Dutch train tickets...

[Yorkshire White]

I've tried to buy the return tickets from Amsterdam to Enschede and when I go to pay it only lets yu if you have a Dutch bank, where has everybody bought their tickets from?

[FatFreddysCat]

From what i gather you just pay at the station, i have the added problem of getting to Germany to my hotel and back to Enschede.  That offer of us paying for car hire and petrol is still open if any wants to drive.

[sipwell]

Just arrive half an hour in advance in the train station. You can buy tickets either at the boot (ticket offices) or at one of the many machines in the train station. In contrast to the UK, you don't need tickets in advance in most of continental Europe. Our trains are... state-run. :)

The half an hour is to be on the safe side. There are plenty of trains between A'dam and Enschede but if you happen to have bad luck, you'll stand in line for some time. There is nothing as annoying as standing in line for a ticket when the train you want to take is about to depart.

Make sure that you buy a retour ticket (return ticket). Cheapest and no hassle on your way back then. Just enter the train. No need to stand in line of anything!

[Berserker]

I thought I would just get them from the train station in Amsterdam the day before

[sipwell]

I thought I would just get them from the train station in Amsterdam the day before

You don't even need to do that, but feel free if you want that. Nobody in Belgium or The Netherlands actually does that! When in Rome...

[SHADY1]

I'm on the coach both ways from Amsterdam £25 return ... with 160 like minded... 

[epsomraver]

Having only once travelled from Amsterdam by train, I found the machines baffling , then a hughe black guy behind me held out his hand for my money " here we go " I thought, but no, he did it all for me and said go to platform A, got on train standing at platform A with cases, a kindly soul asked if I was going to the airport? saying yes she pointed out that the train I was on was not going there, they have platform A and B on the same platform one train behind the other, I could have ended on a non stop going a long way up north non stop 120 k, so just ask the locals, they all speak English and are very helpful

[sipwell]

Having only once travelled from Amsterdam by train, I found the machines baffling , then a hughe black guy behind me held out his hand for my money " here we go " I thought, but no, he did it all for me and said go to platform A, got on train standing at platform A with cases, a kindly soul asked if I was going to the airport? saying yes she pointed out that the train I was on was not going there, they have platform A and B on the same platform one train behind the other, I could have ended on a non stop going a long way up north non stop 120 k, so just ask the locals, they all speak English and are very helpful

That must have been Belgians, Mr. Epsom. that must have been Belgians.

[The Doctor]

Thanks for that information, Sipwell.  I was going to try to buy through Rail Europe's website, but won't bother given your advice.  Wish things were that simple over here...I swear our fare system is so convoluted so as to catch more people out with penalty fares