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

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.
Flemish Brabant
Breda
Calling sustainable thrifters: Breda is a treasure trove of vintage shops and indy boutiques (you won’t be short of specialist coffee pitstops, either).
Rotterdam short break
Rotterdam
The second-largest city in Holland, characterised by striking modern architecture, sustainable urban design and a rising plant-based food scene.
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.
North Dutch Coast
Texel
Head to the Dutch Island of Texel to uncover salt marshes of flowering sea lavender, nesting birds, and miles of dune-fringed beaches.
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.
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.
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.
Canal cities beyond Amsterdam
Delft, Utrecht
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.

Perfect pairings for Amsterdam by train

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

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

Short break to The Hague
The Hague
City, beach, canals, Altstadt and sleek cityscapes: The Hague showcases the diversity of the Netherlands like no other.
Short break to Utrecht
Utrecht
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.
Mini-break to Maastricht
Maastricht
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.

A view of people visiting the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam by train, looking at an old painting.

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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