Getting Around The Hague Without a Car: The Honest Guide
I arrived in The Hague from London eighteen months ago with a vague understanding that the Netherlands was flat and people cycled. That’s technically correct. What I didn’t understand was that this city has built its transport infrastructure around those facts with a thoroughness that makes most European cities look embarrassed.
I have not needed a car once since moving here. Here’s what I actually use.
The tram network
HTM runs the trams and buses. The tram lines are the backbone — lines 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 cover most of the city plus Scheveningen and Delft. For getting from Bezuidenhout (where I live) to the centre: tram 9, about 12 minutes. To Scheveningen: tram 1 from Centrum, another 20 minutes. The frequency is high enough that you rarely wait more than 5 minutes during the day.
Payment: OV-chipkaart is the standard. Get one from any NS service point or the HTM shop on Spui. You can also pay contactless with bank card or phone directly on the tram, which I didn’t know for the first two weeks and overpaid accordingly. Anonymous OV-chipkaart for cash top-up, personal one if you want to track your spending or get discount subscriptions.
The bike situation
Buy a secondhand bike as quickly as possible. Marktplaats (the Dutch equivalent of Gumtree) has hundreds of options in Den Haag at any given time. Budget €80–120 for something that works reliably. Don’t buy cheap — a €40 bike will break on you within a month. Don’t buy expensive — theft is real and relentless, even with a good lock.
OV-fiets is the rental bike system at train stations. €4.20 per day, requires an OV-chipkaart with a registered account. Useful if your own bike is being repaired or if you’re arriving by train from elsewhere.
Cycling rules that matter: ride on the red paths, not the pavement. Signal with your hand when turning. Don’t stop at a green light unless there’s a specific bike light. Locals will let you know loudly if you get these wrong.
Train connections
Den Haag has two main train stations: Den Haag Centraal and Den Haag HS (Hollands Spoor). Centraal is better connected for intercity trains to Amsterdam and Rotterdam. HS is older, slightly less convenient, but has direct connections south. Amsterdam Centraal is 50 minutes from Den Haag Centraal. Rotterdam Centraal is 25 minutes. Schiphol is about 40 minutes with one transfer at Leiden.
The NS app is genuinely useful. Real-time updates, platform information, journey planning. Worth having on your phone from day one.
Taxis and rideshare
Uber operates normally. Local taxis (TCA Den Haag is the main company) are reliable but noticeably more expensive than Uber for most trips. For airport runs late at night when public transport has stopped, a taxi is worth it. For everything else, the tram or bike will be faster and cheaper.
