All About Trains in The Netherlands

The NS (Nederlandse Spoorwegen) has an amazing railway network system, with about 1,600 trains serving the city every day – schedules running between various places every 10 to 15 minutes. They have increased the length of platforms to accommodate two trains simultaneously (with an intersecting middle platform so that trains would be able to pass one another).

Holland, usually mistaken as a whole with The Netherlands, is Europe's westernmost area renowned for its windmills, tulips, and the country’s capital – Amsterdam. Traveling around the country is, for the most part, convenient, particularly when getting around by way of the national railway network operated by Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS).

There are many other things the Dutch are famous for such as clogs, cheese, museums, bicycles, and canals, but nothing can compare to their scenic landscape. Travel by Dutch trains in The Netherlands is the best way to experience a country rich in history and culture.

Make the most out of the Dutch trains in The Netherlands and take a trip to one of the most celebrated European cities – Amsterdam. Although the Dutch capital is not as big as London or Paris, it is filled with sights and sounds that will definitely meet and exceed your thirst for adventure.

Of course, you can reach your destination by taking a cab or bus or renting a car, but it would be a great experience, not to mention a cheaper alternative, to see everything that The Netherlands has to offer by riding the train. After all, most of the locals – rich and poor, young and old – take the train every day to get to the office, school or any place they want to go.

The Netherlands has one of the most advanced and extensive public transport network systems in the world, and you would be able to reach any area of the country by train.

Kinds of Trains

The NS provides a wide range of train services that will suit the needs of different passengers. The major kinds of trains in operation in Holland are the InterCity Express (ICE), InterCity train (IC), stoptrein, and sneltrain. Stoptreins will have stopovers at regular periods throughout a route, whereas sneltreins only have periodic stopovers, yet travels faster. The ICE and IC trains run the fastest and make only two stops between Cologne and Amsterdam (in Arnhem and Utrecht).

The Dutch firm NedTrain provides maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services for the big NS railco as well as a growing number of other passenger and freight carriers. This is a very important role -- as I've written before, both on infrastructure and various vehicles MRO. – Joost Bonsen

Train Passes and Tickets

Passengers can grab an Intercityboekje (a train timetable brochure) at train stations, or research online for train schedules prior to purchasing tickets. Many discounts and train passes are available to both local and foreign passengers.

Destinations

The Netherlands is crammed with train stations and railways, from the biggest city to the smallest countryside town in the region. Trains frequently have stopovers in stations all over the country, with up to 5 trains departing every hour from a number of the bigger train stations, including the ones in Amsterdam, The Hague, and Rotterdam, while a countryside train line network system service smaller rural areas throughout the country, collaborating at times with the national bus line to get to areas with the least amount of population like the remote region of South Holland.

Comfort

Generally, Dutch trains in The Netherlandsare spacious enough and comfortable for majority of passengers. Although trains have first class, as well as second class accommodations, most journeys all over the country are very short, so it is not wise to purchase first-class tickets. Just like majority of trains in Western Europe, cars are arranged with two passenger seats on opposite side (with overhead compartments on top and storage sections close to the doorway of each car).

Efficiency

While Dutch trains in The Netherlands have always been recognized for their high level of speed and efficiency, its reliability has started to dwindle during the past couple of years. As of 2010, based on the studies conducted by Lonely Planet, trains all over The Netherlands are becoming more and more behind schedule for departure times, mainly because of traffic during rush hours. But predominantly, train commuters in The Netherlands are able to reach their destinations will only slight delays, particularly taking into account that majority of train journeys in the region last less than an hour.