Transport

If you come to the airport (Schiphol), you can buy your ticket online or at the machine physically at Schiphol (see picture below). The trains are located in the same building as the airport (below the main terminal). There is also an app for ordering tickets and train times.

Although there are many different methods of transport in Groningen, cycling is by far the favourite for most people. Cycling is often the quickest, easiest and cheapest option of transport in Groningen. Here is an article on (pretty much) all you need to know on biking in Groningen.

The OV-chipkaart
Although you can still buy single tickets at the station or online, most people in the Netherlands use a public transport chip card (OV-chipkaart). This card is the general public transport card and can also be used when travelling by bus, train, tram or metro. You should charge the card with electronic credits you and can add subscriptions to it to get a discount. Note that the card must contain enough credit to complete a journey. 

When you enter a bus, train, metro or tram, you have to check in by holding your card up to the card reader until you see a green light and hear a beep. Always remember to check out when leaving the vehicle. Have a look at the OV-chipkaart website for more information on how to use it properly.

If you want to travel by public transport, the train is a very good option in the Netherlands. There is an extensive railway network, which means you can reach almost every destination by using the train.

Railway stations

There are a couple of railway stations in Groningen, namely Station Europapark, Station Groningen-Noord and the Central Station Groningen. The last station is the biggest and most important one in Groningen and is located right next to the city centre.

NS and Arriva

There are two railway companies operating from the stations of Groningen: NS and Arriva. NS is short for Nederlandse Spoorwegen (Dutch railways) and is the biggest train operator in the Netherlands. If you want to travel outside of the north of the Netherlands, you will probably need to get one of the yellow NS trains. If you want to travel to Friesland or within the province of Groningen, you will probably take one of the Arriva trains. Although a ticket often lets you travel with either one of the companies, it is important to check in with your OV public transport chip card at the right company! If you travel with the NS, you should check in at one of the yellow pillars and you should look for the blue pillars when you want to travel with Arriva.

Plan your journey with 9292

If you want to plan your journey, you can use the website 9292. You can enter your location and your destination and either the time you want to depart or the time you want to arrive. The planner shows the best public transport options for your journey.

Driver's license

If you have a driver’s licence from outside of the Netherlands, your licence might not be valid here. That depends on the type of licence you have and if your licence was issued in a member state of the EU. Have a look at the IWCN's website to check whether you can drive in the Netherlands with your driver’s licence.

If you don’t have a driver’s licence yet and you want to get one in the Netherlands, you can get one after passing a theory test and a practical driving test. These tests are organised by the CBR, the national driver's licence agency. In order to pass the tests, you need to take lessons at a driving school. The average amount of money that is spent in the Netherlands to obtain a driver’s licence is €3207,-, as calculated by the CBR. The costs depend on the amount of lessons you need and often varies between driving schools. The average price for one lesson is €57,50. A person on average needs 40 lessons. Remember that you also need to pay for the tests and your licence.

Buying or bringing a car

If you are living in Groningen and looking to buy a car, it is important to know what to look for. If you have bought a car or a different motor vehicle outside of the Netherlands and you want to bring it to the Netherlands, there are a number of conditions you need to fulfil before you will be able to use it on the Dutch roads. It is also important to get a Dutch licence plate if you are bringing a car with a foreign plate.

Good to know

It is compulsory in the Netherlands to have at least third-party insurance on all your motor vehicles. In addition to the insurance, it may be wise to become a member of an automobile club such as the Royal Dutch Touring Club (ANWB), which offers road service. Also make sure that you carry the right documents on board.

Parking

Once you have a car in Groningen, you will need to park it somewhere. The municipality's website offers a clear overview of all the different options.

If you are a resident of the neighbourhood "Binnenstad Diepenring" or a neighbourhood surrounding the city centre, you can also apply for a parking permit to park your car in your neighbourhood. You can apply for a parking permit at the municipality.

Cars for sharing

If you do not own a car but you are in need of one, you might consider to make use of a car meant for sharing. There are multiple companies in Groningen that offer cars for sharing, like Greenwheels, MyWheels and SnappCar, but there are also individuals who offer their cars for this purpose.

If you are planning to travel to or within Groningen by car, it is good to know what the current traffic situation is and to check whether there are any planned roadworks. Read about roadworks, traffic projects and smart travel alternatives on Groningenbereikbaar.

Live map

Groningenbereikbaar also has a live map that shows the current traffic situation in Groningen, including traffic jams and parking tips.

Changing the city centre

The city centre of Groningen has never been as populated as now. That means that the city of Groningen needs to take a smarter approach to the space available over the coming years, to help the city centre retain its welcoming atmosphere. In order to do so, the municipality of Groningen and other organizations are working on a large number of projects to give more space to pedestrians and cyclists.