Public transport in Rotterdam

We noticed that public transport is working really well in Rotterdam. There are buses, the metro and trams that connect the different parts of the city.

Rotterdam: Public transport

There is a lot that one can do on foot in Rotterdam, however, at times it can be really handy to use Rotterdam’s public transport. These are the three main options:

• Metro in Rotterdam
  Metro lines A to E traverse Rotterdam and all lines meet at Beurs station. Two lines go from North to South and one from East to West. Lines D and E connect the suburban areas to the city.
• Tram and bus
  As in most other bigger cities buses and trams zig-zag through Rotterdam. Most stops have plans that show where the individual lines go.

Once we had found the stop we wanted to use we managed quite well to find our way around. Finding the stops was not entirely straight forward as most signs were a little obscure.

Buying tickets

We used the OV-chipcard that is part of the Rotterdam Welcome Card. We bought a three-day pass that included unlimited access to Rotterdam’s RET network public transport for that time. That included buses, metros and trams. Important! The special late buses and the trains are not part of the network.

If you decide against the Welcome Card you best purchase a rechargeable OV chipcard. This card can be used in almost all bigger cities in the Netherlands. You can load any amount of money onto your card and use your credit up as you go. The duration of your trip determines the ticket price in Rotterdam. This is why passengers have to scan their ticket as they board public transport. It is important to scan the card again as you alight. This will cause the appropriate amount to be deducted from your credit.

If you are in the city for only a short time and if you are not planning on using public transport often a day ticket will suffice. This can be used in the entire city.

Ticket prices for public transport in Rotterdam

Kids under 4 years travel free

OV chip card

• Card price (without credit): 7.50€
• Where to get it: At the kiosk at Rotterdam Centraal and Rotterdam Blaak, in newsagents at Rotterdam Airport, at the kiosk at Rotterdam Beuers, in most Primera shops and at service desks of most bigger supermarkets.
• Where is it valid: it is valid for 4 to 5 years in all of the Netherlands, in buses, trains, trams and the metro
• transferable

Day ticket

• Cost: 9,50€
• Kids between the ages of 4 to 11 5,- €
• Where to get it: at the ticket machines in metro stations and at the RET service desks (for 0.50€ more)
• Where is it valid: valid from the first scan for that day until 4 am the next day (not 24h). Unlimited access to bus, trams and metro lines of the RET network in the city of Rotterdam (only up to Meijersplein on metro line E)
• Not valid on the BOB bus (special late and weekend bus service)
• Important: you have to scan in and out even with a day ticket!

Single ticket

• Cost: 4.50€ for 2 hours (2 uur), can be used for return trips as long as they are in the 2-hour window
• Where to get it: at the machines in the metro stations, from the bus driver and in trams
• Not valid for BOB buses (special late and weekend bus service)

Tourist card:

• Unlimited use of all public transport in the Rotterdam/The Hague region on one day.
• Cost: 15.50 euros.

OVpay

OVpay is still relatively new and can now be used almost everywhere in the Netherlands.

• Use of Visa DeBit card or Mastercard (ABN AMRO, ASN Bank, bunq, ING, KNAB, Rabobank, RegioBank or SNS), linked mobile device, Apple Pay or Google Wallet to purchase the ticket.
• contactless debit or credit card from Maestro, V PAY, Mastercard or Visa from another country can also be used for check-in and check-out
• hold the card you want to travel with against the card reader when checking in and out, or use your debit card on your mobile device.
• all fares incurred will be debited the following day in one amount from
• Debit shows a payment reference starting with NLOV followed by 14 digits and letters