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For a fixed price of €15.50, the Tourist Day Ticket South Holland gives you a full day of unlimited access to public transport across the entire region. This makes it the most convenient and predictable way to explore cities such as Rotterdam, The Hague and Delft with one ticket for all your journeys. Wondering how to get the most out of this ticket? Read on and discover the details that will make your trip more comfortable.
What is the Tourist Day Ticket?
The Tourist Day Ticket is a physical disposable smart card, specially developed for travellers visiting South Holland. For a fixed fare of €15.50, you can travel all day without limits on almost all forms of public transport in the province. It is a convenient solution for travellers without a Dutch OV-chipkaart who prefer to use a single, fixed ticket. Although the ticket is designed for tourists, anyone is allowed to use it, including Dutch travellers heading out for a day trip in their own country.
The ticket is easy to use: you check in when boarding and check out again when leaving the bus, tram, metro or Waterbus. Validity starts at the first check-in. The ticket remains valid until the end of that day’s timetable, which is usually around 04:00 in the morning. This way you can head out all day and evening with peace of mind.
‘ For most tourist journeys within and between the cities, however, the ticket is an excellent and comprehensive solution. ’
Where is the ticket valid?
The coverage area of the Tourist Day Ticket is extensive and includes the entire province of South Holland. This means that with a single ticket you can travel in and between the major cities and to well-known sights. The ticket is valid with the following operators:
- RET: The operator in the Rotterdam region, including metro, tram and bus.
- HTM: The urban operator in The Hague, with an extensive network of trams and buses.
- Arriva: Active in, among others, Leiden, Gouda and Dordrecht.
- Connexxion: Operates bus lines in various parts of the province.
- EBS: Operates in the Haaglanden region.
- Qbuzz: Active in the Drechtsteden, Molenlanden and Gorinchem region.
- Waterbus: Provides transport over water between Rotterdam and the Drechtsteden, with a stop at the Kinderdijk windmills.
Important exceptions to validity
Although the ticket has broad coverage, there are a few exceptions you need to take into account. The Tourist Day Ticket is not valid on:
- Trains (NS or other rail operators).
- Night buses.
- Neighbourhood buses.
- Special ferry services such as the Fast Ferry.
Are you planning a route where you will also need the train? Then you will have to buy a separate train ticket for that part. For most tourist journeys within and between the cities, however, the ticket is an excellent and comprehensive solution.
How do you buy a Tourist Day Ticket?
Buying a Tourist Day Ticket is easy and can be done in several ways, both in person and online. You can purchase the ticket at the service desks and ticket machines of the participating operators, such as RET and HTM at the larger stations. In addition, it is available at tourist information offices (VVV), at many hotels, and at information points such as Rotterdam Tourist Information at Central Station. This makes it easy to buy a ticket immediately on arrival.
You can also order the ticket in advance online via the websites of the transport companies or specialised webshops such as ovshop.nl. After ordering you will receive the ticket by post. Do bear in mind the delivery time, especially if you order it from abroad. That is why it is often more practical to buy the ticket on the spot.
When is the ticket a smart choice?
Whether the Tourist Day Ticket is the best option for you depends on your travel plans. Are you making several journeys by public transport in a single day? Then there is a good chance that this ticket will work out cheaper than separate tickets or travelling with OVpay (checking in and out with your bank card). A single journey quickly costs a few euros. After three or four journeys you will often already have covered the €15.50 price.
The ticket is ideal for a day of city-hopping. For example, you can take the tram from Rotterdam to Delft. Later in the day you travel by bus to the beach at Scheveningen. In the evening you return to The Hague without having to think about the cost of individual journeys. It is also a practical option for a visit to the Kinderdijk windmills with the Waterbus. For Dutch residents who want to explore their own region without topping up their OV-chipkaart, the ticket also offers convenience and a clear overview of costs.
On the Traveler Tips website you will find many more articles to help you plan your trip in the Netherlands and beyond. Discover our guides to the most beautiful routes, smart travel tips and hidden gems. Let yourself be inspired and prepare your next journey down to the last detail.
Frequently asked questions
The Tourist Day Ticket South Holland is financially advantageous compared to individual tickets for a day of travel in South Holland, especially if you plan to make several journeys. For a fixed price of €17.50 (2026 fare) you can travel without limits by bus, tram, metro and Waterbus. This is generally cheaper than multiple separate journeys using an OV-chipkaart or alternatives such as the HTM 2-hour ticket at €4.70 for short trips. Traveller experiences confirm that the main benefits are the convenience and cost savings.
The Tourist Day Ticket South Holland covers unlimited travel by bus, tram, metro and Waterbus throughout the province of South Holland. This includes the Haaglanden, Rotterdam Rail, Drechtsteden, Hoeksche Waard and Voorne-Putten concessions. It is valid with operators such as RET, HTM, Qbuzz, EBS, Connexxion, Arriva and Waterbus. Trains, fast ferries, neighbourhood buses and night buses are excluded.
To combine the Tourist Day Ticket smartly with your road trip or driving holiday through South Holland, plan strategic parking locations on the outskirts of cities such as Rotterdam or The Hague. Use the ticket for unlimited travel by bus, tram, metro and Waterbus to reach hotspots and avoid parking problems and costs in busy city centres. This is ideal for sustainable day trips to sights such as Kinderdijk, Keukenhof or the beaches, without having to move your car. Make sure you check in and out on every journey, and download public transport apps for real-time routes and timetables.
With the Tourist Day Ticket South Holland you can optimally explore cities such as Rotterdam, The Hague, Leiden, Delft, Gouda and Dordrecht. Sights such as Kinderdijk, Keukenhof, the beaches at Noordwijk and Duinrell are also easy to reach. Plan your trip smartly to discover various hotspots and themed routes. It is an ideal way to make sustainable day trips, for example to the markets in The Hague or the windmills at Kinderdijk.
The Tourist Day Ticket is ideal for unlimited travel by bus, tram, metro and Waterbus in South Holland for €17.50 (2026). You can buy it at RET, HTM and Qbuzz service points, ticket machines at metro stations, tourist information offices (VVV), hotels, holiday parks or online via ovshop.nl, connexxion.nl or touristdaytickets.nl. The ticket is valid from the first check-in until the end of the timetable (around 04:00 the following morning) and activates automatically at the first check-in. Plan your routes in advance via 9292.nl or the public transport apps for a carefree travel day.
