Public Transportation by Wheelchair in Amsterdam

Public transportation cards & tickets

When travelling with Dutch public transportation, you must buy a limited use ticket or a re-loadable OV chipkaart transport card. Travel cards or tickets can be purchased online or at a designated ticket machine. The cost of travel is based on distance. You must ‘tap in’ and ‘tap out’ your card whenever you enter and exit a tram, train, bus or metro carriage.

Service dogs & Dutch public transportation

Service dogs are permitted in train carriages at no extra cost, but must be recognisable as a service dog (eg. through a harness with a service dog organisation logo). Service dogs do not require a separate ticket. Please see the Dutch National Railway (NS) website for further details about travel assistance and travelling with service dogs. 

Disclaimer

While there are many wheelchair-friendly services in place, Amsterdam’s public transportation is not always as accessible in practice as it appears ‘on paper’. This can be due to e.g. broken metro lifts, faulty bus ramps, gaps between the train and platform, and more. Please be aware of these potential challenges as you plan your public transportation journey. For more information, read my MSc thesis on wheelchair accessibility of Amsterdam’s public transportation here.

Trains

General information

Carriage doors with wider entrances are marked with a blue wheelchair icon. All trains include priority seats. Not all trains have a wheelchair-accessible toilet; this depends on how new the carriage is.

The Dutch trains include InterCity trains — travelling between cities — and Sprinters — which stop at smaller towns. While Sprinters are level with the platform, InterCity trains have several steps to get inside. This means that if you are unable to walk up the steps, you will need to book assistance for a wheelchair ramp.

The Dutch National Railway offers travel assistance at more than 100 stations throughout The Netherlands. This includes a member of staff fitting a large mobile ramp to ensure that wheelchair users can safely board and exit the train carriage. 

Travel assistance must be arranged at least an hour before departure, either via telephone at +31 (0) 30 235 7822 or via the NS phone app. Click here to visit the NS website for more information.

Mobility aids

Wheelchairs, mobility scooters and walking bikes are permitted on Dutch trains but must adhere to certain size and speed regulations.

Trams

General information

Amsterdam’s trams have wider, accessible entrances marked with a wheelchair icon on the carriage door. The tram conductor can assist you with a fold-out ramp for easier entry and exit. The need for the ramp will depend on the tramp stop. Certain stops have a large height difference between the pavement and tram floor, while others are almost equal in height.

Amsterdam’s trams have priority seating and a designated wheelchair space. Prams are also allowed to park in the wheelchair space, but wheelchairs have priority over prams.

Mobility aids

According to the GVB transport website, wheelchairs, mobility scooters and walking bikes are permitted but must adhere to certain rules. Mobility scooters are allowed if there is enough space in the metro carriage, and can be max. length 120 cm; width 70 cm; height 109 cm. Walking bikes can be max. length 170 cm; width 70 cm; height 109 cm. 

Metro carriages

General information

Amsterdam’s metro carriages have priority seating and a designated wheelchair space. Prams are also allowed to park in the wheelchair space, but wheelchairs have priority over prams.

While the metro carriage floor and station platform are usually at the same height, there is sometimes a gap between the two. Travellers using mobility aids may need help to bridge the gap and enter / exit the metro carriage.

Larger metro stops — like Amsterdam Central Station, Wibautstraat, and Waterlooplein — have on-site employees and information desks. I recommend asking a member of staff to assist you, if needed. However, not all of the smaller metro stops are staffed.

Mobility aids

According to the GVB transport website, wheelchairs, mobility scooters and walking bikes are permitted in the metro carriages, but must adhere to certain regulations. Mobility scooters are allowed if there is enough space in the metro carriage, and can be max. length 120 cm; width 70 cm; height 109 cm. Walking bikes can be max. length 170 cm; width 70 cm; height 109 cm.

Buses

General information

All buses have fold-out wheelchair ramps, which the conductor will help to put in place. Buses have priority seating and a designated wheelchair space. Prams are also allowed to park in the wheelchair space, but wheelchairs have priority over prams.

Mobility aids

According to the GVB transport website, wheelchairs and walking bikes are permitted in the bus, but must adhere to certain regulations. Mobility scooters are not permitted. Walking bikes can be max. length 170 cm; width 70 cm; height 109 cm.

Ferries

General information

Amsterdam’s ferries take travellers across the IJ river and are free for everyone. You can take the ferry to wheelchair-friendly places including STRAAT (an award-winning street art & graffiti museum) and the EYE Film Museum. If you’re looking to dine with a view of Amsterdam, head over to EYE — for a waterfront restaurant — or Madam — for sky-high views.

Mobility aids

Wheelchairs, mobility scooters and walking bikes are permitted on the ferry. A wide ramp is used by all commuters to enter and exit the ferry. It can be easily used with a mobility aid.