Getting Around Netherlands

Tourists should be prepared to see lots of bicycle traffic in Amsterdam. If you decide to rent a bike you should be extremely careful because cyclists are just like drivers, they have to stop at a red light and so on. Cycling in Amsterdam is not just for fun. So, you should not just ride it slowly and slow down the others. However, if you are not that very-well experienced, just enter a group and take part in a leisure tour around the city. In general, I would suggest the bicycle to get to the city and around it, explore it and even visit the countryside by bike. You will be able to stop whenever you want to take pictures and still keep fit!

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The Netherlands can be reached via the Northsea; see these websites:

General:
Dutch ferry start page

Ferries to Dutch Islands:
Texel
Vlieland & Terschelling
Ameland or Schiermonnikoog
Borkum (Germany)

To/From the United Kingdom:
Stena Lines
Norfolk Line
DFDS Seaways

Cargo Ships:
Cargoship Cruises
Holiday on a cargoship

Sailing routes within the Netherlands.

The Netherlands are gradually shifting from using strippenkaarts (strip tickets) on the Metro, buses and trams to using new smart cards. These cards have many benefits and a few problems. They can be loaded with up to 20 euros, which means they last much longer than strip tickets; when you check in and out of a station/bus/tram the right amount is automatically deducted so you don't need to know the zones -- a huge plus for visitors. You can reload them easily with a bank card and you can even buy them online before your arrival.

On the down side, if you forget to check out of the station, they get fouled up and you have to see someone at a special office to get it straightened out. If you lose one, you could be out 20 euros. And, maybe most problematic, your movements can be tracked, especially if you register your card (which offers some protection against loss).

But for the international traveler, they are great. As of summer 2007, they were used in Amsterdam and Rotterdam; plans were to introduce them everywhere by the end of 2008.

The Netherlands has a good running train system, allthoug some Dutch would disagree with you when there is a delay, ha! Look at the 'english' site below for planning your trip by train through the Netherlands, including the fares of the tickets to purchase.

It's easy to get around in the Netherlands. During the day time, trains are frequent, and will bring you to all major cities in the country.

No need to make a reservation. Just buy a ticket and hop on the train. There are two classes, but the second class will do just fine for most trips.

You can check the schedule online, but try to avoid peak hours (before 9 and after 5) or you won't be able to find a seat.

From all trainstations you can easely get a connecting bus to bring you to your destination.

Traffic can be horrendous in The Netherlands. The government tries to get everyone on public transport but with the privatisation of the railway company NS, people would rather sit in their own car and wait than in overfull trains that are not on schedule.

So what do you do when you drive in a traffic jam? You try and get to the front of it. When two lanes become one, no one lets the other pass and move into the row of cars.

Huge promotion campaigns from the governement educate the driver along the motorway:

You'll find signs saying: RITSEN VANAF 300 M. meaning that some 500 m ahead of you your lane will stop so you have to "ZIP" into the other row. Basically the campaign tells you to let others in, in front of you. One by one the rows of cars "zip" to become one row.

Tests proved that if everyone keeps driving and lets others pass, then traffic jams are less.

See how it works on the website mentioned below.

Dutch trains are comfortable and is a good way travelling through the Netherlands.
But sometimes there can be delays.
Tickets are available at every station either at the NS office or u can put money in a special ticketbox.
On the picture a magazine called 'Metro.
This small newspaper is avaiblable in the trains for any traveler.

by train ns=nederlandse spoorwegen(dutch railroads)
ask for information at the trainstation.
often there is a day out deal to some attractions.
train ticket+attraction=cheaper
childern till 4 years are free
from 4 till 12 years you can buy a railrunner ticket it costs 1 euro.(must be with a adult)
http://www.ns.nl/domestic/index.cgi

here you can find some answers