tel.: (+31 30) 291 0366
Fax: (+31 30) 294 2066

Hotel Malie (****)

(Utrecht-east, connected with Utrecht CS by bus)
Maliestraat 2
3581 SL Utrecht
Tel.: (+31) (0) 30 231 64 24
Fax: (+31) (0) 30 234 06 61

Bastion Hotel (***)

(Utrecht-south, connected with Utrecht CS by lightrail and by bus)
Mauritiuslaan 1
3526 LD Utrecht
Tel.: (+31) (0) 30 287 14 00
Fax: (+31) (0) 30 287 10 12 ?