Eindhoven to Amsterdam by train

Direct NS Intercity trains run from Eindhoven Centraal to Amsterdam all day, and the ride to Amsterdam Centraal takes about 1 hour 20 minutes.

Direct trains and how often they run

You never have to change. The Intercity trains call at 's-Hertogenbosch and Utrecht Centraal on the way north.

Several direct trains leave Eindhoven for Amsterdam every hour. Most run to Amsterdam Centraal, and the others go to Amsterdam Zuid and on to Schiphol Airport. Monday to Thursday daytimes have the most trains. Early mornings, evenings, Fridays and weekends are thinner, but direct trains keep running until late in the evening.

Which Amsterdam station to aim for

For the city centre, take a train to Amsterdam Centraal. These trains also stop at Amsterdam Amstel, about ten minutes earlier, which saves time if your address is closer to Amstel.

The other trains call at Amsterdam Bijlmer ArenA and reach Amsterdam Zuid in about 1 hour 20 minutes. Flying out? Stay on. They continue to Schiphol Airport, about 1 hour 30 minutes from Eindhoven, so there is no reason to go through Centraal.

Paying for the trip

For an occasional trip, the easiest option is to tap in and out with a contactless bank card, credit card or phone at the card readers. No registration is needed. You travel second class without a discount, and the day's fares leave your account the next day.

An e-ticket from the NS app or website works too. Buy it before the journey starts: an e-ticket bought once you are under way is not valid. The QR code opens the station gates, and everyone aged 12 or over needs ID with it. Children aged 4 to 11 can travel on a Railrunner ticket. Avoid the single-use chip card from the ticket machine: it adds a €1.50 surcharge.

Card payments never earn the off-peak discount; that comes with most NS season tickets. Off-peak means 09:00 to 16:00 and 18:30 to 06:30 on weekdays, and all day at weekends and on public holidays.

Starting at Eindhoven Centraal

Coming from Eindhoven Airport? The 400 and 401 shuttle buses stop on the north side of Eindhoven Centraal, not the city side.

Engineering works in October and December 2026

On Saturday 3 October 2026 no trains run to or from Amsterdam Centraal. Trains from Eindhoven terminate at Amsterdam Amstel instead, and your NS ticket is valid on the metro from there. The Amsterdam Zuid trains keep running. Sunday 4 and Monday 5 October bring fewer trains at Centraal. On Sunday 11 October 2026 no direct trains run from Eindhoven to Amsterdam Centraal or Amstel; take one of the direct trains to Amsterdam Zuid, which run about four times an hour that day.

ProRail has also scheduled track maintenance between Boxtel and Eindhoven from 19 to 22 December 2026. Boxtel sits between 's-Hertogenbosch and Eindhoven on this line, so plan for a slower or changed journey on those days.