Travelling for football matches in the Netherlands

Buying match tickets in the Netherlands is not straightforward. Due to violence in stadiums in the past, most Dutch ticketing systems are reserved for club members or Dutch residents.

🎟️ Match tickets are sold through each club's online ticketing system. We reference and explain the ticketing system for each club on dedicated stadium pages on stadiumtraveller.com – simply search for the stadium name, city, or do an in-depth search by club or country.

🪪 In the Netherlands, it is only possible to be a member of one club per person – this is a system implemented at national level to limit access to ticketing systems by becoming a member of multiple clubs.

🔒 For security purposes, some clubs like Ajax Amsterdam require you to verify your account identity to allow match ticket purchases. You must follow the process on the site by taking photos of yourself with your ID card. The procedure is explained on the Johan Cruyff Arena page.

🗓️ Most clubs sell their match tickets exclusively to members. Some clubs eventually open sales or official resale to the general public as the match approaches (1 to 2 weeks before kick-off).

💡 If there's no other option, don't hesitate to contact the clubs' ticketing email addresses explaining that you're visiting as a tourist – they might allow you to buy a match ticket even if sales are restricted to members.

🎟️ Some clubs now offer tickets specifically for groundhoppers/tourists. This is the case for example at PSV Eindhoven or De Graafschap. We explain these systems directly on the pages of the grounds concerned.

For information, here are some examples of ticket office opening policies at certain clubs:

• Ajax Amsterdam: ticket sales to members, resale open to the general public with verified identity.
• Feyenoord: ticket sales and resale to the general public as match day approaches.
• PSV Eindhoven: sale of special tourist/groundhopper packages including a match ticket and a shop voucher.
• AZ Alkmaar: open ticket sales to the general public.
• Nijmegen: ticket sales exclusively for members.
• De Graafschap: tickets specially for groundhoppers by contacting a dedicated club email address and proving you are a groundhopper. This ticket may also include a ground tour.

It is very simple to travel around the Netherlands by train. Cities are close together and all connected in a short time by rail.

Between two opposite ends of the country, the journey time is a maximum of 2-3 hours and most major cities are within 1 hour of each other.

There is therefore plenty of opportunity to see several matches while travelling by train.

What you need to know about the Dutch rail network:

• There are many regular trains.
• Trains are generally punctual.
• There are no reserved seats; it is first-come, first-served (like a metro, regional train or commuter rail), except for international trains (SNCF, DB, Eurostar...).
• You can use your debit card as a transport ticket (like a metro in a major city).
• The train network and public transport in each city are managed by the same operator and all use the same system.
• Many stadiums in the Netherlands are close to railway stations (for example, the Philips Stadion in Eindhoven is 15 minutes on foot from the station).
• Supporters can travel easily by train to reach the stadium; there are always stations nearby.

To book a train ticket, you have several options:

🌐 On the Dutch Railways website (Nederlandse Spoorwegen - NS is the abbreviation).

📲 On the Dutch Railways mobile app (an app available in English, very straightforward to use): search for "NS" on the app stores.

🎰 Directly at station ticket machines.

💳 Directly at the station with your credit card: when you enter the station there are machines where you tap your ticket or card, and you must do the same when leaving. Without buying a ticket beforehand, you can use your credit card as your transport ticket and you'll be automatically charged according to your journey.

💸 Train prices in the Netherlands are fixed according to your route. For example, a journey Amsterdam - Rotterdam will cost the same price regardless of the time of day or time of year. During certain periods and at certain times there may sometimes be reduced prices on certain routes.

Train prices are fairly affordable; expect for example around twenty euros for an Amsterdam - Rotterdam journey.

All-day unlimited travel passes or group tickets are available, but they are rarely worth it.

💡 If you're making a quick trip to the Netherlands, paying by credit card directly is very simple.

📲 If you're travelling to the Netherlands, we recommend installing the NS public transport app for the country.

With this app you can:

• Search your routes with all the country's trains.
• Save your routes to get notifications and track updates.
• Buy your tickets.
• See train positions in real time.
• A map to view all stations, bike parks, car parks.

The app is available in multiple languages and very straightforward to use – it'll let you travel with ease and complete peace of mind!

There are numerous transport options available to get to the Netherlands.

🚆 The Netherlands and its neighbours have extensive rail networks. From France there are Eurostar services from Paris or Lille that go directly to Rotterdam or Amsterdam. From Germany there are many direct trains from Frankfurt, Cologne, Düsseldorf... From Belgium there are numerous options, particularly from Brussels.

🚘 The Netherlands are easily accessible by car. Be aware during your journey: car parks are often extremely expensive in cities and key locations. Consider park and ride facilities specifically set up by cities.

✈️ By air there are 3 main international airports:

• Amsterdam Schipol (AMS)
• Rotterdam The Hague Airport (RTM)
• Eindhoven Airport (EIN)

🛌 There are generally very few hotels and accommodation options available to book in the Netherlands.

A hotel can quickly cost quite a bit (over €100 per night). However, they are generally quite modern and well-maintained.

💸 To save money, there are numerous hostels and dorms at very attractive prices.

💡 Our tip for finding a cheaper hotel:

Trains run late into the night, so you can consider booking a hotel in a nearby city to your destination where accommodation is cheaper.

To find a hotel in the Netherlands, you can search on Hotel.com which is one of the major online references (affiliate link that supports Stadium Traveller).