Off-Peak Group Ticket

You can use the Off-Peak Group Ticket to travel economically with a group of 2 to 7 people during off-peak periods. The main rule is that the co-passengers must always travel together with the main ticket holder. Co-passengers can get on the same time, or at a subsequent station on the chosen route.
It is possible to pay for the return journey immediately when paying for the outward journey. The return journey may also be on a later date.

Price

• 2 persons €34 (€ 17,00 per person)
• 3 persons €34 (€ 11,33 per person)
• 4 persons €38 (€ 9,50 per person)
• 5 persons €42 (€ 8,40 per person)
• 6 persons €46 (€ 7,67 per person)
• 7 persons €50 (€ 7,15 per person)

Travelling during off-peak hours

The Off-Peak Group Ticket is only valid during off-peak hours, i.e. weekdays before 06:30, between 09:00 and 16:00, and after 18:30. On weekends and public holidays it is valid all day. The Off-Peak Group Ticket is not valid on King’s Day (27 April). You can’t use an Off-Peak Group Ticket to travel during peak hours, even if you started your journey before the peak period.

One ticket for each person in the group

Each person in the group needs their own personal single e-ticket. E-tickets are only valid in combination with a valid proof of identity.
The main ticket holder receives the single e-tickets for all the group members via the e-mail address provided. The main ticket holder then sends or gives the e-tickets to the other members of the group.

Terms and Conditions: Off-Peak Group Ticket

E-tickets are quick and easy to buy. Enter the journey details and the name(s) of the passenger(s) and then pay for the order by iDEAL or credit card. After that, you can use the e-ticket in two ways: printed out or loaded into the NS app. You can use this ticket to open the gate at the station and get on to the train. After clicking on ‘Add to cart’, you can enter the details of your journey. Depending on the ticket you buy, you choose the route and day of travel, and choose first or second class

Personal information

An e-ticket is issued personally, therefore it is only valid in combination with a valid proof of identity (passport, identity card or driving licence). That’s why you need to make sure that the name and date of birth on the e-ticket exactly match those on the passenger's proof of identity. Are you buying a train ticket for someone else? Then enter his or her details.

Payment

Pay safely and reliably via iDeal or a credit card. iDeal is available to customers of almost all Dutch banks.

Printing the e-ticket

Immediately after completing your order, you will receive a link that lets you download and use the e-tickets. If you want to get going right away, the quickest option is to load the tickets in the NS app.

You will also get a confirmation e-mail from us within 15 minutes. That e-mail contains a link that lets you download and print your e-tickets at any time. Printing the e-ticket is not mandatory.

Loading the ticket in the NS app

After completing your order, you will receive a link to your e-tickets. You will also get a confirmation e-mail with a link to your e-tickets. To load the e-tickets into the NS app, just open this link on your mobile phone.

You will then be taken to an overview page for your order. You will see two options there for using the e-tickets: ‘Download PDF’ or ‘Load into the NS app on your mobile’. Choose ‘Load into the NS app on your mobile’; the NS app will open automatically. The e-tickets can now be found under the heading ‘My tickets’ in the NS app.

Have a good journey!

The rules in brief

• An e-ticket is issued personally, therefore it is only valid in combination with a valid proof of identity. So do not forget to bring a valid passport, identity card or driving licence with you.
• You can travel with an e-ticket in two ways: load the e-ticket in the NS app on a mobile phone or print it out on a computer. Please note: E-tickets are only valid if shown in the NS app or if they have been printed out. Screenshots or PDFs displayed on a phone are not valid travel documents.
• If you take your e-ticket with you on your phone or tablet, please make sure that your device works and is adequately charged. If you opt to print out your e-ticket, please use A4 format.
• The Terms and Conditions for Travelling with an E-ticket apply to journeys with a mobile ticket.

Checking in is not required

You do not need to check in with an e-ticket. If you are travelling to or from a station with closed gates, then go to a gate with a barcode reader and open it with the square code on the e-ticket. Keep your e-ticket until the exit of your destination station; it might be needed there to open the gates.

How can you recognise a gate with a barcode reader?

Not all gates can be opened with an e-ticket. This is only possible on a gate with a barcode reader. There is at least one gate with a barcode reader at every station. These gates can be recognised from the ‘scan ticket’ symbol on the right-hand door of the gate. 

How to open a gate with an e-ticket

Step 1: Go to a gate and open your e-ticket in the NS app or use a printed e-ticket.
Step 2: Hold the barcode on your e-ticket up against the illuminated panel on your right.
Step 3: The gate opens and you can now enter or leave the station.
Note: Display only your e-ticket from the NS app or a printed copy. Only then will the gates open. 

How many people can use the Off-Peak Group Ticket at once?

You can use the Off-Peak Group Ticket with a group of 2 to 7 people. The bigger the group, the better the deal. Each person in the group receives their own personal single e-ticket.

Do all group members have to travel together?

Yes, people in the same group are required to travel together at the same time. Each group has a main ticket holder and the others are co-passengers. The main rule is that a co-passenger must always travel together with the main ticket holder. Co-passengers can get on at the same time or at a later station. Each ticket shows whether the passenger concerned is the main ticket holder or not and how many people are in the group.

How do I receive the Off-Peak Group Ticket?

The main ticket holder receives the single e-tickets for all the group members via the e-mail address provided. The main ticket holder then sends or gives the e-tickets to the other members of the group. 

When can I travel with the Off-Peak Group Ticket?

The Off-Peak Group Ticket is only valid during off-peak hours, i.e. weekdays before 06:30, between 09:00 and 16:00, and after 18:30. At weekends and all day on public holidays. The Off-Peak Group Ticket is not valid on King’s Day (27 April).
An Off-Peak Hours Group Ticket is therefore not valid for travel during peak hours, even when the journey started before the peak period.

Can you also get an Off-Peak Group Ticket from a ticket machine?

No, the Off-Peak Group Ticket is only available as an e-ticket via the NS website.

I also want to travel back with the same group. Can I already buy an Off-Peak Group Ticket for the return journey?

Yes, it is possible to buy tickets for the return journey immediately when paying for the outward journey. The return journey may also be on a later date. Please note: after completing your purchase it is unfortunately no longer possible to alter your e-ticket. So do be careful to enter the correct personal and journey details.

Can I alter my e-ticket?

No, after completing your purchase it is unfortunately no longer possible to alter your e-ticket. So do be careful to enter the correct personal and journey details. E-tickets are issued personally, and only valid in combination with a valid proof of identity.

Is my ticket a ‘through ticket’?

That depends. According to the European legislation, a ‘through ticket’ means that you have a single agreement for transport for you entire train journey. If your entire journey is by NS, for instance from The Hague to Den Helder or from Leiden to Waddinxveen, then your train ticket is indeed a ‘through ticket’. There is then a single agreement for carriage as a passenger by NS.

If you are travelling on a ticket covering multiple rail carriers, your ticket is not a ‘through ticket’ because there are separate agreements for carriage as a passenger with each of the rail carriers you use.

Example: you buy a ticket for a journey from ’s-Hertogenbosch to Boxmeer. For this, you need to change at Nijmegen. For the journey from ’s-Hertogenbosch to Nijmegen, your transport agreement is with NS because the rail carrier for that part of your journey is NS. When you change at Nijmegen for the Arriva train to Boxmeer, your transport agreement is with Arriva because the rail carrier for that part of your journey is Arriva.