Daily Life & Transport

Bike, Train and Supermarket

5 Steps to Complete

Follow along for success! ✨

📝

✅

Learn Public Transport

📌 What

Understand the Dutch public transport system: Train, bus, tram, metro.

💡 Why

A car is not essential because the system is perfect and it's a small country. Many expats live without a car. But knowing how it works is important.

🎯 How

Download the 9292 or NS app, plan all transport from one place. Google Maps also works well. You can also travel with a debit card without OV-chipkaart, but it's more expensive.

Get an OV-Chipkaart

📌 What

Get a public transport card, OV-chipkaart. Think of it as a London Oyster card.

💡 Why

Discount with OV-chipkaart, even cheaper with a subscription. Free trains on weekends with Weekend Vrij!

🎯 How

Anonymous card: €7.50 from the station, use immediately. Personal card: Order from ov-chipkaart.nl, wait 1 week, you can buy a subscription. Check NS subscriptions: Dal Voordeel (40% off off-peak), Weekend Vrij (unlimited weekends), Altijd Voordeel (40% always).

Buy a Bike (Be Dutch)

Where to find cheap, reliable bikes

📌 What

Buy a bike for transport.

💡 Why

Fastest and cheapest transport in the city. Dutch people cycle in rain and snow. You'll get used to it too!

🎯 How

Buy your first bike secondhand, between €50-150 on Marktplaats or Facebook Marketplace. If you want new, Decathlon is cheap and good. Subscription services like 'Swapfiets' are also very popular for those who don't want repair hassle. DEFINITELY buy a lock (chain lock/ring lock), theft is very common!

Learn Supermarkets

Cheapest vs premium stores explained

📌 What

Learn the Dutch supermarket chains. Not everything is in the same market!

💡 Why

Knowing what's sold where saves money and time.

🎯 How

Cheap: Lidl, Aldi, Dirk. Medium: Albert Heijn (AH), Jumbo. Premium: Marqt, Ekoplaza, Odin. Some Turkish products can be found in large AHs. For cosmetics/cleaning needs Kruidvat/Etos are cheaper.

Get a Phone Plan

Best phone deals for expats

📌 What

Get a Dutch phone number. Required for many services.

💡 Why

Registration for some services is difficult without a NL number. Delivery, bank, institutions look for a NL number.

🎯 How

If you want prepaid: Options like Lebara, Lyca exist. Buy from the market or online. Sim-only subscription: Ben, Simyo, KPN, Vodafone. Compare on Bellen.com. Note: There are 2-year contracts, if staying short-term buy prepaid or monthly sim-only.