Your trusty steed: bicycles rule the roads
The Netherlands is famous for its bikes – there are, after all, more bikes than people. It’s never a bad idea to own a bike, and here in the Netherlands, you’ll have no shortage of company. Most students get around by bike, and the Netherlands’ bike-friendly infrastructure makes cycling a very enjoyable experience. The country’s flat terrain allows you to contend with cars and buses, and most of the time, it’s faster to go by bike than by any other method of transport. I could talk poetically about how bikes are some of the greatest inventions ever, but I will instead direct you to our dedicated bicycle guide.
Public transport: all about the OV-chipkaart
Dutch public transport is famous for being well-connected, efficient and reliable. Most of the time, it is – though there are moments where delays are inevitable, and cancellations likely. One thing that remains consistent, however, is the all-powerful OV-chipkaart: universally used for most modes of public transportation.
The OV-chipkaart
The OV-chipkaart is a card that allows you to travel on trains, trams, and buses with ease. Anonymous cards can be bought in stations and some grocery stores (such as the Albert Heijn in the city centre of Enschede). Just look for an ATM-machine-looking stand with the word ‘Tickets’ written at the top. These cards need a minimum amount of money to be able to check in to public transport: €4 for buses, trams, and metros, and €20 for trains. These may be subject to change, so refer to the official website for the latest information. A personal OV-chipkaart must be bought online, and the same rules apply to them as well. However, the main advantage of ordering a personal OV-chipkaart lies in its ability to buy subscriptions.
Train subscriptions
Train tickets can get expensive, especially if you like to travel. Fortunately, the Dutch railway company NS offers many subscriptions – the full list can be viewed on their website. As an international student, you'll likely only be looking at three most of the time.
The Weekend Vrij. For around €35 per month, the Weekend Vrij allows me unlimited travel during the weekend – which, for NS, starts on Friday after 6.30 p.m., and ends on Monday at 4 a.m. Many students buy the Weekend Vrij only during months when they’re going to travel and cancel it for busier months.
The Jongeren Dagkaart ticket allows you unlimited travel during off-peak hours, but only if you’re under 19. This is before 6.30 a.m., between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., and after 6.30 p.m. on all weekdays, and all day on the weekends. Right now, for €7.95, the young person’s day ticket is a great deal. However, be aware that this ticket is only valid for NS trains and not for other train companies, such as Blauwnet in Enschede or Arriva in Gelderland. This is not the case for the Weekend Vrij subscription, where almost all trains allow this subscription.
With a Group Ticket, you can travel as a group of 2 to 7 people for a fixed price in off-peak periods (one-way or return). The bigger the group, the more you save: if you gather enough people, you'll be likely to travel for under €10.00! Besides, travelling together is more fun than doing so alone. If you, however, want to go on a trip but can't find anyone to go with, check out this group ticket finder: an initiative of international students that helps you find travel buddies to buy a group ticket with. A great way to save some money on a daytrip!
Bus subscriptions
Buses are reasonably priced. However, if you’re not careful, you might find yourself with an obscenely large amount of money you have to pay on your OV-chipkaart. I’ve often found myself in this predicament, mostly during the winter when it’s cold and rainy and much too dark to be biking at 8.45 a.m. That’s where a bus subscription can come in handy.
Since Enschede uses RRReis and Arriva as their bus service, their subscriptions can be found on their website. During the winter months, when it’s cold and windy, I use one that is €18 a month and offers a 40% discount during off-peak hours. This subscription is also valid in other provinces, namely Overijssel (where the University of Twente is located!), Flevoland, and Gelderland.
Another thing to keep in mind is that the OV-chipkaart can only have one subscription at a time. To have multiple subscriptions, another personal OV-chipkaart is needed. Multiple cards can be linked to the same bank account.
Trams and metros
Trams are very similar to buses – you use your OV-chipkaart to check in, and you check out at your stop. Unfortunately, Enschede does not have trams, as our city is more on the smaller side as far as cities in the Netherlands go. Trams are used in bigger cities such as Amsterdam, the Hague, Rotterdam, and Utrecht.
Metros, or the underground, are only available in Amsterdam and Rotterdam. From my own experience, the underground line is fast and reliable, but I prefer using the trams whenever I’m in those cities for a more scenic route. Metros, as with all public transport in the Netherlands, use the OV-chipkaart as well.
Conclusion
In Enschede, not much is needed to get around – if you’re willing to brave the cold rain and wind, a bicycle is no problem at all. However, if you like to travel, an OV-chipkaart is essential, and the Weekend Vrij is the most popular subscription among students. Just remember that public transport in the Netherlands is easy to understand, and once you’ve gone on your first train ride from Schiphol, everything else will start to make sense.
