Dutch rail operator NS has launched the Nederland Dal Vrij pass, which offers unlimited train travel outside peak hours at a temporary price of EUR 49 per month. Demand was so high that the company’s website experienced technical issues, and over 20,000 passes were sold within the first few hours.
The Dutch railway operator NS has launched the Nederland Dal Vrij pass, a summer pass that allows unlimited train travel outside peak hours for EUR 49 per month.
The pass can be purchased by those who activate it by June 30 and is valid for a maximum of two months. The measure is temporary and is financially supported by the Dutch government, in collaboration with NS and other rail operators.
Normally, such a pass would cost EUR 127.95 per month, but the price has been temporarily reduced to EUR 49 .
NS website overwhelmed after launch
The launch of the pass generated strong demand from the very first hours. According to the Dutch media, the NS website was heavily congested, and some customers encountered difficulties placing orders.
Shortly after 10:00 a.m., the operator had already sold over 20,000 passes.
“It’s busier than we expected, and of course, we’re very happy about that,” said an NS spokesperson. The company advised customers who were unable to purchase a pass due to high traffic to try again later.
NS stated that passes are still available. The discount is funded by a EUR 118 million budget from the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management. For each pass, the government covers EUR 79 of the cost.
If the budget is exhausted, NS will stop selling the passes.
Unlimited travel outside peak hours
With the Nederland Dal Vrij pass, travelers can take unlimited train rides outside of peak hours throughout the Netherlands.
NS is promoting the measure as a solution for summer vacation, but also as a cheaper alternative to traveling by car, given rising fuel costs and parking fees.
The operator says that, at this price, the train is often much cheaper than driving, especially when the additional costs of road travel are taken into account.
Children up to 11 years old can travel for free, as usual, with the Kids Vrij pass. Additionally, parking at most P&R garages near stations will cost EUR 2 per day until August 31.
The pass was launched at the Railway Museum
The first copy of the pass was presented by Annet Bertram, State Secretary for Infrastructure and Water Management, to participants at the De Langste Treinrace event, held at the Railway Museum in Utrecht on Public Transport Day.
The event is used by NS to promote domestic train travel and to show how many destinations can be visited in a single day.
The Longest Train Race in the Netherlands
On June 21, NS is organizing the De Langste Treinrace van Nederland, or “The Longest Train Race in the Netherlands.”
In this competition, 10 teams will try to earn as many points as possible by traveling as many kilometers as possible by train. Teams receive extra points if they visit multiple provinces and if they complete tasks on the train or at their destinations.
Participants will depart Sunday morning from Utrecht Centraal and travel across the country.
One of the participants, Mia, aged 13, mentioned in her application that she has been taking long train trips with her father since she was little.
“The best thing about traveling by train is that the journey itself is already an adventure. That’s why we’d love to take part in The Longest Train Ride together,” she said.
The discount will not continue after August
The promotion is limited to the summer months. NS CEO Wouter Koolmees stated that the reduced price cannot be extended beyond August.
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