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Keuzedagen

Are you 60 or over? Keuzedagen from NS let you travel more affordably across the Netherlands. Read how to order and use them.

Keuzedagen: everything you need to know

What are Keuzedagen?

Keuzedagen from NS are free travel days for travellers aged 60 and over who have a Dal Voordeel on-saldo season ticket. You can travel unlimited across the Netherlands during off-peak hours on that day. Use them for a day out by yourself, a museum visit with friends or a day out with the (grand)children.

  • 7 Keuzedagen per a year
  • 12 months valid
  • € 34,95 per a year

You can order Keuzedagen only together with a Dal Voordeel on-saldo season ticket. They cannot be ordered separately, with any other season ticket or with an NS Flex season ticket.

From € 9,26 per month (€ 111,15 per a year) you get 7 Keuzedagen per a year and a Dal Voordeel on-saldo season ticket.

How do Keuzedagen work?

A Keuzedag is simple to use. Choose the day you want to travel, collect your Keuzedag at a kaartautomaat at the station and travel free of charge during off-peak hours that day. Check in and check out as usual with your OV-chipkaart.

On weekdays off-peak hours are the times outside the morning and evening peaks. Weekdays: before 06:30, between 09:00 and 16:00, and after 18:30. At the weekend a Keuzedag is valid all day.

Conditions

Unused Keuzedagen expire automatically one year after your season ticket start date. You can order Keuzedagen only with a Dal Voordeel on-saldo season ticket. They cannot be ordered separately and are not available with any other season ticket.

Activating and collecting Keuzedagen

Before you travel, collect your Keuzedag. You can do this on the day itself at a kaartautomaat at the station.

Collect a Keuzedag at an NS kaartautomaat
  1. Go to an NS kaartautomaat at the station
  2. Hold your OV-chipkaart against the kaartlezer of the machine
  3. Select 'Ophalen Keuzedag'
  4. Press 'Akkoord'
  5. Hold your OV-chipkaart against the kaartlezer again until you see confirmation

Your Keuzedag is now stored on your OV-chipkaart. It activates the moment you check in during off-peak hours. If you check in during peak hours you will travel on saldo as normal.

Collect a Keuzedag at an Arriva machine

Travelling in an Arriva region? Activating at an Arriva machine works differently to an NS machine.

Step-by-step: activating Keuzedagen at Arriva

View Keuzedagen via Mijn NS

Log in to Mijn NS and go to 'Mijn Producten'. You will see how many Keuzedagen you have left and until when they are valid. It is not possible to view your Keuzedagen in the NS app.

Checking in and out on a Keuzedag

On a Keuzedag check in and check out as you normally do: hold your OV-chipkaart against a paaltje or gate. Your Keuzedag activates when you check in during off-peak hours. If you accidentally travel during peak hours you will travel on saldo.

Forgot to check out?

Did you forget to check out? You can still check out at a gate or paaltje up to six hours after checking in. If you cannot do that in time you will be charged the standard fare for your journey.

Read more about missed check-in or check-out

Keuzedagen validity

You use your Keuzedagen:

  • during off-peak hours
  • on all trains
  • within the Netherlands

Keuzedagen do not apply on the bus, tram or metro. Make sure all check-in times fall within off-peak hours, including when you change trains and check in again with another operator.

Find out when off-peak hours apply

Expired Keuzedagen are removed

Keuzedagen are valid for 12 months from the season ticket start date. If you do not use them within those 12 months your Keuzedagen will be removed from Mijn NS and from the kaartautomaat because they have expired. You cannot carry them over to the next year.

Frequently asked questions about Keuzedagen

I want to upgrade my Keuzedag to 1st class

Prefer to use your Keuzedag in 1st class for once? You can, for € 6 extra per Keuzedag. First activate your Keuzedag and then buy the Toeslag 2-1 at an NS Ticket Machine. Here’s how:

  1. Collect your Keuzedag (see the steps above)
  2. Hold the OV-chipkaart in front of the card reader again
  3. Select ‘Change class’, then ‘Toeslag 2-1’
  4. Choose the date you want to travel and pay
  5. Hold the OV-chipkaart against the reader once more
  6. Toeslag 2-1 has now been added

Please note: the display shows 2nd class when you check in, but the train conductor will see that you have a surcharge for 1st class.

You can only change the class for one Keuzedag at a time. Keuzedagen can only be switched from 2nd class to 1st class, not the other way around.

Can I extend my Keuzedagen?

No. Unused Keuzedagen expire after a year. You cannot extend them or carry them over to the next year.

Are you unable to retrieve the Keuzedag?

Do you not see any Keuzedagen ready on the NS Ticket Machine? This may be because:

  • you have already used your seven Keuzedagen per year.
  • the validity of your unused Keuzedagen has expired.
  • there is a technical disruption. Please contact Customer Service.

We make the Keuzedagen from your (new) season ticket available one day before your new season ticket starts.

Can I cancel my Keuzedagen on a monthly basis?

Yes, Keuzedagen can be cancelled on a monthly basis. You will receive a refund for your unused Keuzedagen, minus one. That final Keuzedag is already available for use and will not be refunded, but you can still use it after you have cancelled, until the date your contract would originally have ended.

Example: do you have five unused Keuzedagen? You will receive a refund for the value of four Keuzedagen.

Your Dal Voordeel season ticket will remain active. Would you like to cancel that as well? You will receive a refund of the costs for the remainder of the year. You can cancel via Mijn NS.

Can I collect two Keuzedagen at once?

No. You can only collect and use one Keuzedag at a time.

What benefits are available for people aged 60 and over at NS?

Keuzedagen are part of the Dal Voordeel pay-as-you-go season ticket, a popular choice for people aged 60 and over who travel regularly by train. With this season ticket you get 40% off pay-as-you-go fares during off-peak hours and at weekends, plus seven Keuzedagen a year for unlimited travel. If you are 65 or older, you have additional benefits. For example, you receive a substantial discount on an NS Flex Weekend Vrij or NS Flex Dal Vrij season ticket.

Alle voordelen voor 65-plussers