Menu
Expat.com
Search
Magazine
Search

Rotterdam, Netherlands: Pay metro ticket according to your nationality

Mkis
#1
Hello all,
I got to know all this recently as a close relative  is a fresh full time student in Holland. It seems that non Dutch students have to pay for the tickets public transport where as the Dutch ones move free of charge … The natural implication is that students don't have the same rights in Holland depending on their nationality.

Also in several local retail services (i.e. https://swapfiets.nl/en) request credit cards issued ONLY from Dutch banks…never seen this before in Europe or elsewhere in the world!!

To me all this it does not look at all aligned to the spirit of EU…or am I wrong?   

best
See also
Cynic
#2
Hi and welcome to the Forum.

The public transport thing requires a BSN number, so they have to be registered with the Gemeente; has your relative registered yet.  If they are registered, then tell them to follow this link.  It's not absolutely free, some days/periods they get a discount.  There is no discrimination for this product, all students are entitled.

In addition to this, there is an EU travel scheme which is restricted to EU citizens only, but that's not a Dutch government rule, it's an EU wide rule from the EU.

The Dutch have always been weird about credit cards; they have their own national bank cards.  Yes, it's frustrating for those of us who are used to a more flexible scheme, but it's one of the things you have to accept in the Netherlands.

Hope this helps.

Cynic
Expat Team
2 members reacted to this post

The Rotterdam expat guide

Comprehensive and free

Read it now
Rotterdam
Ramses K.
#3
No we don't like credit cards, because of the high rates and we don't like having debts. Why a credit card if you can use your debit card everywhere? We like to save up our money for big expenses, it is typically Dutch to do so.

People who travel frequently have credit cards, but usually when they get back in Holland they pay the debt and don't use them in daily life.

It's just who we are as people you have to deal with it we are not going to change :)
1 member reacted to this post
Cynic
#4

Ramses K. wrote:

No we don't like credit cards, because of the high rates and we don't like having debts. Why a credit card if you can use your debit card everywhere? We like to save up our money for big expenses, it is typically Dutch to do so.

People who travel frequently have credit cards, but usually when they get back in Holland they pay the debt and don't use them in daily life.

It's just who we are as people you have to deal with it we are not going to change :)


You know, if somebody asked me to describe a Dutch person by his traits, this would be one of them; my wife would say exactly the same. :)

SimCityAT
#5
:offtopic: Austria is the same with Credit Cards, But each month the money is taken off your bank account if or not you have money in the account.
The general use of a CC is if you go on holiday, or do online shopping.
Ramses K.
#6
For online shopping I use Ideal or in rare cases PayPal. For example Amazon.de is getting more populair in The Netherlands since they added Ideal ;)

Credit cards will never get populair in The Netherlands. If you want a credit card you have to go to your bank and the conditions for getting one depends on your salary.
We don't want people in financinal problems and are very strict about it.

Getting a mortgage in The Netherlands is also very tough and you must have some savings to buy a property.

We are very cautious people :D
1 member reacted to this post

Essential services for your expat journey

Choose the best health insurance
Choose the best health insurance
Protect your health and get easy access to treatment for expats in Rotterdam.
Plan your international move
Plan your international move
Facilitate your move to Rotterdam by getting a quote from our top rated movers.
Open a bank account that suits you
Open a bank account that suits you
Discover the best international banks to manage your money securely.
International life insurance
International life insurance
Simple term-life insurance covering you & your family across borders
Other discussions on transports in Rotterdam
Ask your questionOther discussions about cars and transportation in Rotterdam

Further reading

Driving in the Netherlands
The Netherlands has a great travel infrastructure where you can walk and bike easily within cities. Plus, they ...
Working in Rotterdam
While most other parts of the Netherlands feature centuries-old architecture, Rotterdam looks like a modern ...
Accommodation in Rotterdam
Rotterdam is home to the largest shipping port in the world; no doubt you've heard of this big and important ...
Accommodation in Utrecht
While most cities in the Randstad are located by or near the coast, Utrecht is an exception. Instead, it's ...
Working in the Netherlands
Because unemployment rates are so low and you can find many international companies in the country, it ...
Visas for the Netherlands
While entering the Netherlands can be simple, it may take some time for approval from the appropriate authorities ...
The tax system in the Netherlands
Wherever you live in the world, you'll be subject to taxes. In the Netherlands, how much you pay will depend ...
Starting a business in the Netherlands
If you're thinking of moving to the Netherlands, one major thing you have to consider is how you'll ...