
Netherlands By Train
Explore the Netherlands by train with a Eurail pass and travel from easy-going capital Amsterdam to cities covered with history like Utrecht and Maastricht. While in the Netherlands, consider a visit to the Keukenhof flower gardens and the traditional houses of the Zaanse Schans. Spot tulip fields along the way, as the train takes you to every corner of this small, but fascinating country.
Train types in the Netherlands
- Route map
- Domestic
- Domestic High-Speed
- International High-Speed
- International Night

Regional and Intercity trains in the Netherlands
Intercity (IC)
Connects major cities such as Amsterdam, Maastricht and Utrecht.
No reservation required.
Sprinter (RE)
Slower than Intercity trains, these trains link regional destinations to larger Dutch cities.
No reservation required.
Domestic high-speed trains in the Netherlands
Intercity Direct (ICD)
- On this train you can ride even faster between Amsterdam Centraal, Schiphol Airport, Rotterdam Centraal and Breda.
- A supplement of € 2,90 is required between Schiphol Airport and Rotterdam Centraal.
- An Intercity Direct (ICD) supplement is only required if this train is used for domestic journeys.
International high-speed trains in the Netherlands
ICE (ICE)
- Connects Amsterdam with Frankfurt (Germany) and Basel (Switzerland).
- Reservations are compulsory during summer season (June 17th till August 18th)
- During the rest of the year, reservations are optional but highly recommended.
- Amsterdam - Basel will only run till Frankfurt between May 27th and September 12th.
Intercity Berlin (IC)
Reach Berlin from Amsterdam in 6 hours 20 minutes.
Reservations are optional only. We recommend reserving when travelling during a busy period.
Intercity Brussels (IC)
- Connects Amsterdam and Rotterdam with Brussels (Belgium).
- Reservations are not required.
- An Intercity Direct (ICD) supplement is only required if this train is used for domestic journeys.
Thalys (THA)
- For travel between Amsterdam, Brussels (Belgium) and Paris (France).
- Reservations are compulsory for these trains, which can get fully booked. We recommend making your reservation as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
Eurostar (EST)
- For travel between Amsterdam, Rotterdam and London (Great Britain).
- Reservations are compulsory for these trains, which can get fully booked. We recommend making your reservation as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
International Night trains in the Netherlands
- Amsterdam – Utrecht - Arnhem – Munich - Innsbruck
- Amsterdam – Utrecht - Arnhem – Linz – Vienna
- Amsterdam – Utrecht - Arnhem – Basel - Zürich
- Brussels – Antwerp – Rotterdam – Den Haag – Amsterdam – Berlin
- Runs three times a week
Popular connections
- Domestic routes
- International routes
Here are approximate train times between Holland's most popular cities. These routes can all be taken with Intercity trains and are free for holders of an Eurail Pass valid in the Netherlands.
Route | Duration |
---|---|
Amsterdam to Groningen |
2h 10m |
Amsterdam to Leeuwarden |
2h 10m |
Amsterdam to Maastricht |
2h 30m |
Amsterdam to Rotterdam |
40m |
Amsterdam to Schiphol Airport |
15m |
Amsterdam to The Hague |
50m |
Amsterdam to Utrecht |
27m |
You can travel to and from the Netherlands from popular cities in the following European countries:
Route | Which train? | Duration | Reservations |
---|---|---|---|
Amsterdam to Berlin (Germany) | Intercity Berlin | 6h 20m | Optional |
Amsterdam to Düsseldorf (Germany) | ICE | 2h 10m | Optional (Required June 17th till August 18th) |
Amsterdam to Frankfurt (Germany) | ICE | 4h | Optional (Required June 17th till August 18th) |
Amsterdam to Basel (Switzerland) Only till Düsseldorf between May 27th and September 12th |
ICE | 6h 40m | Optional (Required June 17th till August 18th) |
Amsterdam to Paris (France) | Thalys | 3h 20m | Required |
Amsterdam to Brussels (Belgium) | Intercity Brussels | 2h 50m | Not required |
Amsterdam to London (Great Britain) | Eurostar | 4h 50m |
Required |
Amsterdam to Vienna / Innsbruck (Austria) | ÖBB Nightjet | 13h 45m (overnight) | Required |
Amsterdam to Zürich (Switzerland) | ÖBB Nightjet | 11h 35m (overnight) | Required |
Rotterdam (via Amsterdam) to Berlin (Germany) | European Sleeper | 9h 30m (overnight) | Required |
Reservations
Eurail reservation self-service system
- Eurail
- Thalys, Eurostar, TGV, IC Berlin, ICE, Nightjet
Administration costs when booking through Eurail self-service
- € 2,- p.p.per train
- Additional € 9,- per order (for paper tickets)
With railway carriers
- SNCB (b-europe): Only Thalys and Eurostar
- DB (German railways): International trains to Germany/Switzerland
- IC, ICE
- ÖBB (Austrian railways): International trains to Germany/Austria/Switzerland
- IC, ICE, Nightjet
- ČD (Czech railways): International trains to Germany/Austria/Switzerland
- IC, ICE, Nightjet
- European Sleeper: Only European Sleeper trains, international
By calling the NS call center
- +31 030 2300023 (open 24/7)
- When calling, you’ll hear a menu in Dutch. Select extension ‘5’ for services in English and then ‘1’ to book the Thalys or ‘2’ to book other trains. NS International can book trains in various European countries (€7.50 booking fee, with a maximum of €22.50 per order; 2 reservations per call allowed). You have to pay for reservations made over the phone with a Visa or MasterCard credit card. The reservations ticket will be sent to you by email. You can also pick up your reservations at an NS International ticket desk or at a self-service machine. Just go to a Dutch train station with an NS International desk with your booking code.
An explanation of how each booking platform works can be found here: How do I book my reservations
Locally at the train station in the Netherlands
Get your Pass for the Netherlands
Benelux Pass
Discover Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg by rail.
Standard prices from $ 120
Global Pass
Be free to visit the Netherlands and up to 32 other Eurail countries.
Standard prices from $ 211
Pass benefits

Discounted ferry crossings to Great Britain
Discounted ferry travel is an extra benefit of a Eurail pass valid in the Netherlands on the route:
Hoek van Holland – Harwich (Great-Britain)
Access to NS International lounges
Eurail first-class pass holders can also access the NS International lounges on the following train stations for free:
Amsterdam Centraal
Breda
Rotterdam Centraal
Schiphol
Tips and tricks for the Netherlands
What are the main train stations in the Netherlands?
The Netherland's 3 main hubs have connections to many domestic and international destinations. They are:
Amsterdam Central Station
Rotterdam Central Station
Utrecht Central Station
The Netherlands' railway stations are extemely well developed with excellent facilities:
Lockers for storing your stuff
Cash machines and foreign exchange desks
Cafés, restaurants and shops
Tourist information offices
Elevators, escalators and access for disabled passengers
Dutch Hub stations
The main hub stations in the Netherlands are Amsterdam Centraal, Rotterdam Centraal and Utrecht Centraal. At these train stations, it's possible to connect to trains to the Netherlands’ main cities and many international destinations.
Please note that the Dutch Railways have closed the entry gates to many Dutch stations. To get into the station, look up the square barcode on your Eurail pass cover. Hold the barcode against the scanner next to an entry gate, and the gate will open for you.
Bicycles on trains in the Netherlands
One of the best ways to explore the country is by cycling shorter distances while riding the country's efficient trains between towns and cities.
Cycling is extemely common in the Netherlands. You can rent bikes from most large train stations.
Spelling of names in the Netherlands
You'll usually find the local spelling of Dutch cities on train timetables and at train stations in the Netherlands.
Good to know:
Centraal Station = Central Station
Den Haag = The Hague
Hoek van Holland = Hook of Holland
Quick facts
Capital: Amsterdam
Population: 16.8 million
Language: Dutch
Currency: Euro (EUR)
Dialing code: +31
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