See the Best of the Netherlands by Train in Style

Iconic windmills, tulip fields, famous Netherlands rail trips & more

Take a leisurely and luxurious trip through the Netherlands by train, passing expansive green fields, historic towns, and its signature windmills. The country’s streamlined rail network links major cities,
including Amsterdam, Utrecht, Rotterdam, The Hague, and Eindhoven, along with small villages and seaside towns oozing with Dutch charm.

Travel in comfort and style on one of Rail Escape’s self-guided rail tour and accommodation packages, featuring deluxe train tickets, lavish lodging, and a hand-picked selection of suggested
activities to ensure a one-of-a-kind vacation in the Netherlands.

Our rail routes through the Netherlands

Netherlands Rail Routes

Dutch rail travel and accommodation packages

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Row of traditional Dutch houses reflecting on the canal water
#WT-CODE 4894

Amsterdam Brussels Paris Tour

9 Day(s) 8 Night(s)
No Size Limit

Explore Europe’s cultural hubs on our 9-day Amsterdam Brussels Paris Tour. Enjoy seamless rail travel and authentic city experiences. Book your adventure today!

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Train passing along the Rhine River surrounded by scenic vineyards
#WT-CODE 4876

Rhine River Tour: Castles and Wine in Germany

12 Day(s) 11 Night(s)
No Size Limit

Discover castles and wine on our 9-day Rhine River Tour. Enjoy seamless rail travel through Germany’s enchanting landscapes. Book your adventure today!

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Bicycles and houseboats line a scenic canal in Amsterdam
#WT-CODE 4874

Western Europe Tour: Amsterdam to Paris and Madrid

11 Day(s) 10 Night(s)
No Size Limit

Experience the best of Europe on our 11-day Western Europe Tour from Amsterdam to Paris and Madrid. Enjoy seamless rail travel and rich cultural immersion. Book now!

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Berlin TV Tower at Alexanderplatz with station entrance
#WT-CODE 4896

Northern Highlights: Amsterdam, Hamburg, Berlin and Warsaw

9 Day(s) 8 Night(s)
No Size Limit

Discover Northern Highlights on a 9-day rail tour through Amsterdam, Hamburg, Berlin, and Warsaw. Reserve now your trip!

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Bright lights reflecting on the canal with arched bridges and buildings in Amsterdam
#WT-CODE 4866

Grand European Capitals Tour: Amsterdam to Paris

13 Day(s) 12 Night(s)
No Size Limit

Experience our Grand European Capitals Tour on a 13-day rail journey from Amsterdam to Paris. Enjoy seamless travel and iconic sights. Book your adventure now!

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Boat cruising along the Grand Canal at sunset in Venice
#WT-CODE 4868

Art and Romance: Amsterdam to Rome and Venice

14 Day(s) 13 Night(s)
No Size Limit

Embark on a 14-day Art and Romance tour from Amsterdam to Rome and Venice. Enjoy iconic sights and unforgettable experiences. Reserve today!

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Famous Eiffel Tower surrounded by trees during sun set
#WT-CODE 4843

Classic Capitals: London Paris Amsterdam Tour

9 Day(s) 8 Night(s)
No Size Limit

Discover the best of Europe on our London Paris Amsterdam Tour. Enjoy stress-free rail travel and immersive cultural experiences. Book now for an unforgettable journey!

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What makes the Netherlands perfect for our rail travel packages?

The Netherlands is a premier destination for luxurious and enriching rail vacations. Our expert Rail Escape team has selected the best European destinations and stopovers throughout the Netherlands to ensure a meaningful and memorable rail travel experience for you. Most travel on our Dutch packages is booked on Thalys, Eurostar and Intercity (IC) trains.

A Dutch vacation with one of our carefully curated premier rail tour and accommodation packages will ensure an incredible experience and memories that will last a lifetime.

What to expect when traveling the Netherlands by train

Easily reach major cities in the Netherlands on the speedy Intercity) trains. With single or double-decker carriages, ICs are operated by Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS), the country’s national railway service. Train travel across the Netherlands is an efficient and memorable experience.

Here’s what you need to know:

Boarding:

Onboard amenities:

10 reasons Rail Escape is your ticket to the ultimate Dutch rail vacation

Rail Escape specializes in luxury rail travel across Europe, including countries such as the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, and Germany by train

We take care of your rail tickets, premium accommodation, and airport transfers, allowing you to explore each destination at your leisure.

Curated itineraries

We select only the best Dutch destinations and top-of-the-range accommodations in the Netherlands for your train travel and hotel packages.

Self-guided exploration

Experience your dream Netherlands destinations at your own pace. With our activity recommendations and city guides, you can customize your trip, including meals and leisure time, to best suit you.

Hassle-free premium travel

We prioritize your comfort by only booking premium tickets from every rail service provider included in your rail tour package. We mostly use Thalys, Eurostar and IC trains in all our Dutch packages.

Luxury accommodation

We select some of the Netherlands’ most exclusive boutique hotels and top-rated local stays, with breakfast included for your comfort and enjoyment.

Attentive customer support team

Our English-speaking and highly experienced support staff are available to assist you during the planning stage and while you are on your trip.

All age groups welcome

Our rail tour packages suit travelers of all ages, including families with young and older kids, couples, and senior citizens.

Tour like you belong

Embrace the local experience by traveling on the tracks like the Dutch do for a genuine European adventure.

Eco-friendly travel

Trains produce less carbon than road or air travel, making them a more responsible travel option while exploring the Netherlands.

Flexible itinerary

Looking for extra time for retail therapy, exploring the attractions or an additional destination at the beginning or end of your tour? Let us know, and we’ll arrange it for you.

Over 60,000 miles of rail travel experience

Our rail travel specialists have all personally traveled Europe extensively by rail. We use our first-hand experience to select rail routes for the best possible rail vacation packages.

Three other inspiring famous Netherlands rail trips

With pastures filled with grazing cows, meandering rivers, coastal cities, lighthouses, and harbors, many of the Netherlands’ sensational experiences and wondrous sites are easily accessible by train. If you want to explore the best of the Netherlands by rail, try one—or all—of these famous routes before or after your Rail Escape adventure:

1. Leeuwarden to Stavoren Route: Experience Friesland’s best

Travel from Leeuwarden to Stavoren and visit six of Friesland’s eleven cities, including Sneek, IJlst, Workum, and Hindeloopen.

Explore Leeuwarden’s quaint streets and canals before boarding the train to Sneek, famed for yachting, culture, and cuisine. Disembark in IJlst to marvel at the beautiful waterside gardens and local woodcrafts. Visit Workum’s beach and range of museums, including the Jopie Huisman Museum that showcases the life, work, and artistic journey of this renowned Frisian self-taught master painter.

At Hindeloopen, admire the collections of historical paintings and traditional costumes and visit the Frisian Ice Skating Museum. The final stop is Stavoren, the oldest Frisian city. See the iconic Lady of Stavoren statue and fishing port, and take a summer ferry to Enkhuizen for its beautiful monumental buildings.

2. Haarlem to Zandvoort Route: Art and adventure await

A vacation in the Netherlands would be incomplete without stopping at Haarlem to admire its grand churches and historic courtyards surrounded by small almshouses. These modest dwellings, generally built for older women, date back to the Middle Ages. The Het Teylers Museum, the oldest in the country, has fine collections of fossils, scientific instruments, and classic art.

Haarlem’s century-old art nouveau train station has starred in many films. Take a short ride to Zandvoort, a charismatic coastal town popular with travelers.

Near the station, Zandvoort Beach is popular for sunbathing and water sports during summer. The town center is known for its mocktails, international cuisine, and deer sightings in the dunes.

3. Valkenburg to Maastricht Route: Caves, cathedrals and more

Valkenburg is an exciting combination of castle ruins, caves, Christmas markets, thriving art and music scenes, cycling, and scenic walks. The city center’s restaurants, cafes, and museum are set against a backdrop of marlstone quarries.

Maastricht, one of the Netherlands’ oldest cities on the picturesque Maas River, is only a short rail ride from Valkenburg. Cultural attractions include the impressive period architecture of the Basilica of Our Lady and the Basilica of Saint Servatius. It also offers shopping in local boutiques, traditional cuisine and regional breweries.

Frequently asked questions about train travel in the Netherlands

Our rail travel experts answer common questions about rail travel in the Netherlands.

Can you explain the Dutch train class system?

In the Netherlands, regional and Intercity trains usually have two classes of service: Standard Class and First Class. 

  • Dutch Intercity First Class: Passengers in First Class receive a higher level of comfort and space than in Standard Class, with additional amenities such as electrical sockets near seats for convenient device charging.
  • Dutch Regional and Intercity Standard Class: Passengers can expect ample seating and luggage racks at each carriage end. Although the seats are comfortable, not all trains in Standard Class have amenities such as electrical sockets.
  • International Trains: The Eurostar, Thalys and Intercity trains travel between the Netherlands and international destinations. Travel on Rail Escape packages in the Netherlands is mostly booked on these services.

Much like exploring other famous European countries, such as the United Kingdom by rail, visiting the Netherlands on a train tour package is a seamless and enjoyable experience. This journey brims with cultural highlights, warm local hospitality, and scenic attractions, including lush green farmland and iconic Dutch architecture.

Traverse the Dutch countryside on our famous Netherland rail trips, passing windmills and dairy farms before reaching well-known cities like Amsterdam and Rotterdam. Here, visit world-class museums, explore the canals, and rent a bicycle to get around. Visit cities like Gouda and Edam to taste their world-famous cheeses, and sample popular dishes like bitterballen and Dutch stamppot, a hearty dish of mashed potatoes and kale, topped with tasty sausages.

The Netherlands is home to numerous historic train stations, many dating back hundreds of years. According to Conde Nast Traveller, Amsterdam Centraal Station and Rotterdam Centraal Station are among the world’s 36 most beautiful train stations.

Other train stations worth seeing include Haarlem Station, Groningen Train Station (locally called Hoofdstation), Station Valkenburg, Schin op Geul Station, and Klimmen-Ransdaal Station.

Satisfy your wanderlust with a luxe trip to the Netherlands by rail

Indulge in a lavish, self-guided rail trip to fully appreciate the Netherlands and its many attractions. Rail Escape coordinates your bookings for premium accommodations, deluxe tickets, and airport transfers. With everything arranged for you, enjoy plenty of leisure time to explore the Netherlands at your own pace. Browse our Dutch rail vacation packages and speak to our expert rail travel team to help you plan your rail vacation through the Netherlands.

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