Hi there,
I’m weighting up options as to whether we using an interrail pass versus single tickets for travel next year (departing from the UK).
Are there any day tickets available for train travel in the Netherlands (we’ll be based north of Amsterdam and will want to visit Amsterdam, Delft, Harleem and the Hague, perhaps one other place by train also, plus travelling by bike, bus and ferry!)?
2 adults and 2 teens ages 13 and 15.
Many thanks.
For youth 12-18 years old, there are indeed day passes available:
https://www.ns.nl/en/featured/jongeren-dagkaart.html
From 19 years old, there are no day passes for the train available.
For the travel you mention, an Interrail pass will be too expensive. You could however consider a 1-month Dal Voordeel subscription for 40% discount during the off-peak hours:
https://www.ns.nl/en/season-tickets/
You'll first need to order a personal chipcard (then click on the link for the contact form), and when you've received that card, you can order a subscription at an NS ticket office or by phone; in the latter case, you'll need to load it onto the chipcard before you can start using it. After 1 month, you can stop the subscription via your NS account (= change the subscription to the free NS Flex Basis). Payment of the subscription and the journeys is via monthly direct debit from your bank account. Your bank needs to accept SEPA direct debit for that to work; alternatively, you can get e.g. a free Revolut account which will allow that.
The costs of the personal chipcards can be reimbursed via NS customer service after you've ordered a subscription, because the chipcard is included for free with it.
Alternatively, you can tap in and out with a contactless payment card, but then you'll always pay the full fare.
Thank you. That sound great. I’ll get us a Dal Voordeel subscription.
Also v interesting to see that you can make stops along your route on the same ticket - eg you can visit Harleem on the way to Delft and there is no extra charge. It’s not like this on English trains!
With a subscription, you need to tap in and out with the chipcard for every journey. If there's more than 35 minutes between tapping out and in, then you start a new journey. The total price will then be a bit higher because of the degressive fare. For the teens’ day passes it doesn't make a difference of course: those have a fixed price.
You can already order personal chipcards if you want. They remain valid for 5 years.
You can also use the personal chipcards for other public transport: bus, tram, metro etc., for the regular fare (no 40% discount, that's only for trains), and those journeys will then also be added to the monthly invoice.
Thank you, very helpful.
And will I just need one chip card in my name in order to get the discount for myself and the three others in my family?
And will I just need one chip card in my name in order to get the discount for myself and the three others in my family?
One chipcard can only be used for 1 person. For the 2 teens, I doubt the Dal Voordeel subscription will be worth it, since they can use the cheap day passes, which will often be the cheapest solution (see prices on ns.nl; fare increase is coming on 1/1/25). In that case, they don't need a chipcard. They can travel on other public transport by using a contactless payment card to tap in and out.
Ok, thank you.
So, I’d need 2 personal chip cards for the two adults but only one subscription to the Dal Voordeel. It says on the NS site: 40% Group Travel Discount during off-peak hours for 3 fellow travelers
Ok, thank you.
So, I’d need 2 personal chip cards for the two adults but only one subscription to the Dal Voordeel. It says on the NS site: 40% Group Travel Discount during off-peak hours for 3 fellow travelers
Ah yes, that's true. In fact, then you could just order one personal chipcard and one subscription and book the fellow travellers with discounts as an e-ticket. See:
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