From 2027, every child up to and including age 11 will ride buses, trams and metros, for free anywhere in the Netherlands. The provinces and transport regions have agreed on one nationwide rule.
Right now, whether your kid rides for free depends entirely on where you live. This change seeks to end this kind of postcode lottery.
There’s just one catch: the national discount for over-65s is being scrapped to help pay for it.
What’s actually changing?
Children up to and including age three already travel free on all Dutch public transport, and those aged four to 11 can ride trains for free when accompanied by an adult through the NS Kids Vrij (Kids Free) product.
Some regions already extend similar deals to buses, trams and metros, but the problem is the patchwork approach.
In Amsterdam, children can already travel for free, but only under a temporary scheme. The Hague offers something comparable, where parents buy a special subscription for their child. Elsewhere, you might get a discount, but in some places kids simply pay full fare.
From 2027, that mess gets replaced by a single national rule covering buses, trams and metros, which are run by the provinces and so-called vervoersregio’s (transport regions) rather than the national government.
Annet Bertram, the CDA (Christian Democrat) state secretary responsible for public transport, has welcomed the plan, saying it introduces children to public transport early and helps families on tight budgets, as RTL Nieuws reports.
Why are pensioners paying the price?
But let’s get back to the pensioners for a second.
Making travel free for families costs money, and this time the bill lands on older passengers.
The national public transport discount for over-65s will be scrapped, with the provinces and transport regions choosing to prioritise what they call the “travellers of the future.”
It’s a straightforward trade-off: younger riders in, an existing perk for pensioners out.
It also fits a wider government push to make public transport more appealing. One example is the €49 unlimited off-peak train pass running this summer, an idea from PRO (formerly GroenLinks-PvdA) that the cabinet took on board.
Do you think free travel for kids is worth ditching the pensioner discount? Tell us your thoughts in the comments.
