Public transport, The Hague

Public transportation services in The Hague are, like everywhere else in the Netherlands, outstanding. Approximately 30 bus and tramlines can transport you in and around The Hague as well as to Delft, Wassenaar, Voorburg, Rijkswijk and Wateringen. The "Haagse Tram Maatschapppij" or HTM, as it is known by the locals, is the major public transportation service for the city. Visit HTM's web-site and click over to view the English pages for more information. Be sure to purchase a 15 or 45 strip national "Strippenkaart" or "strip-card" for fare reductions in The Hague and thoroughout the country. Day passes for unlimited travel throughout the city can be purchased for Euro 5.70.

Getting to Den Haag was pretty easy, we left out of Amsterdam from central station. I dont rememeber what the cost was but it should be around 8 euros, and about 2 1/2 hours on the train maybe a little less.

The Tramtunnel was a major project to ensure troublefree tram traffic in the busiest part of the city: The Grote Markt.

After much struggle and years of delay the tunnel finally came into service in 2004.

With the dayticket you buy for 5.70 Euro you have unlimited access to the trams and buses in and around Den Haag. You can also go to the beach in Scheveningen with it. Ticket is valid 24 hours.

Trams go frequently, until late evening. At dark there are lots of security at the tram stations which make you feel safe but at the same time you wonder why they are there.

The Hague has several railway stations which can be reached from several directions. Both Centraal Station (CS) and Hollandsch Spoor (HS) are close to the centre, although each is on a different side of it. Either station is at only a few minutes walking from the centre.

If you think that you might be using trams and busses more than 3 times in Den Haag, you can save yourself money by buying a 'strippenkaart.' These are available at train stations, tourist office, news-agents, tobacconists and some other shops. They cost ý5,90 and are valid for 7,5 journeys if you're just travelling short distances in The Hague. There are usually no conductors on trams in The Hague, so you have to stamp your strippenkaart in the machines on the tram.

If you're travelling by bus, the driver will stamp your ticket for you. Every time you stamp your strippenkaart it is valid for use on any bus or tram in that zone for 1 - 11/2 hours.

Trains between The Hague and Amsterdam, Schiphol or Utrecht run often and until about midnight. There is also a nighttrain connecting the big cities that goes once an hour.
The center can easily be explored by foot. For further distances, trams and buses are good in The Hague.

The Hague has two main train stations Centraal (CS) and Holland Spoor (HS).
From here trains connect to almost anywhere in europe.
The tram system is very widespread and punctual in The Hague. It's the best way to get around.

I took the train to Den Haag Centraal and it was not fun! I started out in Hoofddorp at 9am and didn't arrive in the Hague until almost 12 noon because of problems with the trains that day. There were a couple of accidents and some lines were down on the tracks causing chaos and frustrated commuters everywhere. Needless to say I ended up with less hours than I had planned to spend in the city.
I walked everywhere. A lot of the major sights are very close to each other so this was the cheapest way to see the city ;)

I travelled to The Hague by train from Amsterdam Centraal Station. The trains are frequent having a direct service to CS Station evey 30 minutes. The trains are are also quite comfertable too :-)
While in The Hague I just used my legs to walk about. There is a tram system but it is a lot more fun just to walk about and discover everything.