Travel Around in The Netherlands. The horizontal nature of the countryside makes the humble bicycle the ideal device for getting around, though there are decent train and bus networks to transport those with pedal-weary feet. You can also drive or motorcycle around, but only if you have an impeccable sense of direction and a knack for finding parking spaces.  Air  Sea  Rail  Road  UrbanTransport  Travel Times (timetable) Air KLM Cityhopper (WA) operates between Amsterdam and Eindhoven. Transavia Airlines (HV) (part owned by KLM) also run scheduled flights. Martinair Holland (MP) operates passenger and cargo charter services. Enquire at KLM offices or at The Netherlands Board of Tourism for further information section). Sea Ferry services operate to the Wadden Islands, Ameland, Schiermonnikoog, Terschilling, Texel and Vlieland, across the IJsselmeer (former Zuyder Sea) and Schelde Estuary. There is also a ferry service to the Frisian Islands across the Waddenzee. For travellers wanting to visit any of the Wadden Islands (five islands), the Wadden Ticket allows return travel by bus, train and ferry to an island of choice. The pass is valid for one day of the departure journey and one day of the return journey, although the period between the two must not exceed a year. Contact The Netherlands Board of Tourism for further details. Boat Tours runs excursions from Amsterdam, Arnhem, Delft, Giethoorn, Groningen, Maastricht, Rotterdam and Utrecht. Stena Line operates a daily service for private cars, freight and trailers. Rail On the website of the Netherlands Railways ,the state-owned rail company that operates most lines within the Netherlands, you can find travel information and all other information regarding (additional) services, ticket offers, how to book tickets, payment methods, seat reservation, useful adresses, on board service and travelling in general. The highly developed rail network is reliable, comfortable and relatively cheap. Both Intercity and local trains run at least half-hourly on the principal routes. Rail and bus timetables are integrated, and there is a common fare structure throughout the country. It is allowed to take your bike on the train. The Holland Rail Pass allows you unlimited travel in the Netherlands for either 3 or 5 days within one month. Reduced rates are available for senior citizens (over 60), travellers under 26 years and children. Every second person travels half-price. Tickets must be purchased from International Rail before travel. Summer Trip Passes are available between 1st July to 9th September and provide two people with 3 days of unlimited travel within a period of 10 days for only a single fare. Summer Trip Plus Passes are available for unlimited travel on all public transport buses and trams in town and country, and on the underground system in Amsterdam and Rotterdam. Tickets cost between €45-72.50. Euro Passes are available for travel in The Netherlands and Belgium. Three- to eight-day passes are available. The Benelux Tourrail Card allows unlimited travel for any 5 days within a one-month period, covering The Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg. Inter-Rail passes are also valid in The Netherlands. Child’s Railrunner tickets, which cost €1, are available for children aged between four and 11 years travelling with a fare-paying adult (19 years or older), and include up to 3 children travelling with any one adult. Children under 4 years of age travel free on all journeys within The Netherlands. Detailed railway map AMSTERDAM (PDF-file) Detailed railway map THE HAGUE (PDF-file) Detailed railway map ROTTERDAM (PDF-file) Detailed railway map UTRECHT (PDF-file) Road There is an excellent road system. Visitors to The Netherlands may use credit cards when obtaining petrol. Driving is on the right. The rush hours (0700 hrs-0900 hrs and 1700 hrs-1900 hrs) should be avoided throughout the whole country. Drivers should be particularly aware of cyclists and there are special cycle lanes. Headlights should be dipped in built-up areas, but it is prohibited to use sidelights only. Children under 12 years of age should not travel in the front seat. Seat belts are compulsory. Speed limits are: 80kph (50mph) on major roads. 120kph (75mph) on motorways 50kph (30mph) in towns. Documentation: An International Driving Permit is not required, as long as a driving licence from the country of origin is held. EU pink format licences are accepted. However, it is sometimes advised for non-members of the EU. Trailers and caravans are allowed in without documents. A Green Card is advised, but not compulsory. Without it, drivers with motor insurance policies in their home country are granted only the minimum legal cover in The Netherlands, the Green Card tops this up to the level of cover provided by the driver’s own policy. The motoring association in The Netherlands is the ANWB (Royal Dutch Touring Club), PO Box 93200, 2509 BA The Hague (telephone number: (263) 860 249). There is a chronic shortage of parking space, especially in central Amsterdam. Parking regulations are quite strict and failure to park in prescribed areas or to pay the parking fee can result in a fine and the prospect of the car being clamped or towed away. Urban Transport Public transport is very well developed in the cities and large towns. A national public transport ticketing system ('strippenkaart') exists for most public transportation systems. The cards can be bought in advance at public transportation offices, train stations, post offices, Tourist Offices (VVV) or in tobacco shops. You can also buy the strippenkaart in trams or busses itself, but this is considerably more expensive! A ticket (strippenkaart) is divided into a number of strips (2, 3, 8, 15 or 45). You will need one strip more than the number of city zones you plan to travel. Usually, travelling within a city center is within 1 or 2 zone(s), so that means 2 or 3 strips in total have to be stamped. You can either stamp the card yourself, or have it stamped by the bus driver or tram conductor. Several people can travel on the same card, as long as the correct number of strips is stamped. Your stamp is valid for one hour, so you can transfer to other buses, subways and trams as long as you stay within the zones you originally stamped your ticket for. Next to the cards, it is often also possible to buy individual and multi-day tickets for within the bigger cities. Bus: An etensive regional bus networks exist. Long-distance coaches also operate between the cities, but costs are generally on a par with trains. Taxi Taxis have an illuminated "taxi" sign on the roof and there are taxi ranks at railway stations and at various other points throughout the cities. Rather than hailing taxis in the street, it is more usual in The Netherlands to order a taxi by telephone. Taxis can be fairly expensive and should have meters inside to indicate the fare. A small tip will be appreciated. Amsterdam: Amsterdam has an extensive network of buses, trams and also the metro underground, with frequent services from early morning to around midnight. There are less frequent services throughout the night at a higher cost. Full information on services, including a map, day tickets and strippenkaart (strip-tickets) can be obtained from the GVB office in front of the Central Station (0700 hrs-2230 hrs daily) or the GVB Central Office at Prins Hendrikkade 108-114. Amsterdam’s 17 tram lines provide a frequent , reliable service, fast, and reliable service, making the tram the best way to travel around the capital. The Trams operate from Monday-Friday 0600 hrs-2400hrs and on Saturday from 0630 hrs and on Sunday 0730 hrs. The tram system (as well as the buses and the underground) enables reasonably quick travel even during the rush hour. Trams leave from Central Station: 1 and 2 traverse the main canals, 19 takes a route to Museumplein and Concertgebouw and 9 and 14 to the Muziektheater and Waterlooplein market. The Circle Tram operates through central Amsterdam, taking in major attractions and hotels. Amsterdam’s underground lines all originate at the Central Station and serve the southeastern business district as well as the suburbs. Metro trains run from Monday-Friday 0600 hrs-0015 hrs and on Saturday from 0630 hrs and on Sunday 0730 hrs. Canal Buses run every 25 to 45 minutes between the Central Station and Rijksmuseum and children under the age of five travel free. Bicycle hire is an excellent way to travel around Amsterdam, and it seems nearly everyone is trying it. Cycle lanes are clearly marked by the white lines, but visitors are advised to watch out for trams, cars and pedestrians. There are numerous companies hiring out bikes locally. Rotterdam: Rotterdam has excellent bus and tram services and a three-line underground network, which all work on the strippenkaart zonal system. Information is available from the Central Station. The Hague: The Hague has bus and tram services and Information is available from the Central Station. Travel Times (timetable) The following chart gives approximate travel times (in hours and minutes) from Amsterdam to other major cities in The Netherlands.   Air Road Rail The Hague - 0.40 0.44 Rotterdam - 1.00 1.00 Utrecht - 0.25 0.30 Groningen - 2.00 2.20 Arnhem - 1.10 1.10 Maastricht 0.40 2.30 2.30 Vlissingen - 2.00 2.45 Eindhoven 0.30 1.30 1.25 Breda - 1.30 1.50

If the website does not offer the information or links that you are searching for, please do not hesitate to contact us. Our staff has extensive knowledge of The Netherlands and will probably be able to help you out with most questions.