Getting around Holland is quite different from the US. Public transport is very very good. You can go almost anywhere using public transport. Within the big cities, you’ll find that trams and busses are the easiest way to get around. Walking to certain attractions will be fine but for the slightly longer trips, or if you feel you’d rather save your legs for the attractions, then public transport is the answer.

Trains

Traveling by train is very convenient, especially since most of Holland is connected via rail. Its not a very big country, so most destinations can be reached within a 2 hour journey. Buying tickets is very easy. NS is cutting its ticket booths in favour of its automated ticketing machines. These are very easy to use and you can choose from many different languages. You can buy any kind of train ticket from this machine, even tickets to France, Germany and Belgium. Please note, you have to buy a ticket before you board your train, you will get fined if you are found on the train without a ticket. Do not try to risk it, because you will get caught and have to pay a fine on top of your ticket price in cash! So its not worth trying to save a few pennies.

Amsterdam

If you’re visiting Amsterdam you will find everyone uses public transport. The public transport operator is called GVB, which stands for Gemeentevervoerbedrijf (City Transport Company). You may want to buy the day cards while travelling around Amsterdam. These day cards are valid for travel on all trams, the metro, busses and night busses. The day cards come in 4 variations:

24 hours € 7.00
48 hours € 11.50
72 hours € 15.00
96 hours € 18.00

You can also purchase these cards at the tourist information along with the I amstedam Cards. For information on this card Click here

The Hague

In The Hague, you can also buy a day card, which is very handy when traveling around this city. The public transport operator in The Hague is called HTM, which stands for Haagsche Tramweg Maatschappij (Hague’s tramway company). For a local day card, with which you can travel on the busses and trams, but not interliner busses, it will cost €6.40. If you wish to travel a little further to the historical places like Delft and zoetemeer, you can buy the day card plus, for €8.80. You cannot buy these on the bus, s make sure you buy them before you travel.

Rotterdam

Rotterdam is a big city with lots to see, so buying a day card here is advisable. The Rotterdam public transport operator is called RET, which stands for Rotterdamse Elektrische Tram (Rotterdam’s electric tram). They are sold in 3 variations, the 1, 2 and 3 day cards. These cards are to be used when riding on the RET Trams, busses and metro.

1 day card € 6.00

2 day card € 9.00

3 day card € 12.00