Amsterdam Centraal Station to Close for Major Renovations, Disrupting Travel

In a historic move, Amsterdam’s central train station will be completely closed to all train traffic on June 29, the first time this has happened since the station opened in 1889.

This closure kicks off a major renovation project that will significantly impact travel in and out of the Dutch capital over the coming months.ProRail, the Dutch rail infrastructure manager, announced that tracks 14 and 15 at Amsterdam Centraal Station will be unavailable for an entire year starting June 29. During this time, the tracks will be removed, a railway bridge on the east side of the station will be dismantled, and overhead lines will be adjusted.

Extensive work will also be done on a new underground bicycle parking facility on the east side of the station. The closure on June 29 will be a complete shutdown, with no trains running to, from, or through Amsterdam Centraal all day. The following two days, June 30 and July 1, will see very limited train service, with no trains between Amsterdam Muiderpoort and Weesp and only a reduced number of trains between Amsterdam Centraal and Sloterdijk. International trains will also run on an adjusted schedule and will not stop at Amsterdam Centraal during this period. In the days leading up to the June 29 closure, there will be fewer trains running between Utrecht Central Station and Amsterdam Centraal, as well as between Amsterdam Centraal and Enkhuizen from June 24-28. From July 2-7, there will also be fewer trains between Amsterdam Centraal and Hilversum/Almere.

Travelers are advised to consult the travel planner before departure and take additional travel time into account

NS, the Dutch national rail operator, warned in a statement. Detour routes will be in place, requiring extra transfers or partial journeys by bus or metro, which will not be covered by standard NS tickets. The closure and renovations will also impact accessibility at Amsterdam Centraal, with the eastern passenger tunnel being closed and the elevators in that area unavailable. Passengers who require elevator access will need to use the elevators in the western passenger tunnel, adding around 10 minutes to their travel time.

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These disruptions come as Amsterdam Centraal Station prepares for a significant increase in passenger numbers in the coming years. The station currently sees around 200,000 travellers per day, but this figure is expected to rise to 275,000 by 2030. The renovations are aimed at creating more space and capacity to accommodate this growth.”This means even more platforms and more space will be needed for trains and travellers alike,” the Dutch Review reported. “It just also means we can look forward to a summer of construction work at the busy station.”

While the closures and service reductions will undoubtedly cause headaches for travellers in the short term, the long-term benefits of the renovations are expected to greatly improve the passenger experience at this vital transportation hub.