Traveling on an international train
You can travel on international trains in the Netherlands with a valid ticket, with the exception Eurostar trains. A supplement may be required for some trains.
Which trains require a supplement?
ICE
New ICE trains will run between Amsterdam and Berlin starting October 18th. From that date on, domestic travelers without an NS season ticket will pay a € 3 Supplement on the route Amsterdam Centraal - Hengelo.
- If you have a valid NS season ticket, OV-chipkaart from other seller, or Railrunner, then no supplement is necessary inside the Netherlands.
- If you don't have a valid NS season ticket, then you must purchase an ICE Supplement for the route Amsterdam Centraal - Utrecht Centraal - Arnhem Centraal.
- You can buy an ICE Supplement online or in the NS app. You can load the e-ticket into the NS app or print it.
- You can also purchase and download the ICE supplement at an NS Ticket Machine.
- The ICE Supplement is only valid for a one-way journey.
Eurocity Direct
- Travellers on the route Schiphol Airport - Rotterdam Centraal must have a valid ticket and an Intercity direct Supplement.
- You can buy an Intercity direct Supplement at the Supplement (Toeslag) pole at the departure platform.
- You can also buy the Supplement online or in the NS app. You can load the e-ticket into the NS app or at an NS Ticket Machine.
- You can download the Intercity direct supplement to your OV-chipkaart at the Supplement pole at the departure platform.
- Travellers with an international ticket and childeren travelling with a Railrunner or Kids Vrij do not need a supplement.
- The Intercity direct Supplement is only valid for a one-way journey.
International travel with an OV-chipkaart
You can book a single ticket for your entire journey from the departure station in the Netherlands to your destination abroad.
If you are entitled to free travel or a 40% discount on the domestic leg of the route, please communicate that fact when booking the ticket. You will then receive either 40% or 100% discount on your international ticket.
Remember to bring along your NS season ticket in addition to your ticket, as you must be able to show both when asked by the conductor.
An NS season ticket is not valid for the Thalys or Eurostar trains.
Opening gates with an international ticket for the entire journey
Most international tickets feature a QR code you can use to open the gates with a barcode reader.
Please note! Not all gates are equipped with a barcode reader. Some only have an OV-chipkaart reader.
- Stations with access gates have at least one wider gate equipped with an integrated barcode- and OV-chipkaart reader.
- At stations served by international trains, all gates are equipped with an integrated barcode- and OV-chipkaart reader.
This gate is indicated by a 'scan ticket' icon on the right door of the gate, and the illuminated surface to the right of the gate.
If you are travelling with an international ticket on a single-use chipkaart, you can open the gate by checking in with the chipkaart. This will automatically validate the ticket.
If the gate does not open, go to the Information Pole near the gates and press the blue button. This will contact an NS assistant who can help you. You can also approach a service assistant if one is on duty at the station.
Checking in and out
If you have booked an international journey from the departure station for an international train, and you plan on travelling with a domestic train to reach that station, then you must check in and out with your OV-chipkaart for the domestic leg of the journey. You can then continue from the international train's departure station with your international train ticket. We recommend that you book a single ticket for the entire journey. This way, you do not need to check in and out along the way.