NL
For a day of unlimited travel throughout the region, the Holland Travel Ticket in North Holland is an excellent choice, provided you plan your journey well. This ticket gives you the freedom to combine train, bus, tram and metro without having to buy separate tickets. But is this ticket always the smartest option for your plans? Discover how to get the most out of this day ticket and when it is better to choose an alternative.
What is the Holland Travel Ticket?
The Holland Travel Ticket is a day ticket designed to give travellers unlimited access for one day to almost all public transport in the Netherlands. It functions as a single-use OV-chipkaart, which you use to check in and out with every operator and at every transfer. The ticket is valid in second class on trains and gives you access to the services of most major operators in the country. Note that the ticket is not valid on Eurostar and Thalys. For the Intercity direct and ICE (international high-speed train to Germany), a separate surcharge is required.
There are two versions of the ticket, which differ in price and validity during peak hours:
- Holland Travel Ticket (peak hours): This ticket is valid all day, including the morning rush hour. The price is usually around 70 euros. It is a good option if you want to leave early on a weekday.
- Holland Travel Ticket (off-peak): This ticket is considerably cheaper, with a price of around 50 euros. It is valid on weekdays before 06:30 and after 09:00. At weekends and on public holidays it is valid all day. For most travellers planning a day trip, this is the most economical choice.
Prices can change annually. Always check the current fares on the NS website or at a ticket machine before planning your journey.
‘ “It covers virtually all regular routes, so you don’t have to worry about buying separate tickets for every leg of your journey.” ’
Coverage in North Holland: which buses and trains are included?
The strength of the Holland Travel Ticket is its wide acceptance by different operators. In North Holland, this means that after your train journey you can immediately transfer to the regional and urban public transport network. The ticket is valid with the main operators in the province, including:
- NS: For all train journeys within, from and to North Holland.
- GVB: The operator for all trams, metros and buses in Amsterdam.
- Connexxion: This operator manages many bus lines in the regions of Haarlem, the IJmond, and Gooi en Vechtstreek. The Airport Express (bus line 397) to and from Schiphol is also included.
- EBS: For bus journeys in the Waterland region, including popular destinations such as Volendam, Edam and the Zaanse Schans (for example via bus line 391).
With this single ticket you can, for example, transfer from the train in Zaandam to the bus to the Zaanse Schans, or take the bus from Haarlem to the beach at Zandvoort. It covers almost all regular routes, so you don’t have to worry about buying separate tickets for every leg of your journey.
Planning a day trip from Amsterdam
The Holland Travel Ticket is particularly suitable for day trips that start from a base such as Amsterdam. It allows you not only to explore the surrounding area, but also to travel further into the country. A well-planned day trip could look like this: after 09:00 you take the train from Amsterdam to Alkmaar for the cheese market, then the bus to the coastal town of Bergen, and at the end of the day you travel back to Amsterdam via Haarlem. All these journeys are covered.
However, the ticket is not the best choice for every day trip. If you plan to stay only within Amsterdam and the immediate surroundings, such as the Zaanse Schans, Volendam or Keukenhof, the Amsterdam & Region Travel Ticket is often a cheaper option. This regional ticket costs considerably less and covers all public transport in a smaller, but for many tourists sufficient, area. So compare the prices and your travel plan carefully before making a choice.
Combining the ticket with a train or road trip
For travellers making a longer train journey or road trip through the Netherlands, the Holland Travel Ticket offers a practical solution for a day of intensive exploring without the car. You can park your car at a P+R on the edge of a city or arrive by train at a central station. You then use the Holland Travel Ticket to travel unlimited throughout the day in the region and beyond. This saves you parking costs in busy city centres and the hassle of navigating unfamiliar areas.
Imagine you are travelling by train to North Holland and staying near Haarlem. You could set aside a day to first travel with the Holland Travel Ticket to Amsterdam for a museum visit, then take the train to Utrecht for a city walk, and return to your accommodation at the end of the day. In this way, you combine the efficiency of a planned holiday with the freedom of a day of unlimited travel.
‘ We’ll help you on your way. ’
Where to buy the ticket and what to watch out for
Buying the Holland Travel Ticket is easy. You can purchase it from NS ticket machines at almost every station in the Netherlands, or at the Tickets & Service desks at major stations such as Amsterdam Central and Schiphol Airport. It is also possible to buy a voucher online from various providers, which you can then exchange for a physical ticket at one of the service locations.
Keep the following points in mind for a hassle-free journey:
- Checking in and out is compulsory: Just like with a regular OV-chipkaart, you must check in at the start of your journey and check out at the end. Don’t forget this when you transfer to another operator.
- Validity: The ticket is valid on the day of the first check-in until 04:00 the next morning.
- No discounts: There are no special fares for children or groups with the Holland Travel Ticket. For a family, it can sometimes be cheaper to buy separate tickets or another type of day ticket.
On the Traveler Tips website you will find many more practical guides and articles to help you plan your trip through the Netherlands. Looking for the most beautiful train routes, tips for planning a road trip or information about local public transport tickets? We’ll help you on your way. Discover more on our website and make your next trip even smarter and more enjoyable.
Frequently asked questions
The Holland Travel Ticket can be cost-effective for extensive routes in North Holland, especially if you use many different types of transport outside peak hours with the Off-peak variant. If you mainly stay in Amsterdam, alternatives such as the GVB day ticket or the Amsterdam & Region Travel Ticket are probably cheaper. The Peak variant is more expensive but offers unlimited travel throughout the day. Compare the cost of the tickets with the estimated cost of single tickets for your specific travel plan to determine the most economical option.
The Holland Travel Ticket covers unlimited travel by train, bus, tram, metro and ferries throughout the Netherlands, including North Holland. Specifically in North Holland it is valid for operators such as GVB, Connexxion (RNet, N97 Airport Express) and EBS, including the airport bus 397 to/from Schiphol. This includes journeys to destinations such as Haarlem, Zandvoort, Alkmaar and Volendam. Exceptions are high-speed trains such as Thalys and Eurostar.
The Holland Travel Ticket has two variants with different time restrictions. The “Off-peak” variant is valid on working days after 09:00 (and not between 06:30 and 09:00) and all day at weekends. The “Peak” variant is valid all day, every day. Both tickets are valid for one calendar day from the first check-in. Please note that public holidays can sometimes be treated as peak days.
The Holland Travel Ticket offers extensive access to public transport (train, bus, tram, metro, ferries) throughout the Netherlands, including most major sights and destinations in North Holland. It is ideal for exploring Amsterdam and surrounding regions such as Haarlem, Zandvoort and Volendam. Although it does not include museum entry, it gets travellers efficiently to attractions. For the best value, especially for day trips, it is advisable to consider the off-peak variant.
The Holland Travel Ticket is easy to buy from NS ticket machines or Tickets & Service desks at stations such as Amsterdam Central, Schiphol, Haarlem, Zaandam and Almere Centrum. It is also available online as a voucher via websites such as Connexxion, OVshop or Discover Holland, after which you can collect the ticket at the stations mentioned. For a smooth start to your trip in North Holland, it is convenient to buy the ticket on arrival at Schiphol or Amsterdam Central. Activate it by checking in and out for every journey.
