Free public transport for kids under 11 throughout the Netherlands from next year
From next year, children up to the age of 11 can travel by trams, buses, and metros free of charge throughout the Netherlands, the provinces and transport regions decided. This comes at the expense of the national discount for people over 65, which will disappear, RTL Nieuws reports.
Provinces and transport regions are responsible for the buses, trams, and metros in their area. Children under 3 can already travel for free on all public transport. On trains, children aged 4 to 11 travel for free when accompanied by an adult.
Currently, some regions and cities already offer free public transport for children. In Amsterdam, for example, children can travel for free as part of a temporary arrangement. In The Hague, parents can apply for a free pass for their child. But in other parts of the country, children pay full or a discounted price.
The provinces and transport regions have now decided to implement one uniform scheme for children covering the entire country from 2027.
State Secretary Annet Bertram (CDA), who is responsible for public transport, applauds the initiative. “It allows children to get acquainted with public transport at a young age. Start them young. And it is good for families on a tight budget.”
Making public transport free for children costs money. In this case, the elderly are footing the bill. The provinces and transport regions have decided to scrap the public transport discount for people over 65, choosing to focus on the “travelers of the future.”
