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Traveling by Bus

The bus is a convenient means of transport for travelling within a city or from the city to surrounding villages and towns. Buses stop at a station after a few stops, from where you can also travel by metro, train or tram.

To travel by bus you can use an OV-chipcard. You can put a balance on the ov-chipkaart at a station, online or order a card with balance. Another option is to order a day pass. You can also pay for a one-way journey by debit card on the bus.

There are extensive city and regional bus lines in Holland. This means that, wherever you are in Holland, there are bus services that will take you to most places, quickly and affordably. While bus companies vary per region, the connections are generally excellent, so you can reach your destination quickly.

You will need a valid ticket to travel by bus: a single-use chip card or an anonymous OV-chipkaart (smart card) . Single-use chip cards can also be bought from the driver on the bus, but that usually costs more.

Traveling by bus and using the OV-chipkaart

All means of public transport in Holland require a so-called OV-chipkaart , a smart card that is valid on the bus, tram, metro and train. Since there is no specific OV-chipkaart for tourists, we recommend using an ‘anonymous’ OV-chipcard.

This smart card costs € 8,- but comes without travel credit, so you must charge credit to the card at a service desk or (NS) yellow service machine. You must have a positive balance on your anonymous OV-chipcard to use the bus, tram or metro or at least 20€ for travelling with NS trains .

Once charged, you can use your anonymous OV-chipkaart anywhere on the bus, tram and metro right away! Always make sure to check in when boarding your bus, train or metro and don’t forget to check out   (in the bus) upon arrival.

National Public Transport Tickets Holland

Public Transport Chip Card

Day tickets and single-use chip card

Amsterdam, Rotterdam and a few other cities offer special one to seven-day tickets for tourists. A perfect way to travel throughout the city without limitations at a special rate. If you don’t have an anonymous OV-chipkaart, you can also buy a single-use chip card, which is suitable for short trips and offers limited-time validity for bus, tram or metro in a city.

Single-use chip cards are suitable for the incidental traveller. If you plan to use public transport services in Holland more than once, an anonymous OV-chipkaart is more practical and usually the cheaper option. Plan your travels ahead! check out 9292.nl for all travel schemes.

Public Transport Tickets Amsterdam

Public Transport Amsterdam Day Ticket- GVB

Amsterdam & Region Travel Ticket 1, 2 or 3 day

Public Transport Tickets Rotterdam

Rotterdam Day Ticket

Amsterdam Travel Ticket 1 Day, 2 Days or 3 Days

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Public transport in the Netherlands: the complete guide

Public transport in the Netherlands is some of the best in the world. 

With huge costs to own cars, it’s no surprise both cycling and public transport thrive so well here. 

But we imagine it can be intimidating to learn how to navigate (pun intended) this world of trains, trams, buses, and metros. 

So, here, our travelling friends, is the complete guide to public transport in the Netherlands. 🚝

• 💸 Paying for public transport in the Netherlands: OV cards (OV Chipkaarten)

📱 Apps for public transport in the Netherlands

🚀 the main types of public transport in the netherlands, 🚲 other types of transport in the netherlands, travel tickets and passes for the netherlands, ❓ public transport in the netherlands: frequently asked questions, 💸 paying for public transport in the netherlands: ov cards ( ov chipkaarten ).

While public transport is considerably cheaper than owning a car in the Netherlands, it’s not free (unless you’re an eligible Dutch student). 

If you’re planning on living in the Netherlands long-term, investing in an OV card ( OV chipkaar t) will likely save you some money and provide convenience when travelling around the country. 

There are two types of OV cards: anonymous and personal. 

Anonymous OV Card ( Anonieme OV-chipkaart )

If you’re on a short-term holiday, only travel by public transport on occasion or don’t want to share your personal details, a blue anonymous OV card might be the one for you. 

With an anonymous OV card, you can share the card with other people (just not on the same trip), so they’re perfect to keep on hand for visitors. You can purchase one at stations, various supermarkets, and OV shops. 

Every time you run out of money, you’ll have to manually top up your anonymous OV card. You can refill it by: 

• using ticket machines or at an OV service shop in most train and metro stations, inside trams and buses.
• topping up at an OV point inside bigger supermarket branches using your ATM card. 

However, beware: regardless of where you top up your card, you may need to use a Maestro card, credit cards often don’t work in the Netherlands! ❌

Since this card type is anonymous, you can’t apply any discounts, and if you lose the card, you can’t get a credit refund on the money you lose. Helaas ! (What a shame!)

Personal OV Card ( Persoonlijke OV-chipkaart )

If you think you’ll be travelling with public transport in the Netherlands more frequently, a yellow personal OV card is the way to go. 

Having a personal OV card has some great perks , including adding special discounts or travel deals, automatic reload when you run out of money, and the card can be blocked and reissued if lost or stolen. 

Tip! You can get a 40% discount on your travel costs or pay for unlimited daily or monthly travel during off-peak hours using a personal OV card — it’s even possible to share your discount with travellers who use an anonymous OV card. That’s too much korting (savings) to pass up!

It costs €7.50 to order the card via ovchipkaart.nl , but you’ll quickly see that money pays for itself in no time when you use those sweet discounts. 😍

There are apps for everything nowadays, and public transport in the Netherlands isn’t an exception. There are a few options if you want a little help travelling around the country. 

The essential app, this travel tool helps you plan your journey via public transport anywhere in the Netherlands, at any time, using all modes of transport you want to use.

The app lets you pick individual addresses and postcodes, and you can input any station or stops you want to travel through. 9292 also offers accessible travel options like adding extra transfer times and planning journeys for wheelchair users. 🦽

But that’s not all! You can store e-tickets via the 9292 mobile apps and save particular travel routes for future reference. They have a section for expected and unexpected interruptions and services everywhere. 

With the same name as the Dutch Railway system company, the NS app is similar to 9292’s services — but only covers train journeys. 🚄

The NS app is stocked with comprehensive train schedules and a train journey planner. The app also provides live updates on train delays, disruptions, and planned maintenance so travellers can check what’s working and what isn’t. 

Like 9292, you can also easily store e-tickets and plan your train journeys. Leuk !

Google Maps

A staple app for most people, Google Maps has an option to check travel routes via public transport.📍

Google Maps isn’t as comprehensive as 9292 or NS, but if you’re only planning on travelling around the Netherlands for a short time, Google Maps will do the job just fine. 

Ah yes, the part you’re probably here for (and we hope you’re not standing on a cold train platform while you read). Public transport in the Netherlands comes in plenty of forms but can have huge differences. 

Here’s how to best navigate the trains, trams, metros, buses, and ferries in the Netherlands.

Travelling by train in the Netherlands

Travelling by train is a basic form of public transport in the Netherlands, especially if you’re planning on taking day trips to other Dutch cities. 

There are a couple of things to know if you’re going to hop on and off one of these metal tubes. 💨

First- and second-class cars

Firstly, all trains are divided into first- and second-class cars which you can see by which number is plastered on the outside of the car or the small plaques inside. 🥇

The difference? First-class seats and cars are generally cleaner, more expensive, and more spacious than second-class cars. First-class seating areas also have extra luxuries like comfier chairs and footrests. 💺

Although the levels of cleanliness may vary, you’re not really missing out on anything if you’re travelling in the second-class car of a train. 

You’ll be able to choose whether you want to sit in first or second-class and compare prices when you’re purchasing your ticket. If you’re using an OV card, you can automatically travel in the second-class cars of any NS train and can upgrade via the app if you want to move into first class. 

Warning: Thinking about investing in first-class train travel? It’s possible to change which train class you’re paying for through the NS website , but you can only add personal discounts or travel plans to a personal OV card!

Types of trains in the Netherlands

There are three main types of trains in the Netherlands: 

• Intercities
• Intercity direct. 

Sprinter trains

Don’t let the name fool you: the sprinter is the slowest type of Dutch train (extremely misleading, if you ask us.) 

Sprinters are smaller, slower trains that usually connect big cities but also travel through and stop at all the smaller towns and villages. 🐌

Sprinter trains tend to have frequent stops and relatively short travel times between stations, with travel times between stations ranging from three minutes up to 11 minutes.

A sprinter train is a good choice if you need to get to a smaller village, for example, if you were travelling from Amsterdam Central Station to Woerden or The Hague Holland Spoor to Schiedam.

Generally, sprinter trains don’t have any WiFi or toilets since they’re made for shorter train journeys. However, newer sprinter models will have toilets in them (good news if you have a small bladder). 😅

You can check whether you’re taking an intercity or sprinter train and if there is a toilet at your station using the Reisplanner Xtra app (available for Androids). At the moment, NS is working on including this function on the iOS Reisplanner Xtra app. 

Intercity trains

Intercity trains travel between the bigger cities in the Netherlands. They are bigger, faster, and tend to make fewer stops. 

Intercities also have longer routes and travel times between stations, ranging from five minutes up to 18 minutes between stops. 🚅

Intercity Direct trains

Intercity Direct trains are similar to the regular ‘ol intercity trains — the main difference is in the routes they take. 🚄

These trains only travel directly between Amsterdam Centraal, Rotterdam Centraal, Schiphol Airport, and Breda. 

They save a lot of time because they don’t stop at other stations and travel very fast on the tracks. 🏃🏻

Take a look at these train travel times: 

• Non-Intercity Direct journey from Breda to Schiphol: 1 hour and 20 minutes
• Non-Intercity Direct journey from Rotterdam Central Station to Amsterdam Central Station: 1 hour and 13 minutes

In comparison to: 

• Intercity Direct journey from Breda to Schiphol: 52 minutes
• Intercity Direct journey from Rotterdam to Amsterdam: 37 minutes.

Be warned! You have to pay a small surcharge to use this train, about €2 each way. You can pay this extra fee by scanning your OV card on a red and grey supplement machine on the platforms where you take an Intercity direct train. 

Types of train tickets

If you have an OV card, personal or not, just tap your card on the readers on the platform barriers, and that serves as your “train ticket”. 🎫

You need to have at least €20 to be let in through platform barriers at any train station, but if your OV card has under €20 and the automatic reload option, you will be let through (yet another reason a personal OV card is the way to go). 

If you don’t have an OV card, you’ll need to buy a ticket. Yet, trying to figure out which train ticket to buy can be overwhelming. NS sells individual train tickets (for one-time journeys like a day trip) and season train tickets (for passengers who will travel by train on a daily or weekly basis). 

Individual tickets

These ticket types are for one-off train travels or if you need to do a big trip with other people , your dog, or your bicycle. 

You can expect train tickets to cost a few euros for a short round trip and up to around €20 one way to go across the country. It really depends on which stations and which city you plan your journey from. 

Season tickets

Season tickets are more like a train subscription than single tickets. If you’re looking for more longer-term travel tickets with hefty discounts travel tickets, season tickets might be what you’re looking for!

For example, if you have to commute to your job in a different city, discounted train travel is a must-have in the Netherlands. 

There are different types of season tickets for different needs, such as free train travel on the weekend, discounts during off-peak and peak hours, and the possibility of discounted travel with other people travelling with you. 

Tip: In general, you’ll find that train tickets cost less money if you buy them online and travel during off-peak hours (before 6:30 AM, between 9 AM and 4 PM, and after 6:30 PM). 

If you need to travel during peak hours (between 6:30 AM and 9 AM and between 4 PM and 6:30 PM), you can only get discounts with select season tickets. 

How to buy train tickets in the Netherlands

So you know how trains work and which train ticket you want to buy — but how do you buy a ticket, say, for trains to Amsterdam? There are three main ways: 

• Purchasing tickets online
• Purchasing tickets via the NS app
• Purchasing tickets at a train station or at an OV shop

If you feel a little more laid back and see where the road (or tracks) take you, you can also buy tickets at most train stations, either at a ticket machine or at one of the OV service shops. 

If you’re the kind of person who has everything planned in an itinerary down to the minute and the hour, you can also buy your train tickets in advance via the NS website . 

Plus, if you log in to the website, you can immediately save your tickets on your phone via the NS app. It definitely makes travel planning easier!

Good to know : While you don’t necessarily have to buy your tickets months in advance for your train journey, you must have a valid ticket the moment you step on the train. That is to say, you can’t buy a train ticket while you’re on the train already. 

How to check Dutch train schedules

Types of trains? ✅ Types of tickets? ✅ Where to buy tickets? ✅. Knowing where to see that trusty train schedule? Well, that’s important too! 

You can board the train from inside the main station hall. Trains to Amsterdam and other cities like Rotterdam and The Hague run really frequently, usually around every 10 to 15 minutes. 

There are a few main ways to check the train schedules: 

• If you’re a seasoned passenger on public transport in the Netherlands, it’s also common to just show up at the station and find out what the next train is by looking at one of the info boards.
• You can use public transport apps like NS, 9292, and Google Maps.
• You can check the full table of train routes and schedules on the train platform itself. These tables show you every stop the train takes, and what time it departs from the station you’re standing in every hour for every day of the week. Handig ! 

The train timetables are usually available in Dutch and English, so it’s easy for non-native Dutch speakers to navigate their way around the rails. 

Travelling by metro in the Netherlands

Only Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and parts of The Hague have metro lines. 🚉

Amsterdam and Rotterdam have metro lines that run through the cities and surrounding areas. Rotterdam also has a direct metro that runs to The Hague Central Station. 

To board a Dutch metro is really easy: just scan your OV card or ticket at the platform barriers and walk on through! Remember to scan out at the end. 

Types of metro tickets

There are two main types of metro tickets: one-hour tickets and day tickets. These tickets let you travel anywhere in the city for the hour starting at your check-in time with an hour ticket or from the time of purchase until 11:59 PM for a day ticket. ⏱

Amsterdam offers a one-hour ticket and tickets for up to seven days of travelling using the GVB (Municipal Transport Company). The company operates metros, trams, buses, and ferries in the metropolitan area of Amsterdam. 

Rotterdam is slightly different — the RET (Rotterdam Electric Tram) company only offers a two-hour ticket or a day ticket for one day. 

The great part about travelling with an hourly ticket or a day ticket is that you can use them to travel on any public transport (trams, metros, buses) within Amsterdam or Rotterdam. 

Keep in mind: You cannot use these hour or day tickets to travel on the trains. They are only available for use with trams, metros, and buses within the respective city. 

How to buy metro tickets in the Netherlands

You can get your metro tickets in a few ways: 

• Check into the barriers using your OV card
• Order your tickets online through the 9292 app , the RET website for Rotterdam and the GVB website for Amsterdam. 
• Buy metro tickets using the ticket machines or at the OV service shop within the metro and train stations. Just switch the language to English first! 🇬🇧

How to check Dutch metro schedules

Similar to buying tickets online, you can check the metro schedules using the apps or websites of 9292, RET, and GVB. 

You can also use Google Maps, especially if you want to plan around specific locations, but this app isn’t the most accurate if you’re just going to use the metro to get back and forth places. 

Google Maps allows you to look at several travel options, potentially using different forms of public transport. You can also save travel routes you might use frequently. 🗺

Travelling by bus in the Netherlands

Bus travel is probably the most common type of public transport within and around cities, towns, and villages. 🚌

Buses often travel within the city centre and outer parts of the city, but also on the highways to smaller towns and villages, especially those that aren’t accessible by train, metro, or tram. 

Many Dutch towns only have buses available for public transport because the towns are too small for metro and tram rails. 

Types of bus tickets

In big cities like The Hague, Rotterdam, and Amsterdam, which have several types of public transport, you can often use one-hour tickets or day tickets to travel on buses as well as trams and metros. There are a few common types of tickets: 

• Hour tickets (these can be for just an hour of travel to up to three hours of travel)
• Day tickets
• Checking in with your OV card

How to buy bus tickets in the Netherlands

Like metro tickets, there are a few ways to buy tickets for the bus: 

• Check in and out of a bus using your OV card. 
• Order your tickets online via the public transport websites for  The Hague , Rotterdam , and Amsterdam . You can also buy tickets via the 9292 app . 
• Purchase a one-hour or day ticket for a bus at ticket machines or an OV service shop in major train stations and bus hubs in the Netherlands
• Buy your ticket from the bus driver right when you board the bus. Some bus drivers accept both card and cash payments, but card-only is becoming more common. Just keep in mind you’ll need to use a debit card ( not a credit card, Visa Debit card, or Debit Mastercard ). 💳

It’s often possible to reload your card if you’re a few euros short too. Just ask the bus driver, and you can pay using the previous methods. 

Keep in mind: Although a sort of unspoken rule, passengers need to enter at the front-most door of the bus and scan their OV card at the reader next to the bus driver unless they’re travelling with a baby stroller. 

However, if you’re getting off the bus, you can only scan and leave through one of the rear exits of the bus (because passengers are presumably entering through the front). If you need to transfer buses, just tap your card to step off and tap it again on your next bus. 

How to check Dutch bus schedules

If you’re going with the flow and don’t have schedules in mind, bus stops have information about when the bus arrives and leaves at that given stop. 🚏

If you’re travelling specifically in one of those big cities, you can check bus schedules via Google Maps, the RET app (Rotterdam), the GVB app (Amsterdam), and the HTM app (The Hague). 

In smaller cities, towns, and villages, it’s easiest to use 9292 since that includes travel routes for the whole country (which is also useful if you need to make transfers). 

Travelling by tram in the Netherlands

The slower, inner-city counterpart of metros, these tubes on wheels help everyone get around the city. Trams are generally found in bigger Dutch cities with street space to accommodate them. 

Types of tram tickets

The two main types of tram tickets in the cities are hourly tickets or day tickets — similar to buses and metros, you can use these hour or day tickets across all types of public transport within that city. 🚋

For example, an hourly ticket in Rotterdam will let you make unlimited rides on the bus, metro, and tram within that hour. 

How to buy tram tickets in the Netherlands

There are a few ways to buy a tram ticket in the Netherlands. You can: 

• Tap your OV card on the card readers when your board and disembark each tram
• Purchase at a ticket machine or an OV service shop at a station or stop
• Pay inside the tram from a ticket machine (The Hague), the tram conductor or the tourist booth (Rotterdam and Amsterdam).
• Purchase on the city’s public transport website. The Hague , Rotterdam , Amsterdam , and Utrecht have individual ticket-purchasing websites. 

How to check Dutch tram schedules

If you’re travelling within a city, you can use their public transport apps to check when certain trams depart and arrive from their stops. This includes HTM (The Hague), RET (Rotterdam), and GVB (Amsterdam).

You can also check the schedules using 9292 or Google Maps, although Google Maps isn’t the most accurate. However, it’s useful to help you get directly to your destination once you’ve stepped off the tram. 

Travelling by ferry in the Netherlands

Probably one of the rarer forms of public transport in the Netherlands, it’s also possible to travel by ferry in and around certain cities, towns, and villages. ⛴

This mode of Dutch public transport isn’t available everywhere. Ferries are mostly available in areas surrounded by a lot of water (cough, Amsterdam and Rotterdam, cough). 🏙

A lot of people like to visit the industrial area NDSM or the EYE Museum in Amsterdam or take the water taxi in Rotterdam to Kinderdijk’s famous windmills. Or even just to cruise across the water for fun!  

Types of ferry tickets

For those lucky travellers in Amsterdam, you can travel on any of the ferries within the city for free! You don’t have to buy a ticket beforehand, and you can just step right on board before it leaves. 

The GVB offers 10 different ferry lines within the city — so if you’re not in the mood for biking or walking across a bridge, you can even take your bikes on the ferry! Just make sure to jump off and walk it on first. 

As for Rotterdam, the Waterbus (that’s what the ferries are called) has four main types of tickets: 

• Onboard ticket

Waterbus day card

Like all forms of public transport in the Netherlands, you can pay for a ferry trip using your best friend, the OV card. Simply scan your card on the ferry’s OV readers, and you’re good to go! 

If you’re into planning your journeys ahead, e-tickets are the way to go. Waterbus sells single, return, and day tickets. Perfect for any occasion!

Single and return tickets cost as low as €2, and day tickets start at €14.50. Ticket prices depend on your starting destination and point of departure, but you can check exactly how much tickets cost for your desired journey. 

Onboard tickets

You can buy the same types of tickets as the e-ticket onboard the ferry itself. You can ask the ferry steward for information about which ticket suits your journey and easily pay using your ATM card (They usually don’t take cash or credit cards). 

Waterbus day cards let you travel on all ferry lines for a whole day, as many times as you want! 

You can buy one of these bad boys online, on the ferry, and in several retailers around the city (check out some of the tourist centres!)

The day cards cost €14.50 to buy online — a pretty good deal if you ask us!

How to check Dutch ferry schedules

Both Waterbus (for Rotterdam) and the GVB ferries have schedules that run at the same time each day. For certain holidays, you’ll have to check which days they run and which days they don’t. 

You can also check for GVB ferry schedules on 9292. Waterbus is a private company, so they don’t have their schedules integrated with 9292. 

In addition to the public transport options above, people in the Netherlands are also very keen on shared mobility — as part of sustainability initiatives and efforts, plenty of Dutch cities offer stylish, green ways to travel around. 🛵

READ MORE | Shared mobility in the Netherlands: the ultimate guide

Apart from your typical forms of public transport in the Netherlands, there are other modes of transport you might want to familiarise yourself with.

Bike rentals in the Netherlands

As a country that loves and treasures bicycles , the Netherlands does its best to make cycling accessible to everyone across the whole country! 

Typically, Dutch residents will have their own bicycles (and even a second or third one, if they’re busy bikers), but there are plenty of places to rent bicycles for a few hours up to a few days. 🚲

Given that it’s the tourism centre of the country, Amsterdam has PLENTY of bike rental places. You could check Google Maps, the Amsterdam municipal website, or even just walk around the city in search of a bike rental place. 

Most major cities have a good variety of bike rental places. Most shops that sell bikes will offer repairs and bicycle rentals, so you won’t run into any trouble finding a place to rent! 

Bike rental costs vary from place to place, but the average price falls between €8 and €10 per day. 💶

If you have a personal OV card, you can also rent an OV bicycle — a shared bike network. You can pick these up at most major train stations and select OV bike points. One perk about these OV bikes is that they only cost €4.15 to rent per 24-hour period. 

When you’re finished, you can just drop them off at the train station! You can even rent up to two bikes at a time using one OV personal card. 

READ MORE | 19 things the Dutch did to make cycling easy and attractive

There are also private bike sharing systems like Donkey Republic that you can make use of.

Taxis in the Netherlands

Taxis are not a particularly common form of transport in the Netherlands (especially if you compare it to London or New York). 🚕

Nonetheless, you can still take taxis here, like if you need to get to the airport at odd hours or if you don’t have a car and it’s faster to drive to your destination. 

Instead of hailing a taxi while you’re in the street, you’ll often have to book a taxi in advance through the company’s website. 

Warning : Don’t expect taxi services to be cheap. For example, a 20-minute taxi ride can easily run above €50 in a major city. Even booking a taxi in advance costs a lot. A taxi from the Hague to Schiphol airport easily costs €60 for a one-way journey. 

You also won’t necessarily see brightly coloured vehicles with a sign that says “taxi” on them — many taxi services have plain, black cars but others will lean into the stereotypical taxi colour palettes (think bright yellow and orange ). 

If you’re looking into using a taxi service, you can easily search for your city or destination online and find a taxi company that can take you there! 

READ MORE | 11 things to know before taking a taxi in Amsterdam

Ride-shares in the Netherlands

Likewise, ridesharing is an uncommon form of transport in the Netherlands, but companies like Uber do offer services in bigger cities. 

Similar to taxis, they’re not Dutchies’ first choice of public transport in the Netherlands. They’re more expensive to ride than public transport, and they’re not available in all cities. 

If you’re only in the Netherlands for a short while, you have plenty of options for buying handy tickets and passes for your travels. 

We’ve listed some of the most popular options for when you travel to the Netherlands  — but most major Dutch cities will have their own types too. 

Holland Travel Ticket

Starting at €44, the Holland Travel Ticket lets you travel on the train, bus, tram, and metro all over the country for one day. 

The only catch is that you have to travel on weekdays during off-peak hours (before 6:30 AM, between 9 AM and 4 PM, and after 6:30 PM). 

Amsterdam Travel Ticket

This one-, two-, or three-day ticket is perfect if you’re just hanging out in the city of Amsterdam . You can travel via all major trains, buses, metro, tram, and ferry stations run by GVB. 

Tickets cost €17 for a one-day ticket, €22,50 for a two-day ticket, and €28 for a three-day ticket. 

Amsterdam Region and Travel Ticket

This ticket is similar to the Amsterdam Travel Ticket — there’s an option for one, two, or three days, but you can travel in the region around Amsterdam, including Haarlem, Zaandam, Hoofddorp, and Almere. 

One-day tickets cost €19, two-day tickets cost €28, and three-day tickets cost €36.50. 

Does the Netherlands run public transport at night?

There are multiple public transport options in the Netherlands that run at night. Several night trains and night buses run in urban areas of the country, so you might be in luck in case you miss the last train after a night of drinking and partying! 

Public transport in the Netherlands doesn’t run everywhere at night, so it’s important to check with the NS and see which trains are available in your area. For example, some night trains only run on certain days of the week. 

Night buses run differently depending on the city you live in, but they only tend to run in big cities with very select stops. 

A rule of thumb for these buses and trains is that they usually only run once an hour, but it’s best to check your travel planner to see the exact times and how often they go.  If you’re stuck in an area without night public transport in the Netherlands, helaas ! You’ll have to wait until the next morning for the first public transport to run again.

Can you travel internationally on trains in the Netherlands?

Yes, it is possible! For example, you can take a Thalys to Paris, a Eurostar to London , or even an NS International train to Brussels. 

If you’re interested in taking one of the international trains, it’s best to look up your desired destination and departure location to see what’s closest by, when the trains come and go, and of course, how much it costs.

How can I plan to ride public transport in the Netherlands?

You can use the 9292 website or app on your phone to plan a journey anywhere using public transport in the Netherlands.  

If you just want to travel within a city, you can download the app for that respective city. For example, if you’re planning on using public transport in Amsterdam, you can use the GVB app . Likewise, public transport in Rotterdam is connected to the RET app and The Hague to HTM . 

You can also plan train journeys using the NS app (you have no idea how times this app has saved us from disaster!)

Are there timetables for Dutch public transport?

Yes, there are! Typically, public transport in the Netherlands runs from 6 AM until 1 AM. You can access these timetables through a travelling planning app like 9292, NS, or GVB, but you can also check them on the platform/stops themselves. 

These displays show you the hourly schedule of the bus/tram/metro that stops there every day of the week!

What time does public transport run in the Netherlands?

In general, public transport in the Netherlands starts running from 6 AM until around 1 AM the next day. For example, you can take the last bus after 12 AM and arrive at your destination before 1 AM. 

There are also a few night bus and night train options around larger cities in the Netherlands. To be extra safe, check your public transport apps to see exactly the latest possible time you can leave without missing your train or tram and if there are any night buses or trains you can take.

How can I get discounted public transport tickets in the Netherlands? 

Generally, you can get discounted tickets if you travel with a season ticket or during the off-peak hours for public transport in the Netherlands. Off-peak hours are from 9 AM and 4 PM., before 6:30 AM. and after 6:30 PM. On weekends and holidays, off-peak hours apply all day. 

Once you’ve read this guide, you’re ready to use public transport in the Netherlands! No delay, transfer, or rush can stop you now. 

Do you have any useful Dutch public transport tips? Share them with us in the comments below!

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[…] on public transport, I generally like minding my own business, reading, listening to music etc. An effective way to […]

Hi Emma, My name is Rupali. I am visiting Netherlands with my husband and 11 year old daughter in May 2020. Let me first congratulate you for your blog….its very informative and nicely written, complete with all the details. I need help in choosing the perfect travel card for all three of us. I would like to share a small version of my itinerary so you can have an idea. May 4th–Arriving Ansterdam Central from Brussels–Going to Schagen for one night stay. May 5th–Cycling to see the Tulip fileds around Schagen. Travelling (by Train/Bus) to Den Helder in the afternoon and from there catch an evening train and head towards Hoorn. Stay at Hoorn. May 6th–Travel in the steam tram to Medemblik–Ferry to Enkhuizen (tickets booked) Enkhuizen to Hoorn by train/Bus Hoorn to Haarlem– by Train; Stay at Haarlem May 7th–Haarlem—train/bus—Lisse—Visit tulip field—Lisse to The Hague–Madurodam— Haarlem (Train/bus) May 8th–Haarlem to Amsterdam (train/bus)—Local sight seeing in Amsterdam May 9th–Haarlem—train -Zwolle –Train/Bus–Emmeloord—train/bus—Giethoorn–Train/bus-return to Haarlem May 10th–Haarlem to Amsterdam–Rijksmuseum till afternoon Reach Amsterdam Central– Catch train for Cologne (Germany)(tickets booked).

I was checking the I amsterdam card and OV chipkaart. Which is the most suitable for me? Purchasing tickets everytime for each and every journey would be little tedious for me. So kindly help.

Sorry for the long message. Thanks for listening out 🙂

NOTE UPDATE since at least 2 yrs now if one buys a ticket on buses, trams one MUST pay by CARD and no cash is accepted anymore. Thetrams in AMSterdam, it being the major tourist city have conductors at the back. In many areas the local regional buses also sell Dagkaarten=daytickets, which are the best way for longer trips or more trips in a single day. The mostly cost around 8-10 eur. There is also the HTT=Holland Travel Ticket, a daypass for ALL public transportation, train+metro+bus+tram, off peak, valid from 9.00 mo-fr, sat/sun whole day, this cost 42 eur and thus only pays off for longer returns. Buy it from NS-machines.

2023 update: you can now pay using contactless payments on ALL public transport in the Netherlands. This makes it MUCH easier for tourists. Simply use Google Pay, Apple Pay or your contactless bank card to check-in and check-out on each journey. See the ovpay.nl website for more details, and a list of supported debit and creditcards.

Do they take Canadian credit cards?

Pat, all contactless creditcards and debit cards are accepted (both plastic cards and digital cards in your wallet).

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Netherlands: Discover all the cities you can travel to by bus

• Amsterdam Airport (Schiphol)
• Den Bosch (‘s-Hertogenbosch)
• Eindhoven Airport
• Kaatsheuvel (Efteling)

How to Use the Public Transport in the Netherlands? (2024 Guide)

Have you ever arrived in a new country and felt totally lost because you don’t have the slightest idea how the public transport there works? I know how you feel. That’s why I have put together this guide to the public transport in the Netherlands, so that you don’t need to worry about getting from A to B, but actually enjoy your time in A and B. Read further to find out what are the best ways to travel around in the Netherlands.

The public transport in the Netherlands is pretty well organized. The city centres are easily accessible from the train stations and if you want to continue your trip by bus, the bus stations in the most cities are next to the train stations. In the last years there’s been heavily invested in the infrastructure in the Netherlands. Most of the major cities have got amazing train station makeovers, like Rotterdam, Utrecht, Tilburg and even Amsterdam.

Public transport in Dutch is called Openbaar Vervoer  or  OV  in short. So if you see a sign or information with OV on it, it will most likely have a relation to the public commute.

In this useful guide you will find practical information about how to use the public transport in the Netherlands, as well as tons of extra tips that only locals know.

Which route planner to use in the Netherlands?

Paying contactless in public transport in the netherlands, using one of the travel apps, using the ov-chip card in the netherlands, how to choose the right ov-chip card, how to buy a train ticket in the netherlands, how to buy a bus ticket in the netherlands, how to buy a ticket for the metro/underground or the tram in the netherlands, how to buy a train ticket to belgium or germany from the netherlands, tips about using the public transport in the netherlands, useful travel apps for the dutch public transport.

So, where do you start?

There are different transportation companies operating in the different parts of the Netherlands, each with their own timetable and information site. How do you find then your way? I have a good news for you.

If you are on a desktop, there’s one central website where you can check how to get from A to B and the relevant timetables and connections and this is https://9292.nl . If you want to by tickets online, then you will need the app version of the website, which is both available for iPhone and Android.

Another super handy app is the Glimble app. Just turn on your location and type in your destination and the app will give you the best options to reach any place in the Netherlands. The best part of it is that you can buy your tickets in the app and travel hassle-free. The app is absolutely free to download .

• Click here to download Glimble for Android
• Click here to download Glimble for iPhone

How to pay in public transport in the Netherlands?

Since 2023 things have changed in the Netherlands and the OV-chip card is not the only option to pay for the public transportation in the Netherlands. Now you can pay cashless with a credit or a debit card or via the dedicated apps.

If you are not a frequent commuter, or if you are a tourist, the best way to pay for the public transportation in the Netherlands is by using your credit or debit card , or your smartphone. This method has been introduced country-wide at the beginning of 2023, however there are still some places/regions where this is not possible. Check out this website to see whether your location is included in the service.

How do you do it then? You need to have contactless payment activated on your card and you just use it to check in and out at the gates or at the special check in/out terminals. One beep means you are checked in, two beeps – you are checked out.

Currently, the cards of the following banks are accepted:

• debits card from ABN AMRO, ASN bank, bunq, ING, Rabobank, Knab, Regiobank, or SNS;
• credit cards from Mastercard and Visa (issued by ICS);
• smartphones with contactless payment with a debit/credit card from the above-mentioned banks, and with Apple Pay and Google Wallet.

Important: When you pay contactless, take the card you want to use out of your wallet , otherwise all cards in your wallet will be charged! If you have your cards in the cardholder of your smartphone, take them out as well, otherwise all you cards and the smartphone will be charged!

There are two travel apps in the Netherlands where you can buy tickets for almost all types of public transportation in the Netherlands.

One of the apps is the 9292 app . However, they charge a service fee when you purchase tickets via them.

The other one is the Glimble app . The app is free of charge and they don’t see to charge a service fee. At least they haven’t announced so on their website, and when I used the price was the same as I would normally pay, although I don’t exclude they might charge for certain types of tickets.

The so-called OV-chip card was for a long time the only option to pay for public transport in the Netherlands and it is still one of the most popular methods among the locals who commute often. Just load some credit on the card and you are good to go. The only thing you need to remember is to check in and out every time you use the bus, the train or the metro.

Website: www.ov-chipkaart.nl

There are three types of OV-chip cards – personal, anonymous and single use. Depending on how much you plan to travel and how long you will stay in the Netherlands, you can choose between the single-use card and the anonymous.

As the name suggests it, the single-use card can be used only once for a specific trip for a specific company. The anonymous one, on the other hand, can be loaded with credit and used everywhere. You can buy it at stations, newsagents, and supermarkets. In general, travelling with the anonymous card is cheaper than with the single-use one, but you have to consider that you will need to pay for the card itself if you buy the anonymous one. So, if you don’t plan to travel extensively in the Netherlands, then a single-use OV-chip card could be the better option.

If you don’t want to get an OV-chip card you can still buy tickets for the train, the bus or the metro.

The main train service provider in the Netherlands is NS , short for Nederlandse Spoorwegen (Dutch Railways in English). They operate almost everywhere in the country. Some small local lines are operated by other providers, like the Kerkrade-Maastricht line in South Limburg is operated by Arriva, the line between Zwolle and Kempen is operated by Keolis. Connexxion and Qbuzz also operate a couple of local train lines.

Important: Each time you change train providers you need to check in and check out.

You need to buy your ticket in advance and you will need to check in and out each time you change trains. There are ticket vending machines in the train station halls or at the platforms if it’s only a train stop. The vending machines accept debit and credit cards and cash. When buying a ticket, you will need to indicate your destination, one-way or return ticket, 1 st  or 2 nd  class and the number of tickets. You’ll get a paper ticket with a magnetic strip.

Pro tip: If you want to save 1 EUR on your NS train ticket, and believe me you’ll want, as train travel in the Netherlands is very expensive, then you should buy your tickets online .

Another indispensable app if you plan to travel by train in the Netherlands, is the NS app . Their app is super handy as you can check connections, it has a wallet where you can store your tickets and will provide information about your trip in real time, so that you can’t miss your stop. And you’ll save 1 EUR on your ticket price! Oh, and you won’t need to worry in which pocket you’ve put the ticket.

When you buy your ticket via the website of NS or via their app, it can also include a leg operated by another company. Let’s say if you want to travel from Amsterdam to Kerkrade, you need to change train companies in Heerlen. Your ticket bought via NS includes also the last leg from Heerlen to Kerkrade that’s serviced by Arriva. Isn’t that super handy?

Buses in the Netherlands are cashless . You can still buy a ticket with the driver, but you can’t pay cash anymore . Buses accept both debit and credit cards. You can buy a ticket only for your ride, let’s say to get from A to B, but you can also buy a return ticket. Another option is the day ticket that will allow you an unlimited number of rides within a city’s perimeter. When you buy a day ticket, you should check in advance how far you can go with it.

The big cities in the Netherlands, like Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague, have their own public transportation networks. From the websites/apps of these companies you can also buy digital tickets for the public commute in these cities. There are options like one hour unlimited travel, or multi-day tickets.

There are only two cities in the Netherlands which have metro/underground lines: Amsterdam and Rotterdam, and trams are found in four cities: Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague and Utrecht. Trams function more or less like buses, so you can buy a ticket with the driver, and metros function like trains – you need to buy your ticket in advance.

If you want to make a day trip to the neighbouring countries Belgium or Germany or you plan to travel internationally after your stay in the Netherlands, then you will need to get an international train ticket.

You can’t buy an international train ticket from the regular NS website or app. If you want to travel beyond the borders of the Netherlands, you need to buy your ticket from NS International .

NS International serves also ICE International and Eurostar, and Thalys, as they are now part of Eurostar since 2023.

If you are travelling from the Netherlands to Belgium or Germany you can also buy a ticket from a vending machine at a train station.

• Wave for the bus to stop If you see your bus line approaching the bus stop, raise your hand or wave to make a sign for the bus to stop. At bus stops with multiple lines, it may happen that the bus driver will not stop if you don’t wave.
• Check in and check out Do not forget to check in and out. For the bus and the tram you have to do it inside the vehicle. For trains and metros there are check-in/-out poles or gates at the stations. If you are using multiple train operators you will need to check-out and check-in again when changing trains. If you are using the same train company, for example NS, you won’t need to check out and in when changing trains.

• Push the button to open the train/tram door Train and tram doors don’t open automatically when the train or the tram stops, so you will need to push the button to open the door.
• Push the button to signal you want to get off from the bus/tram You need to signal to the bus/tram driver that you want to get off on the next stop. To do so, you need to press the red button with ‘stop’ on it before your stop.
• With a digital train ticket you don’t need to check in and out If you buy your ticket online with NS , you won’t need to check in and out even if you change train operators. This is super handy if your transfer time is on the short side. However, you will still need your ticket to open the gate if any at the train station.

Glimble is an app developed by Arriva, one of the public transport service providers in the Netherlands. It’s available for both Android and iPhone:

Website: glimble.com

• 9292 route planner

I have already mentioned about this app. Click on the image below to go to the website. On the home page they have links to their apps on Apple/Google Play app stores.

• Dutch Railways – NS

Another indispensable website/app is the NS one. Via this website/app you can check train time tables and buy tickets for your travels. The app has a digital wallet where you can store your ticket, so that you can easily access it at check-in/check-out or when asked by the train conductor.

Website: www.ns.nl

• Amsterdam’s Public Carrier – GVB

If you are staying in Amsterdam, GVB is your best friend. This website includes bus, tram, metro and ferry transport in and around Amsterdam. The travel app has also a digital wallet to store your tickets there.

Website: gvb.nl

• Rotterdam’s Public Carrier – RET

Just like Amsterdam, Rotterdam has its own public transport network, which includes trams, buses, metro, ferries and water busses. For a digital ticket, you’ll need the RER Barcode App .

Website: www.ret.nl

Do you need some extra help to plan your trip to the Netherlands? Join the dedicated Exploring the Netherlands Facebook Group , where you can get tips from other travellers and locals. Or perhaps you have questions or comments? Join the group and I’ll be happy to answer them.

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