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Getting around Amsterdam

Getting from A to B in the city of bikes. All you need to know about your options, including the extensive public transport system.

Public transport in Amsterdam

Watch the video about public transport in Amsterdam

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Travel to the Netherlands

AUAS promotes a more sustainable way of travelling to both students and staff. We encourage people who have a travel time of less than 8 hours to choose a train or bus. If you want to calculate the direct CO₂ impact of your trip, check ecotransit.world (opens in new window).

As an Erasmus+ student, you can apply for a Green Travel Grant: an extra top-up when you travel by bus or train to your exchange destination. Check with your home university for details. Interrail also has a special Erasmus+ interrail pass (opens in new window).

For more information on travelling by train or bus, go to these pages on MyAUAS (log in with your AUAS account): Travelling in Europe (opens in new window)

Travelling from Schiphol Airport

When arriving by plane to Schiphol Airport, the easiest and cheapest way to continue your travels is by train. The journey to Amsterdam takes about 15-20 minutes and costs around 5 euros. You can buy a single ticket at a vending machine or use one of the options below.

A taxi ride from Schiphol Airport to Amsterdam varies between €50 and €80. Uber (opens in new window) or Bolt (opens in new window) are cheaper, but do not accept cash and only work with an app, linked to a bank account or credit card.

Plan your local journeys

Besides Google Maps, 9292 is a useful app that incorporates all public transport operators in the Netherlands. Check timetables, maps and costs of your travels easily. 

Paying for public transport

With these payment methods, you can travel anywhere in the Netherlands by train, bus, tram, and metro. Check-in and out at the card readers at stations. There are some flavours to choose from:

OVpay (opens in new window): checking in and out with a new OV-pas or your payment card
OV-pas (opens in new window)
With a personal OV-pas (formerly known as ov-chipcard) you travel around the country with just one card. Purchase the physical card and (automatically) top it up for your journeys through physical vending machines, or your online account in the OVpay app (opens in new window). Benefit from various subscriptions and travel products (see more info below) or rent an OV-bike at a train station (€4.45 per 24 hours). Please note that this is the only option that allows for these services, as these need to be linked to your personal details. Order your OV-pas here (opens in new window) for 6,- or head to the nearest Primera when you arrive. 
Payment card (opens in new window)
Another option to travel around is by using a contactless debit card, credit card or mobile phone (with Apple Pay or Google Wallet). All Dutch banks are sufficient, or you can check in and out by using an international bank card, provided it is a debit or credit card from Mastercard, VISA, or ICS.  

Anonymous OV chip card 
You can still travel with an anonymous OV-chipkaart until the end of 2027. You can purchase and top up this card at the ticket machines at train and metro stations. Please be aware that the OV-chipkaart is being discontinued and replaced by OVpay (OV-pas or your payment card).

 

Discounts for international students

A seasonal ticket or subscription could be cheaper depending on how many times you travel per week/month. These options can only be loaded on a personal OV-pas, not on OVpay or an anonymous chip card. More information about seasonal tickets for national trains can be found on the NS website (opens in new window) (Dutch railway company), and for local public transport on the Amsterdam public transport (opens in new window) website. Combination subscriptions for train & public transport within Amsterdam are possible.

The Dutch government offers a free student travel card in combination with study allowance for specific nationalities and under certain conditions. Please note that this is a complicated process and it will take a fair amount of time to arrange it. See the official government website (opens in new window) (DUO) for more information and contact DUO (opens in new window) if you have any questions. Unfortunately, exchange students cannot apply for the free travel card or study allowance. 

You could also opt for the Student Mobility card (opens in new window), which gives you a discounted rate on national trains (not on local transport in Amsterdam), as explained below.

Student Mobility: public transport discount card

Student Mobility offers a customised public transport card for international students. You do not need a Dutch bank account. You can connect your credit card or debit card, so you don’t have to top-up the card every time you travel. On top of the mobility card you also receive an ISIC student-ID, a worldwide accepted student-ID that provides access to the biggest student discount network.

You can use this card for all forms of public transport in the Netherlands: train, tram, metro and bus. The card provides 15% discount on national trains, but no discount on tram, metro or bus in Amsterdam. However, the Health campus and Business campus can easily be reached from several train stations in Amsterdam. Next to the card you can also arrange a bike and get your train ticket at a reduced rate from the airport.

Student Mobility is an independent organisation and not related to the AUAS. For questions, please see their website.

Bikes

Cycling is the most common way to get around and nearly everyone has a bike. Want to feel like a local, save money, and exercise at the same time? Buy a bike!

Cars

Driving a car in Amsterdam is not recommended. Parking spaces are rare and expensive, even in the suburbs. Many streets in the city centre are not accessible by car. Biking or using public transport is faster and cheaper.