Public Transport in the Netherlands
The Netherlands has a dense public transport network used by millions of people every day.
The Dutch public transport network spans 79 624 km with 1 997 lines operated by 132 different operators.
National Transit Map
All routes in the NetherlandsThe map shows public transport routes across the Netherlands. Click any route to view line details.
Transport Modes
6 modes| Mode | Lines | Routes | Stops | Length km | Operators |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
subway
|
10 | 24 | 584 | 492 | 2 |
|
light_rail
|
3 | 6 | 202 | 91 | 1 |
|
tram
|
45 | 90 | 3 463 | 989 | 7 |
|
trolleybus
|
5 | 10 | 404 | 95 | 1 |
|
bus
|
1 825 | 3 973 | 261 729 | 77 731 | 66 |
|
ferry
|
109 | 229 | 509 | 1 461 | 61 |
Transport by Province
12 provincesNotable Lines
Longest and busiest routesLongest lines
flex Bravoflex Zuidoost-Brabant 3628.9 km flex Bravoflex West-Brabant 2358.2 km - Ferry: Teesport <=> Europoort 916.8 km HaltetaxiRRReis HaltetaxiRRReis 673.4 km N819 Flixbus N819: Hamburg <=> Calais 434.5 km N818 Flixbus N818: Hamburg <=> Bruxelles 414.8 km 833 Flixbus 833: Amsterdam <=> Aachen 403.1 km N831 Flixbus N831: Amsterdam <=> Zürich 363.3 km 831 Flixbus 831: Amsterdam <=> Luxemburg 363.3 km 178 Bus 178 310.0 kmOperators
40 operatorsNetworks
40 networksFrequently Asked Questions
About public transport in the NetherlandsHow many public transport lines are there in the Netherlands?
The Netherlands has 1 997 public transport lines operating across 4 332 routes with a combined network length of 79 624 km.
What types of public transport exist in the Netherlands?
The Dutch public transport network includes several transport modes:
- bus 1 825 lines
- ferry 109 lines
- tram 45 lines
- subway 10 lines
- trolleybus 5 lines
- light_rail 3 lines
Bus is by far the most common mode, supplemented by rail, tram and metro in the major cities.
How many public transport stops are there in the Netherlands?
There are 44 421 public transport stops spread across 1 997 lines throughout the Netherlands.
Who operates public transport in the Netherlands?
Public transport in the Netherlands is operated by 40 operators, including:
- Arriva (401 lines, 15441.4 km)
- Qbuzz (281 lines, 15006.9 km)
- EBS (249 lines, 10297.6 km)
- Connexxion (200 lines, 8286.8 km)
- Transdev (160 lines, 5297.8 km)
- U-OV (137 lines, 4832.1 km)
- RET (92 lines, 2052.1 km)
- Hermes (75 lines, 2155.6 km)
- ... 40 operators
Most operators hold regional concessions awarded by the provinces or by the national government. NS operates the main rail network.
Which province has the most public transport lines?
The provinces with the most public transport lines are:
- Zuid-Holland (326 lines)
- Noord-Holland (299 lines)
- Gelderland (275 lines)
- Noord-Brabant (251 lines)
- Limburg (148 lines)
- Utrecht (138 lines)
The most densely served areas are around Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague.
Is public transport in the Netherlands good?
The Netherlands has one of the highest public transport densities in Europe, with 79 624 km of network across 1 997 lines. Rail, bus and tram services connect virtually every city and town.
Can I travel across the Netherlands with a single ticket?
Yes. The OV-chipkaart (and its digital successor OV-betalen) allows seamless travel across all operators and modes in the Netherlands. You check in and out at each leg of your journey and are automatically charged the correct fare.