The Hague is increasingly coming into focus as a departure point and stopover for international train travel. Operator GoVolta is expected to start a daily service between Amsterdam and Paris from 14 December 2026, with a stop at The Hague Hollands Spoor. In addition, the operator has announced new plans for direct trains from The Hague to Cologne and via Luxembourg to Strasbourg. Arriva also notified the Netherlands Authority for Consumers & Markets (ACM) earlier this year of plans for a service between The Hague and Paris.
The developments show that interest among rail operators in The Hague is growing. GoVolta’s new service to Paris will make the city directly accessible from places including Antwerp, Ghent and Paris. For Belgian and French travellers, this will make it easier to visit The Hague without travelling by car or plane. This fits with The Hague’s ambition to encourage sustainable tourism and attract visitors from nearby European markets to choose a conscious city break in the city by the sea.
New plans for Cologne and Luxembourg
GoVolta has also recently announced plans for two new international connections from The Hague. The operator intends to run trains from December 2027 between The Hague and Cologne, and between The Hague and Strasbourg, via cities including Antwerp, Brussels and Luxembourg. For now, these are proposed services that have been notified to the ACM.
In addition, Arriva announced in July 2026 that it intends to operate three daily trains between The Hague Hollands Spoor and Paris. Arriva has named 1 February 2028 as the intended start date, or earlier if possible.
Added value
The Municipality of The Hague is positive about the developments. “International rail connections improve the sustainable accessibility of The Hague as the International City of Peace and Justice,” says alderman Adeel Mahmood (whose portfolio includes Mobility and Parking, the MRDH Transport Authority and the Environment). “It is good to see that several operators are including us in their plans for new European connections. This will make us easier and faster to reach.”
For The Hague & Partners, the developments also fit within the broader focus on future-proof tourism, in which accessibility, liveability and sustainability go hand in hand.
Marco Esser, Director of The Hague & Partners: “Belgium, France and Germany are important nearby markets for The Hague. There we position the city as a royal and cultural city by the sea. Direct train connections lower the threshold for choosing The Hague and make sustainable door-to-door travel more attractive.”
Growing demand
The new and planned train connections are in line with growing interest in international rail travel. Research by NBTC shows that 58 percent of Belgians and 69 percent of French people would choose the train more often if more direct connections were available. At the same time, high ticket prices, transfers and long journey times are still frequently cited as barriers.
The various notifications are not yet a guarantee that all services will actually operate according to the proposed timetables. Among other things, operators must be allocated sufficient rail capacity.
Source: The Hague & Partners
Translated into English by The Hague Online
Image: Train at Station Hollands Spoor (Gemeente Den Haag/Hugo de Wolf)