Public transport Netherlands

When you try to find information about public transport in the Netherlands, you will surely find that the Dutch love bicycles and have included them in their daily lives. But this method of transport is not the only one available. Unlike other European countries, the Netherlands has a well-developed infrastructure that allows for all types of transport, including water transport. 

In this guide, the DB Work team will explain everything you need to know about public transport in the Netherlands and how to get settled in this country much more easily if you are an expat and have just come to the land of tulips to work. 

General information about public transport Netherlands

The most important thing you need to know about public transport in the Netherlands is the smart card which is used to travel using most methods of public transport Netherlands. OV-chipkaart is the name of this card and you will definitely need it if you want to travel in the Netherlands using a bus, train, subway, or other conventional methods. 

OV-chipkaart can be of two kinds, nominal or anonymous. Anonymous OV-chipkaart can be bought at any time at the ticket machines in train or subway stations, while personal OV-chipkaart can only be bought online after providing a photo to be used for the card.

Payments for journeys you make by public transport are made with this card and the costs are determined by the distance you travel. Prices also vary depending on the method of transport you use.

Useful tips for the correct use of OV-chipkaart

1. When you are about to get off the Netherlands public transport, you should scan your card again to avoid additional charges
2. You can also buy other types of season tickets which will also be added to your OV-chipkaart. You can only do this at the special yellow machines for OV-chipkaart pass administration.
3. Students get discounts, so make sure you don't pay full price for traveling if you are a student.

Public transport applications Netherlands

OV-chipkaart can be purchased from the official website ov-chipkaart.nl, but this isn't the only app you can use for public transport around cities in the Netherlands more easily. Another very useful app is 9292. 

With 9292, you'll also be able to plan the details of your journeys. For example, the app helps you plan when and where you'll go on foot, by bike, train, metro, or bus. You'll even be able to see the costs online for the whole trip you're planning. And a very effective app dedicated to train travel is NS, which can help you plan all your train journeys, allowing you to track train delays, cancellations, etc.

Bus travel in the Netherlands

The bus is one of the most common and convenient forms of public transport in the Netherlands, and is very easy even for travel between cities. Using an OV-chipkaart you will be able to travel on all buses in the Netherlands, including those that will take you from one city to another, often in a much shorter time than trains. 

As one of the most developed countries in the European Union, the Netherlands won't let you down when it comes to public transport either. Buses are technologically advanced, with Wi-Fi and USB ports so every passenger has access to power and internet connections. 

Waiting times for each bus are quite low, so you shouldn't have to wait more than 15 minutes even for less busy routes. You'll be able to use the bus even during the night, but for these routes, waiting times can be as long as 60 minutes.

Tram travel in the Netherlands

Depending on where you live, the tram can quickly become a great public transport solution. Traveling by tram is also a great way to enjoy the architecture of Dutch cities and the beauty of the Dutch infrastructure. The largest cities in the Netherlands have very well-developed public transport systems in this sector, and in Amsterdam, there are more than 500 tram stops. 

Most people who use the tram to travel choose this method of public transport in the Netherlands because it is often the most convenient, especially in Amsterdam, and it is also the fastest.

Another means of transport that might be convenient and fast is the ferry, but we'll talk about that in another article. 

You can find out all the information about train travel in another article published by DB Work

Are you thinking of moving to the Netherlands or are you planning to go there for work and are trying to do your research? Keep reading our blog or contact us for more information about living in the Netherlands and the benefits of signing a contract with DB Work.