10,000 residents enroll in Utrecht’s discount transit program for low-income residents
A public transit discount program for low-income residents across the province of Utrecht has attracted 10,000 users since its launch in January, according to provincial officials. Under the program, residents with lower incomes in all Utrecht municipalities can travel with a 70 percent discount on U-OV services during off-peak hours. People aged 65 and older receive a higher benefit under a national age-based scheme, with an 80 percent discount on public transportation fares.
Officials said 25 of the province’s 26 municipalities have now implemented the program, while one municipality is still preparing to join. In Amersfoort, residents with low incomes can travel for free during off-peak hours, a measure made possible by additional municipal funding.
The province of Utrecht reported strong uptake, with 10,000 residents having already applied for the special discount subscription in recent months. Those users are now either traveling at reduced rates or, in some cases, for free during designated quiet travel periods.
Officials said the goal is to keep public transportation affordable and accessible for residents with limited financial means, enabling greater participation in daily life, including work, volunteering, medical appointments, social visits, and leisure travel.
Residents eligible for the program were contacted by their municipalities via letter or email with instructions on how to apply. Those who did not receive a notification but believe they qualify can request a personal registration code to apply.
Applications and information are available through the website kortingov.nl. Residents in Amersfoort can also find details through the municipality’s “Gratis reizen” information page.
The program is the result of cooperation between the municipality of Utrecht, the 26 municipalities in the region, and transit operator U-OV. The municipality covers the cost of the base subscription, while U-OV manages the technical setup of the subscriptions and loads them onto users’ OV-chip cards.
