There are several interesting heritage railways in the Netherlands. Some of them are known to railway enthusiasts all over the world. The list does not include narrow gauge railways. Trains on the mentioned railway lines do not run regularly. Interrail tickets and state rail tickets are not valid. A separate tariffs applies.
Heritage railways in the Netherlands
Hoogovens Stoom Jmuiden – steam trains usually running every Sunday of the month on a fifteen-kilometer route on the internal railway network around Velserbosch station, belonging to the steelworks. The tour, combined with stops and a lecture on the steelworks history, lasts about an hour and a half. The nearest NS station is Beverwijk, located 4 kilometers from Velserbosch station. Trains run on designated days only.
Hoogovens Stoom Jmuiden – official website
Museumbuurtspoorweg (MBS) – tourist railway operating at the railway museum in Haaksbergen. Steam hauled vintage trains transport passengers between the two buildings of the museum from Haaksbergen to Boekelo, near the towns of Enschede and Hengelo. In Haaksbergen, there is a café and a railway souvenir shop at the station, and right next to the station building you can see a historic water tower. In Boekelo, visitors can see an exhibition of vintage rail vehicles.
Museumbuurtspoorsweg – official website
Museum Stoomtram – one of the most famous Dutch tourist trains running between Hoorn and Medemblik on a 15-kilometer route. The trains are composed of vintage carriages hauled by a steam locomotive. Passengers can also take a ferry from Medemblik to Enkhuizen and ride a vintage bus around Medemblik. Trains run daily from April to October and on weekends in March and November. The duration of the trip combined with a ferry ride and a historic bus is 4 hours. Next to the railway station there is a Museum of Steam Machines, which has a large collection of historic Dutch locomotives and wagons.
Museum Stoomtram – official website
S.T.A.R. – Stadskanaal onder Stoom – the longest heritage railway line in the Netherlands with steam trains. Vingate trains run between Veendam and Stadskanaal or Musselkanaal on a 26-kilometer route. The tourist traffic was inaugurated in 1994. The railway exists thanks to the efforts of volunteers; over 120 of them take care of the railway museum that manages disused line. Trains run on selected days; a detailed schedule is available on the official website. The trains are hauled by steam and historic diesel locomotives The journey from Vendam to Stadskanaal Station takes approximately 37 minutes. In Veendam passengers can change from the tourist train to regular trains to Groningen.
Stadskanaal onder Stoom – official website
Stoomtrein Goes – Borsele – vintage trains hauled by steam locomotives or historic diesel multiple units running on selected days between Goes and Hoedekenskerke on a line of approximately seven kilometers long. On the way it stops in Kwadendamme, and the journey time one way is 40 minutes. The historic railbus stops at two other stations and ends its journey in Baarland. The railbus journey on a slightly longer route also takes 40 minutes. Photos of the rolling stock and detailed information are available on the official website.
Stoomtrein Goes – Borsele – official website
Veluwsche Stoomtrein Maatschappij – vintage trains running on selected days between Apeldoorn and Dieren, on a line called “William III Line”. The 22-kilometer-long railway line was put into operation in 1887. Passenger traffic was suspended in 1947, freight traffic in 1984. On the Apeldoorn – Apeldoorn VAM section there is an open-air exhibition of rolling stock, or rather a train graveyard (3 km).
Veluwsche Soomtrein Maatschappij – official website
Zuid Limburgse Stomtrein – heritage trains running on selected days from March to December from Simpelveld. Simpelveld is a nice little border town. The tourist railway line run is considered one of the most beautiful lines in the Netherlands. You can choose from a train with heritage carriages hauled by a steam locomotive or a historic railbus. Trains run on three routes: Simpelveld – Schin op Geul, Simpelveld – Kerkrade and Simpelveld – Vetschau in Germany. One-day tickets for all routes are available for individual tourists and families.
Zuid Limburgse Stomtrein – official website
Related articles:
Train travel in the Netherlands
Narrow gauge railways in the Netherlands
Railways in Europe by country
