NS
National rail timetables, tickets and travel planning.
NS at a glance
NS is a travel website and one of the most visited sites in Netherlands, currently ranked #8 in the country. It was founded in 1938 and is headquartered in Utrecht, Netherlands. Today NS is owned by Nederlandse Spoorwegen. Our estimates put its audience at ≈ 28 million visits per month. The business earns money mainly through booking commissions, direct ticket and room sales, ancillary services and insurance. Its closest rivals include 9292.nl, flixbus.nl.
Traffic statistics
Traffic history
| Period | Visits | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | ≈ 26.3 million / month | +2% |
| Q2 | ≈ 27.2 million / month | +3% |
| Q3 | ≈ 28 million / month | +3% |
| Q4 | ≈ 29.7 million / month | +6% |
Traffic sources
- Direct43%
- Organic search32%
- Paid search16%
- Metasearch referral6%
- Social3%
Audience & demographics
- Men52%
- Women48%
- Age 25-3431%
- Age 35-4426%
- Age 45-5420%
The audience is concentrated in Netherlands, skewing urban and mobile, with usage peaks in the evening hours.
Geographic reach
- Netherlands86%
Home market
- Diaspora and neighbouring markets7%
- Europe3%
- North America2%
- Rest of world2%
SEO profile
- Estimated organic traffic
- ≈ 8.4 million visits / month
- Branded share of search
- High — brand terms lead the keyword profile
- Indexed pages
- Large — category, listing or article level
- Primary search market
- Netherlands
Top organic keywords
| Keyword | Position | Volume | Traffic share |
|---|---|---|---|
| ns | 1 | Very high | Dominant |
| cheap flights | Top 10 | High | — |
| hotel booking | Top 10 | High | — |
| train tickets | Top 10 | High | — |
Backlink profile
- Referring domains
- Tens of thousands
- Link profile
- News coverage, directories, blogs and partner sites
- Authority
- High within the Netherlands web
Top referral sources
- News and media31%
- Directories and aggregators24%
- Blogs and forums20%
- Partner sites14%
- Other11%
Technology stack
Website technologies
Advertising & analytics technologies
Stack details are inferred from public front-end signals and engineering communications; internal systems may differ.
Mobile app statistics
Available in the local store
Available in the local store
- App share of traffic
- ≈ 71% mobile
- Position in country
- Among the leading travel apps in Netherlands
Company information
- Website
- ns.nl
- Sector
- Travel
- Owner
- Nederlandse Spoorwegen
- Owner type
- State-owned company
- Founded
- 1938
- Headquarters
- Utrecht, Netherlands
- Ownership
- Nederlandse Spoorwegen controls the platform. Ownership details are based on public filings and press reporting.
- Languages
- Dutch, English
- Top traffic sources
- direct, organic search, paid search
Financials
- Revenue
- Not publicly disclosed
- Ownership
- State-owned company
- Reporting
- Figures based on public filings, press reports and market estimates
Business model & revenue
NS operates a travel booking platform focused on Netherlands. National rail timetables, tickets and travel planning. Revenue comes mainly from booking commissions, supported by the other lines listed below.
- Booking commissions
- Direct ticket and room sales
- Ancillary services and insurance
- Advertising and sponsored placements
International presence
- Primary market
- Netherlands
- Expansion
- Regional and diaspora audiences beyond the home market
Customer statistics
Website rankings
- Country rank (Netherlands)
- #8 in this index
- Sector rank
- Leading travel site in Netherlands
Main competitors
Website comparisons
| Website | Monthly visits | Rank | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9292.nl | ≈ 16.8 million / month | #9 class competitor | — |
| flixbus.nl | ≈ 12.6 million / month | #10 class competitor | — |
What is NS?
NS (ns.nl) is a travel booking platform serving users in Netherlands. National rail timetables, tickets and travel planning. It ranks #8 among the most visited websites in the country in this index, within the travel category.
Who owns NS?
The site is operated by Nederlandse Spoorwegen. The company was established in 1938 and is headquartered in Utrecht, Netherlands.
Traffic and audience
Traffic estimates place NS at roughly 28 million visits per month, about 0.9 million per day. Around 71% mobile of sessions come from mobile devices, and visitors view about 7.8 pages per visit with an average session of 7 min.
How NS makes money
Revenue comes primarily from booking commissions, alongside direct ticket and room sales, ancillary services and insurance, advertising and sponsored placements.
Competitors in Netherlands
Its closest rivals include 9292.nl, flixbus.nl.
Data and accuracy
Company facts are drawn from public sources. Traffic, revenue and audience figures are third-party estimates or sector benchmarks, marked with ≈ where modelled, and are reviewed periodically.
Company history & milestones
- 1938
NS is founded in Utrecht, Netherlands.
- Growth phase
Expands its travel offering and moves to a mobile-first product.
- Today
Ranks #8 among the most visited websites in Netherlands.
User reviews & ratings
| Source | Score | Reviews | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Play | ≈ 4.3 / 5 | — | Ratings from the local store listing |
| App Store | ≈ 4.5 / 5 | — | Ratings from the local store listing |
| Consumer review platforms | Mixed | — | Service and support are common themes |
App store ratings are solid, while consumer review platforms show the usual friction around support and service quality.
Pros & cons
Pros
- Broad inventory of routes, hotels or tickets
- Transparent price comparison across dates
- Local payment and installment support
- Mobile check-in and booking management
Cons
- Prices fluctuate quickly during peak seasons
- Change and cancellation rules are restrictive
- Add-on fees appear late in the funnel
- Support pressure during disruptions
Key statistics
Frequently asked questions
Who owns NS?
NS is operated by Nederlandse Spoorwegen. State-owned company structure, based on public filings and press reporting.
Where is NS headquartered?
NS is headquartered in Utrecht, Netherlands.
When was NS founded?
NS was founded in 1938.
What is NS's revenue?
NS does not publish standalone revenue; income comes from booking commissions, direct ticket and room sales, ancillary services and insurance, advertising and sponsored placements.
Who are NS's competitors?
Main competitors in Netherlands include 9292.nl, flixbus.nl.
How does NS make money?
Mainly booking commissions, direct ticket and room sales, ancillary services and insurance, advertising and sponsored placements.
Is NS publicly traded?
NS's ownership: State-owned company.
How many visitors does NS get?
Third-party estimates place NS at roughly 28 million visits per month, mostly from Netherlands, with 71% mobile traffic.
Is NS safe?
NS is an established travel site founded in 1938 and ranked #8 in Netherlands; use the official domain ns.nl and HTTPS.
Popular searches
Data sources & confidence
- Company website and public announcementsns.nl
- Third-party traffic estimation providersSimilarweb-class estimates
Visit figures are modelled, not measured
- App store listingsApple App Store, Google Play
- Press and market coverageNetherlands and international business media
- Data confidence
- Medium for company facts, medium-low for traffic and financial estimates. All modelled figures are rounded and marked with ≈.
- Last updated
- September 2026
Traffic, revenue and audience figures are third-party estimates or derived from sector benchmarks, and are reviewed periodically.
Social media profiles & statistics
Official brand account
Announcements and support
Community and campaigns
Company and hiring updates
Brand and product videos