Here is a basic guide to using trains, buses, trams, taxis, as well as an explanation of how to behave at the airport in the Netherlands. This information will also be useful for persons with special needs.

The Netherlands has a huge number of stops where you can take public transport. The buses have special turnstiles that allow people into the cabin only with ticket cards. The Dutch government is vigilant about ensuring that everyone pays their fare on public transport.

Universal ticket card

The ticket card system is currently used throughout the Netherlands as the official way to pay for travel on the metro, buses and trams.

Currently, there are two types of cards: anonymous, which can be purchased in special terminals, or personal cards, which must be ordered online or through a special post and presented with your photo. Your pass can be loaded into a large network of turnstiles strategically located at train and metro stations.

You can arrange for your personal travel card to be automatically topped up from your bank account. You pay for the distance you travel by swiping your card through the turnstiles at the entrance and exit of either the bus or the subway. Your travel card may be loaded with discount tickets, which automatically entitle you to receive discounts.

You can now travel throughout the Netherlands with your personal travel card. Make sure you have at least 40 euros in your card balance, which you must load upon arrival, then your travel expenses will be well organized and you won't even remember about them.

If you plan to stay in the Netherlands for longer than a couple of days, it is better to purchase an off-peak travel card, which allows the holder to receive a 40% discount on all travel throughout the year.

Tickets with this discount are valid after 9:00 am on weekdays and all day on weekends, on national holidays and in July-August. Such a card must be purchased in advance; the process of issuing it may take several weeks.

A temporary card, which can be used for four weeks, will be issued to you immediately after receiving your application for its purchase. A photograph must be attached to the application.

Trains

Nederlandse Spoorwegen (www.ns.nl) is a national company that operates railway services and sells train tickets. Nederlandse Spoorwegen offers passes and discounts for off-peak travel), including all discount card services, this document charges 40 percent of the ticket price, not only from you, but also for up to three other people traveling with you.

Servicing such a card costs 55 euros per year, it is a very convenient card. To find out more about the beneficial offers for you, visit the website of Nederlandse Spoorwegen and Tak, or any representative office of these companies. Tickets are checked regularly and fines are at least 40 euros.

You save 50 euro cents when purchasing such a train ticket, especially if you bought it through the terminal and not through the ticket office.

For smaller cities, you can arrange a taxi if you buy a train ticket. This is a public taxi service that will take you from the station door to the hotel door for a fixed price (EUR 4.30).

If you forget to check for discounts on Nederlandse Spoorwegen tickets, you will automatically be charged the maximum fare for a train ticket within the Netherlands. If you want your money back, then call 0900-202 1163 (EUR 0.10 r/m), then the company will set the date and time of the trip for which you did not receive the discount and return the money to you. They can then check the information in their system.

Special needs on the train

If you are disabled and have special needs on the train, then you must book your ticket in advance and advise that you are disabled.

Three hours before the start of your journey, the company Assistentieverlening Gehandicapten (Help for the Disabled) will send a specialist with equipment. Most wheelchairs can travel on trains, although there are width and weight restrictions, and those that run on fuel are not allowed on trains.

If you regularly travel with your caregiver, you may be able to apply for a caregiver travel special. Or you should contact Rail Nederlandse Spoorwegen, which allows free travel for your guardian.

Guide or hearing dogs also have free travel on all forms of public transport. Transaction costs will not apply to persons with disabilities when purchasing tickets through the box office.

Special services at most stations have in use guide trailers for the visually impaired and removable bridges for wheelchairs. For those with hearing impairments, there are dedicated hearing aid sockets at most ticket offices - although you will need to purchase your own cable.

Taxi

Taxi prices in the Netherlands are quite high. Taxi drivers are licensed, but do not pass a qualification test to ensure they know the city's streets well. However, such an exam is planned to be introduced in the future. All licensed taxis have a blue number.

Some drivers refuse to make short trips (costing less than 10 euros). This is illegal, but it will be difficult to appeal such a refusal. Maximum charge is based on meter reading.

If you agree on a price in advance, then you need to pay exactly this amount, or the one that the meter will show, depending on which amount is lower. The law prohibits getting into a taxi without having enough money to pay for the trip, so it is advisable to agree on the price in advance.

Taxis operate regularly near some train stations (except for the large, main stations: Amsterdam, The Hague and Rotterdam). They are divided into two parts: some bring passengers to the station, others take people away from the station for a fixed fee per trip (EUR 4.30).

And there are taxis that operate as part of the Nederlandse Spoorwegen company; they take passengers where they need to go if the passenger has a ticket from the train. You will pay more if you buy tickets from the driver.

National transportation (city and region)

0900 9292 (EUR 0.70p/m)
0900 555 9292 (EUR 0.70 µm). The phone records your conversation.
www.9292ov.nl (includes Dutch travel planner)

I believe that you can fully feel the spirit of the city only by traveling on public transport, where you can see both the townspeople and their habits, and consider how the transport system is organized in the country. And in general, moving is an integral part of any tourist trip. Since the Netherlands is compact, I want to see more of it. On this trip we lived in 3 different cities, and saw even more.

types of tickets for public transport and trains in Holland;
how to buy tickets;
how to use tickets.
Let's start with the airport, Schiphol is only fifteen minutes from the city center, it's easy to take the most ordinary train and get to the center even for an hour.

The easiest way to communicate with the city is by public transport.

Other stories about the Netherlands:

Public transport in the Netherlands has its own characteristics. We will talk first of all about Amsterdam. Firstly, we used it there all the time. Secondly, having dealt with Amsterdam transport, dealing with the rest will not be difficult.

Unlike Stockholm, public transport in the Netherlands does not have any wonders like pendeltogs. It's simple: metro, buses, trams, ferries (and, partly, trains).

By the way, tram route No. 2 is recognized as one of the ten most beautiful routes in the world.

Types of public transport tickets

If we talk about tickets, then there were some surprises. As soon as I tuned in to the outlandish system with strip cards, it turned out that literally a year ago they were replaced by no less unusual OV-chipkaart. Now you can pay for travel with one-time tickets, travel passes for a certain number of days and chip cards.

A chipcard is a universal national travel card; you can “load” tickets for all types of transport throughout the country onto it, or you can deposit money, and the required amount will be withdrawn for each trip. They are named and anonymous. It is clear that it takes more time to obtain a registered one, so it is suitable for residents. As tourists, we needed an anonymous OV card, which, by the way, can be passed on to each other. True, despite the namelessness, one card cannot pay for travel for two people at the same time.

With cards, the most important rule is to check in every time you get on and off the transport, since payment on the train, for example, is calculated based on the distance traveled. This brings up the second subtlety: you must always have on your card an amount sufficient to complete the trip; if you get a negative balance, you will be fined. So there may be some amount left on the card if you don’t use it completely. If you are not used to such a system, then it is very easy to miss something. Besides, we are unlikely to go to the Netherlands again in the near future, so why leave any money on the card?

By the way, the same rule about marking at the entrance and exit of transport also applies to travel cards. If you forget to check out several times, your travel card may be blocked.
The pass can be taken for a period from one day to 7, for a day in Amsterdam - 7.5, for 7 days - 32 euros.
We took a pass in Amsterdam for three days. What’s noteworthy is that out of two travel cards, one turned out to be “broken” - I couldn’t activate it, I had to go to a transport kiosk located a couple of meters from the entrance to the metro, where I was “delighted” that I was the happy owner of an empty ticket. Fortunately, we kept the receipt, Mevrou called back to the box office where we bought the tickets, confirmed what she needed there and gave me a new one completely free of charge.

A single trip lasts 1 hour and costs... 2.70, or even 3 euros (for example, in The Hague)!
There are also combined tickets available. A combined ticket for a trip to the surrounding area (we have Zaanse Schans planned) on public transport is called the Amsterdam & Region day card and costs 13.50 per day. Moreover, it does not include the train, so it turns out that you have to get there by bus. But this is not profitable for us, no matter how you count it, it’s easier to buy a pass for all days and at any time just pay extra for train travel from Amsterdam there and back for 6 Euros.
And finally, a nice bonus: you can travel on public transport in Amsterdam with tickets to the Philharmonic! Yes, yes, 3 hours before the start of the concert and 4 hours after, you can travel for free with a ticket to the Philharmonic in Amsterdam - a nice bonus to the cultural program.

And now the trains

The Netherlands is a country with well-developed railways and their coverage is excellent. In principle, everything is logical, this is a small country, the population density is one of the highest in Europe, and the ocean coast between The Hague and Haarlem is almost a continuous condominium; by train you can travel from one end of the country to the other in one and a half to two hours.

There is one small bus with an Intercity train that goes from Amsterdam to Rotterdam via the airport in 20 minutes. Due to the fact that they are very high-speed (after Amster they stop only in Schiphol), their price is on average 2.5 euros more than regular ones. Basically, this will be displayed during the payment process.

On one of our first visits to the Netherlands, to Maastricht, we were advised to have a day pass for the local Maastricht railway, which cost 5 euros and was incredibly profitable. And this time, despite the affordable prices, I wanted to save money and try to find the best deal on a travel pass, because from Amsterdam to Rotterdam it’s almost across the entire country.

Yes, there are plenty of passes, ranging from day passes OV-Dagkaart, to seasonal Zomertoer for summer, Herfsttoer for autumn or Voordeel-urenkaart, with a 40% discount on all tickets. There is also an Inter Rail Pass, but due to the small size of the Netherlands, this ticket is designed directly for the Benelux, which was completely unnecessary for us. In addition, it turned out that Dagkaart costs 40 euros, which for payback means 6 hours on the train, and the rest were not suitable either for the season or for the duration.

So I had to be smart and buy tickets for each trip separately.

The only way to save on travel for an adult is to use round-trip tickets, then the trip will cost 60% of the original cost. But such a round trip must take place between midnight and 4 am the next day, otherwise you need to buy 2 separate tickets for single trips.

Another plus is that the ticket is not given for a specific train, but for a specific date, so the trip can be divided. For example, Buy a ticket from Amsterdam to Rotterdam, get to Leiden, go out for a walk there until the evening and in the evening take a train from Leiden to Rotterdam - all on one ticket.

How to buy tickets

We've already talked about OV cards before, but now we're talking about regular tickets.

You can buy tickets and passes for public transport from vending machines at bus stops - they have the largest selection. Drivers and hotels can also do this, but they may not have the full range.
Regular train tickets can be bought from vending machines; you do not need to check in with them anywhere, but only present them to the conductor upon request.
Buying tickets on board the train from the controller will, however, cost more. But there is a chance to cheat: on short hauls like The Hague-Leiden, the conductor may not appear.
Train tickets can be purchased from vending machines and at the ticket office.

The price of a regular ticket depends on the distance and age of the traveler - up to 26 years old there may be significant discounts on travel. There is also no point in buying tickets in advance - this will not affect the price in any way. But to take your time before leaving, you can take a ticket with an open date. If you buy a ticket from a machine, it will cost 0.50 euros less.

By the way, in the machine there will be a surcharge of half a euro for withdrawing money from cards such as VISA and Mastercard, and for free - Maestro and some local card.

How to use travel tickets

Using tickets is easy - single-entry tickets are simply purchased from the tram driver or, for trains, from a machine.

Xatiti, in Holland there are 2 types of trams. In some, it is customary to enter either through the first door and one of the last doors, where a conductor sits in a booth in the middle of the car, and in front of the driver or conductor, you can sign in with your travel card, or, if this is the type of tram, you can go into any door and sign in with a card at the entrance.

To travel by train, you need to check in at the entrance to the station, where there are machines. There are no reading machines on trains! By the way, the machines at the station usually have their doors open, so that those who simply cross to the other side of the station can do so without interference.

Oh, here's another one! If you mark the entrance and exit at one train station within 60 minutes, then this is considered as a free “platform ticket” (Free Platform Tickets) - they say, you went out to wave a handkerchief after a leaving friend. Free, of course.

In total, transport in 2014 in the Netherlands cost us this much:

Schipshol-Amsterdam Zuid - 2.60+0.50 for payment not by Maestro card
Amsterdam-Zaanse Schans (Koog-Zaandijk) - 6+0.50
Amsterdam Zuid-Rotterdam - 13.30+0.50
Rotterdam-Delft and back - 6.40+0.50
Rotterdam-Leiden - 7.10+0.50
Leiden-The Hague and back - 6.60+0.50
Amsterdam 3-day pass -16.50

👁 Do we book the hotel through Booking as always? In the world, not only Booking exists (🙈 we pay for a huge percentage of hotels!) I have been practicing Rumguru for a long time, it’s really more profitable 💰💰 than Booking.

👁 Do you know? 🐒 this is the evolution of city excursions. The VIP guide is a city dweller, he will show you the most unusual places and tell you urban legends, I tried it, it’s fire 🚀! Prices from 600 rub. - they will definitely please you 🤑

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Transport outside the urban areas of the Netherlands consists mainly of trains and also buses. In large cities, naturally, there are other types of passenger vehicles: metro, tram, taxi, water transport. This article is an overview of various means of transportation in the Netherlands: trains, buses, cars, bicycles, taxis. If the purpose of your trip is the capital of the Netherlands, then you can read our material “Transport in Amsterdam”.

Train

The Netherlands is a densely populated and urbanized country, so rail transport is well developed here. In the western part of the country, the railway network is more than just a large urban network, with up to 12 trains per hour on main routes. There are two main types of trains: intercity express trains and trains that stop at all stations. However, fast trains are not as fast as in some other countries; they have more stops. With the exception of a few rural lines, trains run at least every half hour on a weekday.

On some routes, in particular from Amsterdam to the north, there are no longer direct routes, you will have to change trains (for example, in Amersfoort). Due to the fact that trains run one after another, delays are common. However, trains are late by no more than 5 - 10 minutes. The Nederlandse Spoorwegen (National Railway Company) boasts a good punctuality rate of 80 - 85% (this is the percentage of trains leaving/arriving within 3 minutes of the scheduled time). Trains can be crowded during rush hours, especially in the morning. Nederlandse Spoorwegen serves most routes. Some local lines in the north and east of the country are operated by Syntus and .

A ticket can be bought at all stations, regardless of the operator, and a single national fare system applies everywhere. Tickets can be purchased at automatic ticket offices using coins or a credit card (the only accepted credit card is Maestro). Only large stations have regular ticket offices, and a ticket there will cost 0.5 € more. There are two types of ticket vending machines: the old version, with a greenish LCD display and 2 lines, and the new one with a large touch screen. The latter has a menu in English. If you still have problems buying a ticket at such a ticket office, ask someone for help: almost all Dutch people speak English and will certainly help you.

Purchasing a ticket in advance will not reduce its price, as is practiced in some countries. The ticket price is standardized and depends only on the distance. Please note that you can buy an open date ticket in advance which will be valid as soon as you step onto the platform, but it will not be cheaper - this is simply for passenger convenience. You can buy round-trip tickets (called retour, there will be savings: the price of a one-way ticket will be 60% of the price of round-trip tickets), but you can buy tickets only on the day of departure, or in the case of weekendretour (the same ratio in price) - for the period between 19:00 Friday and 4:00 Monday. As in many countries, there is some distinction between first and second class. The cost of a second class ticket is 60% of the price of a first class ticket. The main advantage of the latter is that there are fewer passengers in the carriage, and the seats and aisles are usually wider.

This is a typical mistake for foreigners: they, without hesitation, buy a ticket from a vending machine with a 40 percent discount. However, a special discount card is required to use this ticket. However, you can use another person’s discount card.

The trains do not have conductors, as in some other countries. If you purchase a ticket already on the train, you will have to pay the regular price for it plus a 35 euro fine. If you had a good reason for this (for example, the machine did not work), the fine can be reimbursed, but only after a written application to the NS office. In such cases, guides are not allowed to act at their own discretion, which causes sharp criticism in society, but for now everything remains as before. If you have neither money nor a passport, you will be arrested. And the more you argue with the conductor, the sooner he will turn to the help of the transport police.

There are night trains between Rotterdam, Delft, The Hague, Leiden, Schiphol, Amsterdam and Utrecht, which is very convenient for nightlife lovers and airport passengers. They walk all night long, every hour in all directions. However, traveling from Rotterdam to Utrecht on such a train will take approximately two hours (40 minutes during the day). On the nights from Friday to Saturday and from Saturday to Sunday there are also trains to North Brabant: you can go to 's-Hertogenbosch, Eindhoven, Tilburg and Breda.

Railway tickets

If you plan to travel mainly by rail in the Netherlands, consider purchasing a Eurail pass with a Benelux package. This will allow you to travel anywhere within Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg within a few days. You can purchase a Eurail Benelux Pass for 3 days for 187 euros, 4 days - 224 euros, 5 days - 260 euros, 8 days - 353 euros.

Europeans who are not eligible to purchase Eurail passes should look for Inter Rail Passes, which will also allow them to travel on discounted trains.

If you are only staying in the Netherlands for one day, intend to see as many sites as possible, and plan to travel by train, you should purchase the NS-Dagkaart. This is an all-inclusive ticket and allows you to use all public transport in the Netherlands for a fixed fee. Every month there are various promotions for the sale of travel cards. You can purchase a day ticket for 13 or 16 euros. You can track promotions on the website Treinreiziger.nl.

It’s a little more adventurous to use the additional benefits of an “off-rush hour pass” or an “annual pass” (such tickets are usually available to students or government employees). This way you can save on travel without having any travel card at all: just find a student with an “OV -Kaart” (annual public transport pass) or one who has a “Voordeelurenkaart” and who travels in the same direction as You. He has the right to take with him up to three traveling companions, who also have the right to purchase tickets with a 40 percent discount. You must purchase a discounted train ticket in advance, and finding someone who is going to the same place as you will not be a problem. This ticket is valid only on weekends, weekdays from 9:00, on national holidays and in the summer in July-August. When the conductor asks you to show your ticket, your traveling companion must show his pass. It doesn’t matter who exactly it will be, as long as you agree with him to go through control.

Bus

In the Netherlands, traveling long distances by bus is inconvenient. Buses are generally used to travel to small towns or small regions, rather than between them. Usually it is convenient to travel by bus over distances of no more than 10 km.

In addition, bus routes have a big drawback - they are not direct. For example, if you want to get from Amsterdam to Rotterdam, you will have to stop at Schiphol, Haarlem, Leiden, The Hague and Delft on the way.

In Amsterdam and some other large cities, public transport runs at night. As a rule, the ticket will cost more than the day ticket, or you will have to buy a special ticket for the night bus in advance. In some cases, regular strippenkaart do not work and can only be used for daytime travel.

Automobile

A car is a good way to explore rural areas, especially those that cannot be reached by train, such as Waluwe, Zealand or the North Sea Islands. Driving in the Netherlands is generally pleasant: the road network is extensive, there are road signs in the right places, and Dutch drivers are some of the least aggressive in Europe. However, it is one of the most densely populated countries in the world, so be prepared for heavy traffic and traffic jams everywhere except the northern part of the country.

Driving rules in the Netherlands

When driving around the city, when crossing bicycle paths when turning, always give way to cyclists. If you are involved in an accident involving a cyclist, you will automatically be found at fault (until proven otherwise). If you only want to explore the cities, it is better not to take a car. Due to limited road capacity and parking difficulties, most major cities are actively moving away from cars. Buses on the route have priority when leaving the stop, so be careful as they may enter the lane directly in front of you, confident that you will give way.

There are a lot of road signs, but a map is very useful to have, especially in cities where there are many one-way streets and it is not always easy to get from one part of the city to another. Be careful not to ride in either the dedicated bus lane (often marked as Lijnbus or Bus) or on cycle paths marked with a picture of a bicycle or the reddish color of the asphalt. In addition, do not drive in reversible lanes (Spitsstrook) if there is a red “X” above them - this sign indicates that this lane cannot be used at this time.

The traffic is on the right. The speed limit in residential areas is 50 km/h, and in some areas it does not exceed 30 km/h. Outside the city you can drive at a speed of 80 km/h (as on most northern roads). On some local roads the speed limit is 60 km/h. On motorways the speed limit is 120 km/h, with the exception of some highways where the speed limit is 100 km/h. During rush hour, most roads have signs indicating the current speed limit.

Throughout the country, the speed of passing cars is controlled by the police. Pay special attention to the "Trajectcontrole" sign: it means that the road you are driving on has an automatic system for monitoring the vehicle's average speed over a long distance.

Drinking and driving do not mix and this is strictly enforced. The snorkel test is often used, either randomly (you're pulled over by the side of the road and the police officer feels the need to test you for your alcohol content) or for everyone (for example, the police have a breathalyzer checkpoint on a motorway). A solid yellow line next to the sidewalk means that stopping is prohibited, and a broken yellow line means that parking is prohibited. At some intersections on the road there is a broken line that looks like a shark's teeth - it means that you must give way to other traffic.

Note that the police also use covert patrols, especially on highways. They have CCTV systems at their disposal and it is often the case that they will not stop you immediately after breaking the rules, but will continue to monitor you. If you continue to break the rules, you will be fined for all violations at once.

Breakdown and accident

If your car breaks down on the motorway, you need to go to the nearest emergency telephone number (praatpalen) on the road. They are easy to recognize: they are yellow, 1.5 meters high, with a round lid and “ears” sticking out from above. They can be used to directly contact emergency services.

If you are involved in an accident, the rules require both drivers to fill out and sign statements for their respective insurance companies. You must always have this form on hand. The police should be notified if you damage public property, especially along highways, if you hurt someone, or if another driver refuses to sign an insurance statement. If you flee the scene of an accident, you will be breaking the law. If you see another driver do this, call the police and wait for them to arrive. Emergency number 112 (free, can be dialed even from a disconnected mobile phone); regular, non-urgent police call - 0900-8844.

gas station

Fuel is easy to find. There are many gas stations along the highways, open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. There are more and more automatic gas stations (even along highways), where gasoline is sold at lower prices. These unmanned stations accept all common debit and credit cards. All gas stations sell both gasoline and diesel fuel; all premium brands have the same octane number (they say that to compensate for the high price, they add additives that increase engine efficiency). Liquefied gas is sold at many gas stations along highways, but you will never find it in residential areas. Its symbol is a green icon with a picture of a gas station, it is located next to the usual black icon with a picture of a gas station. Don't use truck diesel fuel to fuel your car; it's the same fuel, but the pressure is much higher.

Parking in the Netherlands

Parking fees in the city can be quite significant. If you're visiting a major city, especially Amsterdam, but also other big cities like Utrecht or Rotterdam, seriously consider taking public transport to avoid traffic jams and the enormous hassle of finding a parking space. In many cities, your car will either be blocked or towed if you stand in that spot for too long (or stand in a spot reserved for the disabled or special vehicles). On the outskirts of most large cities it is possible to take advantage of the benefits of “parking” tickets; you can park your car here cheaply and continue your trip using public transport. Please note that in Amsterdam and The Hague (however, only on weekends) public transport operates at night, with the exception of trains.

Taxi

Taxi prices in the Netherlands are quite high. Taxi drivers are licensed, but do not pass a qualification test to ensure they know the city's streets well. However, such an exam is planned to be introduced in the future. All licensed taxis have a blue number.

Some drivers refuse to make short trips (costing less than 10 euros). This is illegal, but it is difficult to appeal such a refusal. The minimum price (price for boarding a taxi) is 3 euros. Maximum charge is based on meter reading. The waiting cost is 0.35 euros per minute. If you agree on a price in advance, then you need to pay this amount, or the one that the meter shows, depending on which amount is lower. The law prohibits getting into a taxi without having enough money to pay for the trip, so it is advisable to agree on the price in advance.

Bike

In the Netherlands, cycling is much safer than in other countries, thanks to the extensive infrastructure of bike paths, bike lanes and signposted bike routes. Below are a few nuances that a cyclist in the Netherlands needs to be aware of.

    • Bike paths and bike lanes are indicated by a round blue sign with a white bicycle on the asphalt or red asphalt. You are required to drive exclusively in these lanes.
    • Cyclists are required to obey the same road signs as drivers - unless there is a sign stating otherwise (for example, a picture of a bicycle under a "No Trespassing" sign).
    • Unlike Germany and Belgium, where in many places the rules require you to ride on the sidewalk, if there is no bike path or bike lane, ride on the road.
    • On some narrow streets, if there is a bike lane, mopeds can ride on it, rather than as usual on the main part of the street.
    • Bicycles must be equipped with a working headlight and taillight; reflectors alone are not sufficient. You can be fined €40 for cycling in the dark without headlights. Small battery-powered LED headlights are not regulated, but are often considered acceptable by police.
    • You can simply cycle around the city and surrounding areas, without the goal of getting from point A to point B. Many signed cycling routes are designed specifically for such cases, most of them resemble an octagon and will return you at the end of the walk to the starting point. Some routes pass through rural areas inaccessible to cars. Signs on bicycle routes are usually white with red borders and red lettering. Please note that in the southern part of the Netherlands you can create your own routes by linking together marked and numbered route points called "knooppunten".
    • You can take your bike with you on the train for a day trip to another city or region. It costs 6 euros. It is not recommended to take a bicycle with you during rush hours. There is another option: rent it at the station itself (or nearby). To transport a bicycle, you need another ticket, which can be easily purchased at automated ticket offices. If the bicycle is folding, then when folded you can carry it for free.
    • You can load a tent onto your bike and set off on a journey across the country. To do this, you must be in shape and not afraid of rain. There are national long-distance cycling routes designed specifically for this type of holiday (long-distance cycling routes in the Netherlands can be viewed on the website).
  • Bicycle theft is a serious problem in the Netherlands, especially around train stations and in big cities. Never leave your bike in the parking lot near the station, use guarded bike parking (stalling). Typically, 2 different types of locks are used (for example, a chain lock and a handset lock). The fact is that bike thieves tend to specialize in one type of lock or carry tools best suited to one type of lock. If there is no dedicated parking nearby, the bike should be secured to a lamp post or something similar. Bike thieves simply pick up unattended bikes and load them onto pickup trucks so they can safely pick the locks.
  • If you buy a stolen bicycle, the transaction will be considered illegal and the police will also arrest the buyer. If you buy a bicycle at a suspiciously low price (for example, between 10 and 20€) or in a suspicious place (usually on the street), the law is considered that you “assumed or could have suspected” that the bicycle was stolen. In other words, not knowing why you are selling your bike is no excuse. Sometimes even the police themselves sell stolen bicycles in order to then arrest potential buyers.

Studying foreign experience is an important and useful activity; it not only allows you to avoid mistakes, but also, in the case of road traffic, literally helps save people’s lives. In terms of mobility, the Netherlands is interesting because in Amsterdam alone the share of trips by bicycle is 40% - few cities can boast of such results, and the country itself occupies a leading position in road safety in Europe. Thus, according to WHO, in road accidents in the Netherlands in 2015 there were 3.4 deaths per 100,000 people, and in Russia 18.9...

By what means did the Dutch achieve such safety indicators and ease of use of the infrastructure?

First, I would like to repeat a simple rule once again: it doesn’t matter how many residents there are in the city and what kind of order they have. People are the same everywhere, the laws of physics are the same in all countries, but the conditions are different, and it is by changing these conditions that the behavior of most people can be controlled. So, with a 99% probability, if we move a street from Rotterdam/Amsterdam/Utrecht or any other Dutch city to Russia, we will get similar traffic safety results as in the Netherlands.


Highways

Let's go from roads to streets (who doesn't know, these concepts are very different from each other). Naturally, in the Netherlands there are country roads. There are three highway categories: with a maximum speed of 130, 100 and 80 km/h. It depends on the intersections, the number of lanes, and so on. On high-speed routes, special asphalt is laid that allows water to pass through, so when it rains, there is no such splash and fog from the damp over the road, plus the car’s handling is better. The water goes into a special reservoir under the road, and then is discharged into a storm drain/ditch/natural reservoir. Alas, it’s difficult to show this in a photo, so here’s the route tunnel under the canal:

Some time ago there was a claim in the news that driving on the side of the road is legal in the Netherlands. This is, of course, not true. But on some highways in the Amsterdam-Rotterdam area during rush hours, they include an additional lane, which at other times serves as a shoulder. You can see this from the sign above the road:

Everything is regulated by cameras.

Most highway exits are standard, however, there are also inventions by Dutch transport workers, which eventually spread throughout the world. First of all this turbotunds, which are an improved version of the standard rings:

This is how it looks in real life; due to channelization of flows, traffic becomes stable and less prone to accidents.

As you can see, with this organization the ring allows more cars to pass through and is safer due to fewer lane changes. Now there are 419 of them in the Netherlands, and there are 20 countries in the world, from the USA to Poland, where they are used. Often the lanes have a physical separation, which guides and prevents you from doubting the correctness of the movement, and also so that there is no temptation to drive in your own way. In addition, highway intersections with a speed limit of 80 km/h are often made from such turbo rings.

The photo below shows another typical interchange at a highway exit, where two rings are connected into one. In general, in the Netherlands, whenever possible, they try not to install traffic lights. It's not just about banal savings, but also about calming traffic - the driver is guaranteed to slow down in front of the roundabout, unlike at a traffic light and on a straight road. The same principle is established by the Swedish zero tolerance program for deaths, since accidents at traffic light intersections are more severe than at roundabouts.

There are intercity cycling routes throughout the country, and sometimes the routes simply pass near residential areas on the outskirts, so there is a need to separate the flow of cars and people. In such cases, punctures are made under the road with a smooth descent:

... or bicycle bridges are made, again with a smooth descent:

Although, if it so happens that the road passes through a new area, then it is either moved or taken underground:

Streets

Unlike roads and highways, streets are public space, which is built based on the needs, first of all, of pedestrians and cyclists, and then of public and personal transport. Let's go from the streets to the residential area.

Streets in a residential area

Public and transport functions are not so in demand here, therefore, most often, the sidewalks are not too wide and there is a limit of 20-30 km/h. There is no separate cycling infrastructure - cyclists move in the general flow, and the road material is most often tiles. In addition to tiles, there are other tools for physically calming traffic, for example, chicanes, or deliberate curvature of the roadway:

There are also the usual speed bumps:

...as well as raised intersections:

There are no markings or zebra crossings here, since the expectation is that a pedestrian can cross anywhere, plus the roadway itself is quite narrow, making it difficult for two cars to pass each other.

By the way, parking on such streets is increasingly being done in the middle - the street not only benefits from this aesthetically, but safety also improves, since the driver sees the sidewalk and can react in time to a child/pedestrian/dog who decides to cross the road (cars do not block the view ).

Small streets

We would call them district streets. Unlike the streets, which I will talk about below, here the cycling infrastructure often comes in the form of bicycle lane markings:

Often the roadway is made of small width. So small that two cars can pass each other only if they enter the bike lane a little:

Often bottlenecks are deliberately created where one car must let another through:

And there are also simply streets with priority for cyclists (those monsters, right?).

Ordinary streets

On ordinary streets there is public transport and cars, the cycling infrastructure is either located on a bike path or runs as a bike lane. There are traffic lights here, and all exits from secondary streets are raised to sidewalk level:

This is done for two purposes - to force the driver to slow down in front of the main road and not to force pedestrians and cyclists to descend to the level of the roadway. Thus, there are no puddles at crossings, cyclists’ buttocks do not suffer from curb stones, and drivers are guaranteed to slow down, look around and move on safely:

In addition, there is now a tendency to raise entire sections of roads at intersections to sidewalk level, creating a common space where pedestrians, cyclists and motorists are equal and regulate the situation independently:

Statistics show that such a solution is much safer than conventional traffic rules.

Safety islands, of course, are actively used; they are installed along the roadway...

... and at crossings with intersections:

Sometimes, when it is necessary to make a traffic island, but it is necessary to preserve the possibility of passage of long equipment, the islands are made slightly higher than the level of the roadway so that a bus or truck can drive onto it a little:

By the way, almost all traffic lights are equipped with sensors that recognize the approach of a car:

The same ones stand on bike paths, creating a green wave for the cyclist:

If there is a bike lane or there is no turn from the bike path, then the stop line for cyclists is placed ahead of the car line. This was done taking into account the fact that cyclists start faster than cars, but, most importantly, this way a person does not get into the driver’s blind spot (our Ministry of Transport still rejects the proposal to introduce such markings in our country):

Sometimes cyclists can pass on red due to dedicated bike paths/cycle lanes. This was done for convenience, so that cyclists do not dismount and do not waste energy gaining speed (this is not for you to press the pedal):

Often, for the sake of public transport, passage for personal vehicles on the street is closed - this is the norm. In addition, dedicated lanes on streets are often raised, visually highlighting the lanes. This is also done for trams:

...and for buses:

If tram platforms are located in the middle of the road, then the approaches are raised:

In general, complaints were received at 98% of all city traffic lights. It is likely that some will be dismantled for good. This is how the authorities want to combat the accumulation of cyclists at intersections during rush hours. The traffic lights included in the experiment are marked with signs:

And this sign says that work is underway to optimize the operation of the traffic light:

Main streets
Everything is simple here, our city planners divide the streets into a bunch of subtypes; in the Netherlands, a main street will be little different from an ordinary one. Perhaps there may be a little more lanes, which is why there will be no uncontrolled crossings there. Despite everything, the street is a public area, the carrying capacity of which is not determined by the number of lanes or the maximum speed, which, by the way, is not higher than 50 km/h. It will look something like this:

One can argue for a long time that fences along roads, the abolition of crossings or the construction of off-street crossings are a panacea for road accidents, but, as you can see, the world does not think so, having convenient and safe cities. By the way, traffic jams in the Netherlands are considered to be 40-50 km/h on a motorway. There are practically no traffic jams on the streets.

Post prepared by Arkady

You can fly to Holland by plane, travel by train or bus. There are several types of public transport in the country: railway, metro, bus. You can also take a taxi, rent a car or rent a bicycle.

How to get to Holland?

The most popular form of transport by which you can travel to Holland is by plane. But if you are afraid of flying, you can take a bus or train.

By plane

There is no shortage of flights from Moscow and St. Petersburg to Amsterdam.

Direct flights are offered by:

  • Russian air carrier Aeroflot;
  • Dutch KLM.

The cost of round-trip tickets for flights from Moscow: from 14.4 to 17.8 thousand rubles, from St. Petersburg - from 13 thousand.

The following companies offer flights with transfers from Moscow and the Northern capital:

  • Austrian Airlines with a transfer in Vienna;
  • Air France - in Paris;
  • Lufthans - in Munich or Frankfurt;
  • Swiss - in Zurich;
  • Сzech Airline – in Prague;
  • Finnair – in Helsinki;
  • airBaltics – in Riga;
  • Estonian Airs – in Tallinn;
  • Turkish Airlines - in Istanbul.

The time of such a connecting flight is longer, but the cost of flight tickets is significantly lower.

Which airline companies can fly to Amsterdam from major Russian cities:

  • from Ekaterinburg, Perm, Ufa, Samara, Kazan, Sochi, Nizhny Novgorod - Czech Airlines with a transfer in Prague;
  • from Samara, Nizhny Novgorod - Lufthansa via Frankfurt am Main;
  • from Krasnodar, Rostov-on-Don – Austrian Airlines with a transfer in Vienna;
  • from Ekaterinburg – Finnair via Helsinki;
  • from Kaliningrad – Air Baltic with a transfer in Riga;
  • from Rostov-on-Don, Novosibirsk, Ufa, Sochi, Kazan, Yekaterinburg - Turkish Airlines via Istanbul.

From other cities, you can choose a plane to Holland, which will fly through Moscow on a connecting Aeroflot flight.

By train and bus

The disadvantage of this method of transportation is the significant amount of time that you will have to spend in a train carriage or on a bus. But there is also an advantage: the route passes through European countries. You will get a lot of impressions from visiting Germany and Poland, the cities of Cologne, Berlin and Warsaw.

Trains from Moscow to Amsterdam depart from Belorussky Station twice a day. In 36 hours of travel you will cover a distance of 2596 kilometers and cross the borders of five countries: Holland, Russia, Germany, the Republic of Belarus and Poland. Train ticket prices: from 7 thousand one way.

Buses from Moscow to Amsterdam depart from the Airport on Tuesdays and Fridays. The route is not too different from the one the train takes, but the travel time is 2 days. Therefore, despite the comfortable conditions, the trip may seem more tiring. Bus ticket prices: from 146 euros one way.

Intercity transport in Holland

There are several options for traveling between cities in Holland.

  1. Train. Trains in Holland are modern rolling stock with a clear schedule. Intercity and suburban trains run at hourly intervals until 2:00. Rail transport is the most convenient way to travel in Holland. Approximate prices: from Amsterdam to Haarlem – 5 euros, to Rotterdam – 15 euros.
  2. Taxi. Taxis in Holland can be ordered by phone or using special parking services. Approximate tariffs: 2 euros – minimum, each kilometer above the minimum – 1.5 euros.
  3. Car rental. In order to rent a car, you must have a driver's license with at least a year of experience, be over 21 and have two credit cards. Rental conditions and prices vary among different companies.
  4. Intercity buses. Buses in Holland are highly comfortable. But bus drivers are not very punctual. Therefore, it is better to prefer other types of transport to move around the country.

The best type of intercity transport in Holland is considered to be rail: trains run strictly on schedule, they are comfortable, and the cost of the trip is low. Taxi is a fairly expensive form of transport if you are traveling long distances. Renting a car comes with some difficulties: not every person will be able to rent a car. The buses are very comfortable, but they drive at random, they are late and have delays along the way.

Urban transport in Holland

The most common form of transport in Dutch cities is the bicycle. All conditions have been created for cyclists: special roads with road markings and traffic lights are equipped, and there are machines for renting two-wheeled vehicles at every step. Renting a bike will cost you approximately $10–13 per day.

Large cities have a metro. It is important to know well the name of the stop where you will get off and not get confused with transfers. To travel by metro, you must purchase a single ticket, valid for all types of public transport.

You can travel within the city by bus: to stop it, you must vote.

In some cities there are tourist buses with special excursion routes that go to the main attractions.

A ride on the bright, colorful Dutch trams will lift your spirits. Just hold on tight to the handrails; drivers of this type of transport love to drive and make sharp turns.

So, to summarize:

  • It’s more convenient to get to Holland by plane, but more interesting by bus;
  • It is better to travel between cities by train, and within the same city by bicycle;
  • You should definitely take a ride on the “fun” tram and tourist buses;
  • It is better to purchase a single pass for all types of transport.

The transport system in Holland works smoothly and efficiently. Therefore, there should not be any problems with moving around the country.