Netherlands Transportation Tips by ATLC Top 5 Page for this destination

Ritsen (zipping)

Traffic can be horrendous in The Netherlands. The government tries to get everyone on public transport but with the privatisation of the railway company NS, people would rather sit in their own car and wait than in overfull trains that are not on schedule.

So what do you do when you drive in a traffic jam? You try and get to the front of it. When two lanes become one, no one lets the other pass and move into the row of cars.

Huge promotion campaigns from the governement educate the driver along the motorway:

You'll find signs saying: RITSEN VANAF 300 M. meaning that some 500 m ahead of you your lane will stop so you have to "ZIP" into the other row. Basically the campaign tells you to let others in, in front of you. One by one the rows of cars "zip" to become one row.

Tests proved that if everyone keeps driving and lets others pass, then traffic jams are less.

See how it works on the website mentioned below.

Mode: AROUND

Type: Car/Motor Home

KLM (Dutch Royal Airlines)

KLM is the Dutch air company,

Mode: TO

Type: Airplane

Train info

NS (Nederlandse Spoorwegen).
All schedules can be found at the website below.

Information about trains at Schiphol Airport (Amsterdam)

--
Picture: this is a NS Ticket Vendor machine where you can buy tickets for trains. It accepts bank cards (PIN) and cash money.

Mode: AROUND

Type: Train

Rail pass

--
Day Travel Card 2nd class € 40,30
--
Railrunner - the kiddies' ticket
Under this deal, children aged 4-11 can travel under adult supervision (19 years or older) for just € 2.-.
A maximum of 3 children per adult can travel at the Railrunner price. Children can travel free up to and including the age of 3.
--
See also the English version of the NS (national railway) website below.

Mode: AROUND

Type: Train

Schedules public transport train/bus/metro/tram

www.9292ov gives you all schedules and prices on any route by public transport (metro/train/bus/tram) in The Netherlands.

NEW! English version: http://journeyplanner.9292.nl/

For the original Dutch site www.9292ov I've written a little instruction to help you use the site.
So, if you want to plan a trip in our country with public transport, use the form on the website and fill it in:

Go to www.9292ov.nl

VAN = FROM
NAAR = TO

Click TREINSTATION if you're departing from or arriviing at a train station
If clicking TREINSTATION, then you only need to fill in the name of the place/town
Cllick ADRES if you're departing from or arriving at a specific address

STRAAT=STREET: fill in street name
HUISNR=HOUSENUMBER: fill in housenumber
PLAATS=PLACE/TOWN: fill town or village name
DATUM=DATE: choose date
TIJD=TIME: choose time
Finally click GEEF REISADVIES

You get 5 possibilities at a time in the next screen.
Choose Laatste Reismogelijkheid for the latest departure
Choose Eerste Reismogelijkheid for first departure
Eerder = Earlier
Later = Later
Lopen = walking

Translations of other words used on the website
Kaart = Map
Afdrukken = Print
Advies per sms = advice per sms
Mail door = Send to mail
Bijzonderheden = special comments
Vervoer op afroep/taxi means Taxi
Reisdetails = details of the trip (all the stops in between departure and arrival)
Prijs = Price of the trip
Terugreis = journey back (it reverts your search details so that departure becomes arrival and vice versa)
Wijzig uw reis = change your trip details
Nieuw advies = new advice for a new trip

Mode: AROUND

Type: Other

Website: http://www.9292ov.nl

Day tickets for bus/metro/tram

Mind you, a 8-strippenkaart (strip card) that is stamped off as day ticket is only valid in a certain area (such as Amsterdam inner city) for bus/metro/tram and some local trains. You need 2 8-strippenkaart for a nationwide day ticket.

You should note that especially for Amsterdam, you might not even need a day ticket because you can walk quite a lot.
If you're going to have more than 4 rides on a day, then it is better value to stamp off your 8-strippenkaart as a day ticket. If it's going to be less (which is probable), then just stamp off strips as needed.
Alternately, buy yourself a 15-strippenkaart for € 6,90 (not available in buses or trams or metros) and stamp off strips as needed. In my opinion you'll get more transportation for less money.

Mode: AROUND

Type: Other

Website: http://www.vbn-bv.nl/ovinfo/algemeen_en.asp?vPaginaID=204

Buying railway tickets

If you're 60 or over or you have a disability, you can buy your ticket at the wicket with no extra cost (that's to help seniors that might not understand the ticket machines). You need a passport for that.
The ticket machines have a language option.

If under 60 and you buy 1 ticket, you pay 50 eurocent extra, if you buy 2 or more, you pay 1 euro extra. So, never more than 1 euro extra.

However, whatever age you are, you don't need to pay the 50 cent or 1 euro extra if you buy for instance:
-Weekendretour Nederland and Weekendretour naar Belgium, Germany or Luxemburg.
-Railrunner en Railrunner weekend (kids under 12)
-5 return tickets or 5 day tickets
-Public transport day ticket
-Tickets with which you travel to your destination via a non-direct route
-Other tickets or rail services
- Tickets for a route within The Netherlands to or from a country border
- Tickets with a departure other than the place where you're buying the ticket

Also a discount on the tickets itself (when you're over 60), it looks like you need a pass for that. No use for tourist travelers then.

Almost free rail travel for children under 12
NS (that's the Dutch national railway, see website below) offers free travel for children up to 4 years. From 4-11 it's 2 euro per ticket. If accompanied by an adult 19+ years of age.

Mode: AROUND

Type: Train

Website: http://www.ns.nl

Current petrol prices

The Netherlands has the world's highest tax on gas (petrol).
For years now, the price of a litre Euro95 (unleaded) has been at the top end of € 1,40-€1,50 range. Belgium is cheaper, and France is cheaper still.
Have a look at the website below to see the current petrol prices.

Mode: AROUND

Type: Car/Motor Home

Website: http://www.nu.nl/rubriek.jsp?n=937979&c=1001

Strippenkaart (bus, metro & some train connections

If you want to use public transport in The Netherlands, you will need a strippenkaart unless you have bought a pass.
It's handy to have a strippenkaart with you always. They can be bought with 15 or 45 strips at kiosks and from ticket machines or at the busdriver they are in sizes 2, 3, and 8.

A strippenkaart can be used in bus, metro and on some city train lines.
The amount of strips that should be stamped is determined by the travel distance. The travel distances are divided in zones which you can look up on a board at bus and metro stops or you can ask the bus driver.
The starting fee is one strip.
Travelling 1 zone, you need to stamp 2 strips. Travelling 2 zones you need to stamp 3 strips, etc.

The more strips you have stamped the longer the validity time in which you can travel. You can find that on the back of the "strippenkaart":
2-4 strips = 1 hour
5-7 strips = 90 minutes
etc. until:
17-20 strips is 3,5 hrs

Prices for strippenkaarten as of 1 January 2008
2 strips € 1,60
3 strips € 2,40
8 strips € 6,40
15 strips € 6,90
45 strips € 20,40

Mode: AROUND

Type: Other

Website: http://www.9292ov.nl

Luggage storage

This is valid for all Dutch trainstations except Amsterdam Central, Rotterdam Central, Utrecht and The Hague Central. I searched for info on www.ns.nl for the exact costs for Rotterdam Central but it sends me in a loop and doesn't mention. I expect it will be a bit more than what is mentioned below:

Small locker: 90cm deep, 45cm high, 40cm wide.
Large locker: 90cm deep, 60cm high, 40cm wide.

Max 24 hours (2007):
Small: 3,30 euro
Large: 4,90 euro
Maximum storage: 72 hours.
After 24 hours you pay an extra 50% more per 24 hours, and 100% extra from 48-72 hours. That is on top of the daily rate.
After 72 hours your luggage will be sent to Lost Items department in Utrecht.

If there are no luggage lockers, you can leave your luggage with the 'bagagedepot' or at the Rijwielshop (bicycleshop) or Fietspoint (bicycle point) at € 5 per day or part of a day.

Mode: TO,AROUND

Type: Train

Website: http://www.ns.nl