Care for National and Cultural Heritage
The Netherlands and NS have been connected for 175 years. Together, we play an important role in the country’s development and its people. To ensure future generations can continue to enjoy our rich railway heritage, we collaborate with organisations that preserve and manage this legacy.
Railway Museum and Archive
Railway Museum
With support from NS, the Railway Museum was completely renovated in 2005. Since then, it has been among the top museums in the Netherlands. It features a vibrant collection that brings railway history to life.
The museum connects past and present, for example with a daily shuttle train between Utrecht Central and Maliebaan Station. You can learn more about the history of Dutch railways on the Railway Museum’s website.
Utrecht Archives
NS collaborates with the Utrecht Archives to preserve our railway heritage. This ensures that this history remains accessible for you and future generations.
Royal Waiting Rooms
Together with ProRail, we manage the stations in the Netherlands. Many of the 31 station buildings hold monument status, such as municipal, provincial or national heritage listings. Notable examples include the restored Royal Waiting Rooms in Amsterdam, The Hague Hollands Spoor and Baarn.
In the past, the royal family also travelled by rail. They used special carriages and, at certain stations, had their own entrance and private rooms—the royal waiting rooms. These were used for stays before departure or to receive foreign guests.
Waiting Rooms in the Netherlands
The Hague once had two royal waiting rooms: one at Hollands Spoor station and one at Staatsspoor station (now The Hague Central). The complete interior of this station, demolished in 1976, is now displayed at the Railway Museum in Utrecht.
Other stations with royal waiting rooms include Apeldoorn, Baarn, Vlissingen and Amsterdam. The waiting rooms at The Hague Hollands Spoor, Baarn and Amsterdam have been restored over the past decade.
Amersfoort Rolling Stock Workshop
The former Rolling Stock Workshop in Amersfoort clearly shows NS’s commitment to sustainability and cultural heritage preservation. After the site was closed, the buildings received monument status. Some have been repurposed—for example, Holland Opera now occupies the Springsmithy, and CliniClowns are based in the Wheelwright’s Workshop.
Restaurant on platforms 4 and 5 at Amersfoort station
Amersfoort station also features a special historic building: the former platform building on platforms 4 and 5. This is now home to ‘Bar Beton’, a welcoming spot to eat, drink and hold meetings.