Holland transport. Transport system of the Netherlands

Studying foreign experience is an important and useful activity; it not only allows you to avoid mistakes, but also, in the case of road traffic, literally helps save people’s lives. In terms of mobility, the Netherlands is interesting because in Amsterdam alone the share of trips by bicycle is 40% - few cities can boast of such results, and the country itself occupies a leading position in road safety in Europe. Thus, according to WHO, in road accidents in the Netherlands in 2015 there were 3.4 deaths per 100,000 people, and in Russia 18.9...

By what means did the Dutch achieve such safety indicators and ease of use of the infrastructure?

First, I would like to repeat a simple rule once again: it doesn’t matter how many residents there are in the city and what kind of order they have. People are the same everywhere, the laws of physics are the same in all countries, but the conditions are different, and it is by changing these conditions that the behavior of most people can be controlled. So, with a 99% probability, if we move a street from Rotterdam/Amsterdam/Utrecht or any other Dutch city to Russia, we will get similar traffic safety results as in the Netherlands.

Highways

Let's go from roads to streets (who doesn't know, these concepts are very different from each other). Naturally, in the Netherlands there are country roads. There are three categories of highways: maximum speed 130, 100 and 80 km/h. It depends on the intersections, the number of lanes, and so on. On high-speed routes, special asphalt is laid that allows water to pass through, so when it rains, there is no such splash and fog from the damp over the road, plus the car’s handling is better. The water goes into a special reservoir under the road, and then is discharged into a storm drain/ditch/natural reservoir. Alas, it’s difficult to show this in a photo, so here’s the route tunnel under the canal:

Some time ago there was a claim in the news that driving on the side of the road is legal in the Netherlands. This is, of course, not true. But on some highways in the Amsterdam-Rotterdam area during rush hours, they include an additional lane, which at other times serves as a shoulder. You can see this from the sign above the road:

Everything is regulated by cameras.

Most highway exits are standard, however, there are also inventions by Dutch transport workers, which eventually spread throughout the world. First of all this turbotunds, which are an improved version of the standard rings:

This is how it looks in real life; due to channelization of flows, traffic becomes stable and less prone to accidents.

As you can see, with this organization the ring allows more cars to pass through and is safer due to fewer lane changes. Now there are 419 of them in the Netherlands, and there are 20 countries in the world, from the USA to Poland, where they are used. Often the lanes have a physical separation, which guides and prevents you from doubting the correctness of the movement, and also so that there is no temptation to drive in your own way. In addition, highway intersections with a speed limit of 80 km/h are often made from such turbo rings.

The photo below shows another typical interchange at a highway exit, where two rings are connected into one. In general, in the Netherlands, whenever possible, they try not to install traffic lights. It's not just about banal savings, but also about calming traffic - the driver is guaranteed to slow down in front of the roundabout, unlike at a traffic light and on a straight road. The same principle is established by the Swedish zero tolerance program for deaths, since accidents at traffic light intersections are more severe than at roundabouts.

There are intercity cycling routes throughout the country, and sometimes the routes simply pass near residential areas on the outskirts, so there is a need to separate the flow of cars and people. In such cases, punctures are made under the road with a smooth descent:

... or bicycle bridges are made, again with a smooth descent:

Although, if it so happens that the road passes through a new area, then it is either moved or taken underground:

Streets

Unlike roads and highways, streets are public space, which is built based on the needs, first of all, of pedestrians and cyclists, and then public and personal transport. Let's go from the streets to the residential area.

Streets in a residential area

Public and transport functions are not so in demand here, therefore, most often, the sidewalks are not too wide and there is a limit of 20-30 km/h. There is no separate cycling infrastructure - cyclists move in the general flow, and the road material is most often tiles. In addition to tiles, there are other tools for physically calming traffic, for example, chicanes, or deliberate curvature of the roadway:

There are also the usual speed bumps:

...as well as raised intersections:

There are no markings or zebra crossings here, since the expectation is that a pedestrian can cross anywhere, plus the roadway itself is quite narrow, making it difficult for two cars to pass each other.

By the way, parking on such streets is increasingly being done in the middle - the street not only benefits from this aesthetically, but safety also improves, since the driver sees the sidewalk and can react in time to a child/pedestrian/dog who decides to cross the road (cars do not block the view ).

Small streets

We would call them district streets. Unlike the streets, which I will talk about below, here the cycling infrastructure often comes in the form of bicycle lane markings:

Often the roadway is made of small width. So small that two cars can pass each other only if they enter the bike lane a little:

Often bottlenecks are deliberately created where one car must let another through:

And there are also simply streets with priority for cyclists (those monsters, right?).

Ordinary streets

Drives on ordinary streets public transport and cars, the cycling infrastructure is either placed on the bike path or goes along the bike lane. There are traffic lights here, and all exits from secondary streets are raised to sidewalk level:

This is done for two purposes - to force the driver to slow down in front of the main road and not to force pedestrians and cyclists to descend to the level of the roadway. Thus, there are no puddles at crossings, cyclists’ buttocks do not suffer from curb stones, and drivers are guaranteed to slow down, look around and move on safely:

In addition, there is now a tendency to raise entire sections of roads at intersections to sidewalk level, creating a common space where pedestrians, cyclists and motorists are equal and regulate the situation independently:

Statistics show that such a solution is much safer than conventional traffic rules.

Safety islands, of course, are actively used; they are installed along the roadway...

... and at crossings with intersections:

Sometimes, when it is necessary to make a traffic island, but it is necessary to preserve the possibility of passage of long equipment, the islands are made slightly higher than the level of the roadway so that a bus or truck can drive onto it a little:

By the way, almost all traffic lights are equipped with sensors that recognize the approach of a car:

The same ones stand on bike paths, creating a green wave for the cyclist:

If there is a bike lane or there is no turn from the bike path, then the stop line for cyclists is placed ahead of the car line. This was done taking into account the fact that cyclists start faster than cars, but, most importantly, this way a person does not get into the driver’s blind spot (our Ministry of Transport still rejects the proposal to introduce such markings in our country):

Sometimes cyclists can pass on red due to dedicated bike paths/cycle lanes. This was done for convenience, so that cyclists do not dismount and do not waste energy gaining speed (this is not for you to press the pedal):

Often, for the sake of public transport, passage for personal vehicles on the street is closed - this is the norm. In addition, dedicated lanes on streets are often raised, visually highlighting the lanes. This is also done for trams:

...and for buses:

If tram platforms are located in the middle of the road, then the approaches are raised:

In general, complaints were received at 98% of all city traffic lights. It is likely that some will be dismantled for good. This is how the authorities want to combat the accumulation of cyclists at intersections during rush hours. The traffic lights included in the experiment are marked with signs:

And this sign says that work is underway to optimize the operation of the traffic light:

Main streets
Everything is simple here, our city planners divide the streets into a bunch of subtypes; in the Netherlands, a main street will be little different from an ordinary one. Maybe a little more lanes, which is why there will be no unregulated crossings there. Despite everything, the street - public area, the carrying capacity of which is not determined by the number of lanes or the maximum speed, which, by the way, is not higher than 50 km/h. It will look something like this:

One can argue for a long time that fences along roads, the abolition of crossings or the construction of off-street crossings are a panacea for road accidents, but, as you can see, the world does not think so, having convenient and safe cities. By the way, traffic jams in the Netherlands are considered to be 40-50 km/h on a motorway. There are practically no traffic jams on the streets.

Post prepared by Arkady

On my blog there are several articles dedicated to the “” topic, but as it turned out, this section raises a lot of questions from those readers who are going to independently visit not only Amsterdam, but also other cities in the country.
Well, since quite a lot has accumulated in the comments to the articles a large number of questions and answers to them, I decided to combine them into a separate article that can clarify unclear points.

After all, not every reader views the comments and ends up asking the same questions that have already been answered. In addition (to my pride), Russian-speaking employees of the transport system, represented by Oksana and Mikhail, periodically read our discussions and really help solve pressing problems of misunderstanding in matters.

Question: You can transfer money back from your travel card to bank card, if, for example, you haven’t spent all the money on travel and are already leaving the country and don’t need a travel card anymore?
Answer: Yes, you can, you just need to pay attention that it does not exceed 30 euros and you will have to pay 2.50 euros in administrative costs for the refund service.

Question: Please tell me, when returning money with a loss of 2.50 euros, does the chip card remain with the owner or is it taken away?
Answer: When returned, the card itself remains with the owner - a separate amount of 7.50 euros is paid for it, and its validity period is 5 years.

Question: If, when transferring to a similar type of transport (for example, from bus to bus), the amount on the card is less than 4 euros, then the “check-in” during the transfer will work or the machine will somehow show that the amount on deposit is less than 4 euros , and therefore further travel is like a hare?
Answer: When “check-in” on the bus, 4 euros will be immediately written off as a deposit (this is the maximum cost of the bus route from the starting point to the final point) and the display will show how much money is left on the card. If the route is the maximum duration, it turns out that part of the journey you will pass as a “hare.” I hope that on the last section you will not fall into the clutches of the controllers, since they are also people and are lenient towards the mistakes of tourists, but they can “get off on the wrong foot”...

Question: Tell me, eh commuter trains, for example, Amsterdam - Haarlem, or can you also pay with this card or is it only for public transport in Amsterdam?
Answer: You can pay for commuter trains too, the only thing you should pay attention to is that during the “check-in” - for the train, there must be an amount of at least 20 euros on the card.

Question: Tell me, is it possible to use the NS ticket machine in advance for a certain route and load it onto an anonymous card, so as not to keep a deposit of 20 euros on it and not to buy a one-time ticket with an additional payment of 1 euro?
Answer: We'll tell you of course - unfortunately it's not possible.

Question: And, when traveling on an NS train with a transfer, you can skip the next train and take the second or third, and when you arrive at the final station, do " check out"?
Answer: If you travel by train, you can do a check-out within 6 hours from the moment of “check-in” without sanctions. But, if the time is closer to midnight, then you will have less than 6 hours, because all transactions are processed then and if the controller passes on the second train, then some of you will not be happy... I would still risk missing one train, but I didn’t try two or more :)

Question: Is it possible to travel from Amsterdam to Antwerp and back using OV-chipkaart on the same day? Or is it only valid in the Netherlands?
Answer: operates only in the Netherlands, and to get to Antwerp you need to buy a ticket at the box office.

Question: Are there any discount cards for travel on commuter trains? We plan to live in Haarlem and travel every day to Amsterdam, The Hague, Delph, etc. All this within a week. Is there any way we can save on travel?
Answer: There are no discounts on train travel for short stays in the Netherlands. There are discounts, but this applies to subscriptions - monthly or annual, for children and the elderly, students, etc. You can save a little by using OV-chipkaart or by purchasing tickets online, which must be printed. Despite the fact that they are sent to the specified email address, the electronic tickets shown on the gadget (phone, iPad, etc.) are NOT a travel document.

Question: Please tell me, this map valid for travel throughout the Netherlands? Let's say, if I buy a card at the airport, then use it to travel to Amsterdam, there for several days, using public transport (trams and metro), and then go to Amsterdam with this card and use it there to travel around the city (trams and metro). Is this possible?
Answer: That's right, the OV-chipkaart card is valid for paying for all public transport throughout the Netherlands, with the exception of intercity buses. So you can use the card to pay for travel both in Amsterdam and in.

Question: My wife and I and our 23-year-old son are flying to . Next, with a transfer in Leiden, we move to Hillegom. Do you need to buy 3 or is one enough, but with which you can check-in three times in a row and at the exit, respectively, check-out three times?
Answer: You need to buy one for each “rider”, since you won’t be able to check-in three times. Officially, it is considered as if one person “entered, exited, entered”;

Question: I read somewhere that the action does not apply to Arriva buses. Is this so and what advice can you give on paying for trips on Arriva?
Answer: On the official Arriva website it is written that travel on buses is paid for both with a ticket purchased from the driver (the second, of course, is more expensive).

Question: Who is given/how to get a discount of 20% and 40% on OV-chipkaart? If anything, I'm 60 years old.
Answer: Discounts of 20 and 40 percent are provided for holders of various passes, for example, annual passes, but, unfortunately, this is not profitable for tourists (meaning purchasing an annual pass).

Question: The price for travel by electronic ticket e-tickets and OV-chipkaart by rail is identical, so the question is: are e-tickets bought for a specific train or the same as OV-chipkaart, that is, without time and date, and does it need to be printed or Is it enough to show the ticket inspector on the train on the screen of your tablet/smartphone?
Answer: The e-ticket electronic ticket is not tied to a specific train and place, BUT is valid for a specific day. It MUST be printed, since the picture on the electronic device is not a travel document (information from the official website)

Question: When returning money, it must be less than 30 euros. Otherwise, the money will not be returned at all or only 30 euros will be returned?
Answer: They will not return the money at all, they will send you to travel until the balance drops to 30 euros.

Question: The website “9292.nl” does not say whether you need to check-in and check-out twice when transferring from one Arriva bus to another within one hour, but indicates one amount. Or buy a ticket from the bus driver, which will be valid for an hour?
Answer: Every time you board and disembark from a bus (tram, train, metro), you must do a “check-in” and “check-out”.
If within 35 minutes after the last “check-out” you take another transport, the system automatically takes into account that you made a transfer (overstappen) and does not write off the base fare of 0.88 euros (roughly speaking, “per boarding”). but only the corresponding tariff for the kilometers traveled (they differ slightly in different provinces)

Question: I read on the Russian-language Internet that the “check-in” and “check-out” terminals on the train are different. This is true? That is, if you mistakenly touch the same terminal twice, the reserve 20 euros will be automatically deducted? Do the “check-in” and “check-out” terminals in NS and ARRIVA differ not only in color (yellow or pink), but also in some other features during check-in?
Answer: The “check-in” and “check-out” terminals are the same, but the validators of different transport companies (for example, NS ARRIVA) differ. After "check-in" at the NS terminal, you will be charged a deposit of 20 euros. If you check-out at the NS terminal, the deposit will be returned (minus the cost of the flight). But if you confuse the validator and make a “check-out” at the ARRIVA terminal instead of NS, then the deposit will not be returned to you and NS (for them you did not check-out) and ARRIVA will write off the deposit (for them it is considered a “check” -in”). Then the trip will become really expensive... On each terminal it is written which company it is from and they are located next to each other quite rarely, but it happens (especially in big cities).

Question: Please tell me, can the same device be used for “check-in” and “check out” on buses and trams, or is there a special color for each procedure? And what will appear on the screen after attaching the card? Everything there is in Dutch! How do you know that registration was successful?
Answer: For “check-in” and “check out” on buses and trams, the devices are the same; they are located on the handrails, on each side of the door.
If you do a “check-in” when entering the transport, you will hear one sound signal (“peep”), and the display of the device will show the message “IN OK SALDO...” and how much money is on the card at the time of boarding, after the deposit amount is written off ( 4 euros on the bus and 20 euros on the train).
When exiting the vehicle, during “check out”, you will hear a double beep (two “beeps”) and see the inscription “UIT OK SALDO...”, how much was debited for the trip and the remaining balance on the card.
And yet, during “check-in” and “check-out” the main thing is NOT to miss and to place the card on the pink reader logo, and not anywhere else. If a person by mistake did not check-out, then for the system he continues to drive until the balance is written off for the longest trip along this route.

Question: Please clarify, the NS website has information about Route cart, incl. Traject Vrij Monthly ticket. As I understand it, these are travel tickets. Are they accessible to tourists?
Answer: Of course, a tourist can buy one ticket, but the question is: will it be beneficial for him? A monthly pass represents travel on a given route by train for a month, and this is definitely more expensive than paying with an OV-chipkaart card or buying a ticket.

Question: On one of the sites about public transport in Amsterdam I read the following information: “The cost of travel on the NS train will be the same when using a card or purchasing a one-time ticket.”
Answer: The cost of a one-time train ticket will be the same as when purchasing it online. At the box office and in the machine, its cost will be 1 euro more expensive.

Question: For the metro, trams and buses you can buy a ticket for a given period of time in the form of a paper card:

1. GVB 24 Hours (1 day) - 7.50 EUR
2. GVB 48 Hours (2 days) - 12.00 EUR
3. GVB 72 Hours (3 days) - 16.50 EUR
4. GVB 96 Hours (4 days) - 21.00 EUR
5. GVB 120 Hours (5 days) - 26.00 EUR
6. GVB 144 Hours (6 days) - 29.50 EUR
7. GVB 164 Hours (7 days) - 32.00 EUR

Did I understand correctly that if I plan to stay in Holland for a week and travel for the most part on trams, then such a pass is much more profitable for me (with an additional purchase of a train ticket if necessary), since I do not need to spend 7.50 on the card and, possibly, 2.50 to return it.
Answer: The paper GVB card is only valid in Amsterdam and how profitable it is depends on the intensity and distance of travel around the city. If it’s only once a day and a couple of stops, then it’s probably easier to buy a one-time ticket from the driver. If more often and further, then, of course, it is more profitable.

Question: If I need to travel from The Hague in transit through Leiden to Amsterdam: do I need The Hague-Leiden and Leiden-Amsterdam for this day and take any train? Or can you immediately buy The Hague-Amstredam, and then get off in Leiden, take a walk, and continue the trip? Is some kind of validation required for these tickets upon boarding?
Answer: You can buy a direct ticket from The Hague to Amsterdam, get off in Leiden, walk around and then continue on to Amsterdam. Tickets for a specific route are not tied to a specific place and time; they are valid for one day from 00:00 to 04:00 the next day.

Question: Do I understand correctly that you can only use a card or you can also pay in cash? And how to return the remaining money from OV-chipkaart? As I understand it, you can only return an amount below 30 euros minus 2.5 euros of administrative expenses.
Answer: You can either use a debit card (at any machine on the street, at a train station or in a store), or at OV-chipkaart card sales points (as a rule, they are located at train stations, at the airport, in newspaper stores). The seller can top up the card with the amount you need and you can pay him in cash.
You can return the balance from the card at OV-chipkaart service points

Question: Can I use one OV-chipkaart card for two people or should I take a card for each?
Answer: It is not possible for two people to use the OV-chipkaart card; each passenger must have their own card (say, like on a Russian bus - you don’t take one ticket for two?)

Question: Tell me where and how to contact if I forgot to do a “check-out”?
Answer: Contact the office of that transport company. which were used: GVB, Connexxion, EBS, etc.

Question: I read that for a ticket purchased in Amsterdam on a tram from a conductor or driver, you also need to do “check-in” and “check-out”, because it is valid for 90 minutes. That is, you can travel for some time, get off at the check-out, and then after some time get on another tram (for example, a return one). Is it so?
Answer: So! True, a ticket purchased from a driver/conductor is valid for 60 minutes, not 90. For it, “check-in” and “check-out” are also required. Within an hour you can transfer to another tram/bus (for example, a return one), that is, not in the total hour, but within an hour from the first validation.

Question: If a child is almost 4 years old, how can he prove to the inspectors that he is not yet 4? Do I need to carry his documents with me?
Answer: There is no need to prove your age; the inspectors take your word for it.

Question: In connection with a trip with a 10-year-old child to Leiden and Amsterdam, the following questions have accumulated:
1. “Rail runner” ticket for children from 4 to 11 years old - where can I buy it?
2. How much does it cost?
3. Can I use it on the train as well as on the bus?
4. How long does it last?
5. What are the terms of use that you need to know if travel is necessary every day?
I answer point by point:
1. Child ticket Rail runners can be purchased at ticket offices or train ticket machines.
2. Ticket costs 2.50 euros
3. Valid ONLY for domestic train travel (not valid for other types of public transport)
4. Valid all day
5. From the terms of use: a child with a “Rail runner” ticket can travel alone in second class carriages. In 1st class carriages he can only travel if accompanied by an adult.

Question: Is the 7.5 euros paid upon purchase refunded or not?
Answer: No.

If, after reading this article about, you still haven’t found the answer to your question, feel free to ask it in the comments, and I (and perhaps the staff of the OV-chipkaart service, represented by Oksana and Mikhail) will try to answer them.

Transport plays a primary role in the Dutch economy. Dense network of inland waterways, railways and motorways made it possible to expand the hinterland of Dutch seaports far into mainland Europe. On this basis, an outstanding transport hub in the Rhine delta with the world's largest port of Rotterdam has emerged. More than 80% of domestic transport occurs in automobile transport, 17% - for water and only 3% - for railway. In international transportation, the leading role is played by navy, which accounts for 60% of transported cargo. If we add more goods delivered river boats, then the share water transport will exceed 80%. International road transport accounts for less than 8% of transport freight, while rail transport accounts for about 2.5%. IN passenger transportation Road transport is in the lead. Passenger transportation by rail is increasing, while passenger transportation by sea is decreasing.

Transportation volumes by mode of transport

TYPES OF TRANSPORT
Sea transportation, million tons
Transportation by inland waters, million tons
Rail transportation, million tons
Road transportation, million tons
Pipeline transport, million tons
Air transportation - Schiphol airport, thousand tons
Passenger transportation, million people:
Railway
aviation - airport Schiphol

Despite the presence of a dense network of land and waterways, the Netherlands has considerable opportunities for further development transport systems. The goal is to strengthen the connections between the Dutch road network and the European network. So the international highway connecting Amsterdam, The Hague, Rotterdam with central regions Europe, in the future should be brought to Vienna.

A). Sea transport

For the Netherlands, a country with developed foreign economic relations, the importance of maritime transport is especially great.

The country ranks third in terms of maritime transport volumes. Western Europe(after Great Britain and France). Freight turnover is dominated by oil, coal, metals, grain, and fertilizers. Among exported items, the share of finished industrial products is large, while imports consist mainly of raw materials and semi-finished products for industry. Moreover, about 30% of the fleet are tankers.

During the Second World War, the Dutch fleet suffered great damage, and the pre-war level was reached only in the first half of the 50s. Total cargo turnover of Dutch seaports in 1971 amounted to 273 million tons in 1986. - 250 million tons. The vast majority of it falls on the port of Rotterdam. The Port of Amsterdam's share is about 8% of Rotterdam's cargo turnover. Next come the largest ports: Vlissengen, Dordrecht, Delfzijl, Terneusen, Harlingen and Groningen.

The process of moving the Rotterdam port complex towards the coast primarily affected areas of bulk cargo operations. During this development, the Rotterdam port complex occupied a vast area from the city itself to the shore of the North Sea. The evolution of the Port of Amsterdam is moving in the same direction. There are certain differences in the activities of the country's largest ports - Rotterdam and Amsterdam. Rotterdam specializes in servicing bulk cargo transportation, Amsterdam - partial (although Rotterdam holds first place in terms of physical volume). The modernization of the Nojo Canal, which provides passage for ships with a capacity of up to 90 thousand tons, played a significant role. to the port of Amsterdam.

B). Inland water transport

The territory of the Netherlands is cut through by a dense network of navigable rivers and canals. Their total length is estimated at 4380 km, of which rivers account for 850 km.

The basis of the country's transport network is made up of inland waterways with the main arteries of the Rhine, Meuse and Scheldt. Among the shipping canals, the Nordsee Canal, built in 1876, stands out. and connecting Amsterdam by the shortest route with North Sea. You can also outline a certain hierarchy of the remaining canals (the dates of their construction and length are indicated in brackets): Amsterdam-Rhine (1952, 72 km); Juliana (1935, 34 km.); Zeid-Beveland (1866, 8 km); Meuse-Waal (1927, 13 km); Scheldt-Rhine (1975, 37 km), etc.

The main function of inland water transport is the transportation of goods. Its share in the total volume of domestic cargo transportation in the 50s was 40%, and at the end of the 80s it dropped to 20%.

In the commodity structure of transportation along rivers and canals, the leading place is occupied by building materials, oil, and agricultural products. In international transportation there is a large share of iron ore, metals and metal products, building materials, and fuel. The share of oil transportation decreased due to the construction of oil and gas pipelines.

IN). Automobile transport

Road transport carries out mainly domestic transportation, successfully competing with railways. During construction highways It was necessary to overcome considerable difficulties in conditions of high population density and limited suitable territory. Certain difficulties also arose due to the unfavorable hydrogeological conditions of the territories located below sea level.

The total length of roads in 1966 was about 100 thousand km, including city roads; without them, the network of paved roads totaled 47 thousand km. Behind last years Due to increasing urbanization, road transport has become one of the necessary conditions social development. In 1987 the number of vehicles reached 4.6 million. The average annual growth rate of the vehicle fleet is estimated at 3%. In cities, cars have replaced bicycles, which until recently formed the main background of traffic flows.

Road transport has gained a dominant position in domestic transportation and has significantly pushed aside railway transport. The transportation work of freight vehicles is 3.3 times greater compared to railways. What is the share of motor transport? of the total volume of domestic transportation, and even in external transportation its participation is 1/3 higher compared to rail transport.

G). Railway transport

The construction of railways in the Netherlands began in the second half of the 19th century and developed intensively until the end of the 20s of this century. Then some of the lines were dismantled, and some were closed for passenger traffic. Much damage to the railways was caused during the Second World War; in 1945, only 1,100 km were in operation. Railway lines, as many bridges were destroyed. In 1985, the length of railway lines was 2.5 thousand km. versus 3.7 thousand km. in 1939. In terms of railway density, the Netherlands lags significantly behind Belgium, but is far ahead of France, Italy, and Denmark.

Railways (with very few exceptions) are owned by the state. The basis of the Dutch railway network is made up of lines connecting provincial centers and major cities. In recent years, several railway lines have been built in the country, including connecting The Hague and Leiden with Amsterdam via Schinhol Airport and connecting Amsterdam with Almere and Lelystad. Construction of the ring railway around Amsterdam began.

In 1986 Ministers of the EEC countries approved a project for the creation of high-speed railway lines connecting Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam and Cologne. Given the dense hydrographic network in the Netherlands, about 1200 railway bridges, among them the 20 largest ones across the rivers Rhine, Lek, Waal, IJssel, etc. About 25% of the wagon fleet is represented by refrigerators, self-unloading and other specialized wagons.

The electrification of railways has become widespread in recent decades. To date, all major passenger lines connecting the most important centers, as well as some of the freight lines have been converted to electric traction, others are served by diesel traction. Of the total length of lines is approximately 2.5 thousand km. electrified sections are approximately 1.5 thousand km. The use of steam locomotives ceased in 1958. Many Dutch railways are suffering significant losses due to a decrease in business activity in trade and industry, increased competition between various types transport and, as a consequence, an increase in tariffs.

In addition to railways, the Netherlands has a developed network of intercity tram services. Its length is about 3 thousand km. These lines, served by high-speed trains, are important for the local population and tourism.

D). Air Transport

Air traffic in the Netherlands - and domestic international - is almost completely monopolized by the state-owned company KLM, one of the seven leading airlines in the world. There are regular flights to 110 cities in 70 countries.

Main international Airport Skhinkhol is 10 km away. South-west of Amsterdam on the site of the drained lake Haarlemier. This is the only airport in the world located 3.5 m below ocean level. Schinhol accounts for the lion's share of passenger and cargo traffic in Dutch air transport. It should be noted that Skhinkhol is of exceptional transit importance: about a third of all registered passengers use it only for transfers. For cargo, this figure reaches 2/3, which, however, does not always mean service directly by air. Over half of the cargo arriving through Skhinkhol is loaded onto vehicles and delivered along European roads.

In second place is Zitinhoven Airport near Rotterdam. True, Zitinhoven has direct connections only with London, Paris, Hamburg and Bremen and is mostly intended for domestic lines. Other civil airports (Elde, Hilversum, Ben, Texel, Ameland, Hoogeveen, etc.) are of local importance.

You can fly to Holland by plane, travel by train or bus. There are several types of public transport in the country: railway, metro, bus. You can also take a taxi, rent a car or rent a bicycle.

How to get to Holland?

The most popular form of transport by which you can travel to Holland is by plane. But if you are afraid of flying, you can take a bus or train.

By plane

There is no shortage of flights from Moscow and St. Petersburg to Amsterdam.

Direct flights are offered by:

• Russian air carrier Aeroflot;
• Dutch KLM.

The cost of round-trip tickets for flights from Moscow: from 14.4 to 17.8 thousand rubles, from St. Petersburg - from 13 thousand.

Flights with transfers from Moscow and Northern capital The following companies have it:

• Austrian Airlines with a transfer in Vienna;
• Air France - in Paris;
• Lufthans - in Munich or Frankfurt;
• Swiss - in Zurich;
• Сzech Airline – in Prague;
• Finnair – in Helsinki;
• airBaltics – in Riga;
• Estonian Airs – in Tallinn;
• Turkish Airlines- in the Stambul.

The time of such a connecting flight is longer, but the cost of flight tickets is significantly lower.

Which airline companies can fly to Amsterdam from major cities Russia:

• from Ekaterinburg, Perm, Ufa, Samara, Kazan, Sochi, Nizhny Novgorod– Czech Airlines with a transfer in Prague;
• from Samara, Nizhny Novgorod - Lufthansa via Frankfurt am Main;
• from Krasnodar, Rostov-on-Don – Austrian Airlines with a transfer in Vienna;
• from Ekaterinburg – Finnair via Helsinki;
• from Kaliningrad – Air Baltic with a transfer in Riga;
• from Rostov-on-Don, Novosibirsk, Ufa, Sochi, Kazan, Yekaterinburg - Turkish Airlines via Istanbul.

From other cities, you can choose a plane to Holland, which will fly through Moscow on a connecting Aeroflot flight.

By train and bus

The disadvantage of this method of transportation is the significant amount of time that you will have to spend in a train carriage or on a bus. But there is also an advantage: the route passes through European countries. You will get a lot of impressions from visiting Germany and Poland, the cities of Cologne, Berlin and Warsaw.

Trains from Moscow to Amsterdam depart twice a day from Belorussky railway station. In 36 hours of travel you will cover a distance of 2596 kilometers and cross the borders of five countries: Holland, Russia, Germany, the Republic of Belarus and Poland. Train ticket prices: from 7 thousand one way.

Buses from Moscow to Amsterdam depart from the Airport on Tuesdays and Fridays. The route is not too different from the one the train takes, but the travel time is 2 days. Therefore, despite the comfortable conditions, the trip may seem more tiring. Bus ticket prices: from 146 euros one way.

Intercity transport in Holland

There are several options for traveling between cities in Holland.

1. Train. Trains in Holland are modern rolling stock with a clear schedule. Intercity and suburban trains run at hourly intervals until 2:00. Rail transport is the most convenient way to travel in Holland. Approximate prices: from Amsterdam to Haarlem – 5 euros, to Rotterdam – 15 euros.
2. Taxi. Taxis in Holland can be ordered by phone or using special parking services. Approximate tariffs: 2 euros – minimum, each kilometer above the minimum – 1.5 euros.
3. Car rental. In order to rent a car, you must have driver's license with at least a year of experience, age – from 21 and two credit cards. Rental conditions and prices vary among different companies.
4. Intercity buses. Buses in Holland are highly comfortable. But bus drivers are not very punctual. Therefore, it is better to prefer other types of transport to move around the country.

The best view intercity transport in Holland it is considered a railway route: trains run strictly on schedule, they are comfortable, and the cost of the trip is low. Taxi is a fairly expensive form of transport if you are traveling long distances. Renting a car comes with some difficulties: not every person will be able to rent a car. The buses are very comfortable, but they drive at random, they are late and have delays along the way.

Urban transport in Holland

The most common form of transport in Dutch cities is the bicycle. All conditions have been created for cyclists: special roads with road markings and traffic lights are equipped, and there are machines for renting two-wheeled vehicles at every step. Renting a bike will cost you approximately $10–13 per day.

IN major cities there is a metro. It is important to know well the name of the stop where you will get off and not get confused with transfers. To travel by metro, you must purchase a single ticket, valid for all types of public transport.

You can travel within the city by bus: to stop it, you must vote.

In some cities there are tourist buses with special excursion routes, passing through the main attractions.

A ride on the bright, colorful Dutch trams will lift your spirits. Just hold on tight to the handrails; drivers of this type of transport love to drive and make sharp turns.

So, to summarize:

• It’s more convenient to get to Holland by plane, but more interesting by bus;
• It is better to travel between cities by train, and within the same city by bicycle;
• You should definitely take a ride on the “fun” tram and tourist buses;
• It is better to purchase a single pass for all types of transport.

Transport system in Holland it works smoothly and efficiently. Therefore, there should not be any problems with moving around the country.

- right-hand drive (steering wheel on the left).

The country has good transport infrastructure. An extensive system of highways and expressways, an extensive railway and bus network cover the entire country, providing ease of communication with any point. The road condition is excellent.

On motorways the speed limit is 120 km/h, on local highways - 100 km/h, within settlements- 50 or even 30 km/h, police radars are installed everywhere.

The central strip of many streets is reserved for public transport. On city streets, priority in traffic order is given to cyclists.

Parking on many streets, especially in areas with a concentration of attractions and public transport stops, is extremely difficult.

Last changes: 24.02.2013

Public transport

The cities have a unified urban transport system (GVB), including trams, trolleybuses and buses (including night routes “nachtbussen”).

Cities are divided into transport zones, and depending on the travel route, coupons need to be punched as many times as there are zones the route crosses. At night, bus fares for one or two zones double, and for three zones - one and a half times.

A ticket for one trip is valid for an hour and costs ~1.5 EUR. It is more profitable to purchase multi-use “strippenkaarten” tickets, consisting of several coupons (15 coupons cost ~5 EUR), as well as one-day “dagkaart” for ~6 EUR and nine-day single passes for 22-30 EUR.

Amsterdam's public transport consists of buses, trams, 4 metro lines and 4 ferry crossings.

Taxis can be taken at a special parking lot or ordered by phone. Basic tariff- about 2 EUR plus 1-1.5 EUR per kilometer.

The Dutch often use bicycles as a means of transportation - their number exceeds the number of inhabitants of the country. On roads and city streets, a separate place is required for bicycle lanes, and there are special parking lots for bicycles on almost every corner. Bicycles can also be rented at special points.

Last changes: 18.04.2010

Aviation transport

Main airport The country's Schiphol is a hub for local and international airlines. At the airport you can use luggage storage services (there are automatic and regular luggage storage facilities for up to one month) and an information center, as well as rent a mobile phone.

An economical option to get from Schiphol Airport to Amsterdam is a free city bus that runs on schedule.

Last changes: 04.06.2010

Railway transport

Dutch railways have modern rolling stock and strict adherence to traffic schedules. Suburban and intercity passenger trains They usually work until 1:00-2:00 with an hourly interval.

Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS) trains serve as the main means of transportation in the country.

Large cities are connected with each other at intervals of half an hour or fifteen minutes. The main hubs are Amsterdam and nearby Utrecht. Most trains are fast InterCity (IC) and Sneltrein. Regional trains that stop at each station are simply called Stoptrein.

The price does not depend in any way on the type of train; there are no surcharges for domestic traffic. Tickets are relatively inexpensive. If you plan to travel extensively around Holland, then the EuroDomino Netherlands pass is probably the right choice for you.

If you are traveling by train, pay attention to signs on the platforms. Most trains go to or through Amsterdam Central Station, but it may turn out that the train approaching the underground platform does not go to another city or country, but just to the other end of the city to the southern station.