Travel

From June 1, 2022, the temporary arrangement for local public transport for refugees from Ukraine will expire. You are then no longer allowed to travel for free on the day of arrival and you must therefore purchase a valid ticket. You can do this by buying a ticket from the carrier or by purchasing an OV-chipkaart, see the heading “Applications for an OV-chipkaart”. As a schoolchild or student, you can request free transport, contact the municipality where you are staying. Please note: free entry to the Netherlands is still allowed with NS trains, see the heading below.

On the day of arrival In the Netherlands you can travel for free on the NS trains. This is possible on presentation of your Ukrainian ID and a German, Belgian, French or Austrian ticket that is not older than 24 hours. With this proof you can pick up a free day ticket at the Tickets and Service counters at the (larger) NS train stations.

If you want to travel by train in the Netherlands, the NS offers various subscriptions. With this you can, for example, travel with a discount. On  the website of the NS you can order a subscription.

With the OV chip card you can travel through the Netherlands on all public transport. You can buy the OV chip card at stations, in various shops and supermarkets, but also online. More information about applying for the card can be found on this website.

Children between the ages of 4 and 11 can travel for free by train with an OV chip card Kids for free arrangement. Purchasing an OV chip card is required for this. In the rest of public transport (bus, tram, metro) they get a 34% discount. Children up to the age of 3 travel for free on all public transport.

Young people between the ages of 12 and 18 can travel with the train with a discount outside rush hour Youth Day Ticket. This Day ticket costs €7.60 and can be purchased exclusively in the NS app. In the rest of the public transport they pay the same as adults.

The elderly (65+) do not receive a discount on the train, but they do receive a discount on other public transport. Just like children between the ages of 4 and 11, they receive a 34% discount.

More information about a discount in public transport can be found at The website of the OV-chipcard.

You can find out how to get to your destination by public transport on the 9292 website. Enter your current location and desired destination, and the service will show you which bus, tram, or train to take. 9292 is also available as an app for your smartphone.

You can easily rent bicycles from the NS. This is possible at many train stations. You pay €4.15 per bike per 24 hours. More information can be found on the website of  NS. You can also buy a second-hand bicycle through online marketplaces or Facebook groups.

On this website you will find information about the validity of your foreign driving license, road tax, insurance, traffic regulations and parking in the Netherlands.

With regard to third-party liability insurance, some cars from Ukraine are only insured in Ukraine. Refugees who have come to the Netherlands with their own car must in that case take out supplementary insurance. Insurer de Vereende has a  insurance solution in the form of a Short Term Insurance, whereby you receive third-party liability cover for a maximum of 3 months.

In addition,  Allianz a free short-term insurance policy for refugees from Ukraine in various transit countries in Europe. For refugees it is sometimes also possible to contact their own (or another) insurer in Ukraine. A number of Ukrainian insurers are still active. They can issue insurance policies with coverage for the whole of Europe and at a more favorable rate. Expiring insurance policies may also be extended. See the website below for more information.

Unfortunately, it is not possible to exchange a Ukrainian driver’s license for a Dutch driver’s license. However, as a refugee with a Ukrainian driver’s license you can drive for 185 days in the Netherlands. After this period you have to take another exam at the CBR (Central Bureau for Driving Skills) to obtain the Dutch driving license. It is also not possible in the Netherlands to replace an old Ukrainian driver’s license with a new Ukrainian driver’s license.

Did you take your car from Ukraine to the Netherlands? On the site of the tax authorities you will find all information about the rules for taxes and your motor vehicle with a foreign registration number.

It is important that you know how to act in traffic situations in the Netherlands to prevent accidents. In this  PDF-document you will find the traffic rules and signs in a handy overview.