The public transport system in Holland is so fantastic that a car is sometimes unnecessary.

It is best to travel by train, because they are always on time, fast and frequent. If the train is supposed to leave at 10:10, it does not leave at 10:11. So be warned not to be late. For us South Africans who are no longer used to punctuality and efficiency, this can be quite troublesome. At the station, the departure and arrival times are very clearly explained, as well as all the stations where the train will stop. If you buy your ticket at the station, ask for a “printout”. This is additional information about what time you will be at your destination, where you need to change trains, how long you have before you get to the other train and which platform your train will be on. This is very useful information, especially if it is the first time you are going to travel by train on your own. Train travel can be expensive, but there may be special packages offered, ask your host family about it. It would be good to buy a train discount card. With this you get a 40% discount on the price of your ticket every time and thus you can save a lot over the course of the year.

Don’t be alarmed if you see dogs on the train – they are allowed and they are so well trained that their behavior is sometimes better than that of the owners! Bicycles are also allowed on the train, but then the person and his bicycle must remain in the standing area. There are also the intercity trains which are the so-called express trains and which pass the smaller stations.

The bus and tram service is just as convenient. Both are usually used for transport within the city. The “slogans” on the buses and trams can sometimes be very entertaining: in Tilburg I saw that on a bus the following was written: “Tilburg heeft 10,000 kg hondepoep per jaar” I wondered if they were bragging or complaining!

Taxis are of course also plentiful and they are usually Mercedes Benzes and Opels. In addition to regular taxis, there are also train taxis that only stop at the stations and take you from there to your destination. Your train ticket can also include the price of a train taxi if you buy it in advance. Train taxis can also pick you up at your home and take you to the station, but then you first have to go to the station to buy that specific ticket.!

Certain taxi companies in Eindhoven, The Hague, Rotterdam, Tilburg and a few other cities have legal permission to deliver “soft drugs” door-to-door. The following conditions apply:

No advertising to schoolchildren.

No sales to minors.

No disturbance of the peace and quiet of the residents.
No business with the aim of making a profit.

For example, if you want to go to Keukenhof for a day, you have to take the train to Leiden and at the station you will then find a bus that will take you to Keukenhof. Now you can buy a ticket at the station where you get off that includes the train journey, bus ticket and also the entrance ticket to Keukenhof! Nice and convenient and it works!.

Public toilets are very well maintained and are clean and tidy. It often costs you money to go in or you are expected to leave a coin in a bakkie. These places are usually kept clean by older ladies.