Trains and Rail Travel in the Netherlands
Route maps and booking information for the national rail service, regional trains and the urban train network: to help you find your way around the Netherlands...
The Dutch rail service has modern, fast trains. Most stations are in or near town centres.
The relatively short distances mean that travelling time between destinations is quick, for example, 16 minutes between Utrecht and Schiphol Airport, or just 45 minutes between The Hague and Amsterdam.
Further information on travel times and timetables on the website of Dutch rail - Nederlandse Spoorwegen, (NS).
- Customer Services (NS Klantcontactcenter)
At: P.O. Box 2372, 3500 GJ Utrecht
Tel: 0900 202 1163 - To plan a train journey: Click here
Types of Train
There are two types of services provided by the train network:
- Intercity (or express) trains provide a direct link between the main cities
- Local trains stop at every station along the way
The Schiphol Line is a special intercity link, connecting the national airport at Schiphol with the centres of the main Dutch cities. Seats cannot be reserved.
Buying Tickets
There are various types of ticket. Tickets can be bought from ticket vending machines or ticket windows (one way and return tickets bought from a vending machine will be cheaper). Passengers travelling without a valid ticket will be fined.
Note: Tickets may not be bought on a train.
One-off trips are best served by:
- One Way (Enkele reis) and Day Return (Dagretour)
- Day Ticket (Dagkaart) and OV Dagkaart which allow unlimited travel around the country for one day (the OV is valid for train, bus, tram and metro)
- Weekend return (Weekendretour) valid from Friday 19:00 until Monday 04:00
- Railrunner for children aged 4 to 11 to travel under adult supervision (19 years or older) for a fixed low price. A maximum of 3 children per adult may travel at the Railrunner price
- For further information on tickets: Click here (in English)
Season tickets (month and year), student cards, business passes and other discount tickets are available.
- For further information: Click here (in Dutch)
Bicycles are not allowed on trains in the morning and evening rush hours (except during July and August). It is necessary to buy a Bike day ticket (Dagkaart Fiets) for a small fee.
Station Facilities
Departure times and platform numbers are shown on the yellow boards in all Dutch train stations. Platform numbers, departure times, routes taken and the final destination are also shown on the blue and white boards.
Luggage lockers are available in most stations and can be rented by the day.
Other Services
Train Taxi
The Treintaxi is a means of getting to and from the station, sharing the taxi with others and therefore travelling at a reduced rate. Tickets can be bought at the railway station, or from the taxi driver.
Areas served by a train-taxi are shown at the Treintaxi stand at the station. The tickets can be used interchangeably in every city where Treintaxi is available (59 cities throughout the Netherlands), however, a separate ticket must be bought for a return trip.
Details of these services can be found out from the local Town Hall (Gemeente).
The treintaxi stand is easily recognised. It is normally separated from the local taxi services and is identified by the colours of the railway, yellow and blue.
To take a treintaxi, there is a blue button on the stand and, once connected, the operator will order a taxi, which takes about 10 minutes to arrive.
For the return trip to the railway station, the Treintaxi Callcenter needs to be contacted at least half an hour before the journey.
- Treintaxi Callcenter
Tel: 0900 873 4682
Lost property
The NS will keep lost property for up to five days free of charge and it is then transferred to the Central Lost & Found office in Utrecht, where it is kept for three months. First - within five days - go to the station where the luggage was lost or first noticed to be missing.
If it is not found, fill in a trace request form available from all stations, or contact the following number:
- Tel: 0900 321 2100 from 08:00-20:00 (calls from within the Netherlands only)
- For detailed information (in English) on reclaiming lost luggage or items forgotten on a train, see the NS website: Click here
Delays and refunds
The NS will refund train delays of over 30 minutes in certain circumstances. Delays of 30 to 60 minutes are refunded 50 percent of the fare. More than a 60 minute delay will result in a full refund. This does not apply in the case of national power failures or if the delay was planned in advance, for example in case of track works.
- Tel: 0900 202 1163
- For comprehensive information in English on how to make a claim: Click here
Disabled passengers
Most manned stations offer assistance from NS service staff agents to help when boarding and disembarking from the train. This service is available to wheelchair users, the visually impaired and other disabled people, as well as those who are temporarily disabled.
- Further information on train travel for the disabled: Click here
Train schedules are available to hearing and sight impaired people in spoken text, Braille and digitally; the website accommodates digital Braille readers.
- Sight impaired: information on schedules Tel: 0486 486 486
- Hearing impaired: information on schedules Tel: 0900 555 9292
Trains are accessible to most wheelchairs, although some restrictions are applied to width and weight. Fuel-based motor vehicles are excluded from trains, but special scooters may sometimes be allowed, depending on the time of day and number of people travelling.
How to apply for assistance
- Bureau Assistentieverlening Gehandicapten (Disabled Assistance Office)
Tel: 030 235 7822
Apply for assistance at least three hours prior to the intended departure time. Inform the Disabled Assistance Office of the planned journey, the departure/arrival time and the stations of departure and arrival; discuss a meeting point for the service assistant. If travelling later than 22:30, contact the Disabled Assistance Office before 19:30.
- NS Business Hours
Tel: 030 235 7822, open daily 07:00-23:00
Fax: 030 235 3935
For cancellations Tel: 030 235 7823, open daily 05:00-02:00