Prices are skyrocketing and that affects all layers. Traveling by public transport is no longer cheap either. However, with the tips below you can save on traveling by public transport. These tips are for people who regularly travel by public transport, but also for occasional travelers.
Do you have a car and are you wondering whether traveling by public transport is cheaper? Do you always travel by public transport and do you wonder whether this could not be cheaper? Or do you want to enjoy a relaxing train ride or a short bus ride every now and then and leave the car behind? In all cases it is good to weigh the costs against each other. Also include time that you may lose with traffic jams and also take into account failure or delays in public transport.
Whether you use the train, metro, bus or tram regularly or only occasionally, you can often save quite a bit if you know how and what. That is why you will find various tips below to save on public transport.
If you regularly use public transport, there are several ways to reduce costs. Think of traveling at certain times or smartly purchasing a certain subscription. Find out what works best for you.
If you regularly take the train, it is useful to take a look at the different flex subscriptions of the NS. Below you will find the flex subscriptions for frequent travelers:
Do you often travel by bus? Then check with the bus company for affordable subscriptions. This often concerns weekly, monthly or annual subscriptions, which are much cheaper. When calculating the price, keep in mind whether you are actually deducting the costs.
If you only occasionally use public transport, you can take advantage of all kinds of discounts on public transport. Think of special promotions, joint travel discount or traveling with a larger group.
People with a fixed subscription have the option to bring up to 3 fellow travelers with a 40% discount. Are you traveling alone? Then you could ask at the station if you can use someone's discount. Many people are willing to do this. Still saves 40% of the costs of a single ticket.
The NS sells special train tickets for when you go out with a whole group. This is ideal for young people who go on an outing together, but also for larger families or a group of friends the perfect way to save on public transport costs.
A few times a year, the NS has special promotions that allow you to travel cheaply by public transport. This is often during the summer holidays, when traveling by public transport is combined with a city trip or a fun outing to an amusement park, museum and zoo. If you take advantage of this promotion, you will not only save on transport costs, but also on entrance.
In addition, Trekpleister, Kruidvat and Hema often also have special promotions, allowing you to purchase train tickets with a high discount. This often concerns day tickets that you buy for 12.50 euros and with which you can travel unlimited throughout the country for a day by train (during the week during off-peak hours, all day at weekends).
Before you buy a ticket, it is wise to look at which transport company and carrier is the cheapest. Sometimes it is cheaper for a certain route if you only take the bus, for example. When comparing, do not only take into account the savings, but also the time you spend using the different modes of transport.
Special senior discounts apply to everyone from 65 to make traveling by public transport more attractive, but above all cheaper.
From the moment you are 65 you benefit from a 34% discount with a personal OV card. It does not matter whether you travel by metro, tram or bus. This discount does NOT apply to the NS, where you can use other discounts. The discount is automatically deducted from the fare during check-out. A personal OV card costs 7.50 euros once.
In addition, there are even more ways to get a discount from the moment you turn 65. Please note:you can only use this when you are 65. You can load products earlier, but they will not be loaded until you are th birthday can be used.
Teenagers or young people often use public transport. Not surprising, because you can only drive a scooter or moped from the age of 16 e and then you also need a driver's license. Whether it's for school, traveling to and from family or an outing, special discounts in public transport apply especially for young people from 12 years old.
Below you will find an overview of the most common ways to save on public transport as a young person.
Many bus companies offer special subscriptions for young people. Ideal if your child has to take the bus from home to school and back every day. Incidentally, your child can also use this subscription during the weekend. Ideal if your child wants to visit a friend or grandparents at the weekend.
Please note:these subscriptions usually apply to a specific route or area. If your teenager travels outside this area, you will simply have to pay.
From the moment your child starts an education after high school, in most cases it becomes a student. It does not matter whether your child is in MBO, HBO or university, you are then entitled to the student travel product (only for full-time courses!)
This is a special travel product that can only be used during the week or only on weekends. For everyone aged 18 and over, the student travel product can be applied for with the student grant. Are you younger than 18 years old and are you following an MBO training? Then request your student travel products separately via DUO.
You receive the student travel product as a gift when you successfully complete your studies. If you stop earlier, you will have to repay the travel costs incurred. So keep this in mind.
Sometimes the times of public transport do not match your school or internship times. In that case you are entitled to extra money for student transport. This allows you a maximum of 12 days per month to be on time at your study or internship. Here you will find more information about this scheme and how you can apply for it.
Furthermore, students who want to travel in their spare time can use the aforementioned day tickets through promotions, joint travel discount and traveling with a group.
Do you often travel with your child(ren)? Or does your child sometimes go out on public transport alone? Even then there are various ways to get a high discount on travel. In many cases, your child can even use public transport for free.
All children up to the age of 3 can use public transport for free. You do not need a special card or an OV card for your little one. Simply board the train, bus, metro or tram and get off at your destination.
From the moment your child turns 4, your child must have a personal OV card. You pay a one-time fee of 7.50 for the personal OV card and then your child can travel by public transport accompanied by an adult. Make sure there is sufficient balance on the card, because you simply pay in the bus, metro and tram. Your child will receive an age-related discount. Also check the transport company itself, because in some cases children are allowed to travel for free (on certain days or times, for example).
Are you traveling by train? Then your child can travel with you for free, provided you are an adult. This arrangement applies to children from 4 to 11 years old.
You can also buy a railrunner ticket for children from 4 to 11 years old. These are special train tickets that only cost 2.50 euros. With this train card, a child can travel alone or with a young person up to the age of 17.
