How to NL

Buses, trams, and metros

If you just want to know how to get from A to B within the European 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.

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 public transport concessions. 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 maps 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.)

The following are the concession holders in 2018. The numbering follows the numbering in this map from OV in Nederland.

In the list below, a. signifies 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 also the sky page). Not included are the rail-only concessions. Concession holders run services within an area, and also services to neighbouring areas, i.e. their service areas all overlap to some degree.

Always check for the latest information, especially in the larger cities.

1. Zuidoost-Fryslân en Wadden: Arriva. Timetables and maps: the printed map (District, Drachten).
2. Noord- en Zuidwest-Fryslân en Schiermonnikoog: Arriva. Timetables and maps: Timetables and maps: 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 maps (district, Groningen City, Assen, Emmen, Qliner/Q-link/train network, Q-link network), and digital map.
   • HOV lines (express buses with more-comfortable seats) run by Arriva, bus 304 314 315 324 335. Timetables.
   • 6 different mini-concessions, including Connexxion Taxi Services that run the town buses of Hoogeveen (OV-chipkaart not valid) and Meppel (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 the printed map (District, Texel, Alkmaar, Schagen, Castricum, Den Helder, Hoorn).
   1. Texel [Wadden/Frisian Island]: two fixed bus routes (28, 828) and other reservation-only minibuses. OV-chipkaart can only be used on the fixed bus routes. (The bus 33 in Den Helder (mainland) between the ferry terminal and the train station is now free of charge.)
5. IJsselmond [western Overijssel plus Flevoland except Lelystad and Almere city services]: OV Regio IJsselmond, subsidiary of Connexxion. Timetables, printed timetables, map, and the printed map (District, Kampen, Dronten).
6. Midden Overijssel [central Overijssel]: Syntus (Keolis). Timetables and map, the printed map (District, Deventer, Zwolle, Hardenberg).
7. Twente [eastern Overijssel]: Syntus (Keolis, under the brand Twents. Timetables and map and the printed map (District, Enschede, Glanerbrug, Haaksbergen, Oldenzaal, Hengelo, Almelo). Includes the Oldenzaal – Hengelo – Zupthen train service.
8. Veluwe [northern Gelderland]: Syntus (Keolis. Timetables and map, the printed map (District, Apeldoorn, Ede, Harderwijk).
9. Achterhoek-Rivierenland [huge eastern and western flanks of Gelderland, respectively]: Arriva. Timetables and maps, printed maps of Achterhoek (District, Zutphen/Warnsveld, Doetinchem, Terborg/Gaanderen, 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, printed maps (Arnhem, Nijmegen, District). Spot the trolleybuses in Arnhem. This concession includes the Arnhem – Doetinchem weekday train service. See also my Arnhem–Nijmegen bus network maps.
11. Haarlem-IJmond [west of Amsterdam]: Connexxion. Timetables, printed timetables, maps, and the printed map.
    • See also GVB ferries on the North Sea Canal.
12. Zaanstreek [Zaandam and surroundings, northwest of Amsterdam]: Connexxion. Timetables, printed timetables, maps, and the printed map.
13. Waterland [northeast of Amsterdam]: EBS. Printed timetables 2018, many printed maps, and the main printed map (District, Purmerend, Edam/Volendam, Monnickendam).
14. Stadsvervoer Lelystad [city in Flevoland]: Arriva. Timetables and map, the printed map.
15. Busvervoer Almere [southwest corner of Flevoland]: Keolis Nederland, under the brand allGo (English). printed maps: the main map, R-net, night bus system map, BRT Metro system map.
16. Amstelland-Meerlanden [southwest of Amsterdam, Schiphol and surroundings]: Connexxion. Timetables, printed timetables, maps, and the printed map.
    • Amsterdam Schiphol Airport AMS
17. Stadsvervoer Amsterdam: GVB (English). Timetables, maps: everything, night network, metro and trams, IJ ferries and digital map. See also GVB ferries.
18. Gooi- en Vechtstreek [southeast of Amsterdam]: Connexxion. Timetables, printed timetables, maps, and the printed map (District, Huizen, Hilversum, Naarden-Bussum).
19. Zuid-Holland Noord [northern South-Holland]: Arriva. Printed timetables and maps, the printed map (District, Leiden, Alphen aan den Rijn, Gouda).
20. Provincie Utrecht [eastern and western flanks of Utrecht Province]: Syntus (English) (Keolis). Journey planner, printed timetables and map, and the printed map (District, Amersfoort).
21. Regio Utrecht [Utrecht city and surroundings]: Qbuzz, under the U-OV brand. Timetables, printed timetables, maps, the printed network map of bus, tram, train, and digital map.
22. DAV-gebied [southeast of Rotterdam]: Arriva. Printed timetables and maps, the printed map (District, Dordrecht, Sliedrecht, Gorichem). This concession includes the MerwedeLingelijn (Dordrecht – Geldermalsen) train service.
    • See Waterbus.
    • See Riveer.
23. Haaglanden streek [districts north and south of The Hague]: Connexxion. Timetables, printed timetables, printed maps: (District, Delft, Zoetermeer).
24. Rail Haaglanden + Stadsbus Den Haag [The Hague and nearby inland cities]: HTM (English, Deutsch). Timetables and maps, and the printed network maps of trams and buses.
25. Rail Rotterdam + Bus Rotterdam: RET (English). Timetables, maps, printed maps: everything, frequent network, metro network, tram network, night bus network.
    • ParkShuttle: Connexxion. Driverless vehicles from Kralingse Zoom metro station in Rotterdam to Rivium Business Park in Capelle aan den IJssel.
    • 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 the printed map.
27. Hoeksche Waard en Goeree-Overflakkee [south and further-southwest of Rotterdam]: Connexxion. Timetables, printed timetables, maps, and the printed map (District, Middelharnis, Oud-Beijerland).
28. Zeeland: Connexxion. Timetables, printed timetables, maps, and the 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 maps (peak season, shoulder seasons).
    • See Westerschelde Ferry.
29. West-Brabant [western Noord-Brabant]: Arriva, under the brand Bravo. Timetables and maps, printed maps: District, and from west to east: Bergen op Zoom, Roosendaal, Zevenbergen, Zundert, Terheijden/Wagenberg, Breda, Made, Oosterhout, Andel/Wijk en Aalburg, Land van Heusden en Altena.
    • See Riveer.
30. Oost-Brabant [eastern Noord-Brabant]: Arriva, under the brand Bravo. Timetables and maps, printed maps: District, and from west to east: Tilburg, Langstraat, 's-Hertogenbosch [Den Bosch], Oss/Nistelrode/Uden, Veghel/Uden.
31. Zuidoost-Brabant [Eindhoven Region, southwest Noord-Brabant]: Hermes (subsidiary of Connexxion), under the brand Bravo. Timetables, printed timetables, map, and the printed map (District, Eindhoven and surrounding towns, Eindhoven City Centre, Gemert, Beek en Donk, Duizel/Eersel, Bergeijk, Valkenwaard/Dommelen, Asten/ Someren/Heusden.
    • Eindhoven Airport EIN
32. Limburg: Arriva. Timetables and maps, printed maps: Noord-Limburg, Midden-Limburg, Zuid-Limburg, Maastricht network, Maastricht night network, Venlo network, train and fast bus network.
    • Maastricht Aachen Airport MST

In addition, R-net is a brand for high-frequency public transport currently operating in the core cities in Noord-Holland, Zuid-Holland, and Almere, including some buses, trams, metros, trains. R-net vehicles have unified branding, but are operated by the same operators as the usual public transport operators of the area. The branding is said to be expanded to, e.g., Utrecht, and Amsterdam metro will be subsumed under the R-net branding mid 2018.

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.

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.

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).

Connexxion and some of its subsidiaries are running what are essentially shared-taxis, but between bus-stops (and some other designated stops without normal bus services) within a given area, at a price that is a bit higher than a bus ride. The largest scheme is Breng flex operating in Arnhem area and Nijmegen area (two separate operation areas).