What's the best way of getting around the Netherlands?

Hi Phil, It depends on were you need to go in Holland. In Amsterdam the public transport will be faster because of all the small streets which is horrible by car. But if you need to travel outside Amsterdam a car would be better I think.

Hi Phil, you're right in saying that the transport system in the Netherlands is excellent and if living in the city, it's unlikely you'll need a car as there are many different public transport options for getting around Amsterdam, inlcuding buses, trains, metro and tram. Traffic can be quite scary, so driving is not always the preferred option. Take a look at our Transport and Driving in the Netherlands page for some more info.

Public transport in The Netherlands is indeed excellent and as mentioned by others there are many options. All modes of transport are always well on time and travel information is clear and well signposted electronically. If you are living anywhere in the city centre though, a good option is to embrace the Dutch lifestyle and get a bike. A cheapo to get you from A to B will suffice. In fact many locals who use the train to and from work (e.g. because they work in another city or town), have a second bike at their destination train station to get them to their final point and back. And they probably have a decent bike out work for going on trips as their are hundreds of km's of dedicated cycle tracks criss-crossing all town and cities as well as bicycle highways running alongside maajor route. However, having a car in whilst living here could be a major benefit though; for instance travel to all neighbouring countries is less than two hours away and if you enjoy getting out over the weekend but don't enjoy cycling. At the same token, if you intend living in the centrum (centre of Amsterdam), you'd need to find a place with private parking as it is NOT possible to park without obtaining a permit (waiting list is a couple of years and costs a few hundred euro per year). Public parking fees currently range between 4 and 6 euros and the price of petrol is unashamedly the highest in Europe.