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 trains
International trains
Night trains

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 €3 is required between Schiphol Airport and Rotterdam Centraal.
An Intercity Direct (ICD) supplement is only required if this train is used for domestic journeys.

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.

International high-speed trains in the Netherlands

ICE

Amsterdam - Amersfoort - Osnabrück - Hannover - Berlin
Amsterdam - Utrecht - Oberhausen - Cologne - Frankfurt/Munich
Reservations are compulsory during summer season (June 26 to August 31)
During the rest of the year, reservations are highly recommended

Eurocity (EC)

Connects Rotterdam and Breda to Noordkempen, Antwerp, Mechelen, and Brussels (Belgium)
Reservations are not possible

Eurocity Direct (ECD)

Connects Amsterdam and Rotterdam to Antwerp and Brussels (Belgium)
Reservations are not possible

Eurostar (EST)

High speed trains to Belgium, France, and Great Britain on the routes:
- Amsterdam – Schiphol – Rotterdam – Antwerp – Brussels – Paris
- Amsterdam – Schiphol – Rotterdam – Antwerp – Brussels – Disneyland Paris
- Amsterdam – Rotterdam – London
Reservations are compulsory for these trains, which can get fully booked. We recommend making your reservation as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
Read more about special booking conditions on our dedicated Eurostar page.

International Night trains in the Netherlands

ÖBB Nightjet (NJ)

Amsterdam – Amersfoort – Deventer – Münster – Innsbruck
Amsterdam – Amersfoort – Deventer – Münster – Linz – Vienna
Amsterdam – Utrecht – Cologne – Basel – Zürich

European Sleeper

Brussels – Antwerp – Rotterdam – Amsterdam – Berlin – Dresden – Prague
Brussels/Amsterdam - Cologne - Bern - Milan (From June 2026)
Reservations are compulsory

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)	ICE	5h 50m	Optional (Required June 26 to August 31)
Amsterdam to Düsseldorf / Cologne (Germany)	ICE	2h 30m / 3h	Optional (Required June 26 to August 31)
Amsterdam to Frankfurt (Germany)	ICE	4h	Optional (Required June 26 to August 31)
Amsterdam to Munich (Germany)	ICE	7h	Optional (Required June 26 to August 31)
Amsterdam to Paris (France)	Eurostar	3h 20m	Required
Amsterdam Zuid to Brussels (Belgium)	Intercity Brussels	2h 08m	Not required
Amsterdam to London (Great Britain)	Eurostar	4h 50m	Required
Amsterdam to Vienna / Innsbruck (Austria)	ÖBB Nightjet	14h 15m (overnight)	Required
Amsterdam to Zürich (Switzerland)	ÖBB Nightjet	11h 50m (overnight)	Required (Optional on the IC segment operated by Deutsche Bahn)
Rotterdam - Amsterdam to Prague	European Sleeper	12h 50m (overnight)	Required

Reservations

Reservations for trains in The Netherlands:

Learn about how and where to book seats, check out our page How do I book seats.
Find out how much a reservation costs on our page about reservation fees.

Get your Pass for the Netherlands

Benelux Pass

Discover Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg by rail.

Standard prices from $ 131

Book now

Global Pass

Be free to visit the Netherlands and up to 32 other Eurail countries.

Standard prices from $ 233

Book now

Pass benefits

Lounge Amsterdam Centraal

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
Rotterdam Centraal
Schiphol

See all Pass benefits in the Netherlands

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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