Children aged up to 12 will be able to travel free on public transport across the Netherlands from 2027 under new measures aimed at encouraging greater use of buses, trams and trains.
The announcement was made on Wednesday by DOVA, the consortium representing Dutch public transport authorities, as part of a broader effort to make public transport more accessible and attract new generations of passengers.
At present, free travel for children is available only through a special subscription with the national rail operator NS, while some regional transport networks already allow children to ride buses and trams without charge.
Junior Infrastructure Minister Annet Bertram said the nationwide scheme would help introduce children to public transport from an early age while easing travel costs for families.
"It introduces children to public transport at a young age, and it is good for families on a tight budget," she said in a statement.
Children under the age of three will continue to travel free, as they do currently. Under the new rules, children aged four to 11 must be accompanied by a fare-paying adult, with each adult permitted to travel with up to three children free of charge.
The introduction of free travel for children will coincide with the end of the nationwide public transport discount currently available to passengers aged 65 and over.
The changes come as interest in affordable public transport continues to grow. A new unlimited summer rail pass, launched in June, has proved popular, with around 175,000 passengers purchasing the €49-per-month ticket. The pass allows unlimited off-peak travel on domestic rail services operated by both NS and regional train companies. Photo by Rob Dammers, Wikimedia commons.
