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A sunset over the Dutch river at Kinderdijk in the Netherlands, showing one of the famous windmills and a little cabin and fishing boat in front of it, in the background showing the city skyline.

The Netherlands by train and ferry

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Top-trending Netherlands rail and ferry trips

  • Away from the crowds of Amsterdam, uncover the Netherlands’ canal cities of Delft and Utrecht as you drift through by boat or cycle waterside towpaths.

  • Tulips in Lisse

    Lisse, Haarlem

    Each Autumn, seven million bulbs are hand-planted across the Keukenhof. By spring, the fields bloom with miles of tulips to be admired by foot or bike.

  • Head to the Dutch Island of Texel to uncover salt marshes of flowering sea lavender, nesting birds, and miles of dune-fringed beaches.

  • Hoek and the Hague

    The Hague, Hoek van Holland

    Wine, dine and relax on an overnight sailing from Harwich to the Hook of Holland and onwards to the Hague for lively Saturday nights in the Grote Markt.

  • Van Gogh’s village

    Eindhoven, Breda

    Walk in the footsteps of Van Gogh through the village of Nuenen, connected to Eindhoven by the glowing cycle path inspired by Starry Night.

  • Calling sustainable thrifters: Breda is a treasure trove of vintage shops and indy boutiques (you won’t be short of specialist coffee pitstops, either).

  • Short break to Groningen

    Groningen, Amsterdam

    Stay grounded in Groningen and kick off your shoes to experience the Dutch art of Blotevoetenpad —sensory trails made for barefoot walking.

  • The second-largest city in Holland, characterised by striking modern architecture, sustainable urban design and a rising plant-based food scene.

  • Landscapes of Limburg

    Rotterdam, Maastricht

    The Netherlands isn’t all flat. Discover miles of car-free cycle paths that twist and turn across the spectacular hills of the South Limburg region.

Perfect pairings for Amsterdam by train

  • Amsterdam and Vienna by sleeper train

    Würzburg, Amsterdam, Vienna

    Two capitals, two nighttime journeys. The perfect twin-city break for culture vultures and coffee-shop hipsters.

  • Amsterdam and Rotterdam

    Rotterdam, Amsterdam

    Combine classic with contemporary as you drift through Amsterdam’s historic canals before zipping through Rotterdam’s green and glassy cityscapes.

  • Twin canal cities

    Amsterdam, Haarlem

    Travel to the Netherlands to discover the canal cities of Amsterdam and Haarlem, filled with leafy backstreets, expansive parks and riveting museums that will entertain the family for hours.

Alternative canals trips

  • Gouda

    Gouda

    Go for the best cheese market in the world, stay for tucked-away bars, cobblestone twittens, and serene canal towpaths, perfect for easy cycling.

  • Groningen

    Groningen, Amsterdam

    For quintessential Dutch canals with a touch of Scandi-influence, try Groningen, where the buzzing centre blends into rural landscapes.

  • Like Amsterdam, with an intimate, small-town feel. Home of the 17th-century painter Vermeer and Delf blue pottery—the perfect souvenir.

Top city breaks in the Netherlands by rail

  • City, beach, canals, Altstadt and sleek cityscapes: The Hague showcases the diversity of the Netherlands like no other.

  • The closest city you’ll find to the capital, without the swathes of stag dos and selfie sticks. Trust us on this one: Utrecht is Amsterdam’s cooler cousin.

  • History meets cosmopolitan energy in Maastricht, the oldest city in the Netherlands, and also the place where the European Union was officially established in 19991.

Discover the Low Countries

Multi-country trip

The Netherlands, Belgium and Luxemburg, also known as the low countries or Benelux, are strung together by history, geography, culture—and trains. Uncover the boom in arts and culture of the Golden Age in Dutch Masters, Antwerp’s Plantin-Moretus printing house and the sprawling grounds of Luxembourg’s Villa Vauban.

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How long does it take?

Here’s the minimum time you’ll need for a relaxed round trip starting from London. We do other departure stations, too!

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