Train travel in the Netherlands

NOWSE

Later this month my wife and daughter are spending a fortnight in the Netherlands. Rather than hire a car, they have looked into the possibility of travelling by train but haven't been able to find any sort of reasonably priced rail card.

Has anyone got any tips?

Cairnpapple

Have you looked at the seat61 website? That would be my go-to for all train travel.

https://www.seat61.com/international-trains/trains-from-Amsterdam.htm#Amsterdam-Netherlands

Emmia

Railcards aren't really a thing in the Netherlands like they are in the UK, but the fares are relatively cheaper.

I use an OV Chipkaart (like an oyster card) to pay for trains in the Netherlands, which you can buy at major stations and then top up at ticket machines. In theory you could just use contactless cards to pay for travel, but I find acceptability of non-Dutch cards to be a bit mixed, fine in cities, not always completely 100% reliable elsewhere - although the railway should be fine.

JGB1955

Have you considered the Interrail Benelux Pass (which covers travel within the 3 countries) or the Interrail Global Pass (which would include travel to and from the Netherlands to home, via Eurostar)?

flaneurs_lobster

Worth noting that the OV Chipkaart that @Emmia mentions above is valid on pretty much every bit of public transport across The Netherlands, not just rail.

Not really a 'railcard' product but there are Benelux Interrail passes.

Can make things cheaper if there's a lot of travel on particular days but beware the need/cost to book seats on some services.

https://www.interrail.com/en/interrail-passes/one-country-pass/benelux

mr_stripey

If you're on a train in the Netherlands, know that the Quiet carriage really does mean quiet! And Dutch people will inform you in no uncertain terms if you breach the etiquette of the quiet carriage!

Emmia

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82099011#Comment_82099011

This is very true.

Grumpelstiltskin

Always remember you are in Europe not the UK, trains tend to be much cheaper then UK, run on time, toilets work etc.

Cairnpapple

My favourite thing is that they have double decker trains!

Albermarle

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82099023#Comment_82099023

Sometimes….

Germany’s train chaos: How did Deutsche Bahn go off the rails? - Monocle

SH88SH88

It's been a few years since this (so you'd need to check if it is still valid) … there used to be a 40% discount card which was valid for off peak. I think you could pay monthly for the card. Off peak was quite a generous definition... after 0900, before 1600 and after approx 1830 ( I think) , and valid all weekend plus bank hols.