How can I buy an e-ticket for Netherlands train if I don't have a Dutch bank account?
I wanted to buy a train ticket today from the Dutch railroad website.
It all worked fine, but when checking out, I was asked for my bank details and it seems that you can only pay if you have a Dutch bank account. I want to use my credit card. Is there any way how to do that?
Best Answer
According to the online instructions (English or Dutch), you can only pay with iDeal, which is a system for online bank transactions in the Netherlands. From this, I conclude that it is not possible to pay with credit card (this is surprising to me) and thus not without a Dutch bank account.
Additional info: online tickets are not cheaper in the Netherlands. Ticket price is fixed for trips/distances, and does not depend on any other factor, such as time. Also, national trains in the Netherlands do not offer seat reservation (this is only for international trains). In other words, you will be fine by buying a ticket at a ticket machine upon arrival.
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How do I buy a ticket to the Netherlands?
Buy ticket at the ticket machine All stations in the Netherlands are equipped with ticket vending machines. Those machines are bright yellow and have a sign 'Tickets' on top of them. You can buy single tickets and return tickets to every train station in the Netherlands.How do you pay for Dutch trains?
It can be bought at the desk or ticket machines at stations and is a disposable OV-chip card. You must check-in and check-out for each journey leg. The standard Holland Travel Ticket costs \u20ac64 (2022) and can be used anytime during the day.Can you buy a train ticket from the conductor?
You can pay for the ticket from a conductor either by cash or credit card - Visa and MasterCard are accepted.How can I book train ticket by myself?
To book train tickets online, log on to the EaseMyTrip website and click on the train tab. Search trains for your preferred route and date and then check availability. If your tickets are available, you can proceed to next step. If there is waiting list, you can still go for booking your train tickets.The OV-chipkaart: How to buy a train ticket in the Netherlands?
More answers regarding how can I buy an e-ticket for Netherlands train if I don't have a Dutch bank account?
Answer 2
Good news, it is now possible (since January 2018) to buy a train ticket with a creditcard on the website of NS.
Source: I'm Dutch.
Answer 3
Unfortunately, the Dutch rail system is not very user-friendly for foreigners.
In Rotterdam we tried to buy our tickets to Amsterdam via the "self-serve" machine outside the station. We found out that not only does it not take international credit cards, but it also does NOT accept Euro bills.
The total cost for 2 tickets was 28 Euros. Rather than letting me put in three 10 Euro bills (and giving me back 2 Euros for change) I had to go to a nearby casino, exchange my money for 1-Euro coins, and then put 28 coins into the machine to get our tickets. Completely ridiculous!
So, if you intend to buy rail tickets in the Netherlands, apparently the only way to do so is with a Dutch account or coins!
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Images: Karolina Grabowska, Dom J, Karolina Grabowska, Ono Kosuki