Transportation
Airlines
The quality of air transportation in the Netherlands is high. The country ranked fifth on that measure in a study by the World Economic Forum (2012). Most flights land at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport (AMS), the country’s main international airport. Regional airports in cities like Lelystad, Rotterdam and Maastricht mostly serve flights within the Netherlands and connect to other regional European airports. Low-cost airlines like Arkefly and Transavia serve the Amsterdam and regional airports. Many major airlines in the U.S. offer direct flights to the Netherlands, including Delta, United, KLM, US Airways and Arkefly.
Highways
The quality of roads in the Netherlands is excellent and ranked twenty-fourth in the world by the World Economic Forum (2012). The country has an extensive highway network, which is used heavily. Traffic moves on the right side of the highway and speed limits and other traffic signs are posted in kilometers. You can use your U.S. driver’s license for the first 180 days in the Netherlands, but you must register for a Dutch license after that initial period.
Buses
The first thing to know about the country’s public transport system is the reloadable payment card, known as the OV-chipkaart or public transport chip card. The card can be used to pay for all forms of public transport in the country, and will eventually replace all other forms of transport tickets. You can register for and purchase a card on the OV-chipkaart website or at public transport stations for €7.50, or about US$9.10. The cards can be reloaded with euros online, at stations or stores, or through a subscription. The amount charged per trip will depend on the service used and the distance traveled.
Bus service in the Netherlands falls into two categories: urban buses that operate within cities and larger buses that offer longer-distance service. Most major cities in the Netherlands have their own public transport company. In Amsterdam for example, the city’s public transportation system is managed by the GVB, which provides bus, tram and ferry services throughout the city. The GVB alone has about 30 bus routes that coincide with other tramlines and metro systems for easier travelling. The OC-chipkaart is used to pay for buses. As of 2012, the fare formula is around US$0.17 per kilometer, with an additional US$1 base rate.
There are only a few bus companies that provide service across the country. Connexxion is the most popular and follows the same bus fare formula as noted above.
Trains
Travelling by train is popular in the Netherlands due to frequent highway traffic congestion. Much like the bus systems, each city has its own public transport company that manages the metro and tramlines. Amsterdam’s GVB has 16 tramlines and four metro lines to serve commuters. The only form of payment accepted is the OV-chipkaart, which also applies to urban trains in other cities. The cost formula is the same as with buses, about US$0.17 per kilometer, with an additional US$1 base rate.
The Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS), or Dutch Railways, provides the only national rail service throughout the country. Along with the OV-chipkaart, these trains also accept the traditional ticket as a form of payment. Tickets can be purchased online, at self-service ticket machines or at the counters in train stations. Tickets are not sold on board the train. The OV-chipkaart will eventually replace the ticket system. Visit the NS website for ticket fares and trip planners.
