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Amsterdam Local Reference INFOrmation

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Buses, trams and metro in Amsterdam and North Holland

Details and contact information on the regional and city bus transport system.

Holland has four types of bus service for travel throughout the country.

City bus: serves large towns
Regional bus: covers main cities and their nearby towns
Express Service: runs in and around the main cities with fewer stops than a regional bus
Interliner: long distance connection between selected towns (makes very few stops)

Buses and trams run generally from 06:00-00:00 although on Sundays and public holidays, transport services may start a little later.

Tickets and the OV-chipkaart

The OV-chipkaart or "public transport chip card" will replace ticketing on public transport across the Netherlands. It is a credit card-sized smartcard which allows for electronic payment. Use of it is still in the roll-out phase with Rotterdam and Amsterdam only making use of the new system on all city transport. Until the system is available nationwide, other, traditional forms of ticket are still available and acceptable.

For details on the roll-out schedule across the Netherlands: Click here

The OV-chipkaart is a personal, rechargeable smartcard which can be used to pay for for multiple trips on various types of transport. A disposable OV-chipkaart is available for occasional travel. This can either be loaded with a set amount or a travel product, or a card can be bought for a single trip, short-term use or use on specific transport. To use the card, hold it up to the card reader at the entry and exit barriers of transport: the price of a trip is automatically deducted.

The OV-chipkaart website (in English) is comprehensive and explains how to use it - whether for regular or occasional travel.

For details on where to buy an OV-chipkaart: Click here

Other tickets

Tickets are available from the drivers or can be bought in advance (this is usually cheaper). Ticket strips (strippenkaarten) can be bought at post offices, railway stations, and local shops displaying the strippenkaarten sign in the window and are valid on buses, trams, metros and some rail routes. The Netherlands is divided into zones for bus and tram travel, and crossing one zone will cost one strippen.

Public transport travel information
Tel: 0900 9292
Interliner information
Tel: 0900 899 8998

Buses, Trams and Metro in Amsterdam

GVB is the main public transport company in Amsterdam. It covers bus, tram, ferry and metro services in the city, in the surrounding towns, Diemen and Amstelveen, and Amsterdam-Schiphol airport.

There are 30 bus routes, 16 tram lines, 5 ferry links and 4 metro lines in the city.

GVB provides an online guide to all its services in a number of languages.

To view timetables, maps, ticket and OV-chipkaart information in English: Click here
GVB Customer Services
Tel: 0900 8011
e-mail
Website

Metro

There are four coloured metro lines in Amsterdam. Three of the lines run from Centraal station to Gaasperplas, Gein and Westwijk. The fourth line runs from Gein to Isolatorweg.

To view a metro map: Click here

Tickets & Travel Passes

There are a number of ticket options for GVB services:

Single tickets: valid for one journey
Strippenkart: a travel card that charges passengers per trip. They are available in strips of 15 and 45 and valid for one year
24, 48, 72 and 98 hour passes: valid for unlimited travel on all GVB bus, tram, metro and night bus services
Weekly, monthly and annual season tickets

Children under the age of 4 travel for free. Children aged 4 to 11 year and people over the age of 65 are entitled to discounted travel. Reduced fare tickets must be purchased in advance.

All tickets are available at ticket offices. Certain tickets can also be purchased from machines in metro stations or in advance from post offices, Albert Jeijn supermarkets and tobacconists. Passengers can also purchase tickets on board trams and buses from the driver or conductor.

For more information on ticket availability and a list of ticket offices: Click here

GVB buses allow small pets to travel free of charge, provided they are in a suitable basket or bag, or on a lead with a short leash. Travel on the metro and trams needs approval beforehand.

Bicycles are allowed on metrocars and Ijtram 26. Passengers with bikes must pay a supplement for them.

Stop/Go

The Stop/Go minibus operates between Oosterdok, Central Station and Waterlooplein. It will collect and drop off passengers anywhere along the route and there are no fixed stops.

Buses leave approximately every 12 minutes and run regularly seven days a week 09:00-17:30.

Tickets cost €1 and are valid for one hour. Bus and tram strip tickets, season tickets and GVB tickets can also be used.

For more details on the Stop/Go service: Click here

Night buses (Nacht-bussen)

Amsterdam tram, bus and metro services run from 06:00-00:30. During the night, there are twelve night buses in operation. The night buses run 00:30-07:30.

GVB 24, 48, 72 and 96 tickets are valid on night bus services. Single tickets can also be purchased from the driver.

For more information on GVB nightbuses: Click here

Regional Bus Services

Connexxion is the largest public transport company in the Netherlands and serves most of the country. It runs local and regional buses in Flevoland, Gelderland and North Holland.

The Connexxion website gives information on departure times and schedules, provides a travel planner and also supplies maps for the walking routes between specified addresses and their stops. Maps of the various lines can be found at bus stops and can also be obtained from some information offices.

For further information: Click here

Buses in Almere, Lelystad and Flevoland

Connexxion manages bus services in Flevoland.

The main routes in Almere and Lelystad are covered by Hanzeliner 330, Maxx Almere, Lelybus and Qliner 315.

Lelybus Nite Service and Nachtbus Flevoland provide night bus services in the region.

For more information on bus services in Flevoland: Click here (in Dutch)

Buses in Haarlem and North Holland

The main bus companies in Haarlem are Zuidtangent and Regioliner. Night buses are provided by Niteliner.

For further details of bus services in North Holland: Click here (in Dutch)

Buses and trams in Arnhem, Nijmegen and Gelderland

Local bus services in Nijmegen are run by Novio. As well as Connexxion, Hermes also provide regional bus transportation.

City bus and tram services in Arnhem are managed by Connexxion.

For information on buses running in Gelderland: Click here (in Dutch)

Buses and trams in Utrecht

GVU is the local transportation company in Utrecht. The company provides an interactive route map with street names on the website.

GVU
At: Radboudkwartier 245, 3511 CK Utrecht
Tel: 030 236 3636
Information Tel: 030 231 7962
Website (in Dutch)
For information of other bus and tram services in Utrecht: Click here (in Dutch)

Park and Ride (P+R)

Several park and ride services operate in the Netherlands. For a small fee customers can park their car and access free public transport (for up to 5 people).

For information on how to use the Park and Ride in Amsterdam: Click here

Amsterdam park and ride services are available at:

Transferium Amsterdam ArenA
At: Burgemeester Strmanweg 130, 1101 EP Amsterdam Zuidoost
Spaces: 2,400
Website
P+R Zeeburg
At: Zuiderzeeweg 46, 1095 KJ Amsterdam
Spaces: 228
P+R Olympic Stadium
At: Olympisch Stadion 21, 1076 THE Amsterdam
Spaces: 250
P+R Sloterdijk
At: Piarcoplein 1, 1043 DW Amsterdam
Spaces: 200 (also park and bike facilities)
Transferium Hoorn
At: Dedemstraat, 1624 NN Hoorn
Website
Transferium Westraven Utrecht
At: Griffioenlaan 1, 3526 La Utrecht
Website