If you want to get a handle on using the Dutch rail system, then here we discuss in detail the different types of rail tickets available in the Netherlands and how to buy them.
Dutch trains are mainly run by the national rail company NS (Nederlandse Spoorwegen) and the network covers the country extensively. Travelling by train is convenient, reliable and reasonable value for money. All prices below are for 2024.
How To Book Dutch Train Tickets
You can check timetables, prices and make online bookings for Dutch domestic train services at the official NS (Dutch Railways) site here. Prices are in euros (EUR) only and payment is accepted by iDeal or credit cards (Visa/Mastercard/American Express). There are no booking fees, however tickets are non-refundable.
Train tickets in the Netherlands can also be booked at the Trainline site. It offers a wide range of payment options in multiple currencies (including EUR/USD/GBP/AUD). There is a small booking fee but the tickets are fully exchangeable and refundable right up to the day before travel.
Rail Ticket Formats in the Netherlands
There are 3 different ticket formats available for sale for travel on Dutch Railways – these are single-use disposable tickets, OV-chip cards/OVpay and online tickets. Further below we will overview the specific rail fares and special train tickets available in the Netherlands.
  |    |   |
| Single-use tickets | OV-chip card / OVpay | e-tickets / Mobile tickets |
| buy at station | OV-chip card costs €7.50 | Buy online |
| standard fare + €1 surcharge | standard fare | standard fare |
| check-in/out required | check-in/out required | use QR code to open gates |
1 – Single-use train tickets in the Netherlands
This is a disposable OV-chip cards (eenmalige chipkaart) and can be bought at any Dutch NS train station. Back in 2014 it replaced the old style paper tickets.
- There is a €1 surcharge in addition to the standard fare.
- It is made from card (with the chip inside), it is printed with the date/route and can be purchased on-the-day or up to a week ahead of travel.
- To validate the ticket passengers must check-in and check-out of their journey using the card readers near the platforms or at the gate barriers.
- The card is disposed of after use – it cannot be used again.
2 – OV-chip card / OVpay for Dutch trains
The OV-chip card (OV-chipkaart) is the Dutch public transport smart card. The personal or anonymous OV-chip cards can store travel credit which can be used for rail travel at standard fares by simply checking-in and checking-out between 2 stations.
Similarly, payment by contactless debit/credit card/mobile (OVpay) was introduced in 2023 for public transport in the Netherlands (see further below).
You can buy an ’empty’ anonymous OV-chip card for €7.50 (non-refundable, made from plastic and lasts 4-5 years) and then load it with ‘e-purse’ credit up to a maximum of €150. We no longer recommend the OV-chip card for short-term visitors – either use OVpay or buy standard tickets online or at the station.
Cards purchased at NS stations are automatically activated for train travel. Cards bought elsewhere (eg other transport providers, newsagents, supermarkets) may need to be activated for ‘pre-paid travel without NS subscription’ (reizen op saldo zonder NS-abonnement) at a train station ticket machine or service desk.
For rail travel with NS the card must be loaded with at least €20 credit. To check-in hold the card once against the NS card reader. On successful check-in a green light flashes accompanied by a single beeping sound – €20 is taken off the card balance as an initial boarding deposit.
A check-in error (such as a bad contact with the reader or insufficient credit) will make a sound of 3 loud beeps.
After check-in you can board a train departing within the next 30 minutes. You only need to check-out again when you arrive at your final domestic destination station. On successful check-out the reader beeps twice and shows the fare and remaining e-purse balance. The €20 deposit is refunded back onto the card with the correct fare deducted.
Here are some features about using the OV-chip card for rail travel in the Netherlands:
- If you fail to check-out you will lose the €20 deposit!
- The default travel class for OV-chip cards is 2nd class rail travel, though you can change this setting to 1st class using a station ticket machine.
- OV-chip cards can only be used by 1 person on a particular journey – so if you are travelling in a group, everyone will need their own card or ticket.
- Using an OV-chip card avoids the €1 surcharge for single-use tickets.
- If you check-in and check-out at the same train station within 1 hour (say you change your mind about travelling) you will not be charged any fare.
- You must complete check-out on the rail network within a maximum of 6 hours after check-in.
Officially you are not permitted to backtrack unless travelling via an allowable connection. In general you must always be travelling away from the station where you checked-in.
Checking-out and re-checking-in is required if connecting onto another domestic rail operator such as Arriva, Blauwnet, Breng, Connexxion (Valleilijn), Keolis and R-NET. Note that OV-chip cards are not used for international trips.
The OV-chip card credit is valid on all forms of public transport in the Netherlands and means you do not have to buy a separate ticket for each trip – as long as you have sufficient credit. A minimum of €4 credit is required for other forms of transport.
With the possibilities of e-tickets/mobile tickets and contactless debit/credit card payments, we no longer recommend visitors invest €7.50 to buy an anonymous OV-chip card.
Personal OV-chip cards are only available to residents of the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. It includes the holder’s name and photo.
It works the same way as the anonymous card but includes other features such as guaranteed card replacement if lost and automatic payment or top-ups using direct debit. NS discount cards and season ticket cards can also be used as personal OV-chip cards.
Note, the OV-chip card in its current form is being phased out by 2025. A new OV-pas with digital features will be rolled out from 2024.
OVpay on the Dutch rail network
OVpay is using a contactless debit/credit card or mobile to check-in and check-out of your journey.
As with the OV-chip card the standard distance fare is charged. One downside is you can’t see exactly what you are charged until you check your payment card statement.
- OVpay only works with Maestro, V PAY, Mastercard or Visa branded cards.
- On check-in, you should get a message ‘IN Debit Card’ on the card reader screen.
- On successful check-out, the card reader should show ‘OUT Debit Card’ – you will be charged the standard fare to your card account the following day.
- The payment reference will be ‘NLOV’ followed by 14 digits. If you make multiple trips on a single day you will only have one transaction charged as the sum of all trips.
- Note, if you fail to check-out correctly you will likely be charged the €20 deposit. You can check travel history and request a refund here
- OVpay is only valid for 2nd class travel, you cannot use it for 1st class.
- If a conductor does a ticket check, they will scan the card and can only see where/when you checked-in.
- If you check-out at the same station within 60 minutes of checking in you will not be charged.
3 – E-Tickets / Mobile Tickets
You can purchase e-tickets/mobile tickets at the NS site online at standard fares. You can also get a 10% discount if you purchase singles or day returns online at least 4 days in advance. Payment is in euros only, tickets are non-refundable.
Tickets can be bought online up to 1 month in advance of travel.
- By buying online tickets you avoid the €1 surcharge for single-use tickets.
- NS e-tickets and mobile tickets are personal and require name and accompanying identification.
- E-tickets can be printed out in A4 format; mobile tickets are downloaded to a smartphone or added to the NS app.
E-tickets/mobile tickets come with a square QR-code. At stations with closed gate barriers look for the gate with the “scan ticket” symbol and scan the QR-code on the reader on the right-hand side. The gate should open to let you through – if you have any problems there are staff on hand to help.
At stations without gate barriers you don’t need to scan the ticket.
If you need refundable tickets then purchase Dutch rail e-tickets at the Trainline site
Train Fares in the Netherlands
Domestic rail fares in the Netherlands are fixed and depend on distance travelled. You can always just turn up at the station and purchase a ticket at the standard fare.
The standard fare covers travel in 2nd class carriages. A 1st class ticket costs about 67% more than the equivalent 2nd class fare. All Dutch rail tickets include a VAT (BTW) charge of 9%.
Dutch domestic fares are increased at the beginning of each calendar year.
With a valid train ticket (disposable ticket, checked-in OV-chip card, e-ticket/mobile ticket) you can jump onboard any standard service to your destination and just find a free seat in your class. There are no seating reservations required on standard trains.
Don’t board a train without a valid ticket as if you get caught you may have to pay a penalty of €50.
For more info/photos on Dutch trains see train types in the Netherlands
The following fare types are available for train travel in the Netherlands:
One-way ticket (Enkele reis)
The one-way ticket covers travel between 2 specified Dutch stations (eg – Schiphol Airport to Amsterdam Central, €4.90).
- There is a €1 surcharge for buying a disposable (one-time use) single fare ticket.
- The single one-way fare will be deducted from an OV-chip card after check-in and check-out or will be charged to a contactless bank card if using OVpay.
- E-ticket singles can also be purchased at the standard fare or with 10% discount if booking more than 4 days ahead.
- The single is valid 28 hours – between 0000 on the travel date to 0400 the following day.
Note, the minimum possible NS one-way fare on the Dutch rail network in 2nd class is €2.60. Likewise, the maximum possible one-way fare in 2nd class is capped at €29.40 (2024).
TIP: Take advantage of allowable stopovers with e-tickets. If you have a mobile or e-ticket (one-way or day return) then you are allowed to make unlimited stopovers at any stations along your specified route.
Day Return (Dagretour)
If you are planning to return on the same day to your starting station then you should purchase a day return ticket. The fare is simply the sum of 2 singles.
- There is a €1 surcharge for disposable (one-time use) day return ticket – note, if you buy 2 separate singles you would pay €1×2 = €2 surcharge.
- The day return is valid 28 hours – between 0000 on the travel date to 0400 the following day.
For UK travellers, please note that NS does not sell ‘open return’ tickets where you can return on a day of your choice – for that case you should just buy separate singles each way on the particular day.
Children’s Ticket (Railrunner)
Children aged between 4 and 11 can travel unaccompanied in 2nd class using a Railrunner ticket which costs just €2.50 and is valid for the whole day. It can be bought as disposable OV-chip card (with €1 surcharge). The child must check-in and -out of each journey if using a disposable ticket.
Railrunner tickets can also be bought without surcharge as an e-ticket/mobile ticket or added as a product onto an anonymous or personal OV-chip card. Kids aged 3 and under travel for free.
For 1st class travel, up to 3 children can use a Railrunner ticket as long as they are accompanied by an adult (over 18) with a valid 1st class ticket. Additional children (4 or more) travelling with a single adult in 1st class need to travel with a personal or anonymous OV-chip card and can load the 40% ‘Joint Journey Discount’ product (see below).
Other NS Rail Ticket Types
Amsterdam Travel Ticket
This ticket is a possible option for visitors arriving at Amsterdam Schiphol airport. It combines the airport train journey with unlimited GVB public transport (trams, buses, metro and night buses) around Amsterdam.
It offers unlimited travel for NS train journeys between Schiphol Airport and any station in Amsterdam (Central, Amstel, Bijlmer-ArenA, Duivendrecht, Holendrecht, Lelylaan, Muiderpoort, RAI, Sciencepark, Sloterdijk or Zuid). This also includes any train journeys between the mentioned Amsterdam stations.
Ticket costs are €18 (1 day), €24 (2 days) and €30 (3 days). Note that validity of the card is on a ‘day’ basis, not ’24 hours’ and cards expire at 0400 the following morning of the last valid day.
You can buy the Amsterdam Travel Ticket online here
Amsterdam & Region Travel Ticket
This ticket is valid on all public transport in the greater Amsterdam region. This includes NS trains, all regional buses (Connexxion, EBS and Arriva Keukenhof services) and all GVB Amsterdam buses, metro and trams.
In terms of rail this card is valid to the following selected stations: all Amsterdam stations, Haarlem, Schiphol Airport, Hoofddorp, Zandvoort-aan-Zee, Zaandam, Zaandijk Zaanse Schans, Hilversum, Naarden-Bussum, Almere and Lelystad.
Ticket costs are €21.00 (1 day), €31.50 (2 days) and €40.50 (3 days). Note the validity of the card is also on a ‘day’ basis, not ’24 hours’ and cards expire at 0400 the following morning of the last valid day.
Tip: If you have this ticket and need to travel by rail outside the ticket area then first use this ticket to travel to the ‘edge’ of the zone. For example, if going from Amsterdam to Den Haag, buy a ticket from Schiphol Airport or Hoofddorp instead of from Amsterdam Central – this will be cheaper.
You can buy the Amsterdam & Region Travel Ticket online here
Holland Travel Ticket
This product makes it easier for visitors to navigate the Netherlands on one single ticket. It is valid for 1 day on all public transport in the country including trains (2nd class), buses, trams and metro. It can be bought at the desk or ticket machines at stations and is a disposable OV-chip card. You must check-in and check-out for each journey leg.
The standard Holland Travel Ticket costs €70 (2024) and can be used anytime during the day.
The off-peak Holland Travel Ticket costs €48 and is valid for travel only after 0900 (Mon-Fri). However it is valid all day at weekends.
If you plan to do a lot of travelling on a single day (either in terms of distance or using different forms of transport) then this ticket could offer good value and not having to buy separate tickets.
For example, an Amsterdam-Maastricht day return costs just over €50 – so using an off-peak Holland Travel Ticket could save some money – and you always have the option of using other forms of transport.
NS Off-Peak Group Ticket (Groepsticket)
If you plan to make a longer rail journey in the Netherlands with a group then this special online ticket could potentially offer big savings.
The NS Group Ticket is an online deal which allows 2-7 people to make a single journey between any 2 stations on the Dutch rail network. Passengers must always travel with the main ticket holder.
You can only buy the NS Group Ticket online here. It cannot be bought at the station.
The ticket costs €34 (2-3 passengers), €38 (4 pax), €42 (5 pax), €46 (6 pax) and €50 (7 pax). This means the ticket ranges between €7.14 and €17 per person, depending on number of passengers. If a return leg is required a second Group Ticket can be purchased.
You can only travel on the group ticket during the weekday off-peak hours 0900-1630 and 1830-0630. You can travel anytime at weekends.
Off-peak bicycle ticket (fietskaart dal)
If you want to carry a bicycle on board then you need a bicycle ticket (€7.50) which is valid for 1 day. The ticket can be in any of the 3 standard formats – disposable, added to an OV-chip card or as an e-ticket/mobile ticket.
You cannot travel with a bike during weekday rush hours, although this is allowed on a public holiday and during July/August. Off-peak hours are 0900-1600 and 1830-0630 on weekdays.
You must store your bike in the special carriages labelled with the bike sign. If there is no space available then you must wait for the next train. Folded bikes can be carried for free.
Don’t forget, you also need a valid train ticket for travel as well!
Dog day ticket (dagkaart hond)
Those travelling with a dog or other leashed animal will require a dog day ticket which costs €3.30. Dog tickets are available to purchase in the 3 formats.
NS Day Ticket (NS dagkaart)
This product costs €58.80 (2nd class) or €99.96 (1st class) and allows unlimited travel on the Dutch rail network for a single day. It can be purchased online in advance or added to an OV-chip card.
Note that the off-peak Holland Travel Ticket mentioned above is probably better value and more convenient for visitors.
For more on the rail network in the Netherlands see our Dutch Railways Guide
Train Fare Supplements
Some special train services require that you pay a compulsory supplement on top of your standard fare. Note, children with Railrunner tickets do not need to pay any supplements for these trains.
(1) A €2.90 supplement is required for domestic travel on the ICE International train going to Germany on the Amsterdam-Utrecht-Arnhem route. The supplement can be bought as an e-ticket, disposable ticket or loaded onto an OV-chip card using a NS ticket machine or service desk.
(2) The Intercity Direct train runs Amsterdam-Schiphol Airport-Rotterdam-Breda and requires a supplement only for the Schiphol Airport-Rotterdam sector. This also costs €2.90.
The supplement can be bought as an e-ticket, disposable ticket at a ticket machine or service desk.
Alternatively hold a checked-in anonymous or personal OV-chip card against the special red supplement card readers found at platforms of all Intercity Direct stations – this will pay the supplement from the e-purse balance. There is a reduced €1.74 price for travel during the off-peak hours (Mon-Fri 0900-1600 and 1830-0630, anytime at weekends) using the special reader.
You can cancel the supplement (if you decide not to take the Intercity Direct train) by scanning the card again within 30 minutes at the same station.
At the end of your trip you just need to check-out as usual using the standard card readers – you don’t need to check-out using the supplement readers.
NS Discount (Korting) Cards
Generally, discounted train fares are NOT available to any adult visitors including those over 60. Visitors to the Netherlands pay the standard fare unless they hold a discount card or are travelling with someone who does.
If you live in Netherlands (or have a Dutch address) NS has a number of discount card options which can be bought on a subscription basis. For more info see: NS Dutch Railways Discount Cards
The standard card is the “Dal Voordeel abonnement” or “korting” card for short. This card entitles you and up to 3 travel companions to 40% off the standard fare.
However the discount is not valid if checking-in during the weekday rush-hours of 0630-0900 and 1600-1830. You will still get the 40% discount if checking-in during off-peak hours and then checking-out during the peak period.
The card costs €67.20 per year for travel on balance or €5.60 per month for NS Flex – where you are invoiced monthly fo ryour travel costs.
You need to upload a photo which will be scanned onto the card – which is then used as a personal OV-chip card. Order the NS Dal Voordeel discount card here – select ‘On balance’ for the annual card
When using this card for off-peak rail travel, the discounted fare is automatically applied.
The minimum e-purse balance required for discounted travel is €10, rather than €20. After checking-in and -out the discounted fare will be deducted.
Any travel companion who wishes to travel at the discounted fare now needs to first receive your personal co-travel discount code. Only then can they buy an e-ticket online or via the NS app.
InterRail & Eurail Tickets
Both InterRail and Eurail passes are generally valid for travel on Dutch domestic trains. Only the Intercity Direct trains between Schiphol Airport and Rotterdam requires the €2.90 supplement to be paid.
The InterRail Global Pass is a rail pass (15 days to 3 months) valid for travel in 33 countries around Europe and this includes the Netherlands. It is only available for European citizens and residents including Turkey. You can purchase an InterRail Pass here
Similarly, the Eurail pass (15 days to 3 months) is available for non-European residents and is also valid in the 33 countries.
How To Buy Rail Tickets at Stations in the Netherlands
At NS train stations you can purchase a range of disposable rail tickets as well as buying anonymous OV-chip cards and loading travel credit.
This can be done at either (1) the Tickets & Service counters or using (2) the NS train ticket machines.
1. The Tickets & Service counters can be found at most main stations – some are branded ‘OV Service & Tickets’. For example, Amsterdam Central has a main ticket service counter at the city-side exit and also a smaller OV Service & Tickets in the IJ-hal passageway near the waterside.
Service desks accept payment by cash (euro banknotes or coins) and debit/credit cards (V-Pay, Maestro, Mastercard, Visa and American Express) using pin and/or contactless.
2. The yellow and blue NS ticket machines are available at all stations. They accepts debit/credit cards (with pin) and also euro coins (change given) via the coin slot. Unfortunately, they do NOT accept euro banknotes. Some smaller stations in the Netherlands are unmanned and will only have 1 or 2 ticket machines available.
The NS ticket machine has a touch screen interface with an English language option (click the British flag in the bottom left-hand corner). It looks like this:
To buy disposable tickets, simply select “One-way” or “Day return” on the front page and go from there. Select your destination, class, date (on-the-day or up to 1 week ahead), the number of tickets and choose your payment type.
The machine covers all domestic routes – you just need to choose your destination from an alphabetical list. If required, you can also change the “from” station by clicking on its box.
Press “Other Products” on the homepage screen if requiring children’s Rail Runner tickets, anonymous OV-chip cards, supplements and other ticket types.
Note that the €1 single-use ticket surcharge applies when buying either from the service desk or ticket machine.
If you have an OV-chip card you can place it on the white and pink card reader to check the balance, add credit or travel products onto the card.
Train tickets in the Netherlands can also be booked at the Omio site (official partner of NS).
International Train Tickets
Tickets & Service counters at major city stations also sell international train tickets, although a service fee is charged. Alternatively, purchase online (no service fee) at NS International
International routes available are covered in our guide to International trains to / from Amsterdam
NS ticket machines also sell a limited range of international tickets (without seat reservation) to Belgium, Luxembourg plus selected destinations in Western Germany.
This article was originally published in 2010 and has continuously been updated. Last update 19 March 2024.
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