Information for travelling by train in and around the Netherlands. Train Tickets OV Service Shop Buying train tickets Buy a Ticket at the Station and Service Desk  Self Service Tickets The OV ChipCard Anonymous OV ChipCard Personal OV ChipCard Buying eTickets Checking in and out FAQ when using your OV card Discounted train tickets Rail passes Amsterdam Card At the station Information on luggage storage Information on travelling with bikes or pets Bike rental Station Facilities Shops at the train station Train Travel in the Netherlands Zandvoort Amsterdam-London Dordrecht

OV is the abbreviation for Openbaar Vervoer , which is the Dutch for public transport. When you travel by bus, metro or train you can use an OV-chipcard for your travels. The card is loaded with cash and when you travel from your departure station you check-in (inchecken) and when you arrive at your destination you check out (uitchecken) . The price of your journey is then debited from your card. In buses, the check-in reader is usually on the bus beside the door or driver and at the train station the check-in reader can be either a free standing pole at the entrance of the station/on the platform or a reader is attached to the barrier gates. Some also have built in QR code scanners - you can use these for your mobile tickets too. If you are travelling with different train companies during your trip you can check in, when you switch trains you will need to check out from that company and check in again for the other train company - when you finish your trip you can then c...

Types of Train Tickets for Train Travel in Holland   So you have arrived in the Netherlands and you want to explore. If you are not organised enough to have already purchased your train tickets....well don’t panic - Here are 6 ways to purchase your Dutch rail ticket. 1. E-tickets These single-use tickets can be purchased online here via the NS (Nederlands Spoorwegen- the Dutch National Railway Company). These tickets will have your name and date of birth on them and can be downloaded onto your phone or printed out. They are valid with your ID. It is easy as that! These e-tickets are the best option if you are already at the station and want to travel immediately they are also  € 1 cheaper than buying from the ticket machine/shop at the station. There will be a QR code on the ticket that you can scan either from your phone or the printed page into the code reader on the gates in the train station to gain access. If you have any problems doing this (no...

Dordrecht located in the west of the Netherlands (just South of Rotterdam) was granted city rights in 1220 making it one of the oldest cities in Holland although its importance waned over the intervening centuries its beautifully preserved historic city and picturesque canals as well as it's hefty festival calendar makes this a must see city! If you jump on an InterCity (IC) train from Amsterdam (€17.20 one way) you will get to Dordrecht in under 90 minutes. You can easily purchase tickets from www.ns.nl Besides a nice ramble around the city centre 'binnenstad' to see one of the hundreds of monuments, at this time of year it is also nice to drop in to the Dordrechts Museum (and on a side note I do recommend the museum card if you plan to visit more than 2 museums during your holiday).   There are so many gems in this museum but my favourite one (perhaps due to the time of year) is a painting from the 17th Century by Dutch Painter Albert Cuyp. You probably ...

This is the perfect time of year to write a post about Oliebollen or literally translated in to English - oil balls! These are best described as ‘Dutch doughnuts’ and are traditional eaten on New Year’s Eve. Basically they are a type of batter with raisins fried in oil and sprinkled with powdered sugar. A fabulous way to welcome in the New Year I think! It is nice to think that when you are eating an oliebol there is a sense of continuity with past Dutch generations – as these Dutch delights have been eaten for centuries here in Holland! Here is a painting from 1652 by the Dutch painter Aelbert Cuyp showing these treats back then they were known as ‘oliekoek' (oil cake -the old name for oilebollen) and look pretty similar to today’s oliebollen! They have also been mentioned in the 1667 Dutch cook book 'De verstandige kock' or  'The smart/responsible cook'.   So what are you waiting for – try some today! The branded 'K...

Public transport service shops in the larger stations across The Netherlands offer customer service and a real person to talk to regarding your tickets and other train/public transport queries. In these offices you can check train times from the self service tablets, print your tickets, buy tickets or get help from staff. Perfect for those who are a little lost, need assistance or just have a question.  In bigger stations they offer international train advise these days they only stay open until 21.00 on weekdays and sometimes earlier on Sundays but you can find exact opening hours here

Back ground music for your train travels. What are your top train songs? https://harpers.org/2014/06/the-twenty-three-best-train-songs-ever-written-maybe/

NS (the Dutch Railways) promote a travel card called the Amsterdam Travel Ticket .  I have recent seen it promoted at Schiphol Amsterdam Airport.  For €17 you can get: 2nd class travel from Schiphol Airport to any station in Amsterdam (see stations below) travel on trams, buses, night buses, metro and GVB ferries also valid on the Amsterdam Airport Express (397) and Nitliner (N97) bus Advantages  It is great to have a one card for everything instead of having to buy each ticket along the way. So ease of use is the main advantage. It can be busy on public transport around Amsterdam and it is nice to have one card to scan in and out ( check in and out ) and not worry about having to buy each ticket along the way Disadvantage Given that a single ticket from Schiphol to Amsterdam Central for only €4.30 (€8.60 return) unless you plan to spend more than €10 on buses/trams and ferry travel in one day it is cheaper to pay as you go! If you are coming and goin...

The train trip from from Amsterdam to London rivals air travel any day. Easter 2018 will also see the introduction of a direct service from London to Amsterdam which will make the whole trip shorter and much easier. At the moment the non direct route can take 5-7 hours hours depending on the trains you choose to travel with. 1. Amsterdam Centrall to Brussels Midi 2.Brussels Midi- London St Pancras 1. Amsterdam-Brussels  You can choose to travel with a high speed Thalys train direct on this route. This will have you in Brussels Midi in under 2 hours (1.51 hours). This train however can be quite expensive if not booked in advance. Unless I can find a deal with the Thalys train I usually take the regular cheaper regional train. This is a longer journey (2.50 hours) and sometimes can travel via Rotterdam (and possible Roosendaal and Antwerp too). Remember the station name Brussels Midi means Brussels South in English and it is called Brussels Zuid in Dutch. Don't get confus...

The train trip from from Amsterdam to London rivals air travel any day. Easter 2018 will also see the introduction of a direct service from London to Amsterdam which will make the whole trip shorter and much easier. At the moment the non direct route can take 5-7 hours hours depending on the trains you choose to travel with. 1. Amsterdam Centrall to Brussels Midi 2.Brussels Midi- London St Pancras 1. Amsterdam-Brussels  You can choose to travel with a high speed Thalys train direct on this route. This will have you in Brussels Midi in under 2 hours (1.51 hours). This train however can be quite expensive if not booked in advance. Unless I can find a deal with the Thalys train I usually take the regular cheaper regional train. This is a longer journey (2.50 hours) and sometimes can travel via Rotterdam (and possible Roosendaal and Antwerp too). Remember the station name Brussels Midi means Brussels South in English and it is called Brussels Zuid in Dutch. Don't get confus...

What better way to explore the Netherlands then by bike, after all with its flat picturesque landscapes this compact country is perfect for cyclists! It is very easy to rent a bike when in the Netherlands many tourist locations offer bike rentals or bike tours as it is such a big part of being in Holland. For example Mac Bike is one I see a lot around Amsterdam. Hostels such as the Stay Okay usually have biked for guests and typically it is quite cheap or free. If you are thinking of renting a bike for a few days then I recommend the OV Fiets (bike) scheme. OV means Openbaar Veroer in Dutch which translates as public transport. This is very handy as the OV bikes are typically in or near the train stations. Either in the bike parking area (fietsenstalling) or at a self-service centre. Many cities have a bike scheme like this but in Holland with so many cycle paths in the city and dedicated cycle routes through the countryside to follow, it is an excellent option for a day trip! ...