Dutch transport. Getting around like a local.
Bikes, car, train, tram, metro…
Everything you need to know about transport when moving to The Netherlands.
THE BIKES
Ready to pedal?
In 2021 there was estimated to be 23 million bicycles in the Netherlands. With 17 million inhabitants, this is an average of 1.4 bicycles per inhabitant. The Netherlands holds, consequently, the record as the country with the most bicycles per capita. In 2019, the bicycle was the most used mean of transport with more than 28% of all trips (followed by the car). On average, a resident of the Netherlands (aged 6 years old and up) traveled 267 times by bicycle in 2019. Traveling an average of 1,098 kilometers in a year (3 km a day, average! acording to the CBS). In Amsterdam, around 72,000 people cycle in the morning rush hour.
OV-fiets
Literally: "public transport bicycle" is the name of a national bicycle rental system administered by the ‘Dutch Railways’ (NS). 15,000 OV-fietsen are offered for rent at more than 300 locations in the Netherlands; at many train stations, at bus or tram stops, in various city centers and in P + R car parks. In 2022 the rental price of an OV-bike is € 4.15 for 24 hours. How to rent an OV-bike HERE.
Swapfiets
Swapfiets is a bike subscription for a fixed monthly price, starting from € 16.90 per month (2022). All the information about Swapfiets HERE.
2nd hand bikes
There are more than 3000 bike shops in the Netherlands and in most of them you can buy second hand bikes. Other options are: markplaats (the Ebay in Holland), facebook groups like the ‘bike marketplace’, flea markets like Ij-hallen & other platforms like cheapassbikes.
More about bikes and The Netherlands here.
THE OV-CHIPKAART (PUBLIC TRANSPORT CARD)
The OV-chipkaart is the method of payment for public transport in the Netherlands (a 'smartcard'). There are two types of OV, the price of the card in 2022 is € 7.50 (without credit, then you need to add the credit):
The anonymous OV which you can buy and recharge at the stations, in some kiosks and bookstores (such as Primera and Bruna) and in some supermarkets. This one is more convenient for those who use the public transport just 'occasionally'.
The personal OV where you can choose different subscriptions (to request it you need a digital photo and to be able to pay with ‘Ideal’).
All about the OV-Chipkaart HERE.
If you arrive at The Netherlands and will be using Public Transport, we recommend you to purchase an OV-Chipkaart at the airport. Take a look at the film how to HERE.
9292OV AND OTHER APPS
9292OV is a website/app which provides advice on public transport schedules and connections in the Netherlands (door-to-door). All the information HERE.
Other great applications for public transport and getting around: NS (main train company), GOOGLE MAPS, GIMBLE, CITYMAPPER
THE TRAIN
There are 400 train stations in The Netherlands.
NS
Nederlandse Spoorwegen (Dutch Railways in Dutch), also known by its acronym NS, is the main operator of passenger rail services in the Netherlands, on its page you can see everything about how and when to travel with NS. All about NS HERE.
Different trein subscriptions/season tickets (NS only)
All different subscriptions/season tickets and prices for NS HERE
TRIBE ‘sTIP*, if you are using an NS train almost daily to go to work and work in hospitality (mostly outside peak-hours), many of our TRIBE members choose for the ‘Dal Vrij’ option. This option includes: unlimited travel during off-peak hours (peak-hours at the moment = Monday till Friday 6:30 am till 9:00 am and 16:00 till 18:30) + unlimited travel at weekends and on public holidays + 40% joint journey discount during off-peak hours for up to 3 passengers travelling with you, for the price of € 108 per month in 2022.
A bike in the train?
You can take your bike on the train outside peak hours (off-peak at the moment = before 6:30am, between 9:00 and 16:30 or after 18:30). For this you need to buy a day ticket for bikes from a NS ticket machine, which costs €6 (2022). More information HERE.
Intercity vs. Sprinter
Intercity trains are fast domestic train services that make limited stops between the main city centers. If you travel from one city to another, these are almost always the best and fastest option. Sprinter Services are train services that generally make stops at all stations between city centers. They are designed for shorter trips and the average travel time for passengers is about 17 minutes.
1st and 2nd
Most NS trains offer first class- eerste klasse and second class -tweede klasse tickets (recognizable by the signs inside and outside the carriages). An anonymous chip card entitles you to travel in second class.
METRO, TRAM & BUS
Metro
There are three metro systems in the Netherlands: the Amsterdam metro, the Rotterdam metro and the Randstadrail (in the Rotterdam-The Hague metropolitan area). To travel by metro you need a single-use chip card or an OV-chipkaart. Single-use chip cards can be purchased at the station.
Trams
Four cities in the Netherlands operate large tram networks: Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague and Utrecht. To travel by tram you need a single-use chip card or an OV-chipkaart. Single-use chip cards can be purchased on the tram, but they usually cost more.
Bus
Both regional and urban public transport bus services can be found throughout the country. Due to the extensive rail network, long-distance bus services are limited to a few connections where train connections are lacking or require considerable detour. You will need a valid ticket to travel by bus: a single-use chip card or an OV-chipkaart. Single-use chip cards can be purchased on the bus, but they usually cost more.
GVB - Amsterdam’s public transport
Are you or will you often use the metro, tram, bus in Amsterdam? Then take a look at the subscription/season options HERE
Or get advice on what option to choose HERE
BRINGING YOUR CAR TO THE NETHERLANDS
Before deciding whether to bring your car to the Netherlands, we recommend you to take a look the following points. Naturally, it all depends on where you are going to live and where you are going to work. Public transport and cycling is what we recommend if you are going to move around a city.
Parking in cities is expensive. To give you an example, parking on the street in Amsterdam costs between € 2.50 and € 7.50 an hour (more expensive the closest to the center you go). All about parking in Amsterdam here.
Changing the license plate. Legally you have 6 months from when you register to change your car registration. All cars in the Netherlands must be registered with the Department of Road Transport (RDW) (Rijksdienst voor het Wegverkeer). So if you bring your vehicle from abroad, it must first be reviewed at an RDW inspection station. As part of this process, you’ll get Dutch registration plates, registration documents and pay motor tax. More information here.
Road tax. Depending on the car you will have to pay a different tax, this is a monthly tax. The older your car is and the more it pollutes, the higher the rate will be. Here you can calculate your car’s road tax.
The insurance. It is mandatory by law to have at least a third party liability insurance (Wettelijke Aansprakelijkheid, WA). The insurance applies to the vehicle itself, not to the person who owns it. This means that anyone with a valid driver's license can drive the vehicle without having to be registered for insurance. On this page you can compare the prices of 50 different insurance companies.
Are you part of TRIBE NL’s community and have more questions? Please contact us. We are here to help you.