NS International: Tickets, Timetables and Facilities

Buy NS International tickets conveniently and easily at Omio

From London to Belgium? From Amsterdam to Rotterdam? Explore the Netherlands and neighbouring countries in comfort by train! The Dutch railways provide the right connections. Travelling comfortably and conveniently was never so easy. With Omio, you have a strong partner at your side to help you enjoy your journey from the very first minute. Omio not only offers tickets for NS International trains, but also for almost all other railway companies.

Omio offers you the perfect service when it comes to planning your journey. All you have to do is enter your departure location and destination. Now select the time slot you want, and you'll see all the connections available to you. You’ll find out which connection is the fastest, which is the least expensive, and whether and where you have to change trains. Planning your trip couldn’t be easier than with Omio. Book your NS International tickets today and start an unforgettable journey through the Netherlands and Europe!

Find affordable tickets for NS International with Omio

If you are looking for affordable tickets for NS International trains, Omio is the place to be! Omio offers you great value for money and maximum savings. Instead of buying expensive train tickets, you can take advantage of the huge savings potential. This way, you can save on your travel budget and spend your money on great things to do instead. After all, the Netherlands has some wonderful sights in store for you. Want to see more of Europe? With NS International, you can travel from Amsterdam to Rotterdam or from London to Belgium – you can always find cheap tickets with Omio. See for yourself and take advantage of one-of-a-kind conditions.

Everything you need to know about NS International

NS International is a Dutch railway company whose trains connect all major cities in the Netherlands. Day after day, its modern trains take you from Amsterdam to Utrecht, from Amsterdam to Schiphol, or from Amsterdam to The Hague and Rotterdam. Nederlandse Spoorwegen N.V. (NS for short) was founded in 1938. It was, and is, a state-owned company, which today acts largely independently. NS International is divided into Nederlandse Spoorwegen Reizigers, Nederlandse Spoorwegen International and the Abellio Group. These three organisations are entrusted with the transport of passengers. In addition, there is also Nederlandse Spoorwegen Stations, which is responsible for the stations, and NedTrain, which deals with the maintenance of the trains.

NS International also works in cooperation with Thalys, Intercity Brussels, Eurostar and TGV, as well as DB’s ICE International and Intercity Berlin. These efficient collaborations make it possible to travel from any station in the Netherlands to more than 3,000 locations throughout Europe. With the comfortable high-speed trains, you will always arrive safely and quickly at the destination of your dreams.

The route map in the Netherlands is very well developed and is a role model on the international stage. Almost 5,000 trains run daily, carrying more than one million passengers. Between the larger cities, and especially between Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague, up to four trains run every hour. You can even reach the station in Utrecht up to twelve times an hour. If you’re travelling first class, you can make yourself comfortable in NS International's relaxing lounges before or after your arrival or departure at the stations in Amsterdam, Schiphol and Rotterdam.

NS International's fleet includes three ICE 3M multiple units and two PBKA EMUs. With sixteen V250 trains and three NMBSs, it was possible to travel at a top speed of 155 mph up until 2013. These trains are no longer in service today due to numerous technical problems. NS International now operates state-of-the-art trains. The 43000 series is an electric multiple unit train that reaches up to 186 mph. The DBAG Class 406, also an electric multiple unit, is even faster at around 200 mph. In the future, NS International will deploy nearly 80 more ICBG series trains, which will roll over the tracks at 125 mph on international routes. The Siemens Vectron is a locomotive that is used for the Nightjet from Amsterdam to Zurich, for example. It reaches a top speed of 100 mph.

Train in station. Source: Pixabay

Train ticket types at NS International

NS International offers you the opportunity of enjoying worthwhile discounts with special tickets. There are also attractive special offers for those who want to explore Amsterdam and its surroundings.

With the Amsterdam Ticket, you can travel all over Amsterdam without restriction, and with a day ticket for the Amsterdam region, you can use all the overground and underground trains, trams and buses that run here for a whole day.

Want to see more of the Netherlands? Then use the Holland Travel Ticket! This ticket also allows you to use the entire transport network for a whole day. Alternatively, you can opt for an even cheaper Off-Peak Ticket. With this ticket, however, you can only travel outside peak times.

Are you wondering which tickets are particularly worthwhile? We present some of the most important options here:

The single ticket

If you only travel occasionally, the single ticket is a good choice. This ticket is valid from midnight until 4:00 a.m. the next day, i.e., a total of 28 hours. You can choose between a one-way ticket and a return ticket. You may interrupt your journey at any point along the route. The only condition is that you stay within this time window.

The day ticket

This ticket allows you to use NS International and other trains for a whole day.

The Railrunner Ticket

The Railrunner ticket is intended for children aged four to eleven. This ticket, which is valid for a whole day, is also accepted by most other train operators. Is your child younger than four? Then he or she will travel free of charge.

The Off-Peak Group Ticket

Outside peak hours, you can save a lot with this ticket when travelling in a group of two to seven people. The more you are, the greater the savings. You may only use the ticket together as a group, although it is permitted for fellow passengers to join you later on the selected route. The Off-Peak Group Ticket is only valid within certain times – namely, on weekdays before 6:30 a.m., as well as between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. and after 6:30 p.m.

If you use Off-Peak Early Booking, you can save even more. To do this, you must book your ticket at least four days before the start of your journey. With the Off-Peak Group Ticket, you can also choose between a one-way ticket and a return ticket.

Don’t forget the possibility of travelling with an NS season ticket holder, for example. Outside the peak times of 6.30 a.m. to 9.00 a.m. and 6.00 p.m. to 6.30 p.m., you can also benefit from great discounts here. This offer can be used by up to three people per NS ticket holder for a return journey.

Train classes with NS International

NS International trains provide you with first- and second-class seats. In first class, seats are usually arranged in rows of two plus one. In second class, they come as two plus two. In both classes, you can use free Wi-Fi in almost all trains. Snacks and drinks are available at the mini-bar. In first class, of course, you can enjoy some other great extras.

With Thalys, there are power sockets at every seat, including free Wi-Fi. You can enjoy maximum legroom on much wider, comfortable seats. If you wish, food and drinks can be served to you directly at your seat. In addition, magazines in various languages are available.

In ICE International First Class, you will find wide, comfortable seats with adjustable backrests and plenty of legroom. There are power sockets at every other seat.

Eurostar also offers wide and comfortable seats. The special bonus – you get a free meal created by a star chef. To make sure you don’t get bored, you can browse through free magazines.

The Intercity Berlin has power sockets at every seat. Wide and comfortable seats with plenty of legroom make for comfortable travelling. Food and drinks are available in the buffet car.

The TGV also offers you wide and comfortable seats with optimum legroom and power sockets at every seat.

Train types: Travelling with NS International in the Netherlands

The Inter City is a long-distance express train. It travels on several routes to the most important cities in the Netherlands. It runs at frequent intervals of no more than 30 minutes and offers you a first- and second-class service. You can usually take your bicycle with you. Air conditioning and free Wi-Fi on most trains make for comfortable travel. The modernised Intercity Direct connects Amsterdam, Schiphol, Rotterdam and Breda, for example. If you want to use this high-speed train, there is a small surcharge. 
Express trains are similar to the Intercity but cover more destinations.

If you also want to get to know the small towns in Holland, you might want to take the Sprinter, the local regional train. It stops at all stations. Alternatively, you can take the so-called Stop Train.

In addition, there are international trains, such as the Intercity Brussels. This express train connects Amsterdam, The Hague, Rotterdam, Antwerp and Brussels. The ICEs of Deutsche Bahn are used on routes between Holland and Germany. Some of the high-speed trains travel as far as Basel in Switzerland.
Thalys also operates a high-speed train. It runs between the Netherlands, Belgium and France.

Timetable information: Timetables and timetable changes at NS International

Within the Netherlands, the trains run at very high frequencies and, depending on the route, even almost around the clock. The number of possible connections is just as extensive. For example, you can get from Amsterdam to Brussels in under three hours, starting at around 6:00 a.m. If you are a night owl, you can also take one of the last trains at around 9:30 p.m.

NS International is not without reason a shining example for other rail operators in Europe. Nevertheless, even the Dutch railways are not immune to incidents. Technical problems, strikes and other causes can quickly upset a well-planned timetable. Even though NS International pays a lot of attention to punctuality and reliability, delays can always happen anywhere. Omio always tries to provide you with the most up-to-date information. However, changes to the timetable at short notice cannot be avoided.

Across the Netherlands – e.g., from Amsterdam to Rotterdam

NS International’s route map in the Netherlands is excellently developed and is an outstanding example of quality and efficiency in international rail transport. Whether from Amsterdam to The Hague or Rotterdam, NS International connects all large and small cities in the Netherlands. However, with NS International, you don’t just travel through the Netherlands in maximum comfort. NS International also takes you to Paris, London, Brussels, Berlin, Frankfurt and Düsseldorf. With the Dutch railway, you can get anywhere.

Amsterdam. Source: Pixabay

Trains to Belgium from London? The most popular routes with NS International

One of the most popular routes is undoubtedly the connection from Amsterdam to Brussels. But you can also reach Brussels quickly from London in just under two hours. Would you rather travel from Amsterdam to Vienna? You’ll be there in just shy of twelve hours! Of course, it’s a bit faster if you only want to go to Rotterdam. Whether in summer or winter, every city has its own charms that you can discover with NS International.

Popular routes between Belgium and the Netherlands include, for example:

• Rotterdam–Brussels
• Rotterdam–Antwerp
• Amsterdam–Antwerp
• Breda–Antwerp

The sustainable way: Enjoy climate-friendly travel with NS International

NS International primarily uses electric railcars. Modern and gentle technologies contribute significantly to reducing harmful emissions. What’s more, all tickets are available digitally. NS International has been focusing on sustainable mobility for years and is always striving to improve further. Travelling by train is fundamentally a good alternative to individual transport. Only a few people can sit in a car, which increases the number of pollutants emitted per capita. You don’t have to be a mathematician to realise that this is reduced many times over when travelling by train. If you want to travel in an environmentally friendly way, trains are the perfect means of transport.

Travel while sleeping: NS International and the night train

NS International’s night trains operate on several routes. They run during the period from when the last regular train has reached its destination until the morning of the following day approaches. Normally, the trains go every hour. With the night train, you can travel safely to the most beautiful places, while dreaming of the next day’s adventures in your sleep. You can reserve a seat or a berth, or travel in the comfort of your own sleeper. Simply rest and the train will take you from Amsterdam to Vienna, Munich, Zurich or wherever you would like to wake up. A journey by night train pays off twice over. As a rule, and depending on the level of comfort you want, there is no surcharge. You travel at night and save on expensive hotel costs for an overnight stay. You want to travel from Holland to Austria? Then get on the ÖBB Nightjet in Amsterdam in the evening and get off again in Vienna in the morning. You can book the tickets up to 180 days before your journey and thus secure the lowest prices. Reservations are obligatory on the ÖBB Nightjet.

Tips for train travel with NS International

Travelling with children becomes a very special pleasure with NS International. Unlike in the car, your children can run around and play. On some NS International trains, you’ll even find special facilities for the little ones on board. Thanks to the great discounts offered by the Dutch railway, you can also save a lot.

On domestic trains, it is usually not a problem if you want to take your bike with you. There is normally a special place for bicycles, where they can be parked. If this is not available, you will not be allowed to take your bike on that train and will have to wait for the next one. Remember that you need a ticket for your bike! For international connections where you are travelling with other railway companies, you should check the rules of the respective provider in good time.

You want to take your four-legged friend on board with you? Here, too, different regulations apply to national and international travel. As a rule, smaller pets must be accommodated in a transport box and travel free of charge. Large dogs must be kept on a leash and require their own ticket.

When it comes to luggage, you also have to pay attention to which train operator you are travelling with. It is recommended that you only take as much luggage as you can carry without problems. Smaller pieces of luggage can be placed under the seat or in the luggage racks. For larger luggage, there are special areas between the seats.

The most important destinations: Discover the Netherlands and Europe with NS International

The Netherlands is known for its charming cities with impressive architecture and historical monuments. If you are planning a trip to the Netherlands, you should definitely visit Amsterdam. Amsterdam is known for its idyllic canals and bridges, as well as its museums and vibrant nightlife. Rotterdam also has a lot to offer. The city is known for its modern architecture and the largest port in Europe. In The Hague, the political capital of the Netherlands, you can enjoy the royal palaces, museums and gardens. Utrecht is a charming city with a beautiful old town and a vibrant art scene.

After exploring the Netherlands to your heart’s content, is it time to discover something new? Whether London, Paris, Vienna, Brussels or one of the other delightful metropolises – the Dutch railway will take you there.

How about a visit to one of the world’s most impressive museums? Whether it’s the Kunsthalle in Cologne, the British Museum in London or the Centre Pompidou in Paris – let yourself be inspired. Visit the London National Gallery and admire more than 2000 works by famous masters such as Claude Monet or Vincent Van Gogh. Have you always wanted to look into the eyes of the Mona Lisa? NS International will take you to Paris. Maybe you also like lighter art? You’re a fan of Walt Disney? Disneyland Paris is just around the corner. You can be in the magical realm in less than four hours from Amsterdam.

Are you a winter sports enthusiast? Then what are you waiting for! The next train to the hot ski resorts already awaits you! With NS International and Thalys, you can reach the heights of the French Alps without any stress. So, your skiing holiday can kick off in relaxed fashion. Whether from Amsterdam Central, Schiphol or Rotterdam Centre, you can travel comfortably to Chambéry, Albertville, Aime-la-Plagne and many other places. You set off from the Netherlands in the morning, and, in the afternoon, you’ll be skiing down snow-covered slopes.

Winter sports. Source: Pixabay

NS International: Offers and deals

The Dutch railways offer you a wealth of discounts. There’s the Early Bird Ticket. Youth discounts for those under 26, group deals and attractive offers with the NS Season tickets. Whether you want to travel from London to Belgium or from Amsterdam to Rotterdam, with Omio, you always book your NS International ticket at the best possible rate.

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