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Netherlands

Amsterdam

A bicycle city ringed by fan-shaped canals. Trams spread out from Centraal station across town.

NS (Nederlandse Spoorwegen)

Tap the same card in and out, at the gate or the yellow pole by the platform - that's OVpay, nationwide. Miss the tap-out and €33.30 is charged whatever you rode. Card journeys are always 2nd class, one person per card.

Updated on August 2, 2026

How to ride

  1. 1
    Buy a ticket, or just have your card ready
    With a contactless card you can just board. Otherwise buy a ticket at a station machine or a Tickets & Service desk.
  2. 2
    Tap in at the gate or the yellow pole
    Always tap before you reach the platform. At stations without gates, the yellow pole by the platform is the reader.
  3. 3
    Check if it's an Intercity or a Sprinter
    Intercity trains skip the smaller stations; Sprinters stop everywhere. Take whichever one calls at your station.
  4. 4
    Sit in 2nd class
    If you tapped in with a bank card, sit in 2nd class - 1st class needs a separate ticket.
  5. 5
    Tap out with the same card
    Tap out with the exact card you tapped in with. Miss it and a flat charge is taken instead of your fare.

Fares

Single fares1

NS single, 2nd class (by distance)
Priced by fare units converted from distance - €3.00 for the shortest band (0-8 units), €33.30 at the far end.
3〜33.3 EUR ≈ $3–37

Passes & multi-ride1

NS Dagkaart, 2nd class (all-day rail pass)
Valid on every domestic rail operator, until 4am the next morning, with no peak-hour restriction.
66.6 EUR ≈ $75

Card itself1

Single-use smartcard surcharge
Added per card when you buy a single or a day return at a machine or a counter.
1.6 EUR ≈ $2

Children & discounts1

Railrunner (all-day child ticket, ages 4-11)
A child may ride alone in 2nd class; an adult may bring up to three. Valid on all domestic rail operators.
2.5 EUR ≈ $3

Add-ons & fees3

Intercity direct supplement
Needed only for the Schiphol Airport to Rotterdam Centraal section; not for the rest of the run.
3.2 EUR ≈ $4
Bicycle day ticket (Fietskaart Dal)
Weekdays 9am-4pm and 6.30pm-6.30am only; all day at weekends, holidays and in July-August. Folded bikes free.
8.5 EUR ≈ $10
Dog day ticket (Dagkaart Hond)
Small pets in a bag, basket or on your lap travel free; only a dog you cannot carry needs this.
3.7 EUR ≈ $4

Estimates use exchange rates as of November 4, 2026

Payment

Tap to ride
VISAMastercardMaestro
Tap in and out at gates and poles; 2nd class only, one person per card
IC card
OV-chipkaart and OV-pas; anonymous cards stopped being sold in July 2026
App tickets
The NS app handles journey planning and e-ticket purchase
QR ticketing
E-tickets in the NS app - hold to the reader, no check-in needed
Paper tickets
From machines and counters; the single-use smartcard surcharge applies
Cash
Coins at some ticket machines only - never at a gate or pole

Quick facts

Hours
Hourly all night on the main line
Fares from
3 EUR+

Heads-up

  • A missed tap out can be fixed within six hours

    If you cannot tap out, €33.30 is taken from your account no matter how far you actually rode. You can still tap out at a gate or pole up to six hours after tapping in; failing that, from six hours after your journey you can request a correction on the OVpay website and get the difference back.

Timetable

Operating hours Hourly all night on the main line
Typical duration The backbone out to the rest of the country - better for intercity hops than for short trips inside Amsterdam
Check the official site for the latest times and service status
Editor Naotaka