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Travelling with children on the train

Heading out with the children? Choose a relaxed and cost-effective journey by train. No stress about traffic jams, parking fees or looking for a parking space. With Kids Vrij, children aged 4 to 11 travel free with you, even during peak hours. Discover all the benefits and practical tips, and make the journey itself part of the experience.

• Children aged 4 to 11 travel free with you on Kids Vrij;
• Children up to 3 years old always travel free and do not need a season ticket;
• With an NS Flex season ticket you have always benefits that suit your journey;
• Travel relaxed to your destination: all your attention on each other;
• Travel without traffic jams and without parking fees to your destination.

Read more about Kids Vrij

Kids Vrij

Children aged four to 11 travel with you for free, even during peak hours.

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Travel by train for less

Railrunner

Children aged four to 11 can travel all day, unlimited, by train for € 2,50.

Learn more about Railrunner

Kids Vrij

Children aged four to 11 travel free with you, even during peak hours.

Read more about Kids Vrij

NS Flex Dal Voordeel

Free for young people aged 12 to 17. This gives you 40% discount during off-peak hours and at...

See NS Flex Dal Voordeel

NS offers several affordable ways to travel with your family.

0 to 3 years

Free

4 to 11 years

Free with Kids Vrij

12 to 17 years

Free NS Flex Dal Voordeel

From 18 years

Standard fare or a suitable NS Flex season ticket

Are you travelling with multiple adults? Samenreiskorting is useful then: fellow travellers get a discount when they travel together.

Find out how you can still use the Co-travel discount

Days out with the children

A day out by train

Discover how easy and enjoyable travelling by train with children can be. Explore an open-air museum together, step into a tropical jungle or walk past the windmills at the Zaanse Schans. Take the train and explore a new city together. Be inspired by our favourite destinations and make your day out an unforgettable experience.

Tips for travelling with children

With a little planning, travelling by train with children can be a real treat. Here are a few practical tips:

  • Plan your journey in the NS app, check the expected busyness and turn on notifications for your planned journey.
  • Bring games and colouring books to enjoy together on the journey.
  • Pack a small rucksack with favourite snacks and drinks. Taking a short break on the way makes travelling much more relaxed.
  • Prefer to start your journey by car? Park at one of the 270 Park and Ride (P+R). That way you avoid traffic jams or high parking costs.

Frequently asked questions

What is NS Flex Weekend Vrij?

With NS Flex Weekend Vrij you can travel unlimited on weekends and public holidays. The subscription costs € 39,50 per month. If you are 65 or older you pay a reduced price of € 28,95 per month for NS Flex Weekend Vrij.

Any additional fares for train (outside your season ticket, for example on weekdays), tram, bus, metro and OV-fiets are charged afterwards by direct debit. You will see everything on one invoice in Mijn NS.

Want to know more? Read about NS Flex Weekend Vrij.

What is NS Flex Dal Voordeel?

With NS Flex Dal Voordeel you travel at a 40% discount during off-peak hours, at weekends and on public holidays. The subscription costs for NS Flex Dal Voordeel are € 6,35 per month. You pay the fare for your journey and costs for tram, bus, metro and OV-fiets afterwards by direct debit. You can see everything on a single invoice in Mijn NS.

Want to know more? Read about NS Flex Dal Voordeel.

How does Kids Vrij work?

With Kids Vrij, children aged 4 to 11 travel free and as often as they like with you, even during peak hours. Each child travels with their own personal OV-chipkaart and must be accompanied by a travelling person aged 12 or older. Children with Kids Vrij also travel free on trains of other operators. On bus, tram and metro they automatically receive a 34% discount.

You can order Kids Vrij here for free if your child has their own OV-chipkaart. You can also buy an OV-chipkaart for € 7,50 when ordering Kids Vrij.

Can I travel using Samenreiskorting?

Are you travelling in off-peak hours or at the weekend with someone you know who has an NS season ticket? Hop on with Samenreiskorting and get 40% off the fare for your journey. Do you have an NS season ticket yourself? You can give a discount to up to three fellow travellers. You will be linked to each other using a samenreiscode.

Want to know more? See the Samenreiskorting page.

What are the off-peak hours?

Off-peak hours on weekdays are:

  • 00:00 to 06:30
  • 09:00 to 16:00
  • 18:30 to 00:00

On weekends and public holidays they apply all day, except on King’s Day.

Can I bring a stroller or buggy on the train?

Yes, strollers and buggies are welcome on the train. Please make sure the stroller does not block the aisle or inconveniece other travellers, and that it does not occupy a seat if another traveller wishes to use it.