Now that millions of Dutch people are preparing for King’s Day, carriers are doing everything they can to transport everyone properly and safely. However, partygoers who want to travel to hotspots such as Amsterdam, Utrecht or Dokkum should pay close attention. There have been many adjustments to the train, bus, tram and metro timetables.
David Briem
News reporter
Anyone who takes the train on Monday, April 27, will often have to deal with the special ‘Orange timetable’. To get all travelers to their destination, the NS is using more and extra long trains on this day.
Additional employees are also deployed to assist travelers and there are more cleaners to keep the trains and stations clean.
NS expects the biggest crowds in cities such as Amsterdam, Utrecht, Rotterdam and Eindhoven. But Dokkum is also circled in red this year. Because the Frisian town does not have its own train station, QBuzz runs extra buses from Leeuwarden station to take all partygoers to the north.
Two Amsterdam train stations closed
Since a number of parties and events start on Sunday evening, the adjusted timetable sometimes starts earlier. For example, the NS is already running longer trains around The Hague and Utrecht because of King’s Night.
Utrecht Central also has restrictions for this reason: the Jaarbeurs side is completely closed on the night from Sunday to Monday between 1 a.m. and 6:30 a.m.
The most drastic measures apply in Amsterdam, traditionally the epicenter on King’s Day. Amsterdam RAI Station and Amsterdam Science Park are closed all day. Festival goers for events at the RAI or the Olympic Stadium are advised to travel via Amsterdam Zuid station.
Just like last year, train passengers are not allowed to bring alcoholic drinks to the station or on the train during King’s Night and King’s Day. This ban comes into effect tonight at 7 p.m. and will last until 7 a.m. on Tuesday morning. Shops at the stations will therefore not sell alcohol.
Arriva runs night trains
The Amsterdam GVB operates a Saturday timetable on King’s Day. There are no further trams running through the city center, while several lines are being diverted. The ferries do operate, but according to the Sunday timetable.
Bus transport is also being scaled up in Utrecht and the surrounding area. For example, extra (night) buses run until the early hours, and routes are adjusted to keep the city center accessible. For 10 euros, partygoers can take the bus and tram (U-OV) all day long. And please note: some of the buses and trams run a modified route.
Not only NS, Arriva also responds to King’s Day. The carrier, large in the north of the country, will run a special night train between Zwolle and Amsterdam or Schiphol on Sunday evening. That train also ran extra on Friday and Saturday nights.
Please note: the public transport chip card is not valid for this train, tickets must be purchased in advance via the app and cost 5, 10 or 15 euros.
