Pays-Bas en train
Overview
© adisa
The Netherlands are tailor-made for rail travel. The national railway company is Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS) and it boasts over 2,800km of railway network. All major Dutch cities can be reached in a train ride of 3 hrs or less from either Amsterdam or Rotterdam. It is a small country and so, when taking the train in the Netherlands, you will find only one domestic high-speed service, namely the 117km stretch from Amsterdam to Breda which makes just two stops along the way (at Schiphol Airport and Rotterdam). There is also a useful all-night service linking principal cities in the Netherlands by train around the clock.
Dutch cities such as Amsterdam , Rotterdam , The Hague, Utrecht and Maastricht all pull in the crowds. They are all worth a visit, but make time too for smaller communities. Gouda, Delft, ’s-Hertogenbosch and Haarlem are all great spots for day excursions or a weekend break. Visitors to the Netherlands discover much more than tulips and windmills. There's an edgy cultural scene, and a big helping of world-class museums, music festivals, great food markets and exemplary cycling trails. See our blogs below on some of the best things to do in the Netherlands. However, for many visitors the enduring appeal of the Netherlands is in the country's laid-back ways and quiet commitment to the good life.
If you are looking to travel to the Netherlands by train from other countries, the direct Eurostar London to Amsterdam route (stopping at Rotterdam en route) is hard to beat, taking just over 4 hrs. There are also excellent high-speed rail links between Amsterdam and Paris in France with Thalys , Cologne or Dusseldorf in Germany, Basel in Switzerland and Antwerp in Belgium as well as many cities beyond.
Popular journeys
The Netherlands has a well-developed and efficient railway system, making train travel an excellent option for getting around the country. Trains run frequently between major cities and towns, allowing for convenient and timely travel. High-speed trains, known as Intercity Direct, connect Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht and Breda, reducing travel times significantly. But there are also many trains in the Netherlands connecting the city centres to the countryside, such as the beaches or the tulip fields in spring time.
The best train journeys in the Netherlands
Trains to the Netherlands
© JacobH
What trains can you travel with in the Netherlands?
Airport train stations
Airport train stations in the Netherlands
The main international airport in the Netherlands is Amsterdam Schiphol Airport which has its own train station. Schiphol International Airport is very well connected to the entire domestic network, and also offers direct service to Brussels and Paris via Thalys trains.
You can purchase train tickets from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport to Amsterdam city centre on our website.
