Train stations in Maastricht

Maastricht sits in the far south of the Netherlands, squeezed between Belgium and Germany, and its railway reflects that. Dutch intercity trains arrive from the north, one regional train crosses the border to Liège and Aachen, and the station is a short walk from the old centre. The city has three stations, but only one matters for most visitors.

Which Maastricht station to use

Get off at the main station, Maastricht. It is where the Intercity trains from Amsterdam, Utrecht and Eindhoven stop, and it is about one kilometre from Vrijthof square. Wyck is around ten minutes away on foot, and the Sint Servaasbrug takes you across the river into the old town.

The other two stations are smaller and sit away from the centre:

If your accommodation is in the centre, ignore Randwyck and Noord and stay on to the main station. Use Randwyck or Noord only if your hotel or event is next to one of them.

Trains from Amsterdam and the Randstad

NS runs Intercity trains between Maastricht and Amsterdam, calling at Utrecht, Eindhoven, Roermond and Sittard. It is the simplest way to arrive from anywhere in the Randstad, because a direct train means no change.

The fares are the lowest single e-ticket price, so what you pay depends on the day and the ticket type. The journey planner shows the current connection.

Trains to Liège and Aachen

Maastricht is on a through train that links Aachen, Heerlen, Maastricht and Liège-Guillemins. Arriva runs it with NS and SNCB, and it is nicknamed the Drielandentrein, the train of three countries. It is a regional train, not a high-speed one.

Liège. The train takes about 33 minutes to Liège-Guillemins, calling at Maastricht Randwyck, Eijsden, Visé and Bressoux. Belgian fares apply on this leg, and your Dutch OV-chipkaart or bank card does not work between Eijsden and Liège-Guillemins. Buy a ticket from the driver.

Aachen. The RE18 fast train runs from Maastricht through Valkenburg and Heerlen to Aachen Hbf in Germany in under an hour, once an hour in both directions. You can tap in with an OV-chipkaart or with OVpay on a debit card, credit card or phone.

Brussels and beyond. There is no direct train to Brussels. You change trains on the way, and the journey takes about 1 hour 45 minutes.

Getting from the station to the centre

Maastricht is compact and the main station is just outside the historic centre. Most people walk. Your options:

• On foot: about a kilometre to Vrijthof square; the Wyck district is around ten minutes away.
• By bus: the ride to the centre takes about five minutes. Get off at Mosae Forum/Centrum for Markt and the Town Hall, and board for the return trip at Boschstraat/Markt.
• By bike: you can rent an OV-fiets, either a normal bike or an e-bike, from the underground bicycle parking at the station. At Randwyck and Noord the OV-fietsen are in bike lockers. Arriva shared bikes are also parked around the city.
• By taxi: several ranks stand right in front of the station.
• By car: the park and ride next to the station charges a fixed €16 a day, and you get a discount if you carry on by train with an OV-chipkaart. Drop-offs go at the back of the station on Meerssenerweg.

Bikes parked in the underground facility are free for the first 24 hours, but you need an OV-chipkaart to check in, or you can collect a temporary pass from staff.

Tickets and paying for the train

Within the Netherlands you can check in and out at the gates with an OV-chipkaart, with OVpay using a debit or credit card or a phone, or with a single ticket bought from NS. Tap in at the gate and tap out at your destination, because the fare depends on distance.

Arriva trains such as the RE18 to Aachen take the same OV-chipkaart and OVpay taps. Belgian legs follow SNCB fares, with weekend discounts and free travel for children under 12 with a paying adult, up to four children per adult.

Two extras are worth knowing:

• Euregioticket. Arriva's day ticket for buses and trains across the Meuse-Rhine region costs €23.50 a day. You can buy it from the driver, from machines at the station, at NS or Arriva service points or online. At weekends and on German, Dutch and Belgian public holidays it covers up to two adults and three children aged four to eleven.
• Night train. Once a week, on Friday into Saturday, Arriva runs a night train from Maastricht to Schiphol Airport via Sittard, Roermond, Weert, Eindhoven, Den Bosch, Utrecht and Amsterdam. Fares start at €5 for Sittard, €10 for Roermond and Weert, and €15 for Eindhoven, Den Bosch, Utrecht, Amsterdam and Schiphol. It only sells through the glimble app, so an OV-chipkaart or OVpay will not work on it.

Busy days

On German national holidays such as 3 October, Maastricht may be busier with visitors from across the border.

Where to go after you arrive

The station puts you at the edge of a walkable city. Vrijthof and Markt are the two main squares, and the streets between them hold most of the shops, cafes and restaurants. Wyck has a more local feel, Stokstraat is the area for browsing, and the Bonnefanten museum is another draw. You will not need public transport inside the old centre, so a single day on foot or by rented bike is enough for a first visit.