Dutch Train Engineering Works and Delay Refunds: How to Check Closures, Use Replacement Buses and Claim from NS

If you commute by train in the Netherlands, you quickly get used to messages saying that a stretch of line will be closed this weekend. October 2026 was a particularly busy month. On 3 October not a single train ran into Amsterdam Centraal, and from 12 October trains stopped running between Alphen aan den Rijn and Bodegraven for roughly nine months.

These are planned engineering works by ProRail, which manages the Dutch rail network. Because they are announced in advance, you can plan around them, but the extra travel time they cause is generally not refundable.

This guide starts from DutchReview's "Every Dutch train disruption coming your way this October" (2 October 2026) and adds coverage from other English-language outlets, plus primary sources from NS, ProRail, the EU and the Dutch government. It explains how to find upcoming works, how replacement buses work, what you can claim when you are delayed, and how to adjust your commute. Everything was checked on 28 October 2026.

Main sources for this guide

• DutchReview, "Every Dutch train disruption coming your way this October" (2 October 2026)
• NS, "Werkzaamheden Alphen aan den Rijn – Bodegraven" and "Refunds for delays on a domestic route" (checked 28 October 2026)
• ProRail, "Ruim 400 spoorprojecten op de planning voor 2026" (11 December 2025) and its October 2026 closure notices
• European Commission, Your Europe "Rail passenger rights", and the Dutch inspectorate ILT on passenger rights

Here is what this guide answers, at a glance.

1. What closed in October 2026

DutchReview focused on three projects, and ProRail announced more for late October and early November. Rail works happen somewhere in the country almost every week.

Amsterdam Centraal: a full-day shutdown

On Saturday 3 October, no trains ran to, from or through Amsterdam Centraal. The timetable was heavily altered on Sunday 4 and Monday 5 October, and when service resumed on Tuesday morning, trains still did not stop at tracks 13 and 14 (DutchReview).

ProRail was widening and lengthening platforms and stairways and widening the station's east tunnel. Amsterdam Centraal handles about 200,000 passengers a day, a figure expected to grow to 275,000 (NL Times, DutchNews). International trains to Germany terminated at Utrecht.

NS directed passengers to the metro and night buses, and DutchReview reported that NS tickets were valid on the metro.

Amersfoort–Apeldoorn: a week of buses

ProRail closed the line between Amersfoort Centraal and Apeldoorn from 04:00 on Monday 12 October until 02:00 on Monday 19 October to renew track and overhead wires (ProRail). On 17–18 October, buses also ran towards Putten and Barneveld Centrum.

DutchReview gave the dates as 12 to 18 October, while ProRail's notice runs until 02:00 on 19 October. Reading the exact hours, not just the dates, tells you whether the last evening trains will run.

Alphen aan den Rijn–Bodegraven: nine months

The longest closure of the year is in South Holland. ProRail is replacing the Gouwespoorbrug, a swing bridge over the river Gouwe, so no trains run between Alphen aan den Rijn and Bodegraven from 12 October 2026 to 13 July 2027 (NS). Section 5 looks at it in detail.

Late October and early November

The works kept coming. Rotterdam Centraal–Gouda was closed day and night from 17 to 25 October, and ProRail says there will be no trains to, from or via Rotterdam Centraal on 7 and 8 November because of signalling work (ProRail). If you live in The Hague and travel south, check that weekend now.

Arnhem–Utrecht was closed from 20 to 31 October in two phases, while ProRail built a new underpass at Wolfheze (NL Times, IamExpat). From 21:00 on 29 October to 05:00 on 2 November, several lines in Limburg and North Brabant, including Eindhoven–Venlo, are closed as well (ProRail).

Even if your own line stays open, the line to your weekend destination or business meeting might not.

2. Planned works versus unplanned disruptions

Trains stop for two broad reasons, and the difference affects both how you hear about it and whether you get money back.

Planned works (buitendienststelling)

When ProRail takes a line out of service for maintenance, the Dutch term is buitendienststelling. For 2026, ProRail planned more than 400 major projects worth about €1.8 billion (ProRail, 11 December 2025).

ProRail also said it is shifting its focus to maintenance. DutchReview listed 19 major closures for the year (DutchReview, 12 December 2025).

Unplanned disruptions (storing)

A storing is an unplanned disruption caused by a fault, accident or power cut. On 10 October 2026, a power outage at the Riekepolder junction halted all trains around Schiphol Airport. On the same day, a signal and switch fault cut services between Rotterdam Centraal and Delft Campus (NL Times).

Expatica's transport guide warns that wind, faults and staff shortages can all cause cancellations, and recommends the NS app (Expatica).

Here is how the two types compare.

A useful rule of thumb: planned works are something to avoid, while unplanned disruptions are something to document and claim for.

3. How to find upcoming works

With the right tools, you can see planned closures weeks ahead. Here they are, from long-range planning to the day itself.

ProRail's annual list and Spoorwerkcheck

ProRail publishes a yearly list of major closures lasting more than three days. The 2026 list is based on plans as of 4 December 2025 and may change (ProRail). It is worth checking once a year against your commute and holiday plans.

If you live near the tracks, ProRail's Spoorwerkcheck shows works within 300 metres of your address (ProRail).

The NS app and journey planner

For day-to-day checks, the NS app is the main tool. Both the app and ns.nl have a "Disruptions and engineering work" section with route-by-route advice and replacement bus details (NS). Save your regular journeys in the app and NS will notify you of changes such as works.

NS also recommends planning again shortly before you travel. For the Alphen works, NS said the journey planner would show the adjusted timetable three weeks before the start (NS). Searching further ahead can show times that do not yet reflect the works.

9292 and English-language news

For journeys involving regional buses and trains, 9292 searches across all operators and has an English app. ACCESS and The Hague International Centre both point newcomers to it (ACCESS, The Hague International Centre). Xpat.nl notes you can also call 0900 9292 for information (Xpat.nl).

DutchReview, NL Times, DutchNews and IamExpat round up major works in English; confirm details with NS and ProRail.

ProRail once a year, the NS app every day and 9292 for regional lines rarely misses anything.

4. Riding replacement buses

During planned closures, NS runs replacement buses (vervangend vervoer). They are straightforward to use, but checking in and out works a little differently from the train.

Stops and journey times

Replacement bus stops are not always at the usual bus station. At Arnhem Centraal, NS said buses would leave from either the Sonsbeekzijde or the bus terminal depending on the date, and warned that they were likely to be busy (IamExpat). Follow the station signs when you arrive.

Expect longer journeys: NS says the Alphen–Bodegraven bus adds about 15 minutes (NS).

Checking in and out

If you travel with an OV-chipkaart or a bank card (OVpay), check out at the train gate or pole, then check in and out again at the temporary pole for the bus. If you travel between your usual stations, you pay nothing extra.

The catch is time. NS says that if more than 35 minutes pass between checking out and checking in again, the system may treat it as a new journey, which can cost more. If you let a bus go, keep an eye on the clock.

E-tickets are valid on replacement buses, and NS tickets are valid with other operators when NS advises it.

Bikes, wheelchairs and assistance

Bikes are not allowed on NS replacement buses. If you cycle to the station, you will need to park your bike or switch to an OV-fiets (the NS rental bike) at the other end.

For wheelchair users, NS sometimes adds low-floor buses with wheelchair spaces. For the Alphen works, an accessible bus runs once an hour alongside the regular coaches. If you need assistance, contact NS Reisassistentie in advance on 030 235 7822 (NS).

The extra bus time is built into the plan and not refundable, so leave earlier.

5. The nine-month closure: Alphen–Bodegraven

Nine months changes how people organise their lives. Here is what NS provides during a long closure, and what it does not.

Other closures last days; Alphen is in a different league, and ProRail calls it the longest train-free period of 2026.

Why it takes nine months

NS explains that the swing bridge is at the end of its technical life. Once replaced, it should fail less often and serve both trains and shipping for decades (NS). Local media reported that alternatives such as a temporary bridge were studied but rejected as too expensive or impractical (Rodi). The province of South Holland has also published answers to councillors' questions about the closure (Provincie Zuid-Holland).

What NS has put in place

NS and DutchReview list a package of measures. Some figures differ between the two, so the table shows which source says what.

NS lists the e-bike price as €1 to start plus €0.15 per minute; check the NS app for current numbers.

One restriction to note: on weekdays from 06:30 to 09:00 and 16:00 to 18:30, bikes are not allowed on the R-net Sprinter between Alphen and Gouda (NS).

A one-day discrepancy on the end date

NS gives the end date as Tuesday 13 July 2027. DutchReview's December 2025 overview said 14 July (DutchReview), while its October article uses 13 July, in line with NS. Reopening dates can also shift as work progresses, so check NS close to the date if you have plans in mid-July 2027.

Season-ticket holders

NS is explicit: there is no season-ticket discount for this closure, because the works were planned in advance. There is also no refund for arriving later because of the planned works (NS).

The exception is arriving 30 minutes or more later than the adjusted journey planner, for example when a replacement bus gets stuck in traffic. Then you can claim as normal.

6. NS delay refunds (Geld terug bij vertraging)

Now to money. NS's scheme is called Geld terug bij vertraging ("money back for delays"). We covered the basics in our earlier piece on regional strikes and 2027 fares; here we focus on how it works around engineering works.

The basic rules

On domestic routes, ordinary trains qualify after a 30-minute delay. High-speed services, meaning Intercity direct and the Intercity between The Hague and Eindhoven via Breda, qualify from 15 minutes. The amount depends on your ticket and how late you were: delays over an hour often get the full fare, shorter delays usually half (NS).

NS does not pay if a longer journey time was announced in advance, if another operator caused the delay, if you had no valid ticket, or in special cases of force majeure such as a nationwide power cut. Claims below €2.30 are not paid.

How delays are measured during works

During planned works, the benchmark is the adjusted timetable, not the usual one. If works make you arrive 40 minutes later than normal, but exactly on the announced adjusted time, you get nothing. Only a further delay of 30 minutes or more against that adjusted timetable qualifies.

Rijden de Treinen suggests saving the adjusted journey planner result and noting the trains you took; if a claim is rejected, you can object (Rijden de Treinen).

Season tickets and e-tickets

Season tickets such as Altijd Vrij and Traject Vrij are compensated as a share of the monthly price, not a fare. NS's compensation table gives Altijd Vrij (on balance or via NS Flex) 1/42 of the monthly price for 30–59 minutes and 1/21 for 60 minutes or more. The version we could check is dated 6 June 2023, so confirm the current table on ns.nl (NS).

E-tickets and mobile tickets are different. NS only refunds them for delays of 60 minutes or more (NS). The half-fare refund at 30 minutes applies to travel with an OV-chipkaart or a bank card.

The same delay can mean a different refund depending on how you paid.

Claiming and deadlines

You have three months from the travel date. If your OV-chipkaart is registered in Mijn NS, claim there; for bank cards or unregistered cards, use the online form. Online claims get a confirmation email within minutes and a decision usually within a few days. Claims made within five days of travel take at least a week, because delay data is finalised only then (NS).

7. Regional operators play by their own rules

Not every train in the Netherlands is run by NS. Arriva operates regional lines in the north, east and south, and Keolis runs lines in Overijssel. Xpat.nl and The Hague International Centre both remind newcomers that switching to a regional operator means checking out with NS and checking in again (Xpat.nl).

Arriva trains

Arriva's "Niet tevreden, geld terug" page sets out refunds for train delays of 30–59 minutes and 60 minutes or more. Travel on balance gets 50% or 100% of the fare, season tickets get a fraction of the monthly or annual price, and the student travel product gets a fixed €2.32 or €4.64 (Arriva).

The same page lists exclusions: bus delays, delays caused by another operator, amounts under €2.30, announced planned works, and force majeure such as extreme weather or power cuts. If your season ticket is on a card and you did not check in or out, you also get nothing. Claims must be made within three months, and Arriva aims to handle them within 15 working days. Rules vary by region, so check the page for your line.

Keolis, Qbuzz and others

Keolis and Qbuzz, which runs some R-net lines, have their own schemes. Consumer programme Kassa reported in February 2024 that Qbuzz compensates when a bus or R-net train is cancelled or delayed by 30 minutes or more (BNNVARA Kassa). Keolis publishes its terms on its customer service pages, and they can differ by concession.

City transport

Kassa also reported that HTM in The Hague pays a fixed €3 for trams over 30 minutes late, RET gives a two-hour ticket, and GVB only covers taxis after a missed last service. These are 2024 reports; check current terms.

Missed connections

If you change between operators and end up late, you normally claim from the operator where the delay started. According to Rijden de Treinen, if you miss a connection because another company's train was late, you generally get nothing unless that first train was itself at least 30 minutes late (Rijden de Treinen).

Note the operator's name on the spot; it is the first thing you need when you claim.

8. Your rights under EU Regulation 2021/782

Behind the national and company schemes sits EU law. Regulation 2021/782 replaced the 2007 rail passenger rights regulation and has applied since 7 June 2023. NS says the changes have only a small impact for Dutch passengers (NS).

What the regulation guarantees

According to the European Commission's Your Europe portal, rights kick in when your arrival is 60 minutes or more late. You get 25% of the fare for 60–119 minutes and 50% for 120 minutes or more, paid within one month of your request (Your Europe).

If the operator does not offer re-routing within 100 minutes of the scheduled departure, you can arrange alternative public transport yourself and claim the necessary, reasonable costs. For delays of 60 minutes or more, you are entitled to meals and refreshments in proportion to the wait, and accommodation if an overnight stay is needed.

Compensation is not due in extraordinary circumstances such as extreme weather, people on the tracks or cable theft. Strikes by rail staff do not count as extraordinary circumstances, and refund and re-routing rights still apply either way.

How it relates to the NS scheme

EU countries may exempt some domestic services from parts of the regulation, but not cross-border journeys. For domestic travel, the NS scheme is usually more generous.

As Figure 3 shows, NS pays earlier and more than the EU minimum. The EU rules matter most as a legal floor when NS or another operator says a delay is not covered.

Where to complain

If you disagree with how a claim was handled, there is a set route. Start with the operator. According to the Dutch inspectorate ILT, the company must respond within one month, with a final answer within three months at most (ILT).

Next comes the Klachtenloket Openbaar Vervoer (complaints desk), then the Geschillencommissie Openbaar Vervoer (disputes committee), whose decisions are binding. The ILT does not handle individual complaints.

Keep copies of your claim and every reply in case you need to escalate.

9. Missed check-outs during disruptions

On disruption days, forgetting to check out is easy.

Minimum balance for trains

To check in on a train with an OV-chipkaart, you need a minimum balance. NS currently says €20 for travellers without a season ticket and €10 if you have an NS season ticket on balance such as Dal Voordeel (NS). The Hague International Centre gives the same figures.

Expatica's guide, last updated in November 2024, instead says €10 for a personal card and €20 for an anonymous one (Expatica). Guides are updated at different times, so use NS's current page as the reference.

If you forget

If you do not check out, you pay the boarding fee taken at check-in. On NS, you can still check out late at a gate or pole up to six hours after checking in. After that, NS's conditions valid from 1 January 2025 let you request a refund within six months of the journey, up to three times per calendar year (NS conditions, NS).

If you paid with a bank card (OVpay), corrections are made through OVpay's app or website from six hours after the journey. Our regional strikes guide covers the OVpay limits in more detail.

Turning back mid-journey

If you learn about a disruption and turn back, check out at the station where you get off. When changing between modes or operators, such as train to bus or NS to a regional operator, you must check out and in again; between NS trains you do not (ACCESS).

Some operators, such as Arriva, refuse delay compensation entirely if your season ticket was not checked in and out.

10. Rethinking your commute

Because planned works come with dates attached, they are the easiest kind of disruption to absorb. Here are three levers you control.

Try a detour first

NS publishes detours for every major closure: via 's-Hertogenbosch or Deventer for Arnhem–Utrecht, via Den Haag HS for Rotterdam–Gouda, via Amsterdam Zuid and Schiphol for Leiden–Utrecht. They are often faster than the bus. Try the detour once before the closure starts, so the first morning is not a surprise.

Switch to cycling

For short distances, cycling may be the most reliable option. Between Alphen and Bodegraven, NS signposted the fastest cycle route and added OV-fiets bikes, which you can return at the other station at no extra cost. Our 2027 fares guide lists the new OV-fiets price.

Work from home, and check your allowances

Working from home more during a closure is often the simplest fix. Dutch employers can pay a tax-free home-working allowance (thuiswerkvergoeding) of up to €2.45 per day in 2026 (Belastingdienst 2026 rates).

The tax-free commuting allowance for your own transport rose to €0.25 per kilometre for 2026, applied retroactively from 1 January (Belastingdienst). You cannot receive both a tax-free home-working allowance and a tax-free travel allowance to a fixed workplace for the same day. Whether you get either depends on your employer's policy, so ask HR before a long closure begins.

11. A step-by-step plan for this week

Here is everything above turned into steps you can take now. Work through them in order and you will be ready for both planned and unplanned disruptions.

1. Save your commute in the NS app and switch on notifications for changes.
2. Check ProRail's annual list for big closures that overlap with holidays or visits.
3. Register your OV-chipkaart in Mijn NS, so delay claims take a few minutes.
4. Ask HR about home-working and travel allowances, before a long closure starts.
5. Test a detour once, on a quiet day before the closure.
6. Log every bad day on the spot: the train, planned and actual arrival, and the operator.
7. Claim within three months. Review your log once a month.

Step 6 matters most during works. Without a record, it is hard to show you arrived 30 minutes later than the adjusted timetable.

12. Scenarios (fictional examples)

The same closure affects people differently. The two people below are fictional and used only to illustrate.

Scenario A: commuting from Alphen to Utrecht

Someone living in Alphen aan den Rijn and commuting to Utrecht via Bodegraven is hit every working day for nine months. The choice is between the replacement bus to Bodegraven and a detour via Leiden, Amsterdam Zuid and Schiphol, which NS estimates adds about 10 minutes.

With no season-ticket discount, it is worth checking whether the detour changes the route on their season ticket. Agreeing one or two home-working days a week with their employer reduces the number of transfers, and the allowance rules above apply.

Scenario B: a family in The Hague heading to Rotterdam

A family in The Hague who often spend Saturdays in Rotterdam should look at 7 and 8 November, when no trains run via Rotterdam Centraal. They can search alternatives in 9292, such as RandstadRail line E, or simply pick another destination that weekend. With young children, crowded buses and long transfers can make a different plan the better choice.

Same two habits either way: know the plan in advance, and log delays when they happen.

13. Mistakes to avoid

Most money lost to rail disruptions comes from a few avoidable mistakes.

The most common one is simply waiting too long. A monthly ten-minute session with your log solves it.

14. Summary

• Dutch trains stop for planned works set by ProRail and for unplanned disruptions such as faults and power cuts.
• October 2026 brought a full-day shutdown at Amsterdam Centraal and a nine-month closure between Alphen and Bodegraven, among many others.
• Use ProRail's list, NS app alerts and 9292, each for a different job.
• On replacement buses, check out of the train and check in at the bus pole, and keep transfers under 35 minutes.
• NS refunds 50% from 30 minutes and 100% from 60 minutes, but announced works are excluded.
• Regional operators have their own rules; claim from the operator where the delay began, within three months.
• EU Regulation 2021/782 sets a legal floor and a complaints route; for domestic trips, the NS scheme is usually more generous.

Sources

Starting article and English-language outlets

• Every Dutch train disruption this October — DutchReview
• Rail chaos in 2026 — DutchReview
• Amsterdam Centraal closure — NL Times
• Arnhem–Utrecht closure — NL Times
• Schiphol power outage — NL Times
• Amsterdam central closure — DutchNews
• Utrecht–Arnhem works — IamExpat
• Public transport guide — Expatica
• Travel without an OV-chipkaart — ACCESS
• Public transport in The Hague — The Hague International Centre
• Buses and trams — Xpat.nl

NS and ProRail (primary sources)

• Works Alphen aan den Rijn – Bodegraven — NS
• Disruptions and engineering work — NS
• Refunds for delays on a domestic route — NS
• What compensation does NS offer? — NS
• Passenger rights regulation — NS
• Travelling with your OV-chipkaart — NS
• Forgot to check in or out — NS
• Check-out refund conditions from 1 January 2025 — NS
• Over 400 rail projects in 2026 — ProRail
• List of works — ProRail
• Spoorwerkcheck — ProRail
• Amersfoort–Apeldoorn — ProRail
• Rotterdam–Gouda — ProRail
• Limburg and Brabant — ProRail

Regional operators and refund explainers

• Niet tevreden, geld terug — Arriva
• Delays in public transport — BNNVARA Kassa
• Passenger rights — Rijden de Treinen
• Why nine months without trains — Rodi
• Answers to council questions 4142 — Provincie Zuid-Holland

EU and Dutch government

• Rail passenger rights — Your Europe
• Passenger rights for rail travellers — ILT
• Higher tax-free mileage allowance — Belastingdienst
• Payroll tax rates 2026 — Belastingdienst

All sources were checked on 28 October 2026. Engineering works can change, so check the NS app or ns.nl before you travel, and confirm refund rules with the operator that ran your train.

Original article

Every Dutch train disruption coming your way this October — DutchReview