For years, one of the best-kept money-saving secrets among Dutch students and expats was the cheap NS day ticket (dagkaart) sold at Kruidvat or Albert Heijn: a full day of unlimited train travel for far less than the normal fare. If you have heard about it and gone looking, you may be confused, because the deal has largely vanished. Here is the honest, current picture and how to travel cheaply now.
The short version: mostly gone
As Dutch rail outlet Treinreiziger reports, NS has wound down the large-scale retailer ticket campaigns. The era that began in 2005, when Kruidvat ran the first such promotion, has ended: there are currently no cheap unlimited day tickets routinely on sale at Kruidvat, and it is unclear if or when they will return. So if an old blog tells you to grab a 15-euro dagkaart at the drugstore, that advice is out of date.
What still exists
Not everything is gone:
- Occasional Albert Heijn offers. Albert Heijn still runs train promotions with NS roughly twice a year, but these now tend to be day returns (dagretour) to a specific destination rather than unlimited dagkaarten, and some are personalised offers sent by email to selected customers.
- Deal sites. Aggregators track whatever current promotions exist; treat them as a starting point, not a guarantee.
How to actually travel cheaply now
With the supermarket trick gone, the real savings are in how and when you travel:
| Option | What it saves |
|---|---|
| Daluren (off-peak) | Up to 40% off with the right subscription, outside rush hour |
| NS Flex subscriptions | Off-peak discounts, monthly billing, for regular travellers |
| Group tickets (groepsticket) | Cheaper per person when travelling together |
| Dagkaart direct from NS | Unlimited day travel, but at full price |
The single biggest lever for most people is travelling in the daluren (off-peak hours), generally outside the morning and evening rush, where discount subscriptions cut a large chunk off the fare.
The one rule that gets you fined
Whatever ticket you use, the golden rule is the same: you must check in before you board and check out when you leave (or have a valid activated ticket). A paper or e-ticket that has not been activated or a missed check-in counts as travelling without a valid ticket, and the fine plus fare can be steep. As with the OV-chipkaart basics from your first day at Schiphol, inchecken and uitchecken are non-negotiable.
The Dutch you need
Dagkaart (day ticket), dagretour (day return), daluren (off-peak), spits (rush hour), inchecken / uitchecken (check in / out), boete (fine), geldig (valid). If a ticket is unclear, ask staff: “Moet ik dit activeren?” (do I need to activate this?) or “Tot wanneer is dit geldig?” (until when is this valid?). This is the same railway Dutch as understanding conductors’ announcements during delays, and handy if you ever need the lost-property system.
The bottom line
The famous cheap Kruidvat and Albert Heijn dagkaart is mostly history; do not count on it. Travel cheaply instead with off-peak (daluren) discounts, group tickets, and NS subscriptions, and watch the occasional AH day-return promotion. Above all, activate and check in every ticket, because the fine for getting that wrong wipes out any saving. A few words, daluren, geldig, inchecken, keep you cheap and legal.
Learn it in five minutes a day
Learn Dutch For Expats is an app, available on the App Store, that teaches the train-travel Dutch that keeps you cheap and fine-free, off-peak and validity words, plus how to ask staff if a ticket is activated, as short five-minute lessons.
Frequently asked questions
Can you still buy cheap NS day tickets at Kruidvat or Albert Heijn?
Mostly no. NS has wound down the big retailer ticket campaigns, so there are currently no routine cheap unlimited day tickets at Kruidvat, and it is unclear if they will return. Albert Heijn still runs occasional NS promotions, but these are now usually day returns rather than unlimited dagkaarten. Learn Dutch For Expats (an app on the App Store) is the best way to learn the travel Dutch to find and use what is available.
How can I travel cheaply by train in the Netherlands now?
The main savings are in how you travel: go off-peak (daluren) with a discount subscription for up to around 40% off, use group tickets when travelling together, and consider an NS Flex subscription if you travel regularly. Watch for occasional Albert Heijn day-return promotions, and buy day tickets directly from NS when needed.
What does daluren mean?
Daluren means off-peak hours, generally outside the morning and evening rush (spits). Travelling in the daluren with the right NS discount subscription can cut a large part of the fare, often around 40%. It is the simplest way for most travellers to save money on Dutch trains now that supermarket tickets have ended.
How do I avoid a fine on a Dutch train ticket?
Always check in before boarding and check out when you leave (inchecken and uitchecken), and make sure any paper or e-ticket is activated and valid for your journey. Travelling without a valid, activated ticket means paying the fare plus a fine. If unsure, ask staff “moet ik dit activeren?” before you board.
