How to Book a Trip on Nederlands Spoorwegen

Tulips and wooden shoes may come to mind when you think about the Netherlands, but this beautiful country offers so much more to see and do. Next time you visit, you can travel through the country on a modern, efficient railway system. Follow these steps.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Computer with Internet access for making reservations
• Valid passport

Take a Trip on the Nederlands Spoorwegen (Netherlands Railways)

1. Get tickets to travel on Nederlands Spoorwegen by calling Rail Europe at [phone], or visit their Web site (see Resources below).

2. Buy tickets at the ticket machines located in every NS train station. Some stations also have kiosks, ticket offices or local agents that sell tickets.

3. Book a Eurail pass with a Benelux package for the best deal on frequent train travel between the Netherlands and neighboring Belgium and Luxembourg.

4. Purchase the OV-Dagkaart ticket if you take a day trip to the Netherlands. This gets you unlimited travel throughout the Netherlands for one day for around 50 euro.

5. Bring your bike along. For a fee, you can purchase storage specifically for bicycles -- a common way to get around locally in the Netherlands.

6. Take a trip to the Netherlands in the summer months to take advantage of a Zomertoer or Summer Tour ticket. This ticket provides you and a friend with unlimited travel for 3 days within 10 consecutive days for around 69,00 euro.

7. Discover that rail travel is easy in this densely populated and urbanized country. The Nederlands Spoorwegen operates the majority of lines within and between cities and provides express service along some of the most popular routes.

Know Your Destination

1. Arrive at the Schipol International Airport outside of Amsterdam. From here, you have easy access to InterCity as well as to international rail travel.

2. Plan to visit Amsterdam if you want to a taste of the tolerant attitude for which the Netherlands is known. Here you will find many culturally significant sights as well as the well-known red-light district and charming cafes.

3. Visit The Hague to discover the country's cultural center as well as its seat of government. Here you will find some of Europe's most important art collections and museums, plus award-winning theater and dance productions.

Tips & Warnings

• Visit the Nederlands Spoorwegen Web site for the latest information on train travel in the Netherlands before you take your trip.

• Purchase tickets before you board the train. This is the law, and you will face stiff penalties if you attempt to board a train without a ticket. If you are unable to pay the fine charged for this infraction, you may be arrested. In special instances, you can file an appeal for a refund of the fine charged, but this must be done by mail.