Home / Amsterdam /Airport Schiphol / Sprinter to Amsterdam Centraal vs Intercity to Rotterdam Centraal via Den Haag HS

AMS → Amsterdam · head to head

Sprinter to Amsterdam CentraalorIntercity to Rotterdam Centraal via Den Haag HS?

The short answer

These do not go to the same place, so price is not the comparison. The Sprinter to Amsterdam Centraal reaches Amsterdam Centraal station, at the top of the old center; the Intercity to Rotterdam Centraal via Den Haag HS does not. Runs south-west to Rotterdam via Leiden and The Hague, away from Amsterdam.

The Sprinter to Amsterdam Centraal is quicker: 16 min against 51 min. The Intercity to Rotterdam Centraal via Den Haag HS varies between 49 and 52 minutes.

Sprinter to Amsterdam Centraal: 05:39–01:09. Intercity to Rotterdam Centraal via Den Haag HS: 02:05–22:45.

Priced against each other

Whole-party totals · adult fares
What each costs for the whole party, in EUR. The cheaper of the two is marked on every row.
TravelersSprinter to Amsterdam CentraalIntercity to Rotterdam Centraal via Den Haag HSDifference
1€5.50€16.40€10.90
2€11€32.80€21.80
3€16.50€38.50€22
4€22€54.90€32.90
5€27.50€71.30€43.80
6€33€77€44
7€38.50€93.40€54.90
8€44€109.80€65.80

Side by side

Where each one leaves you
regional · NSSprinter to Amsterdam Centraal
From
Platform 3, directly below Schiphol Plaza; check in at the yellow columns at the top of the escalators
To
Amsterdam Centraal, via Lelylaan and Sloterdijk
Luggage
Space between the seat backs and under the seats; luggage trolleys at the station.
Runs
05:39–01:09
Journey
14–18 min

Do not queue for the machine: a single-use chipcard costs EUR 1.60 more than tapping the bank card in your pocket or buying an e-ticket, for the same EUR 5.50 ride.

Since 1 July 2026 a new anonymous OV-chipkaart cannot be bought; check in with a contactless card or phone, or buy an e-ticket.

Check in AND out. A forgotten check-out is EUR 33.30 on a bank card, a forgotten check-in EUR 20.

Vivid, Paysafe and Revolut digital debit cards are refused at the check-in columns; Maestro, V PAY, Mastercard and Visa work.

Sprinter to Amsterdam Centraal: price for every party size →

See the fare on NS
train · NSIntercity to Rotterdam Centraal via Den Haag HS
From
Platforms 5–6, directly below Schiphol Plaza
To
Rotterdam Centraal, via Leiden, Den Haag HS and Delft
Luggage
An Intercity, with racks and space by the doors.
Runs
02:05–22:45
Journey
49–52 min

Twice the journey time of the Intercity direct, EUR 3.20 less, and the only train to Rotterdam after 23:22, in the small hours and before 06:21.

The Off-peak Group Ticket is not valid on weekdays 06:30–09:00 or 16:00–18:30, even for a journey begun before the peak.

A single-use chipcard from the machine adds EUR 1.60; tap a bank card or buy an e-ticket instead.

Intercity to Rotterdam Centraal via Den Haag HS: price for every party size →

Buy the ticket from NS

This compares two of 10 options. See all of them ranked for your party size →

The other comparisons at Airport Schiphol