How to Travel Cheaply on Dutch Trains (2026 Guide)

1. The “NS Flex” Game Changer

The best way to save is to move away from “topping up” balance and switch to NS Flex. This is a “travel now, pay later” subscription linked to your bank account.

• Dal Voordeel (€6.35/month): This is the gold standard for expats. It gives you 40% discount during off-peak hours (weekdays 09:00–16:00 and after 18:30, plus all weekend).
  • Pro Tip: In early 2026, NS is running a promotion where you can get this for just €3.50/month for the first three months.
• Weekend Vrij (€39.50/month): If you plan to explore the Netherlands on your days off, this gives you unlimited travel from Friday 18:30 until Monday 04:00. It pays for itself in just one return trip from Amstelveen to Groningen or Maastricht.

• Flexibility: You can change or cancel these subscriptions every month via the NS app. If you aren’t traveling much in July, just “downgrade” to the free NS Flex Basis for that month.

2. “PrijsTijd Deals” (Up to 60% Off)

In 2026, the PriceTime Deal has become the best way to get “rock bottom” prices without a subscription.

• How it works: You must book at least one day in advance via the NS app.

• The Catch: You are tied to a specific “quiet” train time slot (marked with a green label in the app). If you book a week in advance for a Tuesday afternoon, you can often save 60% on the ticket price.

3. The NS Group Ticket (Groepsticket)

Traveling with friends or family? Never buy individual tickets.

• The Deal: For a group of 2 to 7 people, you can buy a single group e-ticket.

• The Math: For 7 people, the price is roughly €8.07 per person for a one-way trip anywhere in the country. This is a massive saving for long-distance trips (e.g., Amsterdam to Giethoorn).

• Rule: Everyone must travel together with the “main” ticket holder.

4. Children and Seniors

• Kids Vrij: Children aged 4–11 travel for free at all times when accompanied by an adult (requires a personal OV-chipkaart/OV-pas for the child).

• Railrunner: If you don’t have a subscription, a daily “Railrunner” ticket for a child is still only €2.50.

• Seniors (60+): If you have a Dal Voordeel subscription, you can add “Keuzedagen” (Choice Days) for a small fee, giving you 7 days of unlimited off-peak travel per year.

5. Transitioning from OV-chipkaart to “OV-pas”

Important for 2026: The yellow OV-chipkaart is being phased out.

• OVpay: You can now “tap in and out” using your contactless debit card or phone on all trains. However, you currently cannot get your 40% subscription discount this way.

• The New OV-pas: During 2026, if you have a subscription, NS will contact you to replace your old card with the new OV-pas. This new card stores your data digitally, making it much easier to manage your “cheap travel” via your smartphone.

‍