Amsterdam Centraal
Stationsplein, 1012 AB Amsterdam
Amsterdam's stunning Centraal station makes for a memorable arrival in the city.
And it's perfectly placed to walk to the canal belt, Jordaan and the historic centre.
If you're venturing further afield, it's well-connected by trams, buses and even boats.
There are different departure processes at Amsterdam Centraal depending on whether you’re travelling to and from London, or on any of our other trains. You'll find everything you need to know below.
Departure guide for travel between Belgium, France, Netherlands or Germany
When to arrive at the Eurostar Departures Building
To ensure you have enough time for all pre-departure steps, please come to the station at the recommended time and not just before the gates close. All of our border and luggage checks take place before you depart, which means you can simply hop off the train when you arrive.
There may be times when you experience queues at the station. This can particularly happen on peak days or when checks take a bit longer. But don’t worry – our staff will be on hand to guide you through the departures process and ensure you board your train.
| Standard & Standard Premier | Business Premier | Special Assist | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How long before departure should I arrive? (mins) | 60-90 | 30-45 | 60 |
| How long before departure does the gate close? (mins) | 30 | 20 | 30 |
Entering (or leaving) the station
To access or leave the platforms at Amsterdam Centraal station, you’ll need to scan the barcode on your ticket at the station's ticket gates.
Smartphone users: if you store bank cards in your phone wallet, please save your Eurostar ticket to your Google/Apple Wallet or print it out before setting off.
Why this advice?
The station’s ticket gates are set up to read both ticket barcodes and digital bank cards, enabling commuters to tap in and out. Occasionally, these gates may read a bank card stored on a phone rather than an on-screen image of your ticket’s barcode. This will result in an incorrect payment of up to €20.
Saving your ticket to your Google/Apple Wallet or printing it out will help ensure that your ticket is scanned correctly and prevent undue charges.
What if I am charged in error?
Payments taken at Dutch stations’ ticket gates are managed by OVpay. Please visit the OVpay website to find out how to get a refund.
Tickets issued by other carriers may not have a barcode, so you'll need to speak to a member of staff or press the (i) button next to the ticket gates for assistance.
Finding Eurostar departures
You’ll find the Eurostar departures building at the far end of platform 15b. Follow signs to platform 15, then look for signs to London.
The Eurostar departures building isn’t under the station's main roof, so you'll need to continue all the way along the platform.
When you arrive, you’ll be welcomed by our station team, so have your ticket ready to be checked.
Amsterdam Centraal Station map
Finding our direct Eurostar trains
The Eurostar departures building is at the end of platform 15b. Follow signs for platform 15, then for London. It's not under the main roof, so keep going along the platform. Keep your ticket handy: our station team will greet you when you arrive.
You'll need to scan your ticket at the NS gates to get to the platform. To prevent accidental charges when using bank cards stored on your phone, store your Eurostar ticket in your mobile wallet or the Eurostar app.
Passport/border control
Your passport will be checked twice – first by the Dutch authorities and then by the UK Border Force.
Eurostar departure lounge
In the Eurostar departure lounge you'll find:
- Coffee and tea facilities
- Vending machines with snacks and cold beverages
- Toilets
- Workspaces
- Priority seating
- Le chocolat Alain Ducasse (chocolate shop)
- Paul (food outlet)
- L’Occitane en Provence
- Toilets with baby-changing facilities
NS International Lounge
Before heading to platform 15b for departure, Business Premier travellers and Carte Blanche holders can relax in the Regus NS International Lounge on platform 2a.
There, you'll find:
- Comfortable workplaces
- Free wi-fi
- Meeting rooms
- Free soft drinks
If you're visiting the NS International Lounge, please make sure you head over to the Eurostar departures building in time for ticket, security and border checks.
Accessible travel assistance at the station
If you’re travelling with a disability or reduced mobility, free accessible travel assistance is there to help you get to and from the train. You must pre-book at least 48 hours before you’re due to travel for guaranteed assistance.
You’ll find everything you need to know about Accessible Travel Assistance, such as how to book, help with your luggage, parking and station facilities and much more on our Accessible Travel page.
Station details and facilities
· Cafés, shops and supermarkets
· Cash machines
· The NS International ticket office, open daily, 05:45-21:00
· The NS International Lounge, open 07:00–19:00 Monday to Friday and 10:00–18:00 at the weekend
· Luggage storage
· Self-service ticket machines
· Toilets with baby-changing facilities
· Bike rental and storage
The station is easily accessed on foot, by bike or by public transport. Car parking is discouraged as most of the city centre is closed to car traffic.
If you lose (or find) something on board or at the station, speak to a member of staff at the lost and found located in the east tunnel, or follow signs to the lost and found office.
You can find out more about lost property on the NS website (Dutch Railways).
If you're continuing your journey within the Netherlands, you'll find trains to every corner of the country departing from Amsterdam Centraal.
Are you travelling on Thalys with a Eurostar connection in Brussels?
You’ll have two tickets – one for Thalys and one for Eurostar.
To access or leave the platforms at Amsterdam Centraal station, you’ll need to scan the barcode on your Thalys ticket at the station's ticket gates.
Smartphone users: If you store bank card(s) digitally in your phone wallet, we recommend that you print out your Thalys ticket or disable contactless payments (sometimes referred to as NFC) on your phone.
Why this advice?
The station’s ticket gates are set up to read both ticket barcodes and digital bank cards, enabling commuters to tap in and out. Occasionally, these gates may read a bank card stored on a phone rather than an on-screen image of your ticket’s barcode. This will result in an incorrect payment of up to €20. Following these guidelines will help ensure that your ticket is scanned correctly and prevent undue charges.
What if I’ve been charged in error?
Payments taken at Dutch stations’ ticket gates are managed by OVpay. Please visit the OVpay website to find out how to get a refund.
You can board your Thalys train (from platform 15) up to 2 minutes before departure so there’s no need to turn up too early. Check the departure screens on the day as the platform might have changed.
Once at Brussels-Zuid/Midi, you’ll go through the Eurostar departure process for your onward journey to London. Find out more about the departure process at Brussels Zuid/Midi.
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