Useful NS train subscriptions in the Netherlands for au pairs

That is where NS train subscriptions can help. NS is the main Dutch railway company, and NS Flex subscriptions can give you a discount or unlimited travel at certain times. The best option depends on when you travel, how often you travel and whether you mostly travel during the week or at weekends.

This guide first explains the most useful train subscription options. After that, it explains the practical setup: personal OV-chipkaart, passport photo, linking the subscription to your card, and using the same card for train, tram, metro, bus and OV-fiets.

First: what is NS Flex?

NS Flex is a way to travel by public transport without topping up balance on your OV-chipkaart first. You check in and out with your card, and your travel costs are usually paid afterwards by monthly direct debit.

You can choose NS Flex without a train discount, or add a subscription such as Dal Voordeel, Weekend Vrij or Dal Vrij. For au pairs, this flexibility is useful because your schedule may change. Some weeks you may travel a lot, while other weeks you may stay close to your host family.

Useful Dutch train words

• Daluren: off-peak hours, outside the busiest rush-hour times.
• Spits: peak hours, usually the busy weekday commuting times.
• Weekend: for many NS subscriptions, the weekend starts on Friday evening and continues until early Monday morning.
• Samenreiskorting: co-travel discount. With some subscriptions, people travelling with you may also get a discount during off-peak hours.
• OV-chipkaart: the public transport card used for trains, trams, buses, metro and, with the right setup, OV-fiets.

Dal Voordeel: good for occasional off-peak trips

Dal Voordeel is one of the easiest subscriptions to understand. It gives a discount on train travel during off-peak hours, weekends and public holidays.

This can be a good option if you do not travel by train every week, but you do want to make regular day trips. For example, if you live in The Hague and sometimes visit Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Leiden, Delft or Utrecht during your free time, Dal Voordeel may quickly become useful.

Best for: au pairs who travel a few times per month, mostly outside rush hour.

Weekend Vrij: good if you travel a lot at weekends

Weekend Vrij is useful if most of your exploring happens at the weekend. With this subscription, you can travel unlimited by train during weekends and on public holidays.

This can be a great fit for au pairs, because many au pairs have more free time at weekends. If you want to visit a different city almost every weekend, Weekend Vrij can be easier and more predictable than buying separate tickets.

Best for: au pairs who want to explore the Netherlands mainly on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.

Dal Vrij: good if you travel often outside rush hour

Dal Vrij is a bigger subscription. It allows unlimited train travel during off-peak hours, weekends and public holidays.

This is more expensive than Dal Voordeel, so it only makes sense if you travel by train a lot. It may be useful if you have language classes in another city, regular meetups with friends, or many free hours during off-peak times.

Best for: frequent travellers who can mostly travel outside weekday rush hours.

NS Flex Basis: good if you just want easy payment

NS Flex Basis does not give a train discount, but it can still be useful. It lets you travel first and pay afterwards, without loading balance onto your OV-chipkaart.

This may be enough if you only take the train occasionally and do not want to think about subscriptions yet. You can start simple and switch later if you notice you are travelling more often.

Best for: au pairs who rarely travel by train but want an easier way to pay.

Temporary offers: always check before ordering

Sometimes NS has temporary offers or special subscriptions. These can be very interesting for au pairs who want to explore the Netherlands during a specific period, for example in summer.

Because temporary offers can change, always check the official NS subscriptions page before ordering. Do not base your decision only on an old blog post, screenshot or social media tip.

Which NS subscription is best for an au pair?

• If you travel once in a while: start with NS Flex Basis or Dal Voordeel.
• If you travel mostly at weekends: compare Weekend Vrij.
• If you travel many times per month outside rush hour: compare Dal Vrij.
• If there is a temporary offer: check whether it fits your travel period and free days.
• If you are not sure yet: wait one month, track your trips, and then decide.

Now the practical part: the OV-chipkaart

After choosing a subscription, the next question is usually: “How do I actually use it?” This is where the OV-chipkaart comes in.

The OV-chipkaart is the public transport card used in the Netherlands. You can use it for the train, metro, tram and bus. With the right setup, you can also use a personal OV-chipkaart to rent an OV-fiets, the shared public transport bike you often see at Dutch train stations.

This is very useful for au pairs. For example, you can take the train to another city and then rent an OV-fiets at the station for the last part of your trip.

You usually need a personal OV-chipkaart

A common point of confusion for au pairs is the difference between an anonymous OV-chipkaart and a personal OV-chipkaart. For normal occasional travel, an anonymous card can work. But if you want to use most subscriptions or discounts, you usually need a personal OV-chipkaart.

A personal OV-chipkaart has your name and photo on it. This is why it can be connected to you personally, and why subscriptions and travel products can be put on that card. An anonymous card does not have your personal details and is not meant for most personal subscriptions.

This is often the step that feels confusing when you are new in the Netherlands: you are not only choosing an NS subscription, you also need the right type of card to use it.

Ordering a personal OV-chipkaart: remember the passport photo

To order a personal OV-chipkaart, you need to fill in your personal details and upload a suitable passport-style photo. It does not have to be a Dutch passport photo made in a photo booth, but it should clearly show your face and be suitable for an identity-style card.

For au pairs, this is good to prepare before starting the order. Have a clear digital photo ready on your phone or laptop. If the photo is too blurry, too dark, cropped badly or not accepted, the order can become frustrating.

Also make sure the delivery address is correct. If you have just arrived in the Netherlands, ask your host family which address to use and whether your name is visible on the mailbox. This can prevent the card from getting lost or delayed.

How does the subscription get onto your OV-chipkaart?

When you order an NS subscription, you connect it to your personal OV-chipkaart. Usually, you enter your OV-chipkaart number during the ordering process. NS then links the subscription to that card.

If you already have a personal OV-chipkaart, keep it next to you when ordering. You will need the card number. If you do not have a personal OV-chipkaart yet, start by ordering the card first or follow the NS ordering flow if it offers to help you arrange one.

After the subscription is active, you use the same card to check in and out at the train station. The discount or unlimited travel is linked to the card behind the scenes. You do not show a separate ticket, and you do not need to buy a normal train ticket for each NS train journey covered by your subscription.

Always check in and out, even if your subscription gives you unlimited travel. If you forget to check in or out, you may get unexpected costs or need to correct your journey afterwards.

Using the same card for OV-fiets

A personal OV-chipkaart can also be used for OV-fiets if you have the right subscription or OV-fiets setup. NS explains that to rent an OV-fiets, you need a personal OV-chipkaart with a free OV-fiets subscription or an NS Flex subscription on it.

Once this is set up, your OV-chipkaart works as the key for the OV-fiets. You go to an OV-fiets location, choose a bike and use your card to open the lock or rental system.

This can be especially helpful for au pairs who want to explore beyond the station. You can take the train to Delft, Leiden, Utrecht or Haarlem, rent an OV-fiets at the station, and see much more of the city without needing your own bike there.

Tips before choosing a subscription

• Look at how often you expect to take the train each month.
• Check whether your trips are mostly during the week or at weekends.
• Check whether you can avoid peak hours.
• Compare the monthly subscription price with the full price of your usual return trips.
• Ask your host family if they already have tips for travelling from your city.
• Check the current NS subscriptions page before ordering, because prices and subscriptions can change.

Useful train trips from The Hague

• Delft: close, pretty and easy for a short afternoon trip.
• Leiden: a beautiful student city with canals, museums and cafés.
• Rotterdam: modern architecture, food halls, shopping and nightlife.
• Amsterdam: museums, canals, shopping and classic sightseeing.
• Utrecht: a central city with canals, terraces and a relaxed atmosphere.
• Haarlem: a lovely smaller city close to Amsterdam and the beach.

Final thoughts

A train subscription can make life in the Netherlands easier and more affordable, especially if you like exploring during your free time. For many au pairs, Dal Voordeel is a simple first option. If weekends are your main travel time, Weekend Vrij may be better. If you travel a lot outside rush hour, Dal Vrij or a temporary off-peak offer may be worth checking.

The best advice is to start with your real plans. Make a list of the cities you want to visit, check when you usually have free time, and compare that with the current NS subscriptions. Also plan the practical setup: personal OV-chipkaart, passport-style photo, delivery address, linking the subscription to the right card, and activating OV-fiets if you want to use bikes at train stations.