Getting around: OVpay, trains and your first bike
Tap-to-ride transport and a good second-hand bike will change your daily life here.
Dutch public transport is excellent, and cycling is a way of life.
Public transport
- Tap on and off with OVpay (a contactless card or phone) or an OV-chipkaart on trams, buses and metro.
- NS runs the trains; plan any door-to-door journey with the 9292 app.
Cycling
- Buy a sturdy second-hand bike (try Marktplaats) and a good lock — bike theft is real.
- Prefer no hassle? Swapfiets rents you a bike with repairs included for a monthly fee.
- Learn the rules: use bike lanes, signal turns, and don't walk in the red paths.
Tip: NS stations rent OV-fiets bikes — perfect for the "last mile" after a train.
Rules change. This post was accurate when written; check the official source it links before you act.