Hello,
We are hoping to use trains (the Intercity ones) to travel between cities in the Netherlands instead of driving. Our first will be from the airport to Leiden. The ns.nl website says that luggage which exceeds 85cm in any direction (length/width/height) isn't allowed, which rules out traveling with a suitcase. Is there a different train we can take between cities, or must we rent a car (or take rideshare) if we have a suitcase? Or is that rule about luggage one that's generally ignored?
I hope someone who has traveled this route can clarify that luggage is permitted on board!
85 cm is 33 1/2 inches. How big is your suitcase? Even an XL suitcase is 80 to 85 cm according to sources.
https://luggageguide.co.uk/the-4-standart-suitcase-luggage-sizes/
@Sam Ah, I'm a dummy. I don't why I did the conversion & then was still thinking in cm, so in my head I thought "well my suitcase is definitely taller than one foot!". Glad to know luggage is allowed! Back to planning, thanks. :)
I traveled all over the Netherlands last year, and bringing luggage was never an issue. We each had a backpack and a carry-on size roller bag. We went to and from Schiphol and Hoorn. Also, I think our train from Leiden to Hoorn passed through Schiphol. You will have no problem bringing your luggage along.
The sizes are merely guidelines. No one checks luggage or measures it, basically if you can carry it and it fits through the door, you will be fine. I suppose if it is really large, and a conductor notices, they can pull that rule out of the book and prevent you from boarding.
On trains you take care of your own luggage. And people take all kinds of things on trains. When I was a student in The Netherlands we once moved a friend from one city to another by train. Everyone picked up a piece of furniture or a box and we all enjoyed a huge travelling party from Delft to Leiden.
The rules are there so that the conductor could have kicked us out of the train if it got to rowdy. In the end we were all fine :-)
