Any advice on purchasing rail passes for Netherlands travel would be appreciated. We'll be there for 18 days in May and will be travelling to other Dutch cities using Amsterdam as base. I assume that the 5 day pass is a better deal than buying for each trip. Also I've heard they must be purchased in U.S.
Posted by
Powell River, Canada
359 posts
Louise: In 18 days a pass will probably pay for itself so long as you plan and save it for the longer trips. That said, NL is so small that the point-point tickets are cheap and NO trips within the country are that long. Check www.ns.nl which is the website for NL trains; you can do a sample check of fares, schedules, etc., and the website has excellent trip planners/maps. The bus is an option as well, generally cheaper than the trains, and it's also quite incredible what you can get to using the city tram lines. Three years living in Den Haag, always used the tram for a quick trip to Delft even though bus and train are available. Check this site (see above, click Railpasses) which explains the pass system better than most.
Posted by
Elk Grove, CA, USA
6898 posts
You're describing a Eurail pass for Holland. Eurail passes are not really known in Europe. You can't buy them there. As mentioned by Geoff, if you can carefully choose the five days on the pass for your longest trips, your $99 investment should pay off. For the remainder of your shorter train trips, you can get the inexpensive tickets at the machines or ticket windows.
Posted by
OP
Harrisonburg, VA, USA
7 posts
Thanks for your advice, Geoff and Larry. I checked the ns.nl site. It has a demonstration ticket machine which is very helpful. It seems that 6 roundtrip tickets from Amsterdam to other cities would cost under $60.00 each for the students, assuming that our U.S. students can get a student discount with their international i.d. cards
Posted by
Powell River, Canada
359 posts
Didn't realize it's a student group; how many are going? I only ask because rental vehicle(s) may be an option as well. Doesn't get easier to drive in Europe than Holland and with a bit of planning, parking's not too bad either and you can see places that are a bit off the beaten path.
Posted by
OP
Harrisonburg, VA, USA
7 posts
I am leading a university student group of 6, but I don't want the hassle of driving. We'll take your advice, Geoff, on trains, buses and trams.
Posted by
OP
Harrisonburg, VA, USA
7 posts
Just wanted to add a correction to my earlier note about cost of rail travel. Six trips on railroad bought individually at student rate cost about 60 Euro not dollars.