Train Travel in the Netherlands and other Netherlands Transportation Tips

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Train
Getting TO/AROUND: Most of the Dutch train transportation is provided by the Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS).

Some local lines are served by:
- Syntus (Overijssel and Gelderland)
- Arriva(Groningen and Friesland)
- Veolia (Limburg)
- Prignitzer Eisenbahn (Enschede to Gronau in Germany).

Historical steam trains:
Hoorn-Enkhuizen Museum Steam Train
Zuid-Limburge Stoomtrein Maatschappij

International trains:
- TGV or Thalys (to France)
- Eurostar (to London via the Chunnel)
- NS High speed website

- High Speed Line information

- Benelux Railroad network

Recommended Dutch daytrips by train

Dutch Trains Start page

Dutch Public transportation journeyplanner

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Website: http://www.ns.nl

'Mode': TO
Category: Bus
Getting TO/AROUND: Traveling just across the border into Germany or Belgium is not always easy.

Train connections are limited to a few tracks:
-Roosendaal Antwerpen
-Maastricht to Belgium and Aachen, Germany
-Arnhem into Germany along the Rhine river
-Enschede to Gronau and Münster, Germany
-Oldenzaal to Hannover and Berlin

Most of the train connections will take you further into germany or Belgium than you may want.
For shorter border crossing visits, there are many local bus connections, but also these have their limits (especial in the weekends). An example is the Hermes bus company, that took over the Eindhoven area transport.

More information about Cross border busses. Be aware that the Dutch market is on contract basis and a region can be taken over by a different company at the time new tenders are being rewarded.

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'Mode': AROUND
Category: Train
Getting TO/AROUND: The Netherlands is ideal to explore by bicycle.

Most train stations have supervised bicycle parking for Euro 1.10 per day.
Furthermore there are plublic unguarded bicycle locations. Parking on the pavement/street in front of a station normally is not allowed; at some stations wrongly parked bicycles will be removed!

You can take your bicycle with you on the train outside the rush hours (mo-fr: 9AM - 4.30PM and after 6PM). A day ticket for your bicycle is Euro 6.00. Bicycle may only stored in thr train at the special bicycle area indicated with a bicycle logo at the related train entrance.

At about 80 stations cou can rent a bicycle for Euro 2.85 per 20 hours. This is a membership agreement for which you pay an additional Euro 7.50 annual fee. In 2009 the NS started Electric scooter renting service at some major stations. A helmet is not required; a driver license is. The radius without charging is 60 km. Costs are Euro 7.50 for 3 hours or Euro 15.00 for 20 hours.

Just renting a bicycle at a private bicycle shop can cost up to Euro 25.00 a day depending on the type of bike.
Remember to bring passport and a deposit.

Dutch bicycle websites

Dutch Railways website

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Website: http://www.OV-fiets.nl

'Mode': TO
Category: Train
Getting TO/AROUND: The Dutch Railways (NS) has special tickets for daytrips in Spring, Summer and Autumn.

The tickets are called Lentetoer, Zomertoer and Herfsttoer.

With this ticket 2 persons can travel first class unlimited for one day in the Netherlands by train for € 39,50.

On weekdays valid from 9AM; in the weekends all day.

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Website: http://www.ns.nl/cs/Satellite/travellers

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Car/Motor Home
Getting TO/AROUND: Dutch highway links:

Traffic Jam:
Overview
Traffic Radar

Multiple links

Webcams:
A4 Schiphol
A44/A44 Burgerveen
A4/A10 Nieuwe Meer
A2/A12 Oudenrijn
A2/A27 Everdingen
A50/A73 Ewijk
A2/A9 Holendrecht
A1/A28 Hoevelaken
A12/A27 Lunetten
A27/A28 Rijnsweerd

General:
Highway pictures
Autoselwegen.nl
Intersections
Hitchhike pickup locations
Slippery roads information

Individual Highways:
A1 Highway
A2 Highway
A12 Highway
A20 Highway
A35 Highway
A58 Highway

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'Mode': AROUND
Category: Car/Motor Home
Getting TO/AROUND: The Dutch Road signs:

A1-Maximum speed
A2-End of maximum speed
A3-Maximum speed electronically indicated
A4-Adviced speed
A5-End of adviced speed

B1-Priority road
B2-End of priority road
B3-Crossing with priority over left & right
B4-Crossing with priority over left traffic
B5-Crossing with priority over right traffic
B6-Give way
B7-STOP and give way

C1-Do not enter from either side
C2-Do not enter; 1 way road
C3-1 way road straight ahead
C4-1 way road; make a right

The rest of the Dutch Road signs

Dutch road surface markings

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Website: http://www.verkeerenwaterstaat.nl/?lc=uk&page=6

'Mode': TO
Category: Car/Motor Home
Getting TO/AROUND: Hitchhiking is pretty safe.

A few things:
No walking on the highways.
Use a clear destination sign if you want a fast pickup.
Best places are gasstation at highway entries or gasstation/rest areas of the highways. You may have to walk some kilometers to reach those spots.

Hitchhike pickup locations

Better is to arrange a ride upfront using the Liftcentrale website.

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Website: http://www.hitchhikers.org/index.cgi?lang=en

'Mode': TO
Category: Ship/Boat
Getting TO/AROUND: The Netherlands can be reached via the Northsea; see these websites:

General:
Dutch ferry start page

Ferries to Dutch Islands:
Texel
Vlieland & Terschelling
Ameland or Schiermonnikoog
Borkum (Germany)

To/From the United Kingdom:
Stena Lines
Norfolk Line
DFDS Seaways

Cargo Ships:
Cargoship Cruises
Holiday on a cargoship

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'Mode': AROUND
Category: Ship/Boat
Getting TO/AROUND: Various Dutch boating hyperlinks:

Catamaran sailing at Texel
Powerboating from Den Oever
Waterland North of Amsterdam
Boating at the Loosdrechtse Plassen
Rental boats in Utrecht
Avifauna canal boat, Alphen aan den Rijn
Row boats at Zoeterwoude
Watertaxi of Rotterdam
Chinese whisperboat at Giessen
Whisperboat at Spijkenisse
Boating at the Biesbosch
Boating at Breda
Tapas boat at Haringvliet
Power boating at Ameland
Frisian boat trips
Skūtsje sailing
Cano, kayak or whisperboat at Ossenzijl
Bicycle boat in the provinces of Zuid Holland, Brabant & Limburg

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