Public transport in the Netherlands. How the Netherlands travel. Railway tickets

Transport plays a primary role in the Dutch economy. A dense network of inland waterways, railways and highways has made it possible to extend the hinterland of Dutch seaports far into mainland Europe. On this basis, an outstanding transport hub in the Rhine delta with the world's largest port of Rotterdam has emerged. More than 80% of domestic transport occurs by road transport, 17% by water transport and only 3% by rail. In international transportation, the leading role is occupied by the maritime fleet, which accounts for 60% of transported cargo. If we add more goods delivered river boats, then the share of water transport will exceed 80%. International road transport accounts for less than 8% of transport freight, while rail transport accounts for about 2.5%. Road transport is the leader in passenger transportation. Passenger transportation by rail is increasing, while passenger transportation by sea is decreasing.

Transportation volumes by mode of transport

TYPES OF TRANSPORT
Sea transportation, million tons
Transportation by inland waters, million tons
Rail transportation, million tons
Road transportation, million tons
Trubopro water transport, million tons
Air transportation - Schiphol airport, thousand tons
Passenger transportation, million people:
Railway
aviation - airport Schiphol

Despite the presence of a dense network of land and waterways, the Netherlands has considerable opportunities for further development of transport systems. The goal is to strengthen the connections between the Dutch road network and the European network. Thus, the international highway connecting Amsterdam, The Hague, Rotterdam with the central regions of Europe should in the future be extended to Vienna.

A). Sea transport

For the Netherlands, a country with developed foreign economic relations, the importance of maritime transport is especially great.

The country ranks third in terms of maritime transport volumes. Western Europe(after Great Britain and France). Freight turnover is dominated by oil, coal, metals, grain, and fertilizers. Among exported items, the share of finished industrial products is large, while imports consist mainly of raw materials and semi-finished products for industry. Moreover, about 30% of the fleet are tankers.

During the Second World War, the Dutch fleet suffered great damage, and the pre-war level was reached only in the first half of the 50s. Total cargo turnover of Dutch seaports in 1971 amounted to 273 million tons in 1986. - 250 million tons. The vast majority of it falls on the port of Rotterdam. The Port of Amsterdam's share is about 8% of Rotterdam's cargo turnover. Next come the largest ports: Vlissengen, Dordrecht, Delfzijl, Terneusen, Harlingen and Groningen.

The process of moving the Rotterdam port complex towards the coast primarily covered areas of bulk cargo operations. During this development, the Rotterdam port complex occupied a vast area from the city itself to the shore of the North Sea. The evolution of the Port of Amsterdam is moving in the same direction. There are certain differences in the activities of the country's largest ports - Rotterdam and Amsterdam. Rotterdam specializes in servicing bulk cargo transportation, Amsterdam - partial (although Rotterdam holds first place in terms of physical volume). The modernization of the Nojo Canal, which provides passage for ships with a capacity of up to 90 thousand tons, played a significant role. to the port of Amsterdam.

B). Inland water transport

The territory of the Netherlands is cut through by a dense network of navigable rivers and canals. Their total length is estimated at 4380 km, of which rivers account for 850 km.

The basis of the country's transport network is made up of inland waterways with the main arteries of the Rhine, Meuse and Scheldt. Among the shipping canals, the Nordsee Canal, built in 1876, stands out. and connecting Amsterdam with the shortest route to the North Sea. You can also outline a certain hierarchy of the remaining canals (the dates of their construction and length are indicated in brackets): Amsterdam-Rhine (1952, 72 km); Juliana (1935, 34 km.); Zeid-Beveland (1866, 8 km); Meuse-Waal (1927, 13 km); Scheldt-Rhine (1975, 37 km), etc.

The main function of inland water transport is the transportation of goods. Its share in the total volume of domestic cargo transportation in the 50s was 40%, and at the end of the 80s it dropped to 20%.

In the commodity structure of transportation along rivers and canals, the leading place is occupied by building materials, oil, and agricultural products. In international transportation there is a large share of iron ore, metals and metal products, building materials, and fuel. The share of oil transportation decreased due to the construction of oil and gas pipelines.

IN). Automobile transport

Road transport carries out mainly domestic transportation, successfully competing with railways. During construction highways It was necessary to overcome considerable difficulties in conditions of high population density and limited suitable territory. Certain difficulties also arose due to the unfavorable hydrogeological conditions of the territories located below sea level.

The total length of roads in 1966 was about 100 thousand km, including city roads; without them, the network of paved roads totaled 47 thousand km. Behind last years In connection with increasing urbanization, road transport has become one of the necessary conditions for social development. In 1987 the number of vehicles reached 4.6 million. The average annual growth rate of the vehicle fleet is estimated at 3%. In cities, cars have replaced bicycles, which until recently formed the main background of traffic flows.

Road transport has gained a dominant position in domestic transportation and has significantly pushed aside railway transport. The transportation work of freight vehicles is 3.3 times greater compared to railways. What is the share of motor transport? of the total volume of domestic transportation, and even in external transportation its participation is 1/3 higher compared to rail transport.

G). Railway transport

The construction of railways in the Netherlands began in the second half of the 19th century and developed intensively until the end of the 20s of this century. Then some of the lines were dismantled, and some were closed for passenger traffic. Much damage to the railways was caused during the Second World War; in 1945, only 1,100 km were in operation. Railway lines, as many bridges were destroyed. In 1985, the length of railway lines was 2.5 thousand km. versus 3.7 thousand km. in 1939. In terms of railway density, the Netherlands lags significantly behind Belgium, but is far ahead of France, Italy, and Denmark.

Railways (with very few exceptions) are owned by the state. The basis of the Dutch railway network is made up of lines connecting provincial centers and major cities. In recent years, several railway lines have been built in the country, including connecting The Hague and Leiden with Amsterdam via Schinhol Airport and connecting Amsterdam with Almere and Lelystad. Construction of the ring railway around Amsterdam began.

In 1986 Ministers of the EEC countries approved a project for the creation of high-speed railway lines connecting Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam and Cologne. Given the dense hydrographic network in the Netherlands, about 1200 railway bridges, among them the 20 largest ones across the rivers Rhine, Lek, Waal, IJssel, etc. About 25% of the wagon fleet is represented by refrigerators, self-unloading and other specialized wagons.

The electrification of railways has become widespread in recent decades. To date, all major passenger lines connecting the most important centers, as well as some of the freight lines have been converted to electric traction, others are served by diesel traction. Of the total length of lines is approximately 2.5 thousand km. electrified sections are approximately 1.5 thousand km. The use of steam locomotives ceased in 1958. Many Dutch railways are suffering significant losses due to a decrease in business activity in trade and industry, increased competition between various types transport and, as a consequence, an increase in tariffs.

In addition to railways, the Netherlands has a developed network of intercity tram services. Its length is about 3 thousand km. These lines, served by high-speed trains, are important for local population and tourism.

D). Air Transport

Air traffic in the Netherlands - and domestic international - is almost completely monopolized by the state-owned company KLM, one of the seven leading airlines in the world. There are regular flights to 110 cities in 70 countries.

Main international Airport Skhinkhol is 10 km away. South-west of Amsterdam on the site of the drained lake Haarlemier. This is the only airport in the world located 3.5 m below ocean level. Schinhol accounts for the lion's share of passenger and cargo traffic in Dutch air transport. It should be noted that Skhinkhol is of exceptional transit importance: about a third of all registered passengers use it only for transfers. For cargo, this figure reaches 2/3, which, however, does not always mean service directly by air. Over half of the cargo arriving through Skhinkhol is loaded onto vehicles and delivered along European roads.

In second place is Zitinhoven Airport near Rotterdam. True, Zitinhoven has direct connections only with London, Paris, Hamburg and Bremen and is mostly intended for domestic lines. Other civil airports (Elde, Hilversum, Ben, Texel, Ameland, Hoogeveen, etc.) are of local importance.

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?

Most popular view The means of transport to 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 the Stambul.

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 cities Russia:

• 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 Yekaterinburg – 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 connecting flight Aeroflot.

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 twice a day from Belorussky railway station. 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, age - from 21 and 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, passing through 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.

On my blog there are several articles dedicated to the “” topic, but as it turned out, this section raises a lot of questions from those readers who are going to independently visit not only Amsterdam, but also other cities in the country.
Well, since quite a lot has accumulated in the comments to the articles a large number of questions and answers to them, I decided to combine them into a separate article that can clarify unclear points.

After all, not every reader views the comments and ends up asking the same questions that have already been answered. In addition (to my pride), Russian-speaking employees transport system, represented by Oksana and Mikhail, periodically read our discussions and really help solve pressing problems of misunderstanding in issues.

Question: Is it possible to transfer money back from a travel card to a bank card if, for example, you haven’t spent all the money on travel and are already leaving the country and don’t need a travel card anymore?
Answer: Yes, you can, you just need to pay attention that it does not exceed 30 euros and you will have to pay 2.50 euros in administrative costs for the refund service.

Question: Please tell me, when returning money with a loss of 2.50 euros, does the chip card remain with the owner or is it taken away?
Answer: When returned, the card itself remains with the owner - a separate amount of 7.50 euros is paid for it, and its validity period is 5 years.

Question: If, when transferring to a similar type of transport (for example, from bus to bus), the amount on the card is less than 4 euros, then the “check-in” during the transfer will work or the machine will somehow show that the amount on deposit is less than 4 euros , and therefore further travel is like a hare?
Answer: When “check-in” on the bus, 4 euros will be immediately written off as a deposit (this is the maximum cost of the bus route from the starting point to the final point) and the display will show how much money is left on the card. If the route is the maximum duration, it turns out that part of the journey you will pass as a “hare”. I hope that on the last section you will not fall into the clutches of the controllers, since they are also people and are lenient towards the mistakes of tourists, but they can “get off on the wrong foot”...

Question: Tell me, can commuter trains, for example, Amsterdam - Haarlem, also be paid for with this card or is it only for public transport in Amsterdam?
Answer: You can pay for commuter trains too, the only thing you should pay attention to is that during the “check-in” - for the train, there must be an amount of at least 20 euros on the card.

Question: Tell me, is it possible to use the NS ticket machine in advance for a certain route and load it onto an anonymous card, so as not to keep a deposit of 20 euros on it and not to buy a one-time ticket with an additional payment of 1 euro?
Answer: We'll tell you of course - unfortunately it's not possible.

Question: Is it possible, when traveling on an NS train with a transfer, to skip the next train and take the second or third, and upon arrival at the final station, do a “check out”?
Answer: If you travel by train, you can do a check-out within 6 hours from the moment of “check-in” without sanctions. But, if the time is closer to midnight, then you will have less than 6 hours, because all transactions are processed then and if the controller passes on the second train, then some of you will not be happy... I would still risk missing one train, but I didn’t try two or more :)

Question: Is it possible to travel from Amsterdam to Antwerp and back using OV-chipkaart on the same day? Or is it only valid in the Netherlands?
Answer: operates only in the Netherlands, and to get to Antwerp you need to buy a ticket at the box office.

Question: Are there any discount cards for travel to commuter trains? We plan to live in Haarlem and travel every day to Amsterdam, The Hague, Delph, etc. All this within a week. Is there any way we can save on travel?
Answer: There are no discounts on train travel for short stays in the Netherlands. There are discounts, but this applies to subscriptions - monthly or annual, for children and the elderly, students, etc. You can save a little by using OV-chipkaart or by purchasing tickets online, which must be printed. Despite the fact that they are sent to the specified email address, the electronic tickets shown on the gadget (phone, iPad, etc.) are NOT travel document.

Question: Please tell me, this map valid for travel throughout the Netherlands? Let's say, if I buy a card at the airport, then use it to travel to Amsterdam, there for several days, using public transport (trams and metro), and then go to Amsterdam with this card and use it there to travel around the city (trams and metro). Is this possible?
Answer: That's right, the OV-chipkaart card is valid for paying for all public transport throughout the Netherlands, with the exception of intercity buses. So you can use the card to pay for travel both in Amsterdam and in.

Question: My wife and I and our 23-year-old son are flying to . Next, with a transfer in Leiden, we move to Hillegom. Do you need to buy 3 or is one enough, but with which you can check-in three times in a row and at the exit, respectively, check-out three times?
Answer: You need to buy one for each “rider”, since you won’t be able to check-in three times. Officially, it is considered as if one person “entered, exited, entered”;

Question: I read somewhere that the action does not apply to Arriva buses. Is this so and what advice can you give on paying for trips on Arriva?
Answer: On the official Arriva website it is written that travel on buses is paid for both with a ticket purchased from the driver (the second, of course, is more expensive).

Question: Who is given/how to get a discount of 20% and 40% on OV-chipkaart? If anything, I'm 60 years old.
Answer: Discounts of 20 and 40 percent are provided for holders of various passes, for example, annual passes, but, unfortunately, this is not profitable for tourists (meaning purchasing an annual pass).

Question: Price for travel using e-tickets and OV-chipkaart according to railway is identical, so the question is: are e-tickets bought for a specific train or just like OV-chipkaart, that is, without time and date, and does it need to be printed or is it enough to show it to the controller on the train on the screen of a tablet/smartphone?
Answer: E-ticket The e-ticket is not tied to a specific train and place, BUT is valid for a specific day. It MUST be printed, since the picture on the electronic device is not a travel document (information from the official website)

Question: When returning money, it must be less than 30 euros. Otherwise, the money will not be returned at all or only 30 euros will be returned?
Answer: They will not return the money at all, they will send you to travel until the balance drops to 30 euros.

Question: The website “9292.nl” does not say whether you need to check-in and check-out twice when transferring from one Arriva bus to another within one hour, but indicates one amount. Or buy a ticket from the bus driver, which will be valid for an hour?
Answer: Every time you board and disembark from a bus (tram, train, metro), you must do a “check-in” and “check-out”.
If within 35 minutes after the last “check-out” you take another transport, the system automatically takes into account that you made a transfer (overstappen) and does not write off the base fare of 0.88 euros (roughly speaking, “per boarding”). but only the corresponding tariff for the kilometers traveled (they differ slightly in different provinces)

Question: I read on the Russian-language Internet that the “check-in” and “check-out” terminals on the train are different. This is true? That is, if you mistakenly touch the same terminal twice, the reserve 20 euros will be automatically deducted? Do the “check-in” and “check-out” terminals in NS and ARRIVA differ not only in color (yellow or pink), but also in some other features during check-in?
Answer: The “check-in” and “check-out” terminals are the same, but the validators of different transport companies (for example, NS ARRIVA) differ. After "check-in" at the NS terminal, you will be charged a deposit of 20 euros. If you check-out at the NS terminal, the deposit will be returned (minus the cost of the flight). But if you confuse the validator and make a “check-out” at the ARRIVA terminal instead of NS, then the deposit will not be returned to you and NS (for them you did not check-out) and ARRIVA will write off the deposit (for them it is considered a “check” -in”). Then the trip will become really expensive... On each terminal it is written which company it is from and they are located next to each other quite rarely, but it happens (especially in big cities).

Question: Please tell me, can the same device be used for “check-in” and “check out” on buses and trams, or is there a special color for each procedure? And what will appear on the screen after attaching the card? Everything there is in Dutch! How do you know that registration was successful?
Answer: For “check-in” and “check out” on buses and trams, the devices are the same; they are located on the handrails, on each side of the door.
If you do a “check-in” when entering the transport, you will hear one sound signal (“peep”), and the display of the device will show the message “IN OK SALDO...” and how much money is on the card at the time of boarding, after the deposit amount is written off ( 4 euros on the bus and 20 euros on the train).
When exiting the vehicle, during “check out”, you will hear a double beep (two “beeps”) and see the inscription “UIT OK SALDO...”, how much was debited for the trip and the remaining balance on the card.
And yet, during “check-in” and “check-out” the main thing is NOT to miss and to place the card on the pink reader logo, and not anywhere else. If a person by mistake did not check-out, then for the system he continues to drive until the balance is written off for the longest trip along this route.

Question: Please clarify, the NS website has information about Route cart, incl. Traject Vrij Monthly ticket. As I understand it, these are travel tickets. Are they accessible to tourists?
Answer: Of course, a tourist can buy such a travel ticket, but the question is: will it be beneficial for him? A monthly pass represents travel on a given route by train for a month, and this is definitely more expensive than paying with an OV-chipkaart card or buying a ticket.

Question: On one of the sites about public transport in Amsterdam I read the following information: “The cost of travel on the NS train will be the same when using a card or purchasing a one-time ticket.”
Answer: The cost of a one-time train ticket will be the same as when purchasing it online. At the box office and in the machine, its cost will be 1 euro more expensive.

Question: For the metro, trams and buses you can buy a ticket for a given period of time in the form of a paper card:

1. GVB 24 Hours (1 day) - 7.50 EUR
2. GVB 48 Hours (2 days) - 12.00 EUR
3. GVB 72 Hours (3 days) - 16.50 EUR
4. GVB 96 Hours (4 days) - 21.00 EUR
5. GVB 120 Hours (5 days) - 26.00 EUR
6. GVB 144 Hours (6 days) - 29.50 EUR
7. GVB 164 Hours (7 days) - 32.00 EUR

Did I understand correctly that if I plan to stay in Holland for a week and travel for the most part on trams, then such a pass is much more profitable for me (with an additional purchase of a train ticket if necessary), since I do not need to spend 7.50 on the card and, possibly, 2.50 to return it.
Answer: The paper GVB card is only valid in Amsterdam and how profitable it is depends on the intensity and distance of travel around the city. If it’s only once a day and a couple of stops, then it’s probably easier to buy a one-time ticket from the driver. If more often and further, then, of course, it is more profitable.

Question: If I need to travel from The Hague in transit through Leiden to Amsterdam: do I need The Hague-Leiden and Leiden-Amsterdam for this day and take any train? Or can you immediately buy The Hague-Amstredam, and then get off in Leiden, take a walk, and continue the trip? Is some kind of validation required for these tickets upon boarding?
Answer: You can buy a direct ticket from The Hague to Amsterdam, get off in Leiden, walk around and then continue on to Amsterdam. Tickets for a specific route are not tied to a specific place and time; they are valid for one day from 00:00 to 04:00 the next day.

Question: Do I understand correctly that you can only use a card or you can also pay in cash? And how to return the remaining money from OV-chipkaart? As I understand it, you can only return an amount below 30 euros minus 2.5 euros of administrative expenses.
Answer: You can either use a debit card (at any machine on the street, at a train station or in a store), or at OV-chipkaart card sales points (as a rule, they are located at train stations, at the airport, in newspaper stores). The seller can top up the card with the amount you need and you can pay him in cash.
You can return the balance from the card at OV-chipkaart service points

Question: Can I use one OV-chipkaart card for two people or should I take a card for each?
Answer: It is not possible for two people to use the OV-chipkaart card; each passenger must have their own card (say, like on a Russian bus - you don’t take one ticket for two?)

Question: Tell me where and how to contact if I forgot to do a “check-out”?
Answer: Contact the office of that transport company. which were used: GVB, Connexxion, EBS, etc.

Question: I read that for a ticket purchased in Amsterdam on a tram from a conductor or driver, you also need to do “check-in” and “check-out”, because it is valid for 90 minutes. That is, you can travel for some time, get off at the check-out, and then after some time get on another tram (for example, a return one). Is it so?
Answer: So! True, a ticket purchased from a driver/conductor is valid for 60 minutes, not 90. For it, “check-in” and “check-out” are also required. Within an hour you can transfer to another tram/bus (for example, a return one), that is, not in the total hour, but within an hour from the first validation.

Question: If a child is almost 4 years old, how can he prove to the inspectors that he is not yet 4? Do I need to carry his documents with me?
Answer: There is no need to prove your age; the inspectors take your word for it.

Question: In connection with a trip with a 10-year-old child to Leiden and Amsterdam, the following questions have accumulated:
1. “Rail runner” ticket for children from 4 to 11 years old - where can I buy it?
2. How much does it cost?
3. Can I use it on the train as well as on the bus?
4. How long does it last?
5. What are the terms of use that you need to know if travel is necessary every day?
I answer point by point:
1. Children's "Rail runner" tickets can be purchased at ticket offices or train ticket machines.
2. Ticket costs 2.50 euros
3. Valid ONLY for domestic train travel (not valid for other types of public transport)
4. Valid all day
5. From the terms of use: a child with a “Rail runner” ticket can travel alone in second class carriages. In 1st class carriages he can only travel if accompanied by an adult.

Question: Is the 7.5 euros paid upon purchase refunded or not?
Answer: No.

If, after reading this article about, you still haven’t found the answer to your question, feel free to ask it in the comments, and I (and perhaps the staff of the OV-chipkaart service, represented by Oksana and Mikhail) will try to answer them.

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 Vehicle: 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 city ​​network, here on the main routes there are up to 12 trains per hour. 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 the same rules apply everywhere. national system tariffs. Tickets can be purchased at automatic ticket offices by paying with coins or by bank card(the only credit card accepted 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 on English language. 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 purchase your ticket in advance from open date, which will take effect as soon as you step onto the platform, but it will not become cheaper - this is simply for the convenience of passengers. 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 for it regular price plus 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 lovers nightlife 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). There are also trains to North Brabant on the nights from Friday to Saturday and from Saturday to Sunday: 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. Various sales promotions are held every month 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 in advance railway ticket at a discount, and finding someone who is going to the same place as you will not be a problem. This ticket is valid only on weekends, on weekdays from 9:00, on days 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 usually used to travel to small towns or in small regions, rather than between them. Usually it is convenient to travel by bus over distances of no more than 10 km.

Besides, bus routes have a big drawback - they are not straight. 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. Typically, a ticket will cost more than a day ticket, or you will have to buy a special ticket in advance for night bus. In some cases, regular strippenkaart do not work and can only be used for daytime travel.

Automobile

Car - good way Explore rural areas, especially those not accessible 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 a 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 tracking system. average speed car 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. Telephone emergency service 112 (free, you can dial even from a disconnected mobile phone); regular, non-urgent police call - 0900-8844.

gas station

Fuel is easy to find. There are many highways along gas stations working 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. There are more and more automatic gas stations (even along highways), where gasoline is sold at more low 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 to compensate high price, additives are added to them to 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 are planning to visit Big City, especially Amsterdam, but also other big cities like Utrecht or Rotterdam, seriously consider getting there by public transport, this will allow you to avoid traffic jams and the huge 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, due to the availability of developed infrastructure: 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 own routes, linking together marked and numbered waypoints 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 railway stations and in big cities. Never leave your bike in the parking lot near the station, use guarded bike parking (stalling). Usually use 2 locks different types(for example, a locking chain and a lock on the handset). 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 bicycles 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.

- right-hand drive (steering wheel on the left).

The country has good transport infrastructure. An extensive system of highways and expressways, an extensive railway and bus network cover the entire country, providing ease of communication with any point. The road condition is excellent.

On motorways the speed limit is 120 km/h, on local highways - 100 km/h, within settlements- 50 or even 30 km/h, police radars are installed everywhere.

The central strip of many streets is reserved for public transport. On city streets, priority in traffic order is given to cyclists.

Parking on many streets, especially in areas with a concentration of attractions and public transport stops, is extremely difficult.

Last changes: 24.02.2013

Public transport

The cities have a unified urban transport system (GVB), including trams, trolleybuses and buses (including night routes “nachtbussen”).

Cities are divided into transport zones, and depending on the route of travel, coupons must be validated as many times as the number of zones the route crosses. At night, bus fares double for one or two zones, and one and a half times for three zones.

A ticket for one trip is valid for an hour and costs ~1.5 EUR. It is more profitable to purchase multi-use “strippenkaarten” tickets, consisting of several coupons (15 coupons cost ~5 EUR), as well as one-day “dagkaart” for ~6 EUR and nine-day single passes for 22-30 EUR.

Amsterdam's public transport consists of buses, trams, 4 metro lines and 4 ferry crossings.

Taxis can be taken at a special parking lot or ordered by phone. The basic tariff is about 2 EUR plus 1-1.5 EUR per kilometer.

The Dutch often use bicycles as a means of transportation - their number exceeds the number of inhabitants of the country. On roads and city streets, a separate place is required for bicycle lanes, and there are special parking lots for bicycles on almost every corner. Bicycles can also be rented at special points.

Last changes: 18.04.2010

Aviation transport

Main airport Schiphol is a hub for local and international airlines. At the airport you can use luggage storage services (there are automatic and regular luggage storage facilities for up to one month) and an information center, as well as rent a mobile phone.

An economical option to get from Schiphol Airport to Amsterdam is a free city bus that runs on schedule.

Last changes: 04.06.2010

Railway transport

Dutch railways have modern rolling stock and strict adherence to traffic schedules. Suburban and intercity passenger trains usually operate until 1:00-2:00 with an hourly interval.

Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS) trains serve as the main means of transportation in the country.

Large cities are connected with each other at intervals of half an hour or fifteen minutes. The main hubs are Amsterdam and nearby Utrecht. Most trains are fast InterCity (IC) and Sneltrein. Regional trains that stop at each station are simply called Stoptrein.

The price does not depend in any way on the type of train; there are no surcharges for domestic traffic. Tickets are relatively inexpensive. If you plan to travel extensively around Holland, then the EuroDomino Netherlands pass is probably the right choice for you.

If you are traveling by train, pay attention to signs on the platforms. Most trains go to or through Central station Amsterdam, but it may turn out that the train approaching the underground platform is not heading to another city or country, but only to the other end of the city to the southern station.