How to NL

Buses, trams, and metros

If you just want to know how to get from A to B within the Netherlands by public transport, 9292.nl is a handy electronic journey planner. (App: Google Play, Apple App Store.) This page is aimed at understanding entire networks, printed network maps, and other related information (i.e., geekiness).

Other than heavy-rail and ferries, there are also metros (Amsterdam, Rotterdam/The Hague), light-rail (Utrecht, The Hague), trams (Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague), trolleybuses (Arnhem), and buses in the Netherlands.

Nearly all public transport services in the Netherlands are part of a public transport concession. A public transport concession in the Netherlands can include multiple modes of transport. For instance, the Amsterdam concession includes buses, trams, and metros. The Arnhem-Nijmegen concession includes buses, trolleybuses, and one heavy-rail service during weekdays. See the map of public transport concessions in the Netherlands, and the list of public transport concessions by province, from the OV in Nederland Wiki. (The list is more detailed, as the map does not show the smallest concessions.) CROW publishes a glossy map, which can be found here.

The following are the concession holders in 2017. The numbering follows the numbering in this map from OV in Nederland. In the list below, a. b. signify sub-parts of a concession, while bullet points signify smaller separate concessions of which the operating areas overlap with that of a larger concession, or airports with regularly scheduled passenger flights (see the sky page). Concession holders run services within an area, and also services to neighbouring areas, i.e. their service areas all overlap to some degree.

1. Zuidoost-Fryslân en Wadden: Arriva. Timetables and maps: printed timetables, and printed map (District, Drachten).
   1. Vlieland; OV chipkaart can be used from 10-01-2017.
   2. Terschelling; OV chipkaart can be used from 10-01-2017.
   3. Ameland [Wadden/Frisian Island]; OV chipkaart can be used from 10-01-2017.
2. Noord- en Zuidwest-Fryslân en Schiermonnikoog: Arriva. Timetables and maps: printed timetables, and printed map (District, Leeuwarden, Heerenveen).
   1. Schiermonnikoog [Wadden/Frisian Island]: timetables, and system map. OV-chipkaart cannot be used on Schiermonnikoog (other than subscriptions like student OV-chipkaart).
3. GD [Groningen-Drenthe]: Qbuzz. Timetables, printed timetables, maps, printed map (District, Groningen, Emmen), and digital map.
   • 3 HOV lines (express buses with more-comfortable seats) run by Arriva. Timetables, and (old?)printed timetables.
   • 6 different mini-concessions, including Connexxion Taxi Services that run the town buses of Hoogeveen (printed timetable and map; OV-chipkaart not valid) and Meppel (printed timetable, printed map; OV-chipkaart not valid). Read about these mini-concessions in OV in Nederland Wiki.
   • Groningen Eelde Airport GRQ
4. Noord-Holland Noord [northern North-Holland, including Texel Island]: Connexxion. Timetables, printed timetables, maps, and printed map (District, Texel, Alkmaar, Schagen, Castricum, Den Helder, Hoorn).
   1. Texel [Wadden/Frisian Island]: one fixed bus route and other reservation-only minibuses. OV-chipkaart cannot be used on Texel itself: a ticket costing €3 includes one bus ride one way within Texel, plus one bus ride one way on bus 33 in Den Helder (mainland) between the ferry terminal and the train station. (OV-chipkaart can be used if you are just catching bus 33 within Den Helder, and not intending to use buses on Texel.)
5. IJsselmond [western Overijssel plus most of Flevoland]: OV Regio IJsselmond, subsidiary of Connexxion. Timetables, printed timetables, map, and printed map (District, Kampen, Dronten).
6. Midden Overijssel [central Overijssel]: Syntus. Timetables and map, printed map (District, Deventer, Zwolle, Hardenberg).
7. Twente [eastern Overijssel]: Syntus, under the brand Twents. Timetables and map and printed map (District, Enschede, Glanerbrug, Haaksbergen, Oldenzaal, Hengelo, Almelo). Includes the Oldenzaal – Hengelo – Zupthen train service.
8. Veluwe [northern Gelderland]: Syntus. Timetables and map, printed map (District, Apeldoorn, Ede, Harderwijk).
9. Achterhoek-Rivierenland [huge eastern and western flanks of Gelderland, respectively]: Arriva. Timetables and maps, printed timetables (Achterhoek, Rivierenland), and printed maps (Achterhoek (District, Zutphen/Warnsveld, Doetinchem, Terborg/Gaanderen, Lichtenvoorde/Lievelde, Groenlo, Winterswijk), Rivierenland (District, Geldermalsen, Tiel, Zaltbommel)). This concession includes the regional train services in this region.
10. Arnhem-Nijmegen [central Gelderland]: Hermes (subsidiary of Connexxion), under the brand Breng. Timetables, printed timetables, maps, and printed maps (Arnhem, Nijmegen, District). Spot the trolleybuses in Arnhem. This concession includes the Arnhem – Doetinchem weekday train service.
11. Haarlem-IJmond [west of Amsterdam]: Connexxion. Timetables, printed timetables, maps, and printed map (District, Hoofddorp, Amstelveen-Diemen, Schiphol).
    • See also GVB ferries on the North Sea Canal.
12. Zaanstreek [Zaandam and surroundings, northwest of Amsterdam]: Connexxion. Timetables, printed timetables (Zaanstreek), maps, and printed map.
13. Waterland [northeast of Amsterdam]: EBS. Printed timetables, many maps, and the main printed map (District, Purmerend, Edam, Volendam, Monnickendam).
14. Stadsvervoer Lelystad [city in Flevoland]: Arriva. Timetables, printed timetables (2015), and printed map (2015).
15. Stads- en streekvervoer Almere [southwest corner of Flevoland]: Connexxion. Timetables, printed timetables: Almere, maps, and printed map (includes concession 18. Gooi en Vechtstreek).
16. Amstelland-Meerlanden [southwest of Amsterdam, Schiphol and surroundings]: Connexxion. Timetables, printed timetables (Amstelland-Meerlanden), maps, and printed map.
    • Amsterdam Schiphol Airport AMS
17. Stadsvervoer Amsterdam: GVB (English). Timetables, maps, printed map (everything, night network, metro and trams), and digital map. See also GVB ferries.
18. Gooi- en Vechtstreek [southeast of Amsterdam]: Connexxion. Timetables, printed timetables, maps, and printed map (District, Huizen, Hilversum, Naarden-Bussum; includes concession 15. Almere).
19. Zuid-Holland Noord [northern South-Holland]: Arriva. Printed timetables and maps, printed timetable, and printed map (District, Leiden, Alphen aan den Rijn, Gouda).
20. Provincie Utrecht [eastern and western flanks of Utrecht Province]: Syntus (English). Journey planner, printed timetables and map, and printed map (District, Amersfoort).
21. Regio Utrecht [Utrecht city and surroundings]: Qbuzz, under the U-OV brand. Timetables, printed timetables, maps, printed network map of bus, tram, train, and digital map.
    • Nachtnet Brabant: Arriva. See below.
22. DAV-gebied [southeast of Rotterdam]: Arriva. Printed timetables and maps, printed timetable, printed timetable for buurtbus, and printed map (District, Dordrecht, Sliedrecht, Hardinxveld-Giessendam, Gorichem). This concession includes the MerwedeLingelijn (Dordrecht – Geldermalsen) train service.
    • Nachtnet Brabant: Arriva. See below.
    • See Waterbus.
    • See Riveer.
23. Haaglanden streek [districts north and south of The Hague]: Connexxion. Timetables, printed timetables, maps, and printed maps (District, Delft, Zoetermeer).
24. Rail Haaglanden + Stadsbus Den Haag [The Hague and nearby inland cities]: HTM (English, Deutsch). Timetables, and printed network map of trams and buses.
25. Rotterdam: RET (English). Timetables, maps, printed maps (everything, frequent network, metro network, tram network, night bus network), and digital map.
    • ParkShuttle: Connexxion. Driverless vehicles from Kralingse Zoom metro station in Rotterdam to Rivium Business Park in Capelle aan den IJssel.
    • Nachtnet Brabant: Arriva. See below.
    • See RET fast ferry.
    • See Waterbus.
    • Rotterdam The Hague Airport RTM
26. Voorne-Putten en Rozenburg [southwest of Rotterdam]: Connexxion. Timetables, printed timetables, maps, and printed map.
27. Hoeksche Waard en Goeree-Overflakkee [south and further-southwest of Rotterdam]: Connexxion. Timetables, printed timetables, maps, and printed map (District, Middelharnis, Oud-Beijerland).
28. Zeeland: Connexxion. Timetables, printed timetables, maps, and printed map (District, Hulst, Middelburg, Vlissingen, Goes, Zierikzee, Terneuzen).
    • Renesse: TCR. Free/gratis buses during the summer between the Transferium (park and ride) and the beach/camping grounds. Printed timetables, maps, and printed maps (peak season, shoulder seasons).
29. West-Brabant [western Noord-Brabant]: Arriva, under the brand Bravo. Timetables and maps, printed timetables (West-Brabant, Breda), and printed maps (District, and from west to east: Bergen op Zoom, Roosendaal, Zevenbergen, Terheijden/Wagenberg, Breda, Oosterhout, Land van Heusden en Altena).
    • Nachtnet Brabant: Arriva. See below.
    • See Riveer.
30. Oost-Brabant [eastern Noord-Brabant]: Arriva, under the brand Bravo. Timetables and maps, printed timetables (Oost-Brabant, Tilburg, 's-Hertogenbosch [Den Bosch]), and printed maps (District, and from west to east: Tilburg, Langstraat, 's-Hertogenbosch [Den Bosch], Oss, Veghel, Uden.).
    • Nachtnet Brabant: Arriva. Printed timetables (scroll towards the bottom). NS scrapped late night trains to Noord-Brabant in late 2015, and the network is now run by buses. Line 871: Rotterdam Centraal – Dordrecht – Breda Stationslaan – Breda Prinsenkade – Tilburg – Tilburg Interpolis – Eindhoven; Line 872 Utrecht Centraal – 's-Hertogenbosch – Eindhoven; and Line 873: 's-Hertogenbosch – [many stops] – Tilburg – Tilburg Interpolis.
31. Zuidoost-Brabant [Eindhoven Region, southwest Noord-Brabant]: Hermes (subsidiary of Connexxion), under the brand Bravo. Timetables, printed timetables, map, and printed map (District, Eindhoven and surrounding towns, Gemert, Beek en Donk, Duizel, Eersel, Bergeijk, Valkenwaard, Dommelen, Asten, Someren, Heusden.
    • Nachtnet Brabant: Arriva. See above.
    • Eindhoven Airport EIN
32. Limburg: Arriva. Timetables and maps, printed timetables (Noord- en Midden-Limburg, Sittard/Geleen, Parkstad (Heerlen), Maastricht/Heuvelland), printed maps (Noord-Limburg, Midden-Limburg, Zuid-Limburg, Maastricht network, Maastricht night network).
    • Maastricht Aachen Airport MST

There are also many Dutch and Belgian/German local buses that cross the border. See lists of these cross-border local bus services in OV in Nederland Wiki, or Grensoverschrijdende busdiensten (which has better organised lists, but outdated). OV-chipkaart is valid on some of these services, including some that are operated by German companies; check with the individual public transport providers.

There is also this website which contains a trove of current and past printed timetables in the Netherlands and beyond.

In Caribbean Netherlands, there are informal buses running in Bonaire.

Types of buses

Most usually, you just wait at a bus stop, and a bus will come, roughly following the timetable posted on the bus stop.

A special type of bus is the buurtbus. Buurtbussen are run by volunteers, usually to rural localities which would otherwise not have public transport. Please be extra nice to these bus drivers. They are run in cooperation with the main public transport provider of the wider area. Here is a list of all(?) buurtbus services in the Netherlands: buurtbus.net (but they are not necessarily up-to-date).

There is also the belbus, sometimes known under different brand names. There are published timetables for belbus services, but the services are only run if they are pre-booked by passengers. See the websites of the individual public transport providers for instructions.

Many buses/trams/metros are wheelchair-accessible. (One word to search for is toegankelijkheid 'accessibility'.) Another popular option is regiotaxi (see the page on regiotaxi's).