Getting here & around
We are excited to help you start your journey in Utrecht! Moving to a new country means getting accustomed to a lot of new things, including finding the easiest way to get around, discovering new things and feeling at home.
Here is a quick guide to help you navigate your journey to Utrecht:
Public Transportation
The Netherlands has an excellent public transport system, making it very easy to get around. Train, bus, tram, metro and public bikes are all at your disposal.
Payment
All public transportation in the Netherlands can be accessed and paid for directly by using a contactless payment method (card or smartphone). The cards accepted are Maestro, V Pay, Mastercard, and Visa. You must 'check in' and 'check out' when you enter and leave public transportation by tapping your card against the white payment terminals. Alternatively, you can buy train and tram tickets from ticket machines at the stations using (non contactless) cards and buy a bus ticket sing a (non contactless) card directly from the bus driver. You can also buy train tickets online via the NS app or website.
Once you have settled in, it might be beneficial to order a personal OV-chipkaart. This card has your personal details and can be directly linked to your bank account. It is particularly useful to have this card if you want to avail various discounts. This is also the card you need to have if you are an EU student receiving the Dutch student travel product. This card also enables you to make use of public bikes at various stations.
Planning your journey
You can easily plan your journey from point A to point B via public transportation using the NS-app or 9292. Google maps also provides fairly reliable information but might not always be updated in cases of delays.
Trains
The main form of public transport for longer distances is the train, allowing you to travel across the country with ease. While traveling in the Netherlands, you’ll encounter three types of trains: Sprinter, Intercity, and Intercity Direct. Intercity trains, operated by NS (Nederlandse Spoorwegen), are faster than Sprinters as they make fewer stops.
Buses, trams, metro
In Utrecht, buses connect most of the city whilst a tram line connects a few locations such as the central station to the science park. Whilst metros are in use in other cities, Utrecht does not have a metro network.
Public bikes
Using your personal OV-chipkaart you can also rent a public bike (OV fiets) at 300 locations in the Netherlands, including train stations and bus and metro stops. Once you return the bike, you are charged for the number of days it was rented.