ns day travel pass

• International
• Politics & Society
• Photo Report
• Relationships
• Learn Dutch
• Attractions
• Restaurants
• Scheveningen
• International Travel
• Bank for Internationals
• Dutch Language School
• International School
• Recruitment Agency
• Relocation Service
• Real Estate Agencies
• Tax Accountant
• Mortgage Advisor
• Psychologist
• DutchReview Team
• Privacy Policy
• Take Down and Notice
• Advertise with DutchReview
• Submit an article
• Editorial Internships

🚀 New feature alert! Find the best businesses for internationals on  DutchReview's Business Directory

How to get a cheap Dutch train ticket: 7 handy tips

Choo choo — all aboard for some fabulous deals! 🚆

We can hear you asking this question from all the way over there: do cheap Dutch train tickets exist? Well , yes! There are plenty of options, you just need to know where to look.

The NS might have a bad reputation for hiking train prices, but there are surefire ways to find great train ticket deals. And the cherry on top? You’ll often know the price of our journey well in advance.

If you’re keen as a been to start saving some serious cash on your rail journeys, this cheap Dutch train ticket guide will have you snatching up those handy deals right away! 🤑

1. Opt for day tickets ( dagkaarten )

Something that I have always done is buy NS day tickets from supermarkets and other high street shops. A few times a year, shops such as Kruidvat, Xenos, Blokker, Hema, and Albert Heijn sell discounted train tickets.

The best thing to do is to check their websites every once in a while, or in the shop window if you happen to be walking past. Found one you like? Hoera , it’s time to buy these tickets in bulk!

However, do remember to read the terms and conditions, as I’ve found that discounted day tickets are often restricted to off-peak hours or on the weekends.

Do you need a bit of extra help sourcing some great deals? This useful website offers an overview of all running discounted train tickets offered by different shops and stores! 🙌

Unfortunately, the information is only offered in Dutch, but if you scroll down you can see the discounted prices per person on the right-hand side.

2. Check out an advantage card (AKA Dal Voordeel)

This is available to people who have an OV chipkaart , which you can get online or at any NS info counter for €7.50.

Tip: Owning an OV chipkaart is cheaper if you use public transport regularly in the Netherlands because you don’t need to pay a euro every time for the print-out tickets.

To get this ‘advantage card’ deal, you can pay €67.20 per year or €5.60 per month for a subscription . In return, you get a generous 40% off train prices to any destination in the Netherlands.

Of course, it’s important to read the fine print, as this deal is only valid at off-peak times, so you cannot travel with the discount between 6:30 AM to 9:00 AM, and 4:00 PM to 6:30 PM.

If you want a peak-times discount card (20% off during rush hour), you’ll have to pay a little more per month: €26.70. However, it’s still much cheaper than without a discount!

Another great thing with the advantage card is that you can take up to three friends with you. You just load the discount onto their OV chipkaarten and they all get the same discount! How kind of you, NS.

3. Grab a group ticket ( Groepsticket )

For only €7.15 per person, up to seven passengers travelling together to the same destination off-peak can get a ticket to anywhere in the Netherlands.

Basically, the more people that you gather to travel with you (or the more friends you have! 😉), the cheaper it becomes.

Here’s a breakdown of the prices as an example, so you can easily see how cheap it really is:

• Four people = € 9.50 per person
• Five people = €8.40 per person
• Six people = €7.67 per person
• Seven people = €7.15 per person

You can easily order the Groepsticket online , and each person will receive their own personalised ticket. Easy, right?

4. Scour discount websites for cheap Dutch train ticket deals

Another way to get cheap ticket deals is to check the Spoordeelwinkel section of the NS website, which contains new deals every month. These Dutch train ticket deals are linked to specific destinations, such as cities, hotels, or amusement parks.

They also have great tickets for you tourists out there. 🧳

Occasionally, you can get deals for tourist attractions where you can get transport bundled with a hotel, entry fee, or meal fee paid for in one — so remember to keep checking the site!

5. Buy tickets for your kids, pets — and even your bike

Forget about leaving little Fluffy, your 3 screaming children, or your beloved Dutch bike at home. The NS offers special tickets for all three! 👇

Doggy day ticket

You can buy a day dog ticket for just €3.30 but small dogs and other small animals get to travel for free ( wat mooi! ). So it’s probably best not to overfeed your pet if you want a free ride. 😂

You can load this onto your OV chipkaart or with a disposable single-use card.

Children’s ticket

If your kids are tagging along with you, the fab news is that they can travel for free — provided they have their own OV chip cards (€7.50).

Oh, and what if their friends are joining in on the fun? Well, the price stays the same: free!

Of course, some requirements do apply, such as the children involved being between the ages of 4 to 11 and accompanied by someone over the age of 12.

If that sounds like something beneficial for you and your nearest and dearest, don’t forget to purchase the Kids Vrij discount! (You “purchase” it for €0.)

Bike ticket

Ja hoor , you can even take your beloved fiets on the train for €7.50 per day.

This ticket is only valid during off-peak hours, but it doesn’t matter how long your journey is, it’s still the same price. That way you will never have to part with your bike ever again.

READ MORE | Don’t pay full price! Buy train tickets the Dutch way.

Just load this onto your OV chipkaart or buy a disposable single-use card.

6. Snap up some international discount cards

So, maybe you want a change of scenery from the Netherlands and are looking to explore something new for the day. The good news is, if you have an OV chipkaart, you can travel to Germany, Belgium, and beyond with a handy discount. 🗺️

With an Interrail ticket , for example, you can get a discount of up to 25% on European rail travel.

If you’re determined to do a round trip of Europe during the summer, opting for a €185 Global Pass will give you access to a whopping 33 European countries for a flexible time period that you can set.

Meanwhile, the €51 One Country Pass will give you unlimited access to the rail network to a European country of your choice. Prima !

7. Browse the NS site

Admittedly, the NS deals aren’t always as good as some of the other deals out there. However, from time to time, the NS does advertise some pretty cool deals on their site .

These are mainly city trip deals to other countries, but who wouldn’t like a little day trip to Brussels or Paris this summer? ⛲️

In addition to this, buying a ticket at least four days before your trip will score you a generous 20% discount for rail journeys between Monday and Thursday — and a 10% discount on weekends. It really does ‘pay’ to be an early bird! 😉

What’s the best deal you’ve got on Dutch transport? Let us know in the comments!

Liked it? Try these on for size:

The 11 best authentic dutch villages that you have to visit, a day trip to maastricht: what to see, do, and eat, 10 of the best hotels for an epic stay in amsterdam, what do you think, 12 comments.

[…] Hop on board Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS) train service, for direct links all over the country! What’s that? Tickets are far too expensive? Don’t jump the barrier! Find out the tips and tricks to the cheapest train tickets available! […]

[…] deals in the supermarket as a tourist (unlikely for most), you’re faced with paying full price for train tickets. On top of that, for not having an OV Chipcard, you’re paying an extra euro. Have an OV […]

It was very interesting on the wall of the staircase. :))

[…] (If you’re here to look for cheaper train tickets, this is the perfect time to check our train ticket guide […]

The author forgets to mention that most if not all ns train tickets are etickets and can only be paid for using the iDEAL payment option. This is only available for people with a Dutch bank account. The ns is very unfriendly for foreigners without a dutch bank account, and I always feel robbed.

This is indeed true. More than once I paid with my bank card at the ticketmachine on the station for someone’s ticket in exchange for cash as he/she didn’t have a bank card to pay with. Dutch Railroads (NS) is now experimenting with (check-in – check-out) direct payment with bank card at the gates. But you can pay for online ticket orders by credit card (Visa, Amex, Master Card) according to https://www.ns.nl/klantenservice/betalen/problemen-met-online-betalen.html .

You’d need a Dutch bank account for most (if not all) deals indeed. And a Dutch postal code (well, you can solve that one, of course). And if a local buys the ticket for you, they cannot send it to you (for example, by e-mail – you cannot put it in an attachment or forward via WhatsApp). So it only works if you have a local friend travelling with you (unless I missed something important). The local transportation system is really unkind to foreigners, but it’s a lovely country nevertheless 🙂

In #6 you say “The good news is, if you have an advantage card (the card I mentioned at 1.)” The advantage card is in #2, not #1

Thanks for that – all changed! I didn’t notice and you’re the first person to bring it up, so cheers. 😀

hi thank you

this content its great

The bike ticket is only valid off-peak-hours and not as you claim all day. Hence during peak hours (07.30-09.00 and 16.30-18.30 weekdays) you are NOT allowed to take a non-foldable bike (folded completely) with you in the train with this ticket and you risk a fine.

LEAVE A REPLY Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Related posts

Latest posts, pollen, allergies, and hay fever in the netherlands: how to survive it, a 14-year-old just took his ex-employer to court… and won, living in hoofddorp as an international: everything you need to know, it's happening, upcoming events, is it alive this unique art exhibition is opening its doors, ‘in brilliant light’: marvel at contemporary african art at this exciting new exhibit, trick your brain into speaking dutch with talencoach’s brainwash method, cherry blossom season, daylight savings time begins, explore one of the netherlands’ top international schools during this virtual open day, do you have what it takes to be an entrepreneur show your skills for a chance to win a €10,000 scholarship, considering a bsc in business administration check out nyenrode university’s amsterdam open day, want to elevate your career check out nyenrode university’s open day for a masters inmanagement, king’s day (koningsdag), the latest dutch news. in your inbox., woah, you look pretty good here.

We're constantly hunting for the latest, greatest, and most Dutch spots for our readers. Want your business to reach an unrivalled expat and international audience?

We like you - a lot

© 2023 All Rights Reserved. All material on this website (DutchReview) is strictly copyright and all rights reserved. If you are dissatisfied with the website or any content or materials on it, your sole exclusive remedy is to discontinue your use of the website. The website may provide links to other websites on the Internet, the content of which is not in our control. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, the publisher cannot accept responsibility for omissions and errors. If you have found material on this website which is copyrighted by others, please contact the webmaster on this matter in order to have it removed.

Amsterdam Travel Ticket

Easy traveling across amsterdam, what's included.

Unlimited travel

With the Amsterdam Travel Ticket, you can travel across Amsterdam without limits for the chosen days.

Schiphol Airport by train

A 2nd class rail travel ticket between Amsterdam Schiphol Airport and any station in Amsterdam is included.

Schiphol by Shuttle service

A shuttle service to and from Schiphol airport by the Amsterdam Airport Express (bus 397) and Niteliner (N97).

Bus, tram, metro and ferries

With each ticket you can travel in all buses, trams, metros and ferries operated by GVB.

A local map and suggestions for sightseeing is included, so you won't miss the highlights of Amsterdam.

Discount for multiple days

Save money by buying a 2-day or 3-day ticket and get a discount up to %.

Your days in Amsterdam

Explore Amsterdam in 1,2 or 3 days

Explore the canal rings to soak up the great atmosphere and find authentic shops. Visit the Rijksmuseum for some serious culture and the Anne Frank House for a touch of history. Go and have a drink in one of over 500 cafes and meet the locals.

Been in Amsterdam before?

Have you been to Amsterdam before and you like some contrast, then jump on the ferry boat that leaves from Amsterdam Central Station at the waterfront exit of the station and head North. Enter the creative hub of Amsterdam Noord.

Spend your days in Amsterdam in the best possible way

Easily cover the whole of Amsterdam with your 1, 2 or 3-day Amsterdam travel ticket. From Schiphol Airport you travel straight to the city center by train or bus. From there a tram or metro takes you wherever you want to go in Amsterdam.

Useful information

• Please order your ticket online. After you have purchased your ticket, you will receive a voucher via email. With this voucher you can collect your 1-, 2- or 3-day Amsterdam Travel Ticket at NS Tickets & Service desk at Schiphol Airport and Amsterdam Central Station or at GVB Tickets & Info shops at Amsterdam Central Station (on the square in front of the station), Bijlmer ArenA Station, Lelylaan Station and Zuid Station.
• With the Amsterdam Travel Ticket, you may travel by train (2nd class) between Schiphol Amsterdam Airport and any of the following train stations in Amsterdam: Amstel, Bijlmer ArenA, Central Station, Holendrecht, Lelylaan, Muiderpoort, RAI, Sciencepark, Sloterdijk, Zuid, Duivendrecht. And in all GVB trams, day buses, night buses and metros.
• 1-day (€ 18), 2-day (€ 24) and 3-day (€ 30) tickets are available.
• Included is a handy map showing places of interest in Amsterdam.
• Please note this is not a 24 hour ticket: a ticket is valid from the moment you check in for the first time until 04:00 the next morning.

Special terms and conditions

• Only available for 2nd class.
• The Amsterdam Travel Ticket is not valid on Eurostar and Nightjet.
• This ticket is valid for 1, 2 or 3 consecutive days. A day in this context begins at 00:00 AM and ends the next day at 04:00 AM. The validity starts from the moment you check in.
• Unlimited travel to and from Schiphol Airport by NS train to any station in Amsterdam and by the Amsterdam Airport Express (bus 397).
• Unlimited travel for all GVB trams, day buses, night buses and metros.
• GVB, recognizable in the colors white and blue, provides you with: tram, bus, metro and public ferries.
• The tickets are non-refundable.

Oh, oh, we are having trouble with loading the site. Please turn off your adblockers and make sure Javascript is working correctly ( click here for more details).

You might also be interested in:

(De)registering your address

Recycling and trash disposal

Health insurance

Financial support

Travel discount and deals

Train and bus tickets can be a little bit expensive, but luckily there are lots of options for traveling with a discount! On the NS website , you can see their section for the cheapest train tickets available. Choose from a cheaper ticket or a full excursion that includes a meal or a snack. There are lots of different options to pick from, and you can see the whole range here .

You can also use the website Treinrijziger , which will help you to find the cheapest ticket for your chosen journey. They also provide a list of the best places to buy a day pass. 

What is a discount day pass?

A day pass ( dagkaart ) is a great money saving option if you need to travel by bus several times on a single day. You can buy them from a bus driver for €6. This grants you unlimited travel after 9 am with the Arriva buses for one day. Remember to store your ticket securely and show it to the driver whenever you enter a bus. The Arriva website provides details about the discounts  (all in Dutch).

For €12.50 you can buy a dagkaart which allows you to travel on Arriva trains and buses in Limburg. This ticket is valid on the route Maastricht Randwyck – Kerkrade Centrum between 9 am and 4 pm. You can buy the tickets from the Arriva ticket machines in the station. If you need to travel by bus or train before 9.00 am you will have to buy an additional ticket (‘PLUSkaart’) for €2.50.  

Arriva offers another type of dagkaart which is not valid for all of the Netherlands but for the whole Euregio Maas-Rhine. For €18.50 you can use a variety of trains and buses in the provinces of Limburg (Netherlands) and Liège (Belgium), as well as in the Regio Aachen (Germany). The ticket is valid for the whole day on which it is stamped; it’s valid for a single person on regular calendar days and on holidays it is even valid for up to 2 adults and 3 children. For more detailed information see here (all in Dutch).

The NS only offers a day pass if you have an OV-chip card and it will cost you €55.80. With the NS day pass you can travel on all NS and other train carrier trains until 4 am on the following day. Read the most up-to-date information about prices and conditions on the NS website .

What are NS season tickets?

The NS also offers different types of “ season tickets ” with which you can get discounted travels. These tickets start at as cheap as €2 for a 40% discount on off-peak travel at the weekends. This is definitely a good option for those planning to do a lot of travelling next to their studies!

There are several options for NS subscriptions. 

The weekend subscription allows you to travel with a 40% discount during weekends and public holidays. In addition, if you travel with other people, up to 3 people can get a joint journey discount during off-peak hours. This subscription costs you €2 each month. 

The Dal subscription allows you to travel on a 40% discount during off-peak hours, weekends and public holidays. In addition you can get a 40% discount on joint journeys with up to 3 extra passengers during off-peak hours. Off-peak hours are weekdays from 9 am to 4 pm and from 6.30 pm to 6.30 am. This subscription costs €5.10 monthly. 

The always subscription is best for those who travel on a daily basis. With this subscription you can get a 20% discount during peak hours in addition to the benefits that you get with the Dal subscription. This subscription costs €24.20 per month. 

In addition to the regular subscriptions, NS also offers unlimited travel subscriptions for weekends, off-peak hours and peak hours on all and fixed routes. Check these out on the NS website. In order to purchase the subscriptions you will need a personal OV chip card. 

Group tickets

An NS group ticket is a way of travelling cheaply by train. This ticket allows a group of between two to seven persons to travel to or from any destination in the Netherlands. Passengers who want to use a group ticket will have to travel together in the train. The main rule is that a fellow passenger must always travel together with the main ticket holder, however, the fellow passengers can get on at a later station on the same route. The group ticket is for a single journey, but the group can buy a ticket for the return journey along with their outward journey. The return can also be for a later date. The group ticket is not valid in the morning or afternoon peak hours! 

Where can I buy a NS group ticket?

You must buy the ticket online . The price is €6.30 per person when travelling in a group of seven and slightly higher the less people there are. Also, take into account that the tickets have to be pre-assigned to specific persons when purchasing the ticket.

When can I travel with the group ticket?

Important to note is that the group ticket only allows you to travel during off-peak hours. This means that on weekdays travelling with the group ticket is possible before 6.30 am, between 9 am and 4 pm and after 6.30 pm. On weekends, the group ticket is valid from 6.30 pm on Friday until 6.30 am on Monday. 

Official partner of:

We're here to help you

Did you see out of date or inaccurate information? Was there a broken link? Please let us know by marking the corresponding text and filling out this form. We will implement the changes as soon as possible.

If you need help with study-related questions, please turn directly to the International Student Helpdesk (given that you are a student at UM) or to the Student Service Center .

Are you an expat? The Expat Centre Maastricht region is here to help you!

Thank you for your feedback, you're the best! We will revise our information as soon as possible and get back to you in case of further questions.

• Shop all deals
• Free phones
• Smartphones
• Fios Home Internet
• Bring your own device
• Accessories
• Refer a Friend
• Verizon Visa® Card
• Certified pre-owned phones
• Apple iPhone 15 Pro
• Apple iPhone 15
• Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
• Google Pixel 8 Pro
• Other phones
• Trade in your device
• Tablets & laptops
• Certified pre-owned watches
• Jetpacks & hotspots
• Shop all accessories
• Phone cases
• Screen protectors
• Tablet accessories
• Chargers & cables
• Phone attachments
• MagSafe compatible
• Verizon accessories
• Shop all watch accessories
• Smart watches
• Shop all plans
• International services
• Connected devices
• Discounts overview
• Mobile + Home
• First responders
• Verizon Forward
• Connected car plans
• Shop all home solutions
• 5G Home Internet
• LTE Home Internet
• Accessories overview
• Cables & connectors
• Networking & Wi-Fi
• TV accessories
• Phone equipment
• 5G Home accessories
• Prepaid overview
• Phone plans
• International plans
• Basic phones
• Mobile hotspots & routers
• Affordable Connectivity Program
• Why Verizon Prepaid
• Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+
• Apple Arcade
• Google Play Pass
• Apple Music
• Xbox All Access
• Services & perks overview
• Entertainment
• Protection & security
• Digital family
• Financial services
• 5G overview
• Coverage map
• Innovation Labs
• Global coverage
• Devices & plans
• Device protection
• Verizon Cloud
• Health discounts
• Responsibility
• Support overview
• Mobile support overview
• Billing & payments
• Account management
• Device support & setup
• Services & apps
• International trip planner
• Order status
• Community Forums
• Download My Verizon App
• Home support overview
• Billing & account management
• Fios Internet
• Back to Menu
• Sign in to My Account
• Prepaid instant pay
• Business Log in

Choose your cart

• Mobile solutions
• Home solutions

$10/day in 210+ countries and destinations.

To add TravelPass, text the word TRAVEL to 4004 or click here

With TravelPass

Get unlimited talk text and data* in 210+ countries and destinations. Once added, you'll only be charged on the days you send or receive a call, send texts or use data on your device while abroad, so there's no need to remove it when you return.

TravelPass can be used in 210+ countries and destinations .

If you choose not to add TravelPass or travel to a country not included in TravelPass you'll be charged Pay as You Go rates.

Back to International Travel plans

$10 /line per day. Plus taxes and fees.

$5/line in Canada and Mexico.

Roaming in Canada and Mexico is included with Unlimited Plus, Unlimited Welcome, and other Unlimited plans.

Get a TravelPass day on us every month on select Unlimited plans.

What's included:

Unlimited data

Unlimited calls

Unlimited texts

Your domestic data allowance*

*After the first 2GB of daily session enjoy unlimited 3G data. You can purchase additional high speed data for the remainder of your session. World device is required. Must be on a qualifying plan.

Trip Planner

Find the best plan for your international trip.

TravelPass days on us.

Get 2 free TravelPass days per year when you sign up to the Verizon Visa Credit Card.

Sorry, your browser doesn't support embedded videos

Have questions? We’ve got answers.

How does travelpass work and when will i be charged for it.

Here's how TravelPass works. After you add TravelPass to your mobile phone line:

• A 24-hour TravelPass session starts automatically when you use your phone in a TravelPass country (e.g., make or answer a phone call, send a text or use data).
• You're only charged for the days that you use your device in the TravelPass country.
• You must turn on cellular data or data roaming when you go to the TravelPass country.
• App content refreshing (e.g., Weather apps, Fitness Tracker)
• Syncing (e.g., email)
• Device or app software updates

2 hours after the session starts we send you a text letting you know when your 24-hour TravelPass session ends. Using your device after that session starts a new session.

Which countries can I call with TravelPass?

With TravelPass, you can call within the country you're visiting and you can call back to the US. If you want to call a different country, add an International Long Distance Plan to your line in My Verizon website or the My Verizon app. If you don't add an international long distance plan you'll be charged international long distance pay per minute rates for these calls.

Can I use Wi-Fi calling with TravelPass?

Wi-Fi calling isn't included with TravelPass. Wi-Fi calling to a country other than the US is charged international long distance rates regardless of whether or not you have an international travel plan.

Do I have to opt in every day to use TravelPass?

No, you don't need to opt in every day. Add TravelPass once and it stays on your line so you're all set for your next trip. You're only charged for the days that you use your device in a TravelPass country . There's no charge when you're in the US.

See more FAQs

More about International travel

Service and pricing.

Check available services and pricing by country.

See our worldwide service coverage map for data, voice and messaging services.

International Travel Terms & Conditions

Calling a country outside the us, international services support.

While in the US: (800) 711-8300

Travelling outside the US: 1 (908) 559-4899

If your device is lost, stolen or broken, or you experience a device issue while you are traveling outside the US, please use the below instructions to reach the International Support Team from a landline phone:

• 1. Dial your country’s toll-free number
• 2. Enter your 10-digit mobile number when prompted by the International Hotline

See toll-free numbers

If a toll-free number is not available for the country you are in, please dial (908) 559-4899 (toll charges will apply).

• Home Internet & TV
• Return policy
• Accessibility
• Check network status
• Verizon Innovative Learning
• Consumer info
• Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
• Apple iPhone 15 Plus
• Apple AirPods Max
• Apple Watch Series 9
• Elizabeth James
• Terms & Conditions
• Device Payment Terms & Conditions
• Report a security vulnerability
• Mobile customer agreement
• Announcements
• Radio frequency emissions
• Taxes & surcharges
• Legal notices
• facebook-official
• Privacy Policy
• California Privacy Notice
• Health Privacy Notice
• Open Internet
• Terms & Conditions
• About Our Ads

NS Group Ticket (Off-Peak) – Cheapest Dutch Train Offer

The NS Off-Peak Group Ticket (NS Groepsticket Daluren) is a special e-ticket from NS Dutch Railways which allows 2-7 people to travel together by train to the same destination station anywhere in the Netherlands.

The NS Group Ticket is only available online and costs €34 to €50 depending on the group size. You cannot buy the Group Ticket at the station – you can only buy the NS Group Ticket online here

The ticket is valid for 2nd class travel during off-peak periods. This means you cannot travel on weekdays between 0630-0900 (morning rush-hour) and 1600-1830 (evening rush-hour). You can travel all day at weekends. The ticket is also not valid on 27 April (King’s Day).

There is a designated main ticket holder and co-passengers on the group ticket must travel with that person the whole way. It is possible for a co-passenger to get on at a later station (en-route only) to meet up with the main ticket holder.

The NS Group Ticket is a one-way (single) ticket and is priced (2024) as follows:

For a group this is the very cheapest way to travel long-distance on the Dutch Rail network! If you have kids with you then remember that children 0-3 travel free and those aged 4-11 can buy a RailRunner ticket (valid all day) for €2.50. Go here for everything about Dutch rail tickets .

The lead passenger should make the booking and needs to specify the name of all accompanying passengers. Once payment is made (debit/credit card or iDeal) the tickets can either be downloaded onto a mobile, printed out or loaded onto the NS app.

E-tickets from NS are personalised with the name of the traveller. You need to have some form of ID with you when you travel.

With an e-ticket you don’t need to check-in or check-out as you have to do with the OV-chip card . A growing number of stations in the Netherlands have gate barriers. Find one with the “scan ticket” symbol and hold the square barcode on the e-ticket in order to get through.

Need to make a return journey? Then just buy a second Group ticket – the return option will be available during the booking process.

Consider a standard full-fare return ticket between say Amsterdam and Groningen costs about €58.80 per person. The total for 7 passengers would be around €412.

The same return trip with 7 passengers could be made with 2 group tickets costing €100. This would be a saving over €310 , which is certainly a significant sum.

Even with 2 people (standard return fare €117.60, 2 group tickets €68) you are saving nearly €50.

A party larger than 7 people could simply buy multiple group tickets as needed.

You will also save for shorter trips whenever the Group ticket per person rate is less than the standard single fare. However, you should not use it for very short trips (such as Schiphol Airport to Amsterdam Central).

The NS off-peak single ticket was originally introduced in 2018 for 4-7 passengers. In late 2021 the ticket was changed to include 2-7 passengers.

The single group ticket replaced a 4-10 person group return ticket which ran from 2013 to 2018. NS had to pull the that ticket off the market due to its more lenient rules and the perceived fraudulent use. People were forming groups on social media and were using “hidden city” techniques to travel short of the final destination.

For any visitors making long domestic journeys on Dutch trains, the NS off-peak Single Group Ticket can certainly save a significant sum. Order the NS Group Ticket online here

This article was originally published in 2013 and has continuously been updated. Last update 18 December 2023 .

Links on AmsterdamTips.com may pay us an affiliate commission.

Related Articles

How to Get to Amsterdam Bijlmer ArenA

Car Sharing in Amsterdam

OV Fiets – Dutch Bike Rental Scheme

NS Dutch Railways Discount Cards (Explained)

Swiss Travel Pass

Round-trip through switzerland.

Benefits of the Swiss Travel Pass

• Unlimited travel by train, bus and boat
• Free public transport in 90 cities
• Children younger than 6 travel for free
• Free access to 500 museums

The advantages of travelling by train

• Board directly, no check-ins
• Comfortable seating
• Arrival in the heart of town
• Online no booking fee

By train to Switzerland

You can travel fast and comfortably to Switserland by ICE International. After arriving in Switzerland you can use your Swiss Travel Pass.

Carefree travel through Switzerland

With the Swiss Travel Pass you can discover the breathtaking Swiss countryside with all its mountains and lakes. While you are there, you may use the public transport trains, busses and boats in 90 cities. You will also receive attractive discounts for many mountain railway lines.

Train to Basel

Enjoy the medieval town and stunning architecture.

ICE International

ICE International brings you directly across the border to twelve stations in Germany and one in Switzerland.

Switzerland

Travel comfortably and quickly by train to Basel, Zurich and Bern.