Getting Around the Netherlands
The NL public transport system is one of the best in the world. Use it.
OV-chipkaart (Public Transport Card)
- Single card works for trains, trams, buses, metros, ferries across the entire country
- Two options:
- Anonymous OV-chipkaart — buy at any station for €7.50, top up as needed
- OVpay (contactless card or phone) — just tap your debit/credit card directly, no OV card needed (this is the easiest for short trips)
- Tap in when boarding, tap out when leaving — both are required
Trains (NS — Nederlandse Spoorwegen)
- Run by NS (national rail)
- Fast, frequent, clean, on time
- From Schiphol Airport: Direct trains to Amsterdam Centraal (~17 min), Utrecht (~30 min), The Hague (~30 min), Rotterdam (~25 min)
- App: NS app (download before trip — works in English)
- Buy tickets in app or via OVpay (tap in/out)
Bikes
- Most popular transport in Dutch cities
- Rentals: Swapfiets, MacBike, OV-fiets (rent at train stations with OV card)
- Bikes have dedicated lanes (red asphalt) — DO NOT walk in bike lanes
- Bike traffic rules apply (no phone, lights at night, hand signals)
- If not confident on a bike in city traffic — use trams/buses
Trams + Buses
- Cities have great tram networks (Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht)
- Tap in/out with OV card or contactless
Taxis / Uber / Bolt
- Available in major cities
- Uber + Bolt are common — usually cheaper than taxis
- Tipping not expected for taxi rides
Driving
- Probably not needed for this trip
- If you drive: international driver's permit recommended, NL drives on the right
- Parking in cities is expensive + hard to find
Apps to Download Before Trip
- NS — train schedules + tickets
- 9292 — multi-modal route planner (train + tram + bus combined)
- Google Maps — works great in NL
- Bolt OR Uber — taxi
- WhatsApp — primary messaging app in Netherlands
From Schiphol to Likely Droplet Office Location
(Update once Droplet's NL address is confirmed in 03-accommodation/accommodation-notes.md)