By train
Easy destination
The Netherlands is a small country with an excellent public transport network. You can reach every destination easily and comfortably by train, bus, tram, metro or ferry.
We always encourage to look for sustainable travel options.
This map shows which European destinations are easy to reach by train. On this page you can read why travelling by train makes such a difference.
International trains
Utrecht Central Station is the largest train station in the Netherlands, and the most important railroad junction in the country. All Dutch railroad lines have Utrecht as their central point so the station has many thousands of travelers every day. Adjacent to the station is Hoog Catharijne, a large indoor shopping center. Every day Utrecht Central Station has over 170,000 travelers.
In addition, the following international direct trains depart and arrive at Utrecht Centraal:
- TGV (Brussels, Paris, Lyon, Strasbourg, Bordeaux)
- City Night Line (several cities in Europe)
- Intercity Antwerp/Brussels
- ICE International (Germany and Switzerland)
- Eurostar (London/Paris)
- Intercity Berlin
- Nightjet (München, Wenen, Zürich, Basel & Innsbruck)
By flight
If it is not a possibility for you to travel by train, you can fly into Schiphol Airport (Amsterdam) or Eindhoven (Eindhoven Airport).
Utrecht’s convenient central location makes the city easy to reach for participants from all over the world. For international travelers, the city can easily be reached in half an hour from Schiphol International Airport, located just outside of Amsterdam.
Will you arrive at Schiphol Airport?
A direct train from the airport – leaving every fifteen minutes – swiftly takes you to the central train station in Utrecht (34 minutes).
The fare for a train ticket between Schiphol Airport and Utrecht Centraal is approximately €10 and takes you directly to the heart of our city within half an hour.
The NS (Dutch Railways) makes it possible to order and download an e-ticket from Schiphol Airport to Utrecht Central Station (return and/or single fare). This will make you avoid the long lines in front of the ticket distribution machines.