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How to travel by train?

Has it been a while since you last took the train? Or is it your first time? Do not worry, we are happy to help you get started. Whether you leave your car behind because of engineering work or choose to travel sustainably, good preparation makes your journey more comfortable. We will guide you step by step in planning, paying for, and making your journey with NS.

Preparing your journey

A relaxed journey starts with good preparation. This way, you know exactly what to expect when you arrive at the station.

Find your station

Want to know which station is nearest to you? Visit Stations information for a complete list of stations, along with their facilities and services.

Plan your journey

Use the NS Reisplanner to plan your journey door to door easily. Available via the NS app or on ns.nl. You can see which train to take, its departure time, the latest travel information, and the fare for your journey. You can also purchase your e-ticket directly here.

Getting to the station

Are you arriving by bike or car? All stations are easy to reach. Park your bike securely in a bicycle storage or leave your car at a Park and Ride (P+R).

If you park at a P+R and travel with NS on the same day, you receive a discount on your parking fees. Simply check in and out with your OV-chipkaart or e-ticket. That makes your journey even better. Find out how it works.

Start your journey with the NS app

The NS app makes it easy to plan your journey to any address in the Netherlands. You receive up-to-date travel information, see where OV-fietsen are available, and quickly find the nearest P+R. This is helpful if you combine your journey with a car.

  • Download the NS app for iOS
  • Download the NS app for Android

Choose your ticket

You need a valid ticket to travel by train. There are different ways to obtain one.

Season tickets

There is a suitable season ticket for everyone. Choose NS Flex or pay-as-you-go travel, for instance. Unsure which suits you best? The Choice Assistant helps you decide.

Start the choice assistant

OV-chipkaart

If you prefer not to buy a separate ticket each time, an OV-chipkaart is useful. Travel across all public transport with one card. Both personal and anonymous OV-chipkaarten are available. The card costs a one-time fee of €7.50. Make sure to top up your card balance before you travel.

If you have an NS season ticket, you can apply for a personal OV-chipkaart free of charge. Request yours at ns.nl/en/season-tickets.

Single tickets

You can easily buy single tickets online, in the NS app, or at NS Ticket Machines at the station.

Payment card

You can also check in and out with your payment card, credit card, or mobile device. This is ideal if you travel in 2nd class without a season ticket. It is flexible, requires no balance top-up, and is always at hand.

Find out more about travelling with your payment card

Travelling with NS Flex

Do you travel frequently or just occasionally by train? NS Flex offers flexible travel with monthly payment afterwards. You do not need to top up any balance and you can adjust or pause your season ticket anytime. OV-fiets and bicycle storage are included.

  • Choose your discount
  • NS Flex Choice Assistant

During your journey

Before you board, check in at a terminal or gate at the station. Here is how it works:

Checking in
  • Hold your OV-chipkaart against the card reader on the right-hand side
  • The gate opens (if available)
  • You will hear a single beep
  • You are checked in

If you are travelling with an e-ticket, scan the barcode on your ticket.

Checking out

At the end of your journey, check out the same way. You will hear two beeps to confirm you have checked out.

If you have an e-ticket, scan the barcode at gates with a barcode reader.

After your journey

Wherever you arrive, you can continue your journey easily with NS. Rent an OV-fiets for the last section or pick up a Greenwheels car sharing vehicle at one of the stations. Naturally, you can also transfer to bus, tram, or metro.

Continue your journey with the OV-fiets

The OV-fiets is perfect for the last part of your journey. The subscription is free and you can arrange it easily online. You need a personal OV-chipkaart for this. If you use NS Flex, the subscription is already included.

  • Lock your OV-fiets for free
  • Find an OV-fiets rental location