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Netherlands Railways Guide - Train Travel
Dutch trains are good value, generally reliable and can get you pretty much anywhere in the Netherlands within 2-3 hours. With motorways being notorious for traffic jams, the railway is probably the best way to travel around. |
The railway network in Netherlands is run by the state owned company NS (Nederlandse Spoorwegen). With 4,800 scheduled trains running over 2,100 km of tracks and 380 stations, over 1.1 million passengers use the train every day. A few minor regional tracks are operated by the likes of Arriva, Veolia and Connexxion.
From Amsterdam Central Station you can reach all the major cities in the country -
Utrecht (30 mins)
Den Haag (50 mins)
Rotterdam (45-60 mins)
Eindhoven
(1h 20mins)
Groningen (2h 20mins, 1 change)
Maastricht (2h 30mins)
Check
out our Amsterdam
Rail Network map. A comprehensive map of the Dutch rail network is available
from the NS website here.
At the station timetables are printed on yellow boards. Some of the larger stations will have blue screens displaying the next departures. You can also get detailed schedules at NS online.
Each platform has an electronic overhead board which tells you the time and destination of the next train plus the main stopping stations. It will inform of any delays ("vertraging") in 5 minute increments.
To learn about tickets, where to buy them and using discount cards go to our guide here: How to Buy Dutch Train tickets.
There are different types of train on the Dutch rail network:
Intercity - these are faster trains which make limited stops between the major centres. If you are travelling between cities then this is nearly always the best and quickest option.
| On longer journeys there is often an attendant walking through the carriages selling drinks and snacks. Intercity trains can be single or double decker, depending on the route. Be aware that luggage racks are quite small on the newer double decker trains. Some space is provided for medium size cases between the backs of seat pairs - see the seat photo above. |  |
 | Stoptrein / Sprinter - Stopping trains are generally slower and less comfortable than Intercity trains but are useful if you need to get to one of the smaller stations. They tend to stop at most or all stations along a route. Some of the newer stop trains are called "Sprinter" trains. There is no drinks or catering service on board stop trains. |
FYRA - This is the train service which runs along the new high speed track connecting Amsterdam to Antwerp in Belgium. Currently in operation on some services between Amsterdam and Rotterdam, you must pay a small supplement to travel on the FYRA. Supplements are also required when using other special international trains like Thalys, ICE and sleeper services. Click here for more on International rail services from Amsterdam. |  |
Be aware that routine maintenance is often done at weekends which can cause delays - meaning either a diversion to an alternative track or a replacement bus service being used. This information is highlighted on posters at the station or on the NS website - if in doubt ask one of the staff.