Public transport

The public transportation system in the Netherlands is one of the best in the world: it’s clean, efficient, on time and can connect you with almost any destination in the country. There are a variety of different types of public transportation in the Netherlands, beyond buses and trains. Most of them use the OV-chipkaart, the national transport payment card. There are anonymous or personal cards that each cost €7 and can be purchased at any train station, on some buses and trams, and in a variety of shops. You simply scan your card when you get on and off the vehicle, and reload the card with money to pay for your travels.

The national railway organization in the Netherlands is called NS (short for Nederlandse Spoorwegen) which has two primary train types: Intercity, the highspeed trains that run between the larger cities in the Netherlands, and Sprinters, that stop at every stop on the way to your destination and cost less. You can use your OV-chipkaart, or purchase single-use tickets in kiosks in train stations or on the NS.nl website. You can also load train discounts and day passes on your OV-chipkaart. The entire Dutch railway system runs on wind electricity so there are no CO2 emissions as you travel!

There are some regional train operators that are separate from the national railway system, but accept the OV-chipkaart for payment. Remember to check out with NS and in with a regional provider if you change trains! Most larger cities have a tram system that connects almost every part of the city and, like the railway system, are very efficient and on time. The trams usually run every 15 minutes, which is great if you miss your tram – another one will be coming soon! You can usually purchase tickets on the tram or use your OV-chipkaart.

Buses complement trams in the bigger cities, linking up neighbourhoods the trams don’t service. And for more remote areas of the Netherlands, buses keep local communities connected to the rest of the country. Most operators have electric-powered buses which makes waiting for your bus at a busy depot quiet and pleasant, since there are no stinky exhaust fumes. It’s easiest to use your OV-chipkaart for payment, but you can usually also purchase single-use tickets onboard. Note that some bus operators only accept Dutch debit cards and often a ticket bought onboard costs more. Visit the operator’s website to learn how and where to purchase tickets.

Even though biking is an integral part of the Dutch culture, bikes are only allowed on trains with a surcharge and usually not allowed on buses or trams. But don’t worry, not only are there several bike-share companies with bikes available all over the place, but the public transportation system here also has bikes! Most train stations have the OV-fiets available for hourly or daily rent; if you return the bike to another station than where you rented it, there is a €10 fee.

In addition to the daily transportation methods available, there are of course Amsterdam Schiphol, Rotterdam/The Hague and Eindhoven airports, which are well-connected to the train system. Rotterdam has public water taxis and the Wadden Islands off the northwest coast of the country are connected by passenger ferries.

Planning your trip is simple with these must-have apps and websites: 9292.nl is an independent route planner that provides up-to-date timetables for all modes of public transport, and gives real-time updates on delays and cancellations. The NS website and app also have route planners that include most bus and tram routes as well. You can also view your OV-chipkaart credit on the NS website and app. At OV-chipkaart.nl you can manage your OV-chipkaart credit and, for personal cards, arrange automatic top-ups: if you have a Dutch bank account, you can arrange for a set amount of money to be taken out of your account once your credit drops below €20.

If you need to get somewhere that doesn’t have a public transport connection, there are usually taxis available – call the local despatcher or pick up one at the railway station. Rideshares are not as common in the Netherlands as elsewhere. Currently, Uber is available in the Randstad area, including Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht, Haarlem, ’t Gooi and Eindhoven.