The Netherlands is among the best countries in Europe, with spectacular landscapes and unique attractions. The country's public transportation options allow you to relish and admire the stunning, diverse sceneries along various trails, including lovely coastal vistas, lush forests, and iconic castles. The country boasts a developed transportation system with vast road, rail, and air transport systems. The main travel companies operating throughout the country include Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS), the national train operator, and KLM, the Netherlands' national carrier. There is no national bus operator in the Netherlands as buses mainly offer intercity connections within the provinces.
When traveling in the Netherlands, you can use the Omio platform to book your travel tickets, including bus, train, or flight tickets. Omio allows you to easily plan your journeys in the Netherlands, offering you aggregated travel options for your route into one search, enabling you to settle on a travel ticket that most suits your travel needs. The platform is extremely user_friendly, making it simple to book tickets for buses, trains, and flights in the Netherlands, only a few clicks away. Also, the platform allows for booking tickets in advance at the comfort of your mobile device, saving you the hassle and inconvenience of finding a travel ticket in time.
The Netherlands boasts one of Europe's most efficient and well_connected rail networks. The trains in the country are largely operated by NS, a national train company servicing domestic and international train connections. However, a few international companies offer train connections into and out of the Netherlands. The NS company offers International, Intercity, and Sprinter train services. The NS International service operates high_speed train journeys to Germany, France, Switzerland, and Belgium. In contrast, the Intercity service offers high_speed trains with medium and long_distance connections mainly within the country. The NS Sprinter is a commuter service operating short, high_speed connections, ideal for travelers that wish to visit other cities via trains.
Netherlands Lovers Canal. Source: Shutterstock
The Netherlands offers an extensive bus system providing intercity services. The bus connections in the Netherlands often service journeys between cities within a province with longer routes less readily available. Several bus companies operate in the Netherlands, each serving a different province. Veolia Transport, Connexxion, Qbuzz, Syntus, and HTMbuzz are some dominant bus providers servicing routes throughout the country. Moreover, you can find additional bus providers and subsidiaries of larger bus operators in some large cities in the Netherlands. International carriers including Oibus and Euroline are also available in the county, providing reliable connections to other European destinations.
The Netherlands is accessible via flights from various major airports worldwide. The flights in the country are facilitated by a number of flight companies, including domestic and international. The country's national airline, Royal Dutch Airlines (KLM), operates the most frequent international flights into and out of the country. Also, KLM Cityhopper and Martinair service various international routes while Transavia and Corendon Dutch Airlines offer low_cost flights. Foreign flight companies operating in the country include easyJet, Delta Air Lines, and Vueling.
Public transportation modes in the Netherlands operate various international routes into and out of the country. Some of the most international routes by train ferry passengers to various German and French cities, including Amsterdam to Berlin and Amsterdam to Frankfurt by Deutsche Bahn (DB). NS also operates popular routes such as Amsterdam to Paris, stopping at Brussels and Antwerp. Schiphol Airport serves various international flights worldwide, with direct flights to New York, Dubai, Cape Town, Tokyo, and Kuala Lumpur. International bus connections in the Netherlands are relatively less frequent, featuring a few journeys to Antwerp, Brussels, Frankfurt, and Berlin.
Like any other country, the Netherlands boasts its unique culture and customs. Dutch people are typically friendly and keep interactions quite formal and stylized. However, the Dutch people usually consider it impolite to visit a person without invitation; therefore, you should always call in advance when planning a get_together. The currency used in the Netherlands is the Euro, but you have to declare if you are arriving in the country with more than €10,000.
NS International, a subsidiary service of the NS, is the main train provider in the Netherlands. The company offers high_speed, intercity, and regional connections between domestic cities and partners with other companies to offer international train connections to Germany, France, Switzerland, and Belgium. Intercity trains and InterCity Express (ICE), operated by Deutsche Bahn (DB), offer frequent connections between the Netherlands, Sweden, and Germany. Also, Eurostar operates a train connection between Amsterdam and London, featuring stops at Lille, Brussels, and Rotterdam. Another international train provider is Thyls, which operates daily connections between Amsterdam and Lille and Amsterdam and Paris.
The Netherlands doesn't have a national bus provider; instead, various bus companies offer intercity connections within a province. For domestic connections across the country, you can travel on Connexxion, Veolia Transport, Qbuzz, Syntus, and HTMbuzz. Oibus, a French bus provider, operates frequent long_distance intercity connections from various Dutch cities to Belgium, France, and Switzerland. Another foreign bus provider offering bus connections in the Netherlands is Eurolines.
KLM is the main flight provider in the Netherlands, offering frequent international connections to various destinations in the world. Also, the flight provider features other subsidiaries, including KLM Cityhopper and Martinair, operating domestic and international flights. Transavia, a subsidiary of Air France_KLM, is a budget and charter service with a base at Schiphol Airport, which offers domestic and regional flights in the Netherlands. Also, Corendon Dutch Airlines, a sister company of the Turkish airline Corendon Airlines offers frequent regional and domestic connections in the Netherlands.
Utrecht Centraal railway station is among the busiest stations in the Netherlands, located within a mile (1.2 km) from downtown Utrecht. The train station is the main transportation hub in the Netherlands due to its central location, offering intermodal connections. Amsterdam Centraal is another major train station in the Netherlands, nestled right at the heart of downtown Amsterdam. The train station is the largest public transportation hub serving the country's capital. Rotterdam Centraal railway station is the main public transportation spot in the southern city of Rotterdam. The modern complex is located about a mile (1.2 km) from the city center, offering convenient access. Travelers seeking to explore the Netherlands' administrative capital, Hague, will use Den Haag Centraal train station, a few strides away from the city center. Schiphol Airport Railway Station is another main passenger train station serving Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. The station is located about 10 miles (16 km) from Amsterdam's city center.
Rotterdam Centraal Station Bus Station is one of the main bus stations in the Netherlands. The bus station is located less than a mile (1.2 km) from the city center. John F. Kennedylaan bus station is another main bus station serving the city of Eindhoven, located about a mile from the city center. Also, the Den Haag Centraal bus station is the main bus hub serving Hague and is located only a few strides from the city center. Amsterdam Centraal Station nestled in the heart of the city center is a busy station in the country. Moreover, Utrecht Centraal station is another main bus station, serving frequent bus connections in Utrecht city.
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is the largest and busiest airport in the Netherlands, serving as the base for the Dutch flag carrier KLM, TUI fly Netherlands, and Transavia. Eindhoven Airport is another major airport in the Netherlands, typically used by budget carriers, including Transavia, Ryanair, and Wizz Air. The airport is located about 3.7 miles (6 km) from the city center. Rotterdam Airport is the third busiest airport in the Netherlands, located only a few moments from Port of Rotterdam, the largest port in Europe. Maastricht Aachen Airport is among the major airports in the Netherlands, serving small passenger and cargo carriers. The airport sits about 5 miles (8 km) from the city, allowing convenient access. Groningen Airport is also the main airport in the Netherlands serving the northeast region.
The most popular bus journey in the Netherlands is the intercity connection between Amsterdam and Rotterdam. The journey takes about 1h 10min and costs about $8, but the duration and cost can vary depending on the bus operator and travel date. The most popular international bus connection in the Netherlands runs from Amsterdam to Berlin, taking about 10h 25min and costing around $36. The most popular train journey in the Netherlands operates between Amsterdam and Breda, taking about 1h 6min and costs around $27. For international train transfers, Amsterdam to Antwerpen is the most popular journey. This scenic journey takes about 1h 48min and costs around $48. Amsterdam to New York is a popular flight route in the Netherlands and takes about 12h 55min and costs an average of $598.
Netherlands features reliable daily train connections, offering a comfortable and fast transportation option. The night train runs once daily in the Randstad with extra late_night connections on Fridays and Saturdays, and Saturdays in various main cities in the city. You can find late_night taxis at the Amsterdam Centraal, Rotterdam Centraal, and Den Haag Centraal stations, so you don't have to worry about safe transfers at night from the station when traveling on night trains in the Netherlands.
Trains in the Netherlands offer a cost_effective mode of transportation, frequently operating to various train stations throughout the country. If you plan to use trains during your stay in the Netherlands, you will need to purchase an OV_Chip Card at the train station or tobacco store. The smart card will facilitate your public transport connections in the country, including tram, train, and bus journeys.
Netherlands Canal. Source: Shutterstock
There is no shortage of attractions in the Netherlands, from a diverse culinary scene, natural attractions, a rich heritage, awe_inspiring flower fields, and thrilling outdoors. If you seek to dig into the rich history in the Netherlands, head to Amsterdam. The city hosts a plethora of historical gems, including ancient temples, museums, and old_age architecture. Also, beach bums will enjoy visiting the Netherlands, offering vast, picturesque, white beaches near major cities, such as Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and The Hague. The Netherlands is a food nirvana featuring various global cuisines, from traditional Dutch specialties to Chinese, Italian, English, and French cuisines. Moreover, beer lovers will relish visiting the Netherlands, the largest exporter of beer in the world. You can explore the historic brewery of Heineken in Amsterdam and discover more about the internationally renowned lager at the Heineken Experience, an immersive tour of the former brewery. Things to see in Netherlands: