Stations are divided into two categories based upon the service they receive. These are, in order of decreasing importance:
Intercity stations, where usually all trains (except, in some cases, international services) call.
The remaining stations, where only local trains (Sprinters) call.
There are exceptions to this categorization. Some local trains – despite being called stoptreinen – do not stop at all stations: two examples are the services from Groningen to Roodeschool and from Tiel to Arnhem.
On the route diagrams printed at the top of station departure sheets (see this example), intercity stations and semi-fast train stations are indicated by the letters IC and S respectively.
ProRail classify stations into 5 categories based upon the facilities available. The categories are (in English): Cathedral, Mega, Plus, Basic and Stop.
In this order, these are the ten largest Dutch railway stations by number of passengers a day:
- Utrecht Centraal
- Amsterdam Centraal
- Rotterdam Centraal
- The Hague Centraal
- Schiphol Airport
- Eindhoven
- Leiden Centraal
- The Hague Hollands Spoor
- 's-Hertogenbosch
- Amsterdam Sloterdijk
Stations are generally named after the town they serve. In case a town is served by multiple stations, additional names are given to specify the station's position such as:
Centraal (abbreviated "CS"): "Central" - most important station with more than 40000 daily passengers.
Centrum: "Center" - most important station with less than 40000 daily passengers and/or a centrally located station.
Zuid: "South"
Noord: "North"
Oost: "East"
West: "West"
A specific locality within the town, e.g. Amsterdam Sloterdijk railway station.
In the opposite situation with one station serving two communities, both community names are given, separated by a hyphen, e.g. Krommenie-Assendelft.
Currently only six stations are designated Centraal: Utrecht Centraal, Amsterdam Centraal, Rotterdam Centraal, Leiden Centraal, Den Haag Centraal and Arnhem Centraal.
Aalten (Atn)
Abcoude (Ac)
Akkrum (Akm)
Alkmaar (Amr)
Noord (Amrn)
Almelo (Aml)
de Riet (Amri)
Almere
Buiten (Almb)
Centrum (Alm)
Muziekwijk (Almm)
Oostvaarders (Almo)
Parkwijk (Almp)
Poort (Ampo)
Alphen a/d Rijn (Apn)
Amersfoort (Amf)
Schothorst (Amfs)
Vathorst (Avat)
Amsterdam
Amstel (Asa)
Arena (Asdar; only during events)
Bijlmer ArenA (Asb)
Amsterdam Centraal (Asd)
Holendrecht (Ashd)
Lelylaan (Asdl)
Muiderpoort (Asdm)
RAI (Rai)
Science Park (Assp)
Sloterdijk (Ass)
Zuid (Asdz)
Anna Paulowna (Ana)
Apeldoorn (Apd)
De Maten (Apdm)
Osseveld (Apdo)
Appingedam (Apg)
Arkel (Akl)
Arnemuiden (Arn)
Arnhem
Centraal (Ah)
Presikhaaf (Ahpr)
Velperpoort (Ahp)
Zuid (Ahz)
Assen (Asn)
Baarn (Brn)
Bad Nieuweschans (Nsch)
Baflo (Bf)
Barendrecht (Brd)
Barneveld
Centrum (Bnc)
Noord (Bnn)
Zuid (Bnz)
Bedum (Bdm)
Beek-Elsloo (Bk)
Beesd (Bsd)
Beilen (Bl)
Bergen op Zoom (Bgn)
Best (Bet)
Beverwijk (Bv)
Bilthoven (Bhv)
Blerick (Br)
Bloemendaal (Bll)
Bodegraven (Bdg)
Borne (Bn)
Boskoop (Bsk)
Bovenkarspel
Flora (Bkf)
-Grootebroek (Bkg)
Boxmeer (Bmr)
Boxtel (Btl)
Breda (Bd)
-Prinsenbeek (Bdpb)
Breukelen (Bkl)
Brummen (Bmn)
Buitenpost (Bp)
Bunde (Bde)
Bunnik (Bnk)
Bussum Zuid (Bsmz)
Capelle Schollevaar (Cps)
Castricum (Cas)
Chevremont (Cvm)
Coevorden (Co)
Cuijk (Ck)
Culemborg (Cl)
Daarlerveen (Da)
Dalen (Dln)
Dalfsen (Dl)
Deinum (Dei)
Delden (Ddn)
Delft (Dt)
Zuid (Dtz)
Delfzijl (Dz)
West (Dzw)
Den Dolder (Dld)
Den Haag (The Hague)
Centraal (Gvc)
HS (Gv)
Laan van NOI (Laa)
Mariahoeve (Gvm)
Moerwijk (Gvmw)
Ypenburg (Ypb)
Den Helder (Hdr)
Zuid (Hdrz)
Deurne (Dn)
Deventer (Dv)
Colmschate (Dvc)
De Vink (Dvnk)
De Westereen (Dwe)
Didam (Did)
Diemen (Dmn)
Zuid (Dmnz)
Dieren (Dr)
Doetinchem (Dtc)
De Huet (Dtch)
Dordrecht (Ddr)
Stadspolders (Ddrs)
Zuid (Ddzd)
Driebergen-Zeist (Db)
Driehuis (Dh)
Dronryp (Drp)
Dronten (Dron)
Duiven (Dvn)
Duivendrecht (Dvd)
Echt (Ec)
Ede
Centrum (Edc)
-Wageningen (Ed)
Eindhoven (Ehv)
Strijp-S (Ehb)
Stadion (Ehs; only during events)
Elst (Est)
Emmen (Emn)
Zuid (Emnz)
Enkhuizen (Ekz)
Enschede (Es)
De Eschmarke (Ese)
Kennispark (Esk)
Ermelo (Eml)
Etten-Leur (Etn)
Eygelshoven (Egh)
Markt (Eghm)
Feanwâlden (Fwd)
Franeker (Fn)
Gaanderen (Gdr)
Geldermalsen (Gdm)
Geldrop (Gp)
Geleen
-Lutterade (Lut)
Oost (Gln)
Gilze-Rijen (Gz)
Glanerbrug (Gbr)
Goes (Gs)
Goor (Go)
Gorinchem (Gr)
Gouda (Gd)
Goverwelle (Gdg)
Gramsbergen (Gbg)
Grijpskerk (Gk)
Groningen (Gn)
Europapark (Gerp)
Noord (Gnn)
Grou-Jirnsum (Gw)
Haarlem (Hlm)
Spaarnwoude (Hlms)
Halfweg-Zwanenburg (Hwzb)
't Harde (Hde)
Hardenberg (Hdb)
Harderwijk (Hd)
Hardinxveld
-Giessendam (Gnd)
Blauwe Zoom (Bzm)
Haren (Hrn)
Harlingen (Hlg)
Haven (Hlgh)
Heemskerk (Hk)
Heemstede-Aerdenhout (Had)
Heerenveen (Hr)
IJsstadion (Hry; only during events)
Heerhugowaard (Hwd)
Heerlen (Hrl)
de Kissel (Hrlk)
Woonboulevard (Hrlw)
Heeze (Hz)
Heiloo (Hlo)
Heino (Hno)
Helmond (Hm)
Brandevoort (Hmbv)
Brouwhuis (Hmbh)
't Hout (Hmh)
Hemmen-Dodewaard (Hmn)
Hengelo (Hgl)
Gezondheidspark (Hglg)
Oost (Hglo)
's-Hertogenbosch (Ht)
Oost (Hto)
Hillegom (Hil)
Hilversum (Hvs)
Media Park (Hvsn)
Sportpark (Hvsp)
Hindeloopen (Hnp)
Hoek van Holland
Haven (Hld)
Strand (Hlds)
Hoensbroek (Hb)
Hoevelaken (Hvl)
Hollandsche Rading (Hor)
Holten (Hon)
Hoofddorp (Hfd)
Hoogeveen (Hgv)
Hoogezand-Sappemeer (Hgz)
Hoogkarspel (Hks)
Hoorn (Hn)
Kersenboogerd (Hnk)
Horst-Sevenum (Hrt)
Houten (Htn)
Castellum (Htnc)
Houthem-Sint Gerlach (Sgl)
Hurdegaryp (Hdg)
Kampen (Kpn)
Zuid (Kpnz)
Kapelle-Biezelinge (Bzl)
Kerkrade Centrum (Krd)
Kesteren (Ktr)
Klarenbeek (Kbk)
Klimmen-Ransdaal (Kmr)
Koog
Bloemwijk (Kbw)
-Zaandijk (Kzd)
Koudum-Molkwerum (Kmw)
Krabbendijke (Kbd)
Krommenie-Assendelft (Kma)
Kropswolde (Kw)
Kruiningen-Yerseke (Krg)
Lage Zwaluwe (Zlw)
Landgraaf (Lg) (Also called: Schaesberg)
Leerdam (Ldm)
Leeuwarden (Lw)
Camminghaburen (Lwc)
Leiden
Centraal (Ledn)
Lammenschans (Ldl)
Lelystad Centrum (Lls)
Lichtenvoorde-Groenlo (Ltv)
Lochem (Lc)
Loppersum (Lp)
Lunteren (Ltn)
Maarheeze (Mz)
Maarn (Mrn)
Maarssen (Mas)
Maassluis (Mss)
West (Msw)
Maastricht (Mt)
Noord (Mtn)
Randwyck (Mtr)
Mantgum (Mg)
Mariënberg (Mrb)
Martenshoek (Mth)
Meerssen (Mes)
Meppel (Mp)
Middelburg (Mdb)
Mook Molenhoek (Mmlh)
Naarden-Bussum (Ndb)
Nieuw Amsterdam (Na)
Nieuw Vennep (Nvp)
Nieuwerkerk a/d IJssel (Nwk)
Nijkerk (Nkk)
Nijmegen (Nm)
Dukenburg (Nmd)
Goffert (Nmgo)
Heyendaal (Nmh)
Lent (Nml)
Nijverdal (Nvd)
Nunspeet (Ns)
Nuth (Nh)
Obdam (Obd)
Oisterwijk (Ot)
Oldenzaal (Odz)
Olst (Ost)
Ommen (Omn)
Oosterbeek (Otb)
Opheusden (Op)
Oss (O)
West (Ow)
Oudenbosch (Odb)
Overveen (Ovn)
Purmerend (Pmr)
Overwhere (Pmo)
Weidevenne (Pmw)
Putten (Pt)
Raalte (Rat)
Ravenstein (Rvs)
Reuver (Rv)
Rheden (Rh)
Rhenen (Rhn)
Rijssen (Rsn)
Rilland-Bath (Rb)
Roermond (Rm)
Roodeschool (Rd)
Roosendaal (Rsd)
Rosmalen (Rs)
Rotterdam
Alexander (Rta)
Blaak (Rtb)
Rotterdam Centraal (Rtd)
Lombardijen (Rlb)
Noord (Rtn)
Stadion (Rtst; only during events)
Zuid (Rtz)
Ruurlo (Rl)
Santpoort
Noord (Sptn)
Zuid (Sptz)
Sappemeer Oost (Spm)
Sassenheim
Sauwerd (Swd)
Schagen (Sgn)
Scheemda (Sda)
Schiedam
Centrum (Sdm)
Nieuwland (Nwl)
Schin op Geul (Sog)
Schinnen (Sn)
Schiphol (Shl)
Sittard (Std)
Sliedrecht (Sdt)
Baanhoek
Sneek (Sk)
Noord (Sknd)
Soest (St)
Zuid (Stz)
Soestdijk (Sd)
Spaubeek (Sbk)
Stavoren (Stv)
Stedum (Stm)
Steenwijk (Swk)
Susteren (Srn)
Swalmen (Sm)
Tegelen (Tg)
Terborg (Tbg)
Tiel (Tl)
Passewaaij (Tpsw)
Tilburg (Tb)
Reeshof (Tbr)
Universiteit (Tbu)
Twello (Twl)
Uitgeest (Utg)
Uithuizen (Uhz)
Uithuizermeeden (Uhm)
Usquert (Ust)
Utrecht
Utrecht Centraal (Ut)
Leidsche Rijn (Utlr)
Lunetten (Utl)
Maliebaan (Utm; only serving the Railway Museum)
Overvecht (Uto)
Terwijde (Utt)
Vaartsche Rijn (Utvr)
Zuilen (Utzl)
Valkenburg (Vk)
Varsseveld (Vsv)
Veendam (Vdm)
Veendendaal
Centrum (Vndc)
-De Klomp (Klp)
West (Vndw)
Velp (Vp)
Venlo (Vl)
Venray (Vry)
Vierlingsbeek (Vlb)
Vlaardingen
Centrum (Vdg)
Oost (Vdo)
West (Vdw)
Vleuten (Vtn)
Vlissingen (Vs)
Souburg (Vss)
Voerendaal (Vdl)
Voorburg (Vb)
Voorhout (Vh)
Voorschoten (Vst)
Voorst-Empe (Vem)
Vorden (Vd)
Vriezenveen (Vz)
Vroomshoop (Vhp)
Vught (Vg)
Waddinxveen (Wad)
Noord (Wadn)
Warffum (Wfm)
Weert (Wt)
Weesp (Wp)
Wehl (Wl)
Westervoort
Wezep (Wz)
Wierden (Wdn)
Wijchen (Wc)
Wijhe (Wh)
Winschoten (Ws)
Winsum (Wsm)
Winterswijk (Ww)
West (Www)
Woerden (Wd)
Wolfheze (Wf)
Wolvega (Wv)
Workum (Wk)
Wormerveer (Wm)
IJlst (IJt)
Zaandam (Zd)
Kogerveld (Zdk)
Zaltbommel (Zbm)
Zandvoort aan Zee (Zvt)
Zetten-Andelst (Za)
Zevenaar (Zv)
Zevenbergen (Zvb)
Zoetermeer (Ztm)
Oost (Ztmo)
Zuidbroek (Zb)
Zuidhorn (Zh)
Zutphen (Zp)
Zwijndrecht (Zwd)
Zwolle (Zl)
The stations below all have revenue passenger tracks running in only one direction. Those marked with a * do have tracks in both direction but one direction is only used for freight and/or as a tourist line, except for Groningen and Enschede who have passenger service in both directions but no through services. See also Train station#Terminus.
Delfzijl* Connects to a freight line
Den Haag Centraal
Den Helder
Emmen* Connects to a freight line
Enkhuizen
Enschede* German and Dutch tracks enter the station from two directions but do not connect.
Groningen* Tracks are connected, but only a few trains in summer run through, all others terminate at this station.
Harlingen Haven
Hoek van Holland Strand
Kampen
Kerkrade Centrum* Connects to a tourist line
Rhenen
Roodeschool* Connects to a freight yard
Stavoren
Veendam* Connects to a freight and tourist line
Vlissingen
Zandvoort aan Zee
Almere Oostvaarders between Almere Buiten and Lelystad Centrum (Flevolijn Weesp - Lelystad)
Arnhem Zuid between Arnhem and Elst (line Arnhem - Nijmegen)
Den Haag Ypenburg between Voorburg and Zoetermeer (line Den Haag - Utrecht)
Amersfoort Vathorst between Amersfoort Schothorst and Nijkerk (line Amersfoort - Zwolle)
Apeldoorn De Maten between Apeldoorn and Klarenbeek (line Apeldoorn - Zutphen)
Apeldoorn Osseveld between Apeldoorn and Twello (line Apeldoorn - Deventer)
Gaanderen between Doetinchem and Terborg (line Winterswijk - Zevenaar)
Helmond Brandevoort between Helmond 't Hout and Eindhoven (line Eindhoven - Venlo)
Twello between Deventer and Apeldoorn Osseveld (line Apeldoorn - Deventer)
Voorst-Empe between Klarenbeek and Zutphen (line Apeldoorn - Zutphen)
All stations on the Hofpleinlijn: Rotterdam Hofplein, Rotterdam Bergweg, Rotterdam Kleiweg, Rotterdam Wilgenplas, Berkel en Rodenrijs, Pijnacker, Leidschendam-Voorburg and Voorburg 't Loo
All stations on the Zoetermeer Stadslijn: Voorweg, Centrum West, Dorp, Delftsewallen, Driemanspolder, Meerzicht, Buytenwegh, De Leyens, Leidsewallen, Seghwaert, Palenstein and Stadhuis
Both lines were transferred from the Dutch Railways to the light rail network of RandstadRail. Some of these stations were closed permanently, others have been converted for light rail use.
Eijsden, reopened in 2011.
Tiel Passewaaij between Tiel and Geldermalsen (line Dordrecht - Elst)
Utrecht Zuilen between Utrecht Centraal and Maarsen (line Utrecht - Amsterdam)
Groningen Europapark between Groningen and Kropswolde (line Groningen - Nieuweschans)
Eygelshoven Markt between Landgraaf and Herzogenrath (Germany) (line Sittard - Herzogenrath (Germany))
Heerlen de Kissel between Heerlen and Landgraaf (line Sittard - Herzogenrath (Germany))
Purmerend Weidevenne between Purmerend and Zaandam Kogerveld (line Enkhuizen - Amsterdam)
Amsterdam Holendrecht between Amsterdam Bijlmer ArenA and Abcoude
Krommenie-Assendelft between Uitgeest and Wormerveer, replacing an earlier station 400 m to the east
Mook-Molenhoek between Nijmegen Heyendaal and Cuijk (line Nijmegen - Venlo railway station)
Amsterdam Science Park between Amsterdam Muiderpoort and Diemen (line Amsterdam and Weesp)
Nijverdal West between Nijverdal and Raalte (line Zwolle and Almelo), temporary station, closed 2013.
Heerlen Woonboulevard between Heerlen and Voerendaal (line Maastricht Randwyck - Kerkrade Centrum).
Maarheeze between Weert and Heeze (line Eindhoven - Weert).
Emmen Zuid between Nieuw Amsterdam and Emmen (line Zwolle - Emmen).
Veendam after Zuidbroek (line Groningen - Veendam); the station was already in use with a heritage railway.
Sassenheim between Leiden Centraal and Nieuw-Vennep.
Eijsden between Maastricht Randwyck and Visé (B) (was closed earlier in 2006).
Westervoort between Arnhem Velperpoort and Duiven.
Hardinxveld Blauwe Zoom between Sliedrecht and Hardinxveld-Giessendam.
Sliedrecht Baanhoek between Dordrecht Stadspolders and Sliedrecht.
Emmen Bargeres replaced by the nearby Emmen Zuid station.
Almere Poort between Weesp and Almere Muziekwijk (Flevolijn Weesp - Lelystad)
Boven Hardinxveld between Hardinxveld-Giessendam and Gorinchem (line Dordrecht - Geldermalsen)
Dronten between Lelystad and Kampen Zuid (Hanzelijn Lelystad - Zwolle)
Halfweg-Zwanenburg between Amsterdam Sloterdijk and Haarlem Spaarnwoude (Oude Lijn Amsterdam Centraal - Haarlem)
Hengelo Gezondheidspark between Delden and Hengelo (line Zutphen - Hengelo)
Hoevelaken between Amersfoort and Barneveld Noord (line Amersfoort - Ede-Wageningen)
Kampen Zuid between Dronten and Zwolle (Hanzelijn Lelystad - Zwolle)
Utrecht Leidsche Rijn between Utrecht Centraal and Utrecht Terwijde (Utrecht-Rotterdam railway)
Maastricht Noord between Maastricht and Meerssen (line Maastricht - Heerlen)
Nijmegen Goffert between Nijmegen and Nijmegen Dukenburg
Barneveld Zuid between Barneveld Centrum and Lunteren
Utrecht Vaartsche Rijn between Utrecht Centraal and Utrecht Lunetten / Bunnik
Geerdijk
Future planned stations after 2016:
Boskoop Snijdelwijk (2017)
Zwolle Stadshagen (2017)
Eemshaven (2018)
Waddinxveen Triangel (2018)
Bleiswijk-Zoetermeer (2018)
Grubbenvorst (2020)
Not the platforms, but the tracks are numbered. In Dutch communication, NS refers to "spoor 1" ("track 1"), etc. while in English communication, NS refers to "platform 1" where "track 1" is meant (hence all island platforms have two numbers). Tracks without platform access, used for through traffic, also have a number. This number is not indicated, but it shows indirectly by the fact that in the numbering of the accessible tracks a number is skipped. Track numbers are usually increasing in the direction away from the center of the city and hence away from the main entrance(s) of the station.
A track along a long platform may have an "a" and a "b"-side, and sometimes three sections "a", "b" and "c".
At many stations, above platforms and/or at their access points, there are dynamic displays (electronic displays) of the destination and departure time of the next train (see railway platform signs).
Machines and counters for train tickets
For checking in and out with an OV-chipkaart card readers are at station entrances, halls and/or platforms. It can be recharged (increasing the credit by paying an amount) at ticket machines. The anonymous variety of the card can also be purchased here. For some minor rail operators all this does not apply yet.
Paper tickets are available from the same ticket machines; at the counter (if available) a supplement of €0.50 per ticket (with a maximum of €1 per occasion) has to be paid. In both cases one can choose a dated or undated ticket; the latter can be useful if one has not decided yet about the travel date. If the ticket is not dated it requires a stamp from a stamp machine on the travel date.
With an e-ticket bought in advance for a specific journey one can just get on the train without any further validation of the ticket.
NS Stations (Dutch pronunciation: [ɛn ɛs staːˈʃɔns]) is a Dutch company that manages and exploits over 400 railway stations in the Netherlands.
Safety and comfort
Passenger comfort sometimes suffers from (homeless) beggars or pickpockets, especially in large cities. Measures taken to remedy this include installation of CCTV, locking waiting rooms in the evening, and sometimes removal of benches from station halls. Also, a valid train ticket is required to access platforms. Passengers with large luggage should note that no luggage trolleys are provided (except at the station of Schiphol airport), although platforms are accessible by elevator.
The official abbreviations of names of stations are used internally by the NS, but also on handwritten tickets; they can also conveniently be used when entering a station in the NS planner on http://www.ns.nl (but not on http://www.9292ov.nl) and are needed in some URLs, see below. In a station it can be found in the lower right corner of the yellow departure schedules. In most URLs (see below) they have to be written in lowercase, in some a capital is optional. On the departure schedules they are written in lowercase. In other cases the abbreviations are written with a capital letter. For a list sorted by abbreviation see nl:Lijst van afkortingen van Nederlandse spoorwegstations.
Stations also have a four-digit code that is used on the keypad of older ticket machines to specify a destination.
