Do I have to check in and out when making an international journey?
On your international trip you will come to realise that a lot of Dutch stations have gates. The square barcode on your Homeprint ticket or Mobile ticket and single-use smartcard are specifically designed to open the gates at the station. Read more about how to open the gates at the station with an international train ticket.
Are you travelling with an international ticket with a square barcode? Then you can travel without checking in and out with your OV-chipkaart. The barcode on your ticket can be used to open gates on stations in the Netherlands, but checking in and out on a station in another country is not possible.
Are you travelling with an international ticket bought from an NS ticket machine or an NS Service desk? Then you check in on a station in the Netherlands. You cannot check out in the other country, nor can you check back in again for your return trip. Check out again at your arrival station when you return to the Netherlands.
Are you travelling with an NS season ticket with 100% discount combined with a separate ticket from the border (for example an Interrail pass)? Then you can travel without checking in or out with your OV-chipkaart.
Are you travelling with a Traject Vrij voor internationaal reizen season ticket combined with a connecting season ticket in the other country (for example an NMBS season ticket)? Then you can travel without checking in or out with your OV-chipkaart.
Check-in and check-out posts are located at the stations Aachen Hbf, Aachen West, Herzogenrath, Gronau, Leer, Weener, Elten, Emmerich and Emmerich Praest. Travelers to these stations can simply travel with their OV-chipkaart and check in and out at these stations.
Please note: Are you travelling with an NS season ticket with 40% or 100% discount on the part of the journey in the Netherlands? Then take your OV-chipkaart with your NS season ticket (for example a Studentenreisproduct [Student travel product]) on it with you, so you can show that you are entitled to a discount when your ticket is checked. DO NOT check in or out with this OV-chipkaart.
Do you not have a (working) square barcode on your international ticket?
Go to an information column by the gates and press the blue i-button for assistance. You will be connected to a member of the NS staff who will gladly help you.