Home / Amsterdam /Airport Schiphol / Sprinter to Amsterdam Centraal vs Night train to Amsterdam Centraal

AMS → Amsterdam · head to head

Sprinter to Amsterdam CentraalorNight train to Amsterdam Centraal?

The short answer

For one traveler they cost the same. That does not change up to 8 travelers.

The Night train to Amsterdam Centraal is quicker: 15 min against 16 min. The Sprinter to Amsterdam Centraal varies between 14 and 18 minutes.

Sprinter to Amsterdam Centraal: 05:39–01:09. Night train to Amsterdam Centraal: 02:03–05:02.

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 CentraalNight train to Amsterdam CentraalDifference
1€5.50€5.50same
2€11€11same
3€16.50€16.50same
4€22€22same
5€27.50€27.50same
6€33€33same
7€38.50€38.50same
8€44€44same

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
regional · NSNight train to Amsterdam Centraal
From
Platforms 1–2, directly below Schiphol Plaza
To
Amsterdam Centraal — between 01:00 and 05:00 the station is exited only via the Westtunnel and the IJ side
Luggage
An Intercity, with racks and space by the doors.
Runs
02:03–05:02
Journey
14–15 min

Not on Tuesday nights. The direct night train does not run Tuesday to Wednesday; the N97 bus does, hourly from 01:19, and NS offers a two-train route via Bijlmer ArenA at the same fare.

Between the 01:09 Sprinter and the 02:03 night train nothing leaves for Amsterdam except the 01:19 bus.

It stops at Amsterdam Centraal only in Amsterdam, then goes on to Utrecht. For Zuid or Sloterdijk at night take the N97.

Night train to Amsterdam Centraal: price for every party size →

See the fare on NS

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

The other comparisons at Airport Schiphol