Luggage Lockers / Bag Storage

My recommendation is always to travel light, but if you find your self laden down with luggage then there are a few ways to store your gear while you get out to explore. The first and most convenient are the luggage lockers (bagagekluizen in Dutch) at the train station. These are at all the large train stations (Utrecht, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, etc.). Signage tends to be in English at the bigger stations or you can follow the pictogram. To check in advance if a station has a locker check the NS website here.

Luggage lockers are easy to use and are apparently secure. I say apparently because if anyone tries to break into them they do emit a very loud siren. How do I know this - well one day while trying to force my stuck locker open I managed to set it off - although many onlookers gave me the evil eye and it was quiet embarrassing- no security came and I had to jimmy the door open to retrieve my bag. So ‘secure’ but I guess nothing is 100% secure. Although the prices are not really bad, if you are on a budget it’s better to just travel light then having to depend on luggage lockers.

Luggage Lockers Prices

Small locker:
0-24 hours= €4

25-72 hours= €6 (per 24 hours)

After 72 hours=€8 (per 24 hours)

Large locker:

0-24 hours= €6

25-72 hours= €9 (per 24 hours)

After 72 hours=€12 (per 24 hours)

The prices are slightly higher for the major stations. Amsterdam being the most expensive starting at 7.20 for 24 hours for a small locker. You pay for the first 24 hours upon storage and the rest when you return. If you loose your ticket the lost ticket claim will cost an extra €10.00. It is important to remember that you can only rent a locker for 3 days. If it runs longer than this you will pay €7.60 per 24 hours but your locker can be opened by NS. After 10 days the locker will be emptied and a fee of €70.00 will apply – the removed luggage will be sent to a Lost Property Office in Utrecht.

How do They Work

The first important thing to remember is that they only accept card payments (Pin, Chip, Maestro, Visa or Mastercard). You have to make the payment in advance and the payment is for the 24-hour rental period.
Choose a locker and put in all your bags. There are typically small (90cm deep, 45cm high and 40cm wide) and large (90cm deep, 60cm high and 40cm wide.) options. Close the door and go to the ticket vending machine terminal beside the lockers.
On the screen you will see your locker number and they will await payment.
Once payment is made the locker will lock and you will receive a card with a bar code printed on it. Be sure you have a card with a bar code- if the payment is not accepted you will get a card with no bar code this is just a receipt of a non-payment transaction. The locker door will reopen if this happens so be sure to double check your card and don’t walk away until you are sure the locker has locked!
When you return you simply need to scan the bar code on the bar code reader and your locker will automatically open.

Top Tip: Take your time and choose the correct luggage to store before payment. If you wish to retrieve something you forgot after you have paid and closed the locker door you will need to rent a full new 24 hour and pay again.

Other Options

Schiphol Airport: There are two options before and after security the locations and prices can be found here. Eindhoven Airport: Luggage storage lockers are no longer available at Eindhoven Airport. They were removed December 2017

If you arrive at a smaller station that does not have luggage locker wall then you can still store your luggage in a depot typically located near or in the bike shop/bike rental point. The fees are generally €6/day. In most cases these depots have been replaced by the luggage locker walls so it is not always possible- but at smaller stations worth asking!

Typically hotels/hostels will have no problem storing your luggage for you if you have stayed there for the night- you can even try asking/calling an hotel you are not staying in and offering to pay – again worth a try and has worked for me in the past.

There are offices near Amsterdam central station called 'Drop & Go'. They offer storage and you can even use their outlets to charge your devices print a boarding pass weigh your bags or pick up keys- awesome idea!

If anyone else thinks of storage options drop me a line railthetrails@gmail.com or mention in comments.