Navigating the Netherlands is a breeze. Its compact size means there are no domestic flights and the efficient, highly integrated public transport network of trains, buses and ferries covers all corners of the country.
The flat terrain and extensive bicycle paths lacing the country also make it possible to travel around entirely on two wheels. Here’s what you need to know to get moving.
First things first: if you’re taking public transport anywhere in the country (including within cities), journey planner 9292.nl calculates the most efficient journey for you in real-time, notifying you of any disruptions and providing a cost estimate. It’s available online or you can download the app.
The backbone of the Netherlands’ public transport is its superb rail network. Most lines, including the major routes, are operated by the national train company, NS (Nederlandse Spoorwegen), which handles all scheduling and fares. Dutch trains are modern and comfortable, and the service is reliable and frequent across the country.
In addition to regular services, high-speed Intercity direct trains operate between Amsterdam, Schiphol Airport, Rotterdam and Breda, with a supplement between Schiphol and Rotterdam. A supplement is also charged for domestic travel on the Amsterdam-Utrecht-Arnhem route aboard ICE International trains.
Medium and large railway stations have a full range of amenities but smaller stations often have no services at all, not even a staffed ticket window (tickets, if not prepurchased, are available at vending machines; more information on ticketing later).
Bringing a bicycle on NS trains is possible in off-peak hours (9am to 4pm and 6.30pm to 6.30am Monday to Friday, plus all day on weekends, public holidays and during July and August). In addition to your fare, you’ll need to pay €7.50 for a fietskaart dal (off-peak bicycle ticket).
Part of the Netherlands’ integrated transport system, buses are good for short distances and filling the gaps in the rail network. This is especially true in parts of the north and east of the Netherlands where trains are infrequent or nonexistent.
Ferries ply the waters in a number of local areas. You can travel from the mainland to the island of Texel and the Frisian Islands, and some inter-island ferry services link the most populous islands in the summer season.
In Zeeland, in the Netherlands’ south, passenger ferries operate on the Westerschelde. The Waterbus is a fast ferry service that operates between Rotterdam and Dordrecht and to destinations such as Kinderdijk’s historic windmills. Other minor services also provide links across the country’s canals and waterways.
To roll like the Dutch do, hop on a fiets (bicycle). With its flat, often beautifully scenic landscapes,
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