(Source: HTM Personenvervoer nv)

Routes and timetables

Public transport in the Haaglanden region is provided by HTM (HTM Personenvervoer nv). HTM buses, trams and RandstadRail can take you almost anywhere you want to go in the Haaglanden region, which includes The Hague, Delft, Rijswijk, Voorburg, Leidschendam, Nootdorp, Wateringen and Zoetermeer.

On the website www.htm.net the Lijnennetkaart (route map) provides a good overview of all routes. It also shows street names and public and tourist locations. You can easily find your destination by searching for a particular street or location in the route map; you can also see an overview of all public transport in the vicinity of your destination. The varous lines and stops in the map are clickable and will put you through to the timetables. You can also search the timetable database directly from the homepage of this website. The tables are available for each line individually, sortable by destination and stops. First, choose the route and your preferred destination. You will then be taken to a page where you can choose between planning a route (from a to b, on one bus or one tram line) or consulting the timetables or route lists.

Tickets: Zones and strippenkaarten

For pricing purposes, the Netherlands is divided into zones for travel by bus or tram. The Hague and Haaglanden region is also divided in this way. The HTM zonemap shows how many zones a trip will cross. You find the zonemap on the website in the English section; also an overview of all zones is presented in all bus and tram stops.

To travel by bus or tram, you can choose from various types of tickets. The strippenkaart (literally ‘ticket of strips’) is the most well known. This long, narrow ticket is divided into segments known as strippen.

You decide beforehand how many zones your trip will cross and then count off the required number of strippen on your ticket. Each zone costs one strip and there is a starting fee of one strip. You therefore add one strip to the total to arrive at the number of strippen your trip requires. On HTM buses, the driver can stamp your strippenkaart for you. Just tell the driver your destination or the number of zones you want to cross. When you board a tram, you can either stamp your strippenkaart yourself with the stamping machine or ask the driver to stamp it for you. To use the stamping machine, count the correct number of strippen, fold your ticket at the bottom of the correct strip, and then insert the card with the fold forwards into the stamping machine until you hear a click. It is possible for more than one person to travel on the same strippenkaart. All you have to do is stamp the correct number of strippen for each person. For example, if you and a friend are going to cross two zones, stamp the last one of three strippen for yourself and then do the same for your friend.

Boarding, alighting and changing vehicles

Please board the buses only via the front door. Hand your ticket to the driver to stamp or show your valid, stamped strippenkaart or your season ticket. Each time you change to another bus (or tram), you must show your ticket again. When you wish to alight from a bus, you must use one of the side or rear doors. You may board (with a valid ticket) or alight from the trams via any of the doors. To let the driver know that you want the bus or tram to stop at the next stop so that you can get off, press one of the ‘stop’ buttons in the vehicle. A red light will come on to confirm your request. At the stop, the bus driver will open the doors. Remember, though, that if you want to alight from a tram, you will have to press one of the ‘open’ buttons beside the doors.

Lost & found

Left something behind on a tram or bus? Don't worry: the HTM personnel check their vehicle after every trip. In most cases, they retrieve forgotten objects and deliver them to HTM Klantenservice. You can contact HTM Klantenservice on the following business day (Monday to Friday, 11.00 to 17.00) at (070) 384 8203. If you lose something on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday, please contact HTM Klantenservice on the following Monday.

Where to buy tickets

Strippenkaarten and other tickets can be bought from:

• HTM Klantenservice (shop), Wagenstraat 35 (centre of The Hague )
• HTM Klantenservice (ticket office), Station Den Haag Centraal
• HTM Klantenservice (ticket office), Station Hollands Spoor

Validity of tickets

Strippenkaarten and season tickets are valid throughout the Netherlands . A strippenkaart entitles you to use any transport company (except the Nederlandse Spoorwegen*) that operates within the zones you wish to travel through. If you stamp your strippenkaart for one, two or three zones, it is valid for 60 minutes; if you stamp it for four, five or six zones, it is valid for 90 minutes. You may change as many times as you wish to other trams or buses, provided that your ticket is still valid. If for some reason your journey will take longer or cross more zones, you will need to stamp additional strippen.

* (For the trains of NS (Nederlandse Spoorwegen) there is an exception to the rule. It is possible to travel by train with a strippenkaart, but only from station to station within The Hague).

Service, safety and ticket inspection

Apart from the tram or bus driver, you may also encounter other HTM staff while you are travelling. These service and also the ticket inspection staff are there to serve travellers and to ensure safety during the trip. Service staff can be found on all HTM’s buses and trams. They are there to provide information and to lend a helping hand to passengers boarding or alighting from the vehicle. They also accompany children to school and assist during major events. These staff are also regularly on patrol at the stops at Den Haag Centraal Station, Hollands Spoor Station and certain stops in the city centre. At these stops, the inspectors might ask to see your ticket before you board a bus or tram. You must be in possession of a valid ticket in all HTM vehicles and at the security stops. If you cannot produce a valid ticket, you will be fined € 37.40. In some instances, however, an inspector might give you the opportunity to buy a € 20 ‘control ticket’ instead of paying the fine.

Trams and buses with destination World Forum:

• Tram 17 – alight at stop Statenplein – 5 min. walk (tram 17 also stops at Den Haag Centraal Station and Hollands Spoor Station).
• Tram 1 – alight at stop World Forum (Nederlands Congres Centrum) – 5 min. walk (tram 1 also stops at Hollands Spoor Station).