Train travel in the Netherlands – who runs the trains, where to go and how to buy tickets
Travelling by train in the Netherlands allows you to explore some of the most fantastic cityscapes and countryside in Europe. Home to plenty of spectacular architecture and vibrant, welcoming cities (none more so than Rotterdam, Eindhoven and Amsterdam), the Netherlands is definitely worth a visit if you haven't already been. From the modern vibes of Rotterdam to the vibrant energy of Eindhoven, there are plenty of things to see and do in this wonderful country, and travelling by train is a great way to see it all!
We’re here to give you all the information you need about trains in the Netherlands, including how to find and buy cheap train tickets, train times, types and more. Keep reading or start a search in our Journey Planner to buy your Netherlands train tickets today.
Places to visit in the Netherlands
The Netherlands is packed with unmissable attractions. From the famous tulip-laden fields and windmills to the sights and sounds of major cities like Amsterdam, you'll never be bored during your trip. If you're not quite sure where to go, or you want a short excursion from Amsterdam but haven't decided where to, then check out our guide below.
Rotterdam
The second largest city in the Netherlands, Rotterdam is a city that has it all: a modern skyline with eye-catching architecture and contemporary museums, combined with the historic area of Delfshaven, with its windmill, canals and characteristic canal houses.
The city centre of Rotterdam is very unique, with a number of skyscrapers dominating the skyline. Rotterdam was devastated by bombing during the Second World War, meaning that much of the city had to be rebuilt. This created space for modern architecture and a new skyline that defines the city today.
Trendy Rotterdam is a city of many sides. It offers sophisticated shopping, art and museums, and excellent food. The city is home to the Netherlands' largest indoor food market, the Markthal, with more than 100 food stands and restaurants. You can buy anything from fresh bread to delicious cheese, fish, poultry and even flowers and plants, all under one roof. Don’t forget to look up at the ceiling, where you will find the largest artwork in the Netherlands.
Rotterdam also offers a rich cultural scene. Visit the Nederlands Fotomuseum for powerful visual stories, explore the Kunsthal with its dynamic programme of exhibitions, or discover Fenix, a new cultural hotspot on the waterfront where art, city life and history come together.
Other architectural highlights in Rotterdam include the Depot of Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, with around 155,000 works of art (including pieces by Van Gogh), the swan-like Erasmus Bridge, and the 185 metre tall Euromast. Rotterdam is known as a forward-looking and sustainable city, with initiatives such as the Floating Farm and the DakAkker, the largest open-air rooftop farm in the Netherlands.
You can also explore the city from the water in a watertaxi along the River Maas. Or take a short trip along the water to the nearby city of Schiedam, home to the largest windmills in the world, or visit the Kinderdijk windmill park, a picturesque UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Image provided by Iris van den Broek
Eindhoven
Discover Eindhoven, the Netherlands’ capital of design. This vibrant city combines a modern, tech-forward atmosphere (thanks to its historic connection to Philips) with rich cultural history, making it a unique destination for travellers seeking a fresh and inspiring experience. Explore this innovative city, where Van Gogh spent many hours painting and teaching.
The creative pulse of the city beats strong in Strijp-S and Strijp-R, once industrial Philips sites that have been transformed into lively cultural districts. Today, Strijp-S is known for its contemporary galleries, design studios, independent cafés and frequent cultural events. Close by, Strijp-R is home to the famous studio of designer Piet Hein Eek, where craftsmanship, art and design meet. His work is known worldwide for its use of reclaimed materials and distinctive handcrafted furniture.
The city’s design identity is perhaps best captured by Dutch Design Week, Northern Europe’s largest design event. This nine-day festival brings together more than 2,000 designers from all over the world to present their work. Even beyond this week, Eindhoven offers a rich cultural programme throughout the year, from getting a glimpse of the future (centuries from now) at the Next Nature Museum to soaking up history at the PreHistoric Village, and wandering through one of the most prestigious museums for modern art, the Van Abbemuseum.
Eindhoven also holds a special place in art history as one of Vincent van Gogh's homes. Just outside the city lies the village of Nuenen, where the painter lived and worked for several years. During his time here he produced some of his best-known pieces, including The Potato Eaters. Visitors can explore dedicated Van Gogh cycling routes through the countryside that inspired him and stop at the Van Gogh Village Museum to learn more about this important period in his life.
Image provided by Max Kneefel
Amsterdam
The capital of the Netherlands, Amsterdam is one of the most popular cities to visit in Europe. Famous for its canals, unique layout and quirky districts, Amsterdam is perfect for a city break. Travelling into Amsterdam Centraal station, you'll arrive at the northern tip of the city centre, ready to explore!
The neighbourhoods outside of the city centre are well worth a visit, such as Amsterdam East with its greenery and bustling markets or the peaceful lakeside area of New-West Amsterdam. The magnificent Amsterdam North is a fusion of historic and modern buildings and De Pijp, in the vibrant area of Amsterdam South is known as the Latin quarter. Or, why not take a walk to Old-West, located on the edge of Vondelpark and home to a selection of quality restaurants.
A visit to Amsterdam is not complete without a stroll around the spectacular museums, home to paintings by great Dutch Masters such as Van Gogh (Van Gogh Museum) and Rembrandt (Rijksmuseum). Another popular landmark is Anne Frank’s house; the site where the young World War Two diarist hid from the Nazis. Top tip: to avoid disappointment, be sure to book all museum tickets online a few weeks in advance of your travel.
The shopping possibilities in Amsterdam will not disappoint either, from high-street stores to independent one-off boutiques. The more exclusive shops, such as those on P.C. Hooftstraat (street) can be found close to Amsterdam's popular park, Vondelpark, in the Old-South neighbourhood. Or for more boutique type shops, sustainable fashion and cute cafes, try Jan Pieter Heijestraat in Amsterdam’s Old-West district. Amsterdam also has many open-air markets, such as the Albert Cuypmarkt in the Old-South neighbourhood.
The Hague
Known as Den Haag to the locals and as the ‘Royal City by the Sea’ to visitors, The Hague is the political centre for the Netherlands. While constitutionally the capital city is Amsterdam, The Hague is where the Dutch government sits, as well as the royal family of the Netherlands. This also makes it a very cultural city to visit, with plenty of attractions and tours for visitors.
Found on the outskirts of the city centre, the Peace Palace is home to the International Court of Justice, the highest court for the United Nations. A popular tourist attraction, you can walk the palace grounds and immerse yourself in one of the most important buildings in political law.
Don’t miss your chance to see Vermeer’s masterpiece ‘Girl with a Pearl Earring,’ in the Mauritshuis museum, along with artworks by Rembrandt. You can also visit The Hague’s beach, Scheveningen, while you are there. This wide, golden beach runs along the coastal edge of the city and is famous for its fresh seafood restaurants.
Popular routes
Thanks to the Dutch high-speed rail network, travel times between the major cities are relatively short. Choose some of the popular routes below to buy tickets and see journey times.
Netherlands train map
Using our Netherlands train map, you can plan your journey around the Dutch cities and regions to create the perfect break. A relatively small country, the comprehensive Dutch rail network means travelling between the cities and neighbouring countries is an incredibly easy and hassle-free experience.
Trains from the Netherlands to other countries
Not only is it super easy to travel by rail within the Netherlands, it’s also well-connected with other countries in Europe, which makes cross-border travel a breeze. Whether you want to travel from the Netherlands to Brussels, France or the UK, there’s no need to fly when the train can whisk you from city centre to city centre in no time.
|
Route |
Train operators |
Fastest time |
|
Eurostar |
5h 2m | |
|
Eurostar |
3h 28m | |
|
NS, SNCB |
1h 52m | |
| NS, DB | 6h 36m | |
| NS | 6h 48m | |
| Eindhoven to Brussels | NS |
2h 23m |
Train stations in the Netherlands
Travelling between cities in the Netherlands is an enjoyable experience, with new sights and cultures to discover everywhere you go. The major stations themselves also have their own unique identities, and you can find out more about them here along with what other attractions are nearby.
Amsterdam Centraal
A major transport hub in the city of Amsterdam, and the second busiest train station in the Netherlands, Amsterdam Centraal provides regional, national and international services to the city. Opened in 1889, Amsterdam Centraal has grown to become an important hub for tourists and commuters alike. With 11 platforms serving the station, featuring trains from as far as London, Berlin and Paris, Amsterdam Centraal is pivotal to international travel to the Netherlands.
With a number of shops, cafes and restaurants inside the station itself, you won't be short of ways to pass the time whilst waiting for your train. Should you need somewhere to drop your luggage off, Amsterdam Centraal has luggage storage on site, meaning you can travel the city luggage-free before your hotel opens. Amsterdam Centraal is well connected with public transport - you can connect to the Metro at the station, and there are numerous tram and bus stops nearby to help with your travel around the city.
Utrecht Centraal
The largest and busiest station in the Netherlands, Utrecht Centraal is also the headquarters for Nederlandse Spoorwegen themselves. Thanks to the central location within the Netherlands, Utrecht Centraal has grown to become the major rail transport station in the country, with 16 platforms serving the station. First opened in 1843, Utrecht Centraal underwent major reconstruction between 2008 and 2016, helping to make the station more suitable for the ever-increasing passenger numbers.
Due to the high number of cyclists in the city, you'll find the world’s largest bicycle parking station next to Utrecht Centraal. If you're planning to travel around Utrecht by bicycle, there's a strong chance you'll be able to hire one from here! Bus and tram services also call at the station, providing excellent public transport services for the surrounding areas. Utrecht Centraal is situated in the centre of the city, so many of the local attractions are also accessible by foot.
Rotterdam Centraal
Found in the very centre of the city, Rotterdam Centraal has become one of the busiest train stations in the Netherlands, with over 100,00 passengers travelling through the station every day. Rotterdam Centraal was completely rebuilt and reopened in 2014, with major renovations to the exterior and interior.
There are 13 platforms, with trains connecting you to all corners of the Netherlands, including Amsterdam, Utrecht and The Hague. You can also travel internationally to Rotterdam, with direct services from cities such as London, Brussels and Paris.
Rotterdam Centraal is also well connected locally, with metro, tram and bus services all stopping at the station, making it easy to get around the city and beyond. With the Rotterdam City Card, you can travel unlimited on public transport and benefit from discounts on a wide range of attractions and museums.
Image provided by Iris van den Broek
Eindhoven Centraal
Located in the heart of the city, Eindhoven Centraal is the main and busiest railway station in the south of the Netherlands, with hundreds of thousands of passengers passing through it every day. Just one step outside the station places you right in the middle of this city of technology, design, and innovation.
From Eindhoven Centraal, trains depart to cities such as Amsterdam, Utrecht, and Rotterdam. There are also excellent connections to the south, including to Maastricht. The station also includes a large bus terminal, making it easy to continue your journey within Eindhoven and the surrounding region.
Image provided by Max Kneefel
Den Haag Centraal
The largest railway station in The Hague, Den Haag Centraal provides a number of services for tourists and commuters into the heart of the political and business centre of the Netherlands. Den Haag Centraal is also the largest terminal train station in the country, with 12 platforms at the station. There are no international routes that travel to Den Haag Centraal, with the station instead providing a large number of services connecting the major cities of the Netherlands.
Trains to Den Haag Centraal include services from Amsterdam, Utrecht, Rotterdam, and Groningen. Local transport from Den Haag Centraal is in good supply. There are two levels of platforms for the local tram routes, as well as an underground metro system, making travel within the city very easy.
Good to know (FAQs)
Wondering whether you can travel with pets or bikes? We've got answers to some of your most frequently asked questions below.
Who operates trains in the Netherlands?
Can you take bikes on trains in the Netherlands?
How much do train tickets cost in the Netherlands?
Where can I go in the Netherlands by train?
Can you take pets on the trains in the Netherlands?
In need of some inspiration?
Take a look at some of our expert guides to all the things you can see do and visit in the Netherlands. Want to view more? Check out our Netherlands travel guide hub.
Learn more about train travel in Europe
So you’ve come to the end of our guide to train travel in and around the Netherlands. We hope you now know your Intercitys from your Sprinters. We’ve covered domestic and cross-border train travel, how to buy your tickets and which ones can save you the most money.
Ready to book your train travel in the Netherlands? Start your search for times and tickets in our Journey Planner at the top of the page. Not quite found what you’re looking for yet? Check out our other pages about train travel within Europe, or our guides to taking the train in other European countries.