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Below you will find answers to frequently asked questions. Do you have a question that you could not find an answer to? Then we would like to refer you to the website of NS Customer Service

Team Amsterdam Central. From left to right: Angelo, René, Maartje, John and Michel. They warmly welcome you to Amsterdam Central Station.

Frequently Asked Questions

Lost & Found

  • Have you lost something on the train or at the station?
    Usually, found objects are kept in storage at the station where they are handed in for the first 5 days, free of charge. You can pick up your objects from the station in question. To get your lost items back, all you have to do is show us a valid ID and the unique number of your online search request: enter your request via this link.

    After 5 days, lost & found objects are sent to the Central Lost & Found Desk in Utrecht, where they are kept for up to 3 months. We constantly monitor whether a lost item is handed in that matches the description stated on your search request.

    Read more on the mentioned website here above.

Useful information

  • Where can I buy a ticket?
    At the various ticket machines at the station.
    • At the Service Center on the city-centre side or at the OV Service Shops in the IJhal.
    • You can also purchase tickets through ns.nl.
  • Where are the luggage lockers?
    The luggage lockers are located on the city-centre side of the station next to Ibis hotel, past NS international. Take the centre exit en go to the right. Opening times are: 7 AM to 00:30 AM.
  • Where are the toilets?
    There are toilets on platform 1 at track 2a and 2b. You must have checked in to use these. There are also toilets in the IJhal (west side), open 24/7. These are located outside the gates.
  • Where can I change money?
    You can use one of the three GWK locations for international currencies. These are located in the IJhal, in the middle tunnel and in the Ticket & Service centre on the centre side.
  • Where can I hire a bicycle?
    The OV-fiets [public transport bicycle] hire is located in the bicycle-storage facilities on both the east and west side of the station (outside). To be able to hire an OV-fiets, you require a personal OV-chipkaart [public transport smart card] with a registration for OV-fiets on it. In addition, you pay the trip price for using the OV-fiets. You can also hire a bicycle from MacBike in the IJhal (east side).
  • How do I get to the tram?
    Trams depart from the city-centre side of the station.
  • How do I get to the bus?
    You reach the bus through the IJhal, using the up escalators to get to the bus platform. The buses/coaches leave from here.
  • How do I get to the metro?
    You reach the metro through the entrances in the IJhal to the metro or through the entrances on the city-centre side of the station (outside).

Checking in and gates

  • How do I check in?
    Walk up to a gate with a green arrow. Hold your OV-chipkaart [public transport smart card]/barcode or day ticket right in front of the gate's card reader, check in and the gate opens at the same time. At the end of the journey, once again hold your OV-chipkaart against a gate's card reader to check out and to open the gate.
  • Can I check in if I have an OV-chipkaart [public transport smart card]?
    You must have activated the OV-chipkaart in order to be able to travel on NS trains. You must also have enough balance on your OV-chipkaart for checking in. (For an anonymous or personal OV-chipkaart without a season ticket this is €20; for season-ticket holders it is €10).
  • Can I simply go through the gates and shop or say goodbye to somebody?
    You can. You check in with the OV-chipkaart [public transport smart card] and if you check out within an hour, you’re refunded the boarding fee.
  • I have forgotten to check in at my station of departure. How can I get through the closed gates at my station of arrival?
    On arrival, you can still check out at a closed gate with your OV-chipkaart [public transport smart card]. However, there must be sufficient balance on your OV-chipkaart (€10 if you have a season ticket, €20 if you do not have one). If you forget to check in, you pay the boarding fee.
  • How do I get through the gates if I don't have an OV-chipkaart [public transport smart card]?
    You purchase an individual day ticket from the ticket machine.
    • You purchase an e-ticket at ns.nl. You can go through the gate with the barcode on the e-ticket. You can recognise the barcode reader by the 'Scan ticket' sticker.
    • You purchase an OV-chipkaart. You can do so online, through ns.nl or from the OV Service Shop.

Other questions

  • I'd like to rent a shop at the station, is that possible?
    Visit www.hurenopstations.nl to check out which commercial spaces are available at our stations. You can express your interest via this website.
  • I'd like to organise an event or brand activation at the station. Who can help me?
    Please go to www.mediaopstations.nl to check out the possibilities and costs for these kind of activities. You can express your interest via this website. Unfortunately this site is currently in Dutch only.
  • I'd like to open a pop-up store at the station. Who can help me?
    Please go to www.mediaopstations.nl to check out the possibilities and costs for opening a pop-up store. You can express your interest via this website.