In this guide
Getting the most out of the system requires knowing how it works: the OV-chipkaart, the NS Flex season tickets, which train type to take and where to check current prices. This guide covers the basics and points you to NS for the figures that change.
💡 Looking for a complete banking comparison? Read Best banking for expats in the Netherlands 2026 — covers ABN, ING, Bunq, Wise, Revolut & 5 others by expat use case.
Quick answer: NS runs the main Dutch rail network. Use the NS app to plan and check prices, and look at NS Flex season tickets (Basis, Dal Voordeel and others) if you travel regularly. Prices and travel times change, so check them on ns.nl.
The NS Network: An Overview
NS (Nederlandse Spoorwegen) is the main Dutch national rail operator, running intercity and Sprinter services across the country. Other operators run some regional lines. Journey times and frequencies depend on the route and the time of day, so check the NS journey planner for your route.
OV-Chipkaart: The Basics
What it is
The OV-chipkaart is a contactless smartcard used on Dutch public transport. You check in and check out at card readers at station gates and on vehicles, and the fare is deducted automatically. NS says that with an NS Flex season ticket on your OV-chipkaart you travel door to door, for example by bus, tram or OV-fiets, and you pay your travel expenses monthly afterwards, so you do not need a balance.
Types of OV-chipkaart
An OV-chipkaart can be anonymous or personal. A personal card is linked to your name and account, and you need one for most season tickets. Check the current card prices and where to buy on ns.nl or ov-chipkaart.nl.
Loading credit
Without an NS Flex season ticket, you load credit onto the card and need a minimum balance to check in. Check the current minimum balance and top-up options on ns.nl or ov-chipkaart.nl. With NS Flex, no balance is required (ns.nl).
Checking in and out
At stations with gates, tap in when you start and tap out when you leave. At stations without gates there are free-standing check-in poles, and you still need to tap. On buses and trams, tap when you board and again when you get off. If you forget to check out, NS Flex offers a correction after a forgotten check-out (ns.nl).
OVpay: Contactless Bank Card and Phone
OVpay lets you check in and out with a contactless bank card or phone instead of an OV-chipkaart. The Dutch Payments Association lists OVpay among the card payments it covers (betaalvereniging.nl). Which operators accept it, and which products you cannot use with it (such as season tickets), changes over time, so check ns.nl and your local operator before relying on it.
Ticket Types and Buying
You can buy tickets at NS ticket machines, in the NS app and on ns.nl, which has an English version. We do not quote fares because we could not verify current prices. Use the journey planner on ns.nl or in the NS app.
NS Flex Subscriptions
NS Flex is NS’s season ticket system. According to NS, you can change or cancel on a monthly basis, and you pay your travel costs monthly by direct debit (ns.nl).
- NS Flex Basis: no subscription cost, no discount, and a once-off application fee of EUR 10 if you do not already have an NS season ticket.
- NS Flex Dal Voordeel: 40% discount on train journeys during off-peak hours, at weekends and on public holidays, plus a 40% co-travel discount for up to 3 passengers during off-peak hours.
- NS Flex Weekend Vrij: unlimited travel at weekends and on public holidays, plus the co-travel discount.
- NS Flex Dal Vrij: unlimited travel during off-peak hours, at weekends and on public holidays.
- NS Flex Altijd Vrij: unlimited travel, including peak hours.
- Traject Vrij: unlimited travel on a fixed route, with a 40% discount on other routes during off-peak hours.
Off-peak hours: Monday to Friday from 9 am to 4 pm and from 6.30 pm to 6.30 am. Weekend: Friday 6.30 pm to Monday 4.00 am (ns.nl).
Checking break-even points
NS says most passengers cover the cost of Dal Voordeel with a single off-peak return trip a month. Whether this holds for you depends on your route and the current price, so compare your own journeys on ns.nl. Altijd Vrij is aimed at people who travel by train frequently, including in peak hours. If you commute, ask your employer whether you get a travel allowance (reiskostenvergoeding); it depends on your contract.
Intercity Direct (IC Direct)
Intercity Direct is a faster service on certain routes, and a supplement may apply. Check the journey planner for the service type and the supplement on your route, and pay the supplement before boarding if it applies. Whether a season ticket includes the supplement depends on the product, so check the terms on ns.nl.
The NS App
The NS app is available on iOS and Android, with an English version. You can use it to plan journeys, buy tickets, view your OV-chipkaart journeys and get disruption alerts. Link your OV-chipkaart to Mijn NS in the app to see your OV-fiets journeys, costs and any damage (ns.nl). Download it before you arrive and set up your account.
Trains to and from Schiphol Airport
Schiphol has a railway station in the airport complex. Check the NS journey planner for the connection, travel time and price to your destination, including whether you need to change.
International Trains from the Netherlands
International rail services change often, so check ns.nl (NS International) and the operators’ own websites for current routes, journey times and prices, and book reservations where they are required. Coaches such as FlixBus are another option; compare price and journey time yourself.
Cycling and Trains: The Dutch Combination
Bike plus train is a common combination in the Netherlands.
- Your own bike on the train: According to NS, you can usually take your own bike on the train during off-peak hours with a Fietskaart Dal. Space is limited and not all bikes are allowed. Read the rules, including those for e-scooters and international trains, on ns.nl.
- OV-fiets: NS says you can rent an OV-fiets at about 300 locations. You pay per 24 hours, it costs EUR 9.80 per day after three days, and the maximum hire period is seven days. You need an NS Flex season ticket on your OV-chipkaart, and NS Flex Basis is enough. One season ticket lets you hire two bikes (ns.nl). Always return the bike to the same location and close the ring lock, because that is the only way the hire stops.
Disruptions and Delays
NS trains are reliable but not perfect. The NS app shows real-time disruption information. If you have a delay, check ns.nl for the current compensation rules and how to claim.
Summary: The Essentials
- Check whether a personal OV-chipkaart or NS Flex suits how you travel.
- Download the NS app and use the journey planner for times and prices.
- Always check out when leaving a station or vehicle.
- Compare NS Flex options with your actual travel pattern.
- Check ns.nl before relying on OVpay for a particular journey.
- Check whether a supplement applies to the service you plan to take.
Further Reading on ExpatNetherlandsHub
- Dutch utilities explained for expats
- Short-stay furnished housing in the Netherlands
- How to find a job in the Netherlands
- Best Dutch health insurance for expats
- Buying second-hand in the Netherlands: expat guide
- Netherlands vs Australia: quality of life comparison
- Car insurance in the Netherlands for expats
- Retiring in the Netherlands
Practical Scenarios
Commuting between two cities every day: Check the journey time and the price on the NS planner, compare it with the season tickets above and ask HR about a travel allowance on your first day.
Weekend travel: If you travel mostly at weekends, compare Dal Voordeel and Weekend Vrij with your actual journeys.
Arriving at Schiphol for the first time: Check the journey planner before you land and check whether your contactless bank card works with OVpay for this journey.
Short trip from a smaller city: Sprinter trains stop at most stations and are often the right choice for the first or last leg of a longer journey.
Dutch Train Etiquette
Silence carriages (stiltecoupe): Many trains have a designated quiet carriage. Phone calls and conversations are not appropriate there.
Eating: Eating on trains is common. Use judgment with strong-smelling food.
Cycling: If you bring a bike, follow the signs and NS rules, and use the bike spaces.
First class: First class (Eerste Klas) needs a first-class ticket or subscription. NS Flex lets you switch to first class after checking in (ns.nl).
External sources: NS Flex season tickets, NS OV-fiets and NS bikes on the train.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the OV-chipkaart and do I need one?
The OV-chipkaart is the public transport chip card used on Dutch trains, trams, metros and buses. You check in at the start of your journey and check out at the end, and the fare is deducted automatically. NS says that with an NS Flex season ticket you can use one OV-chipkaart on all public transport and pay your travel costs monthly afterwards. For occasional travel you may be able to pay with a contactless bank card or phone (OVpay); check ns.nl for what is currently possible and what is not.
How much do trains cost in the Netherlands?
NS fares depend on distance and the type of ticket, and they change over time. We do not quote fares in this guide because we could not verify current prices. Use the journey planner on ns.nl or in the NS app to see the exact price of your route, with and without a discount.
What is NS Flex and is it worth it for expats?
NS Flex is NS's range of monthly season tickets. NS Flex Basis has no subscription cost and a once-off application fee of EUR 10 if you do not yet have an NS season ticket (ns.nl). Dal Voordeel gives 40% off during off-peak hours, at weekends and on public holidays. Other options include Weekend Vrij, Dal Vrij, Altijd Vrij and Traject Vrij, which add unlimited travel at certain times or on a fixed route. You can change or cancel at any moment after the first month, and you pay monthly by direct debit. Whether it is worth it depends on how often you travel and when, so compare your own journeys with the current prices on ns.nl.
What are the off-peak hours on NS?
According to NS, off-peak hours are Monday to Friday from 9 am to 4 pm and from 6.30 pm to 6.30 am. The weekend runs from Friday 6.30 pm to Monday 4.00 am.
Can I take my bike on the train?
According to NS you can usually take your own bike on the train during off-peak hours with a Fietskaart Dal. There is limited space and not all bikes are allowed, so read the rules on ns.nl before you travel.
What is the difference between Intercity Direct, Intercity and Sprinter trains?
Intercity trains connect major stations and Sprinter trains stop at most or all stations on a line. Intercity Direct is a faster service on certain high-speed routes and may require a supplement. Check the journey planner on ns.nl for the service type, travel time and any supplement on your route.