Validity
Eurail Passes for The Netherlands are valid in all trains operated by NS and in trains operated by the following local railway companies: DB Regio Westfalen, Noordnet, Prignitzer Eisenbahn, Synthus and Veolia.
Domestic journeys
The fast InterCity trains connect the main towns and cities, while the slower stopping trains halt at nearly every station. It is not possible to make reservations for a seat on a Dutch domestic train and there are no supplements.
Average InterCity travel times in minutes
Major Dutch cities are Amsterdam, Den Haag, Rotterdam and Utrecht. At least four trains an hour run between these cities, which are at less than 45 minutes rail travel from each other. Most other cities in the country are connected at least twice an hour.
From the train station at Schiphol airport you can reach Amsterdam city centre in 15-20 minutes and Utrecht (the main train hub for the Netherlands) in just over 30 minutes. In the weekend there are also hourly night trains between the major cities.
Dutch trains have mostly second class and just a few first class sections. Smoking is not allowed on the trains and in the stations (only at designated areas on the platforms).
NS Hispeed Lounges
Travelers with a first class Eurail Pass valid in The Netherlands, are welcome in the NS Hispeed Lounges. You can relax in these exclusive, fully equipped quiet areas while waiting for your (international) train to depart. You can find a lounge at Amsterdam Central station, Rotterdam Central station and Schiphol airport. Read more at nshispeed.nl.
International connections
There are good direct train connections from The Netherlands to Germany, Belgium and France. Here’s an overview of some of these trains.
- To Belgium: InterCity trains run every hour between Amsterdam and Rotterdam to Antwerpen and Brussel. This train does not require reservation.
- To Belgium and France: Thalys is a high-speed train connecting Amsterdam with Brussels and Paris. Passholders have to pay a special fare for riding this train, which is subject to availability.
- To Germany: InterCity and InterCityExpress trains go from the Netherlands to Germany. They run from Amsterdam and Utrecht to Köln, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt and Berlin. Reserving a seat is possible (€3,50) but not compulsory.
- To Germany and Switzerland: CityNightLine hotel trains run from Amsterdam and Utrecht to Munich (Germany), Zurich and Basel (Switzerland). Subject to compulsory reservation plus supplement for night accommodation.
Reservations for international trains can be made at the larger train stations in The Netherlands. Please note that a fixed booking fee of 3,50 euro will be charged (regardless of the number of reservations).
Airport station links
The main international airport in the Netherlands is Schiphol. It offers numerous railway connections to the Netherlands' capital Amsterdam and other cities in the country.
Eurail Aid Offices
For questions about Eurail, you can go to the international ticket office at the following train stations:
Schiphol Airport Railway station
Daily: 06.30am - 09.00pm
Amsterdam Central Station
Daily: 06.00am - 09.00pm
