Travel Information

– Travelling from Schiphol Airport (Amsterdam) to Groningen –

If you arrive in the Netherlands at Schiphol, the Amsterdam International airport, the easiest way to travel to Groningen is to take the train. The underground train station is inside the airport, within walking distance of the luggage claim areas. The Dutch railway system is run by Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS). You will recognize it by its yellow and blue colors. Just follow the yellow illuminated signs that direct you ‘To the trains’.

Information on travelling by train is available on the NS website. The journey from Schiphol Airport takes approximately two hours and Groningen is the last stop. Food and drinks are sold sporadically on the trains, so if you are starving, it is best to purchase food beforehand at the airport or station.

– Train Tickets –

The fastest way to get your train ticket is to buy an e-ticket online or via the NS App

E-tickets are train tickets that you can either load into the NS app or print out to take along with you. If you have an e-ticket, you do not need to check in. You can use the e-ticket to open the gates and show the train ticket to the conductor.

  • A smartphone with Android of Apple iOS;
  • The NS app. Download the app via the App Store or Google Play Store. If you cannot see ‘My Tickets’ in the menu, please download the latest version of the app.

The NS App terms and conditions apply to the use of the NS app.

How does it work?

  1. Purchase your ticket online and use iDEAL or credit card to pay for your order;
  2. You will then be taken to the My tickets page. Click the Load into the NS app button. The e-ticket will be loaded into the NS app.

Did you place your order on a computer? You always receive an e-mail confirmation from us. Open the link in the e-mail on your telephone, and follow the instructions above. The e-mail also contains a link that you can use for printing out the e-tickets whenever you want.

Want an even easier way to buy an e-ticket? Purchase it directly in the NS app.

Travelling with your e-ticket

If you have an e-ticket, you do not need to check in. Are you travelling to or from a station with closed access gates? You can easily use your e-ticket to open the gates. Keep the e-ticket until you reach the exit at your destination station – you may also need it to open the gates there.

Step 1: Go to a gate and open your e-ticket in the NS app, or use a printed version of the e-ticket.
Step 2: Hold the square code on the e-ticket against the illuminated surface to your right.
Step 3: The gate will open, and you can enter or leave the station.
Please note! Only show your e-ticket either in the NS app or printed out. This is the only way the gates will open.

Using an e-ticket on routes with a supplement

Will you be travelling on an Intercity or ICE train for which a supplement is required? You can purchase this supplement online, at the ticket machine or service desk, or by using your OV-chipkaart at the Supplement Pole on the departure platform. You need both the supplement and your e-ticket to travel.

More information

  • You are responsible for showing a valid ticket when you travel. So always make sure that your smartphone is fully charged before you board the train. If you choose to print out the e-ticket, do so on A4-sized paper;
  • E-tickets are personal. They are therefore only valid in combination with valid identification. Remember to bring your passport, driver’s licence or ID card when travelling.
  • Children from 4 to 11 years of age, who are travelling with a Railrunner, do not have to show valid proof of identity. However, their name and travel date must be included on the e-ticket.
  • There are two ways to travel with an e-ticket: load it into the NS app on a mobile telephone, or print it out on a computer. Please note: E-tickets are only valid if you show them in the NS app or have a printed copy. Screenshots of PDFs displayed on a telephone are not valid tickets.
  • You are entitled to a Refund for delays when you use an e-ticket;
  • The Conditions for travelling with an e-ticket apply to travel with an e-ticket.

It is advisable to purchase a first class ticket, which allows you to ride in the cars with a blue stripe on the side. These cars have more room, tend to be less crowded and (usually) feature free wireless Internet and 220V AC outlets.

– Train schedules –

Unless there is a disruption, trains to Groningen leave from the airport at :00 and :30 from tracks 1-2. The :04 train is direct. If you catch a :30 train you will have to transfer in Zwolle about one hour into the trip. This is always a short transfer, meaning you just walk from your train to the other side of the platform to catch the Groningen train. If you miss this train in Groningen, there will be another in 30 minutes or you can look at the schedule to find a “Sprinter” train.

Information on travelling by train is available from the NS website. You might also find the website 9292.nl useful for planning your journey in the Netherlands. The planner combines all available public transportation – trains, buses, trams, metro, and boats – to provide an optimal route. It also informs you real-time about the current delays and disruptions in public transportation. The train leaves Schiphol Airport for Groningen twice per hour: the train at the top half of the hour is direct and the one at the bottom half requires a change in Zwolle. In both cases, the train to Groningen travels together with a train to Leeuwarden; make sure that you board one of the cars attached to the engine that says “Groningen.” When departing from Schiphol, this will be the front part of the train (the left side of the platform). If you are unsure, just ask another passenger. If you do wind up in Leeuwarden, it is about a one-hour train ride back to Groningen (for which you must buy a separate ticket). The journey from Schiphol Airport takes approximately two hours and ten minutes and Groningen is the last stop. The trains are quite comfortable and (most trains) feature free wireless Internet in all classes and 220V AC outlets in first class. Food and drinks are not sold on the trains, thus you should purchase these beforehand at the airport. Visit www.ns.nl to check the schedules online. If you have any problems, there are information booths at every station.

– Bus passes and schedules in Groningen –

The Energy Academy Europe is located at approx. 15 – 20 minutes from the train station or your hotel by bus. During the conference you can use the bus pass on your registration badge for using public transport within the city of Groningen. We hand them out from Monday during registration at the conference venue. The bus schedules you can find on www.9292.nl. Check the bus map of Groningen for more info on the buslines.

 – Taxi services Groningen –

There are taxi stops right next to Groningen Main Station. You could order a cab at your own expense at the following taxi companies

– Parking at Zernike Campus – 

If you’re coming by car, you can park on the northside of Zernike Campus at P4 which is freely accessible during the month of July. Another option is to park at P+R Reitdiep and then take the bus to Zernike; either line 1 or line 2.