H0 Models from the Netherlands
The Netherlands created one of Europe's most original EMU designs — the "Hondekop" (Mat'46/'54) — and two NL-grown model manufacturers, Artitec and Exact-Train. This overview links to all Netherlands topics: NS, NL manufacturers and iconic locomotives.
Dutch railways operate at 1500 V DC and have cultivated a distinctive locomotive and EMU tradition over decades. The NS yellow-and-blue livery is among the most recognisable in Europe, and the NL model scene has produced two highly detailed manufacturers in Artitec and Exact-Train.
Dutch railway operators
- NS – Nederlandse Spoorwegen — the national Dutch railway, characteristic in yellow-and-blue since the 1960s.
Dutch model manufacturers
- Artitec — Dutch maker of highly detailed resin models, specialising in NS locomotives and coaches.
- Exact-Train — specialist for NS coach models at the highest level of detail.
International manufacturers with NL range
- Roco, Märklin, Piko and L.S.Models all offer extensive NS programmes.
Famous Dutch locomotives & EMUs
- Mat'46 / Mat'54 "Hondekop" — the NS "Dog Head" EMU, one of Europe's most iconic EMU designs; in service from 1946.
- Mat'64 "El Dorado" — the yellow-and-grey successor, a backbone of NL commuter service for decades.
- NS 1100/1200/1300/1700/1800 — the classic NS electric locomotive families, based on French and British designs.
- ICM "Koploper" — the "Head Maker" Intercity EMU with a folding front coupler.
- VIRM — the modern NS double-deck Intercity EMU.
- FLIRT — by Stadler, in Dutch regional and Sprinter service.
Eras
Dutch H0 models cover all Eras II to VI — from the "Hondekop" of Era III through NS 1100/1200 of Era IV to modern VIRM and FLIRT of Era VI.