Schiphol by Train to The Hague, Utrecht, Leiden and Rotterdam
Schiphol is not just Amsterdam’s airport. Its station is a mainline junction, and for many visitors the airport hotel is the base for the whole western Netherlands: Leiden, The Hague, Utrecht and Rotterdam are all direct, and the only decision is whether to stay by the runway or in the city.
Times and frequencies
From the platforms under Schiphol Plaza, Leiden Centraal is about 15 minutes away with trains roughly every 15 minutes; The Hague Centraal about 30 minutes, roughly every 30 minutes; Utrecht Centraal about 30 minutes, roughly every 15 minutes; and Rotterdam Centraal about 25 to 30 minutes on the Intercity Direct, twice an hour, or longer on ordinary Intercity trains via Leiden and The Hague. Amsterdam Centraal is 15 to 20 minutes the other way, covered in our Schiphol to Amsterdam Centraal guide.
The Intercity Direct supplement
The fast Rotterdam trains use the high-speed line and carry a supplement of roughly €2 off-peak to €3.20 at peak times on the Schiphol to Rotterdam leg. Pay it by tapping your card at the supplement pillar on the platform, or buy it with an e-ticket; inspectors do check. Ordinary Intercity trains to Rotterdam need no supplement.
Tickets and tapping in
Tap in at the gates with a contactless bank card, phone or OV-chipkaart and tap out at your destination; a single fare is charged automatically. Paper tickets are sold at the yellow machines in Schiphol Plaza. Check the NS app for the live timetable and engineering work, which is common at weekends.
Which hotel for which plan
For an early flight after a few days in Utrecht, The Hague or Rotterdam, come back to the airport the night before: the Sheraton Amsterdam Airport Hotel is two minutes from the platforms, citizenM Schiphol Airport seven, and the Hilton Amsterdam Airport Schiphol five to seven. For a base to explore from, the Hoofddorp hotels are on the same lines: the Novotel Amsterdam Schiphol Airport is four minutes from Hoofddorp station, which has direct trains to Leiden and The Hague as well as Schiphol. Keukenhof, in tulip season, is a bus ride from the airport bus station rather than a train.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the train from Schiphol to Rotterdam?
About 25 to 30 minutes on the Intercity Direct, which needs a small supplement of roughly €2 to €3.20 on top of the fare, paid at the pillar on the platform or with your ticket. Ordinary Intercity trains take longer but need no supplement.
Do trains to Utrecht and The Hague run directly from the airport?
Yes. Utrecht Centraal and Leiden Centraal have direct trains about every 15 minutes, The Hague roughly every 30 minutes, all from the platforms under Schiphol Plaza. Journey times are around 30 minutes to Utrecht and The Hague and about 15 to Leiden.
Should I stay near the airport or in the city before an early flight?
Near the airport if the flight is before about 8:00 am. A train from Utrecht, The Hague or Rotterdam adds 30 minutes plus a margin, and services thin out before 6:00 am; a hotel on the walkway or one train stop away removes that risk.
Information last verified: September 4, 2026