International tickets

You can purchase international train tickets from NS International, NS International agents or individual carriers. The carrier is the organisation operating the train service and the data controller with regard to the personal data on the ticket.

NS International sells international train tickets for services operated by various carriers, including Eurostar, Deutsche Bahn and SNCF.

NS sells online tickets, which are e-tickets, and these tickets are personalised. For services to Belgium, Luxembourg and several destinations in Germany, travellers can purchase tickets from an NS ticket machine or at the domestic NS Service Desk without having to make a prior reservation. No personal data is stated on these valuable paper tickets. 

NS International asks passengers for their given name, surname, e-mail address and occasionally their phone number, date of birth and gender. If you purchase a Eurostar ticket to England, we also process your nationality, type of travel document, travel document number, country of issue of the travel document, and the travel document expiry date.

In some cases, NS International is not the only party that will process your personal data for international rail journeys. Train journeys often pass through several countries, which means that multiple carriers are involved and these parties will also have access to all or some of your personal data. In addition, you won't always purchase a ticket through the specific carrier, but through a party instead that sells tickets on behalf of multiple carriers.

If NS International is functioning solely as a carrier, then your personal data will be used for providing the train service, checking your ticket, and booking your seat in the carriage. Tickets for which NS International is the carrier are marked with the code 1184. The first name and surname are used for checking your tickets. Your e-mail address is only shared with EuroCity/Eurocity Direct, Eurostar and SNCF for the purpose of sending service messages about the train service operated by the carrier. We also share your date of birth with SNCF for identification purposes. For night train services with a sleeping car, we will also share your gender with the carrier to ensure that passengers of the same gender are allocated the same compartment. 

If NS International acts as a seller, your personal data will be used for communicating about your journey and your ticket, as well as dealing with any questions or complaints. Tickets for which NS International is the seller are marked with the code CIV 1184. If NS International only acts as the seller, it uses your given name, surname and e-mail address to create and send the ticket, to send notifications in case of an emergency and to build and maintain a customer relationship.For more information, visit: Building and maintaining a customer relationship.

NS International may also engage agents to sell tickets. In this case, NS International is the data controller.

In some partnerships with other carriers, NS International is both the seller (ticket provider) and the carrier, such as for the Amsterdam-Brussels service. 

The basis for the processing is: conclusion and performance of the agreement

We need the information requested for personal OV-chipkaarten or personal international tickets in order to enter into an agreement with you and to execute said agreement. If you do not provide this information, or if you are unwilling to do so, you cannot purchase a personal OV-chipkaart or international ticket.

If you purchase a personalised international train ticket, your data will be used to check your ticket. In addition, we also process your personal data to send you essential information and notifications by e-mail and through the NS International app, such as changes to your journey or train cancellation.

The principle for the processing is: compliance with a legal obligation

If you purchase a Eurostar ticket to England, the British Advance Passenger Information legislation applies. NS must then provide the UK government with the information above, in addition to the data required for the ticket. NS provides this data directly to Eurostar, which then provides it to the British government. This is required by British law, and you cannot purchase a valid ticket without providing this data. More information.   

The basis for data processing is: legitimate interest

If you purchase an international train ticket or if someone books a ticket for you as a passenger/co-passenger, your personal data will be used to offer services in preparation for your trip and after the trip.

Examples include information about checking in and out, transfers, and facilities during the journey. We also ask for feedback after the journey and provide information on compensation in the event of cancellations or delays. NS International has a legitimate interest in processing data for this purpose. For more information, visit: Building and maintaining a customer relationship.

If you purchase a ticket in your own name, you have a personal ticket. In that case, NS will also process your name in order to combat improper use of the ticket. Other carriers with whom you travel and any sellers involved with them will also be able to inspect the validity of your ticket. You can find more information at Combating fraud and abuse.

Your given name and surname are printed on the ticket and are shared with the relevant carrier for the reasons listed above. Your e-mail address is only shared with EuroCity/Eurocity Direct, Eurostar and SNCF for the purpose of sending service messages about the train service operated by the carrier. We also share your date of birth with SNCF for identification purposes. For services with a sleeping car, we will also share your gender with the carrier.

The personal data you provide when purchasing a Eurostar ticket to England will be passed on to Eurostar and the British government by means of a secure connection.

We contract third parties to provide IT services. These third parties process the data solely for our own internal use, and for no other purpose. We have made agreements with these parties pertaining to the processing of personal data.

We will store your customer data (name and contact details) and journey details for no more than 18 months after your trip. We store your ticket for up to 8 months after the journey, for the purpose of service queries and claims handling.

The additional data you provide when purchasing a Eurostar ticket to England will be stored until directly after you have travelled.