NS International ICE direct to Hamburg from 2 October: from 33 euro one way, children aged 4 to 14 free with an adult

From Friday 2 October, NS International runs its newest ICE trains straight from Amsterdam to Hamburg four times a day, calling at Amersfoort and other stations in the east of the country, with Amersfoort to Hamburg taking about four hours; until now the same trip meant changing trains in Osnabrück. The direct train exists because Deutsche Bahn is rebuilding the line between Hannover and Berlin from this autumn until the end of 2027, so the Berlin ICE is diverted through Bremen and Hamburg and northern Germany gets a direct connection from the Netherlands. For families living here who are thinking about an autumn city break or a Christmas market trip up north, the ticket to understand first is the child's: children aged 4 to 14 travel free with someone aged 15 or over, but only when they are added at the moment you book.

• Two phases: until 12 December the trains stop at Hamburg-Harburg and Hamburg-Bergedorf rather than Hamburg's main station; from 13 December they call at Bremen Hauptbahnhof and Hamburg Hauptbahnhof, and Bremen tickets go on sale on 14 October. NS says the diversion runs at least until December 2027, with three direct trains a day to Hannover in the same period. (source 1)
• Prices and seats: Hamburg from 33 euro one way, Bremen from 28 and Berlin from 38, and the earlier you book the lower the fare. The cheapest Supersparpreis Europa ticket is tied to one date and train and cannot be changed or cancelled. A seat reservation is optional at 5.50 euro per person per journey in second class, except from 25 June to 5 September 2027, when reservations on international ICE trains are compulsory. (source 2, source 4, source 5)
• Who gains most: families with children aged 4 to 14, since one adult may bring up to four children; under-4s need no ticket at all, and from 15 a child pays the normal fare. The free child place does not apply to the Sparpreis Europa Gruppe and Supersparpreis Europa Gruppe group fares. (source 3)
• Before you book: put every child in the same booking, because a child cannot be added afterwards. The trains have air conditioning, a bistro car, seat reservations and wheelchair access, and luggage is free. A Flexpreis ticket includes a City-Ticket for buses, metro and trams on your arrival and departure day in more than 140 German cities; with Sparpreis or Supersparpreis it costs extra. (source 1, source 2, source 3)

Do the sum yourself: one-way cost = adults × the fare you find + children aged 4 to 14 × 0 + everyone who wants a reserved seat × 5.50 euro. Two adults with children of 6 and 9 who get the 33-euro fare pay 2 × 33 = 66 euro, plus 4 × 5.50 = 22 euro if all four reserve, so 88 euro one way and 176 euro return; if one child has already turned 15, add another adult fare. Put in your own group, the children's ages and the fare shown for your day to see what the trip will cost.

Where

Board at Amsterdam Centraal・Hilversum・Amersfoort・Apeldoorn・Deventer・Hengelo

When

4 trains a day・Harburg and Bergedorf until 12 Dec・both main stations from 13 Dec

Price

Hamburg from € 33・Bremen from € 28・ages 4–14 travel free

Note

Add children in the same booking・second-class seat € 5.50 per journey・Supersparpreis Europa not changeable

Hokimi field note: Harburg and Bergedorf, where the trains stop until 12 December, are not Hamburg's main station, so if you are heading for the centre a Flexpreis ticket's City-Ticket lets you change straight onto local transport; with a cheaper fare, add that local ticket to your total before you compare.