Day Return

Also

• You can travel out and back on the same route on the same day. If you want to come back on a different day, buy two one-way tickets.
• Please note: After completing your order, you can no longer change the name or travel details of the passenger. 

To popular destinations without a train station

You can also use this train ticket to travel to a number of destinations in the Netherlands without a station. You can depart from any train station in the Netherlands and travel part of the way by tram or bus. This is possible for the following destinations:

• All bus stops in Nijmegen or Arnhem
• Bloemendaal beach
• Burgers' Zoo
• Efteling
• Eindhoven Airport
• IJmuiden
• Madurodam
• Dutch Open Air Museum Arnhem (Nederlands Openluchtmuseum Arnhem)
• Papendal, Arnhem
• Beekse Bergen Safari Park
• Scheveningen
• Terneuzen

How does it work?

Buy a Day Return and enter the place you are going to as the destination station. You can travel by train, tram or bus – easy! Note: always take a printed version of your e-ticket with you.

The general terms and conditions apply to all products.

E-tickets are quick and easy to buy. Enter the journey details and the name(s) of the passenger(s) and then pay for the order by iDEAL or credit card. After that, you can use the e-ticket in two ways: printed out or loaded into the NS app. You can use this ticket to open the gate at the station and get on to the train. After clicking on ‘Add to cart’, you can enter the details of your journey. Depending on the ticket you buy, you choose the route and day of travel, and choose first or second class

Personal information

An e-ticket is issued personally, therefore it is only valid in combination with a valid proof of identity (passport, identity card or driving licence). That’s why you need to make sure that the name and date of birth on the e-ticket exactly match those on the passenger's proof of identity. Are you buying a train ticket for someone else? Then enter his or her details.

Payment

Pay safely and reliably via iDeal or a credit card. iDeal is available to customers of almost all Dutch banks.

Printing the e-ticket

Immediately after completing your order, you will receive a link that lets you download and use the e-tickets. If you want to get going right away, the quickest option is to load the tickets in the NS app.

You will also get a confirmation e-mail from us within 15 minutes. That e-mail contains a link that lets you download and print your e-tickets at any time. Printing the e-ticket is not mandatory.

Loading the ticket in the NS app

After completing your order, you will receive a link to your e-tickets. You will also get a confirmation e-mail with a link to your e-tickets. To load the e-tickets into the NS app, just open this link on your mobile phone.

You will then be taken to an overview page for your order. You will see two options there for using the e-tickets: ‘Download PDF’ or ‘Load into the NS app on your mobile’. Choose ‘Load into the NS app on your mobile’; the NS app will open automatically. The e-tickets can now be found under the heading ‘My tickets’ in the NS app.

Have a good journey!

The rules in brief

• An e-ticket is issued personally, therefore it is only valid in combination with a valid proof of identity. So do not forget to bring a valid passport, identity card or driving licence with you.
• You can travel with an e-ticket in two ways: load the e-ticket in the NS app on a mobile phone or print it out on a computer. Please note: E-tickets are only valid if shown in the NS app or if they have been printed out. Screenshots or PDFs displayed on a phone are not valid travel documents.
• If you take your e-ticket with you on your phone or tablet, please make sure that your device works and is adequately charged. If you opt to print out your e-ticket, please use A4 format.
• The Terms and Conditions for Travelling with an E-ticket apply to journeys with a mobile ticket.

Checking in is not required

You do not need to check in with an e-ticket. If you are travelling to or from a station with closed gates, then go to a gate with a barcode reader and open it with the square code on the e-ticket. Keep your e-ticket until the exit of your destination station; it might be needed there to open the gates.

How can you recognise a gate with a barcode reader?

Not all gates can be opened with an e-ticket. This is only possible on a gate with a barcode reader. There is at least one gate with a barcode reader at every station. These gates can be recognised from the ‘scan ticket’ symbol on the right-hand door of the gate. 

How to open a gate with an e-ticket

Step 1: Go to a gate and open your e-ticket in the NS app or use a printed e-ticket.
Step 2: Hold the barcode on your e-ticket up against the illuminated panel on your right.
Step 3: The gate opens and you can now enter or leave the station.
Note: Display only your e-ticket from the NS app or a printed copy. Only then will the gates open. 

Is it necessary to check in with my e-ticket?

You do not have to check in with your e-ticket. If the gates are closed at your station, then you can use the ticket to open them.

Do I have to print out the e-ticket?

No, this is not necessary. If you want, you can print the e-ticket, or you can load it into the NS app onto your phone or tablet. In this case, do ensure that you can display your e-ticket on a properly working and sufficiently charged device.

Is this ticket valid before 09:00 as well?

Yes, this ticket is valid for the whole day, from 00:00 until 04:00 the next day.

Can I interrupt my journey?

Yes, your trainticket is valid on the entire route between your starting station and your selected destination. You may interrupt your journey and disembark at every station along the way, as long as you do not deviate from your planned route.

If you would like to travel on the same route multiple times a day or travel on different routes on one day, the NS Dagkaart is the better option.

Can I alter my e-ticket?

No, after completing your purchase it is unfortunately no longer possible to alter your e-ticket. So do be careful to enter the correct personal and journey details. E-tickets are issued personally, and only valid in combination with a valid photo ID.

Is my ticket a ‘through ticket’?

That depends. According to the European legislation, a ‘through ticket’ means that you have a single agreement for transport for you entire train journey. If your entire journey is by NS, for instance from The Hague to Den Helder or from Leiden to Waddinxveen, then your train ticket is indeed a ‘through ticket’. There is then a single agreement for carriage as a passenger by NS.

If you are travelling on a ticket covering multiple rail carriers, your ticket is not a ‘through ticket’ because there are separate agreements for carriage as a passenger with each of the rail carriers you use.

Example: you buy a ticket for a journey from ’s-Hertogenbosch to Boxmeer. For this, you need to change at Nijmegen. For the journey from ’s-Hertogenbosch to Nijmegen, your transport agreement is with NS because the rail carrier for that part of your journey is NS. When you change at Nijmegen for the Arriva train to Boxmeer, your transport agreement is with Arriva because the rail carrier for that part of your journey is Arriva.