Routes and stations
NS trains cover the whole country. The busiest corridor links Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam, Leiden, The Hague, Rotterdam and Utrecht. Intercity trains stop only at main stations. Sprinter trains stop everywhere.
Intercity Direct is the fast service on the high-speed line between Amsterdam Zuid, Schiphol, Rotterdam and Breda. Amsterdam Zuid to Rotterdam takes under 40 minutes, against about 71 minutes from Amsterdam Centraal on a normal Intercity.
For international trains such as Eurostar or ICE to Germany you need a separate international ticket. Tapping your bank card covers domestic travel only.
Tickets and fares
The easiest option for visitors is OVpay. You tap your contactless bank card, phone or watch on the reader when you enter the platform and again when you leave the station. The system works out the fare and charges your card later the same day.
With OVpay you always travel in 2nd class at full fare. A trip from Schiphol to Amsterdam Centraal costs about €6. If you want 1st class or a discount, buy a ticket in the NS app or at a machine instead.
On Intercity Direct trains between Schiphol and Rotterdam a domestic ticket needs a supplement, €3.20 in 2026. International tickets and Interrail or Eurail passes do not need it. Fares change every year, so check before you travel.
How to book
For OVpay you do not book anything. Use a Visa or Mastercard (credit or debit) with the contactless symbol. American Express and Diners Club are not accepted, and some foreign digital-only cards fail.
For a fixed ticket, use the NS app or ns.nl, or the yellow-blue ticket machines in stations. The app also shows platforms, delays and the crowding level of each train.
For trains to Belgium, Germany, France or London use NS International or the operator's own site.
Tips for travellers
Always tap in and out with the same card or the same phone. A card in Apple Pay or Google Pay is a different card from the plastic one, so mixing them breaks the fare.
If you forget to tap out, you are charged €33.30. From six hours after the trip you can correct it on ovpay.nl and get the difference back within about five days. If you tap in by mistake, tap out at the same station within 60 minutes and nothing is charged.
Look for the Stilte (silence) signs on carriages if you want a quiet trip. Each family member needs their own card or ticket, because one card pays for one traveller.
Last checked: October 2026. Fares and timetables change, so confirm on the official website before you travel.
