Metro of The Hague

Metros in the Netherlands: The Randstad Rail (The Metro in The Hague)

The Hague is the capital of South Holland in the Netherlands. The King Willen-Alexander lives in this city. It is also the location of the parliament. This city is famous for being the location of multiple international courts. The Hague has a population of around 500,000 inhabitants, making it the 3rd most populated city in the Netherlands. The airport in the city is called Rotterdam The Hague Airport. A nearby airport outside The Hague is the Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, located in Amsterdam. Most international travelers that visit The Hague use this airport.

Public transportation in The Hague consists of trams, buses, the metro, the Intercity train, and ferries. The metro and many trams belong to a single service called Randstad Rail. This service offers transportation among The Hague, Rotterdam and Zoetermeer. There are also buses that belong to Randstad Rail. Randstad Rail is owned by HTM Personenvervoer NV.

History

The metro was proposed because the population and the number of jobs in Randstad, The Hague, had a significant increase in 1983. This led to high traffic. Therefore, a new railway system would solve the traffic problem.

The first proposal of the Randstad Rail came in June 9th, 1988. The proposal stated the construction of train stations in Ridderkek, Alblassedam, and Hendrik-Ido Ambacht in The Hague, which would make trips to Rotterdam. The railway companies HTM, NS Regional Transport Company, RET, and ZWN-Group together created the Randstad Rail Foundation to build the metro.

The metro service for The Hague was officially inaugurated on October 29th, 2006, with the opening of Randstad Rail 4. The opening dates for the rest of the lines were: September 10th, 2006 for Metro Line E, February 12th, 2007 for Randstad Rail 3, and July 1st, 2010 for Randstad Rail 19.

Lines and stations

The metro has four lines: Randstad Rail 3, Randstad Rail 4, Randstad Rail 19 and Metro Line E. The stations for each line are the following:

1) Randstad Rail 3:

Arnold Spoelplein, Mozartlaan, Pisuissestraat, Heliotrooplaan, Hoefbladlaan, Muurbloemweg, Appelstraat, De Savornin Lohmanplein, Azaleaplein, Zonnebloemstraat, Fahrenheitstraat, Goudenregenstraat, Conradkade, Valkenbosplein, Elandstraat, Van Speijkstraat, Browersgracht, HMC Westeinde, Spui, Grote Markt, Centraal Station, Beatrixkwartier, Leidschendam - Voorburg, Laan Van NOI, Opstelterrein RandstadRail, Voorburg‘t Loo, Forepark, Spoorburg over de Vliet, Voorweg Laag, Nedtrain Leidschendam, Stadhuis, Leidschenveen, Seghwaert, Centrum - West, De Leyens, Palenstein, Voorweg Hoog, Leidsewallen, Buytenwegh, Driemanspolder, Meerzicht, Dorp, Delftsewallen

2) Randstad Rail 4:

De Uithof, Bounwlustlaan, Beresteinlaan, Dedemsvaartweg, De Rade, Leyenburg, Zuidwoldepad, Tienhovenselaan, Monnickendamplein, De la Reyweg, Dierenselaan, HMC Westeinde, Monstersestraat, Grote Markt, Browersgracht, Centraal Station, Spui, Laan van NOI, Beatrixkwartier, Leidschendam - Voorburg, Voorburg‘t Loo, Spoorbrug over de Vliet, Leidschenveen, Forepark, Centrum-West, Voorweg Laag, Palenstein , Stadhuis, Willen Dreeslaan, Seghwaert, Osterheem, Javalaan

3) Randstad Rail 19:

HMC Antoniushove, Weigelia, Leidsenhage, Oude Meddenweg, Oosteinde, Leidschenveen Centrum, Klaverveld, Station Ypenburg, Lanen , Gruttosingel, Weidevogellaan, Scholekstersingel, Anthony Fokkersingel, Ypenburg Centrum, Brasserskade, Nieuwe Plantage

4) Metro Line E:

Den Haag Centraal, Voorburg‘t Loo, Laan van NOI, Spoorbrug over de Vliet, Leidschendam - Voorburg, Leidschenveen, Forepark, Pijnacker Centrum, Nootdorp, Berkel Westpolder, Pijnacker Zuid, Rodenrijs, Meijersplein, Wilgenplas, Melanchthonweg, Rotterdam Centraal , Blijdorp, Beurs, Stadhuis, Wilhelminaplein, Leuvehaven, Rijnhaven, Zuidplein, Maashaven, Slinge

Media

Connection to the airport

The closest Metro Station to Rotterdam The Hague Airport is Blijdorp station from Metro Line E. To go from the airport to Blijdorp, first, walk to Bushalte Rotterdam Airport. Then, board bus 33, and head towards Rotterdam Centraal for 15 minutes. Get off at Bushalte Blijdorp Metro. Finally, walk to Blijdorp station. The entire trip lasts 20 minutes and costs €2.

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is close to two Randstad Rail stations: the Den Haag Centraal station and Rotterdam Centraal station, both from Metro Line E. To go from this airport to Den Haag Centraal station, first, walk to Station Schiphol. Then, board an Intercity train from the Dutch Railway Services, and head towards Dordrecht for 15 minutes. Get off at station Leiden Centraal in Leiden. Then, board another Intercity train, and head towards Den Haag Centraal for 10 minutes. Finally, get off at Station Den Haag Centraal. The trip costs €8.30, and lasts 30 minutes. To go from this airport to Rotterdam Centraal station, first, walk to Station Schiphol. Then, board an Intercity Direct train, and head towards Station Rotterdam Centraal for 28 minutes. Finally, get off at Station Rotterdam Centraal. The trip lasts 30 minutes and costs €12.30.

Schedule, timetables, and frequencies

- Randstad Rail 3:
• 1) Frequencies of departure: There are trains during the following intervals:
• 1.1) Monday through Friday (during the day), and Saturdays: 10 minutes.
• 1.2) Monday through Friday (at night), Saturday mornings and Sundays: 15 minutes.
• 2) Opening and closing times: This line opens at Centrum-West station at 8:00 am, and closes at Arnold Spoelblein at 1:10 am.

- Randstad Rail 4:
• 1) Frequencies of departure: they are the same as in Randstad Rail 3.
• 2) Opening and closing times: this line opens at Javalaan at 8:00 am, and closes at De Uithof at 12:58 am.

- Randstad Rail 19:
• 1) Frequencies of departure: there are trains available each 15 minutes.
• 2) Opening and closing times: this line opens at Nieuwe Plantage at 7:58 am, and closes at HMC Antoniushove at 1:02 am.

- Metro Line E:
• 1) Frequencies of departure: there are trains available each 15 minutes.
• 2) Opening and closing times: this line opens at Den Haag Central at 7:47 am, and closes at Slinge at 1:03 am.

Station Rotterdam Centraal

Prices, tickets, and cards

- Tickets: They are divided into the following prices: Tourist Day Tickets (€13.50,) Park + Day Ticket for One Person (€5,) Park + Day Ticket for Two Persons (€6,) Park + Day Ticket for Three Persons (€7,) Park + Day Ticket for Four Persons (€8,) and Park + Day Ticket for Five Persons (€9.)

- Subscriptions: They are divided into three categories: Regio Abonnement, Altijd Korting Abonnement, and HTM Avonduren Abonnement.

1) Regio Abonnement: They are divided into star values. Each star value has a monthly price, a yearly price, a monthly price with a discount, and a yearly price with a discount. The prices are the following (the following format will show the monthly price, the yearly price, the discounted monthly price, and the discounted yearly price): One Star (€49, €490, €32, and €320,) Two Stars (€79, €790, €53, and €530,) Three Stars (€118, €1180, €78, and €780,) Four Stars (€156, €1560, €103, and €1030,) Five Stars (€195, €1950, €129, and €1290,) and Six Stars (€235, €2350, €155, and €1550.)

2) Altijd Korting Abonnement: Its prices are €17.50 per month and €175 per year.

3) HTM Avonduren Abonnement: Its prices are €20 per month and €120 per year. - Cards: They have the following prices: HTM Uurnetkaart (€3.50,) HTM Kinder Dagkaart (€2.50,) and HTM 3 Day Travel Card (€16.50.)

Fun facts in Randstad Rail

• 1) Travel between Grote Markt and Beatrixkwartier stations to see a fishnet-shaped tunnel. This tunnel is made out of wood.
• 2) One of the trams from the RandstadRail network, called the Tramrestaurant Hoftrammm, is both a restaurant and a tram. It is located in Grote Kerk, The Hague. While you order your food, you can travel between Scheveningen and Kerkplein.
• 3) Near Voorburg‘t Loo station is a small grocery store called Sprinter. Sprinter was the name of the train model used for the metro before 2006.

Tips in RandstadRail

• 1) You can get to Den Haag Centraal station via international trains coming from Brussels and Antwerp. Try this route if you are planning to come to the Netherlands by train instead of by plane.
• 2) You can get from Basel, Moscow, Copenhagen, Cologne, Berlin, Prague, and Frankfurt to Centraal station via international trains.
• 3) From Centraal station, you can get to Utrecht, Amsterdam, and Groningen by making connections.

Rules

• 1) The metro staff may ask you at any time to show your ticket and your ID.
• 2) Anyone aged 12 or older could be asked to show their IDs.
• 3) Some trains and stations have surveillance cameras.
• 4) Smoking, eating, and drinking is only allowed at some stations. Most of the time, you will need to keep your food, drinks, cigarettes and e-cigarettes stored.
• 5) If you use an OV-Chipkaart card to board the metro, you need to validate the card when you board the metro and when you exit it. You may also need to show your ID.
• 6) Do not put your feet on empty seats.
• 7) Do not use skateboards nor skates on the metro. You need to keep them stored or carry them in your hands when you board the metro.
• 8) Use headphones if you want to listen to music in the metro.
• 9) Dogs are allowed. They should be using a leash and should not be on the seats. Dogs can travel for free.
• 10) Some metros only have room for either two passengers on a wheelchair or two strollers. Passengers on a wheelchair will be given priority.
• 11) If you want to buy a ticket from the metro driver, make sure to have enough change. The driver does not accept bills of €50 and over.
• 12) Seats reserved for the elderly, pregnant women and people with disabilities are marked with stickers.
• 13) You can bring bikes to the metro. Bikes are allowed on weekdays after 7:00 pm. During weekends, you can bring your bike anytime you want.
• 14) Some trains have vending machines that sell tickets. They only accept coins.

- Customer Service:

There are three customer service offices: HTM Service Shops at Den Haag HS (Holland Spoor) station, OV Service Shops at Den Haag Centraal station, and HTM Service Shop at Zoetermeer Centrum-West station.

The customer service phone number is +31 0900 486436. A representative will talk to you if you call at the following hours:
• a) Weekdays: between 7:00 am and 10:00 pm.
• b) Saturdays: between 8:00 am and 10:00 pm.
• c) Sundays: between 9:00 am and 10:00 pm.

- Lost and found:

If the metro staff picked up a lost item, you can go to https://ilost.co/org/htm-personenvervoer and browse the list of lost items. If you see your lost object, click it. Next, you will be asked a few questions to verify if the item is yours. Finally, the item will be delivered to you. You need to pay €4. If your address is a foreign address, you need to pay the shipping costs.

The lost object should appear on that website within three days of being lost. Otherwise, the metro staff could not find it.

Future expansions:

- Randstad Rail 4: This line will have two new stations: Lansingerland-Zoetermeer (NS) and Van Tuyllpark. Both will open in 2018. Lansingerland-Zoetermeer station will allow connections to Den Haag-Gouda station.

- Randstad Rail 19: It will have the following stations: Delft Station (NS), Prinsenhof, Mijnbouwplein, Zuidpoort, TU-Mekelpark, TU-Aula, TU-Kluyverpark, TU-Sport en Cultuur, and TU-Technopolis.

- Metro Line E: This line will have additional trains to have more trains per hour available. It currently has six trains per hour available.

Nearby Attractions

Blijdorp station from Metro Line E will be used as a reference point. To go to the nearby attractions by using the metro, follow these instructions.

1) The Knight’s Hall : The whole trip lasts 39 minutes and costs €4.33. From Blijdorp station, board the Metro, and head towards Den Haag Central during 25 minutes. Get off at Tramhalte/Metrostation Voorburg’t Loo, Voorburg. Next, board tram 3, and head towards Den Haag Loosduinen for 10 minutes. Get off at Tramhalte Spui, Den Haag. Finally, walk to Ridderzaal, Den Haag.

2) The Peace Palace: The trip lasts one hour and one minute, and costs €4.71. From Blijdorp, board the metro, and travel to Den Haag Centraal during 30 minutes. Get off at Metrostation Den Haag Centraal, Den Haag. Next, walk to Tramhalte Centraal Station Beneden, Den Haag. Board tram 17, and travel towards Centrum for five minutes. Get off at Bus/Tramhalte Centrum, Den Haag. Then, board bus 24, and go towards Kijkduin during 8 minutes. Get off at Bus/Tramhalte Vredespaleis, Den Haag. Finally, walk to Vredespaleis, Den Haag.

3) Great Saint James Church: The trip lasts 43 minutes, and costs €4.39. From Blijdorp, board the metro, and head towards E Den Haag Centraal for 25 minutes. Get off at Tramhalte/Metrostation Voorburg´t Loo, Voorburg. Next, board tram 3, and travel towards Den Haag Loosduinen for 10 minutes. Get off at Tramhalte Grote Markt (tram), Den Haag. Finally, walk to Rond de Grote Kerk 12.

4) The Mauritshuis: The trip lasts 40 minutes and costs €4.33. From Blijdorp, board the metro, and travel towards E Den Haag Centraal during 25 minutes. Get off at Tramhalte/Metrostation Voorburg´t Loo, Voorburg. Next, board tram 3, and head towards Den Haag Loosduinen for 10 minutes. Get off at Tramhalte Spui, Den Haag. Finally, walk to Plein 29, 2511 C5 Den Haag.

5) Scheveningen Resort: The trip lasts 50 minutes and costs €4.89. From Blijdorp, board the metro, and travel towards E Den Haag Centraal for 30 minutes. Get off at Tramhalte/Metrostation Laan van NOI, Den Haag. Walk to Bus/Tramhalte Station Laan van NOI, Den Haag. Then, board bus 23, and go towards Bushalte Kurhausweg, Den Haag, for 15 minutes. Finally, walk to Gevers Deynootplein 30, 2586 CK Den Haag-Scheveningen.

* Randstad Rail's connections

The Randstad Rail makes most of its connections to trams and buses. The connections available at each station are the following:

1) RandstadRail 3:
• Goudenregenstraat: tram 12.
• Fahrenheitstraat: tram 12.
• Conradkade: tram 11.
• HMC Westeinde: tram 2, Randstad Rail 4.
• Grote Markt: Randstad Rail 4, trams 2 and 6, bus 25 from Stadsbus, buses 50 and 51 from Streekbus, and bus N4 from Nachtbus.
• Spui: Randstad Rail 4, and trams 2 and 6.
• Centraal Station: Randstad Rail 4, Metro Line E, trams 2, 6, 9, 15, 16, and 17; buses 43, 44, 45, 46, 90 and 444 from Streekbus; buses 18, 22, 24, and 28 from Stadsbus; buses N2 and N6 from the Nachtbus; and buses 380, 381, 382, 383, 385, and 386 from Qliner.
• Beatrixkwartier: Randstad Rail 4.
• Laan van NOI: Randstad Rail 4, Metro Line E, tram 2, and buses 23 and 28 from Stadsbus.
• Voorburg‘t Loo: Randstad Rail 4, Metro Line E, and tram 2.
• Leidschendam - Voorburg: Randstad Rail 4, Metro Line E, buses 45 and 46 from Streekbus.
• Spoorbrug over de Vliet: Randstad Rail 4, and Metro Line E.
• Forepark: Randstad Rail 4 and Metro Line E.
• Leidschenveen: Randstad Rail 19, Metro Line E, Randstad Rail 4, and bus 30 from Streekbus.
• Voorweg Laag: Randstad Rail 4.
• Centrum-West: Randstad Rail 4, line 170 buses from Zoro-bus, bus N6 from Nachtbus, buses 565 and 577 from Belbus; buses 70, 71, 72, and 74 from Stadsbus; buses 30, 50, 55, 165, 173 and 177 from Streekbus; and train 400 from R-Net.
• Stadhuis: Randstad Rail 4.
• Palenstein: Randstad Rail 4, and bus 177 from Streekbus.
• Seghwaert: Randstad Rail 4.

2) Randstad Rail 4:
• Leyenburg: tram 6, buses 21, 23, and 26 from Stadsbus; and buses 31, 35, 36 and 37 from Streekbus.
• Tienhovenselaan: tram 6.
• De la Reyweg: tram 2.
• Willem Dreeslaan: bus 165 from Streekbus.

3) Randstad Rail 19:
• HMC Antoniushove: tram 2, tram 6, and bus 46.
• Leidsenhage: trams 2, 6, and bus 46.
• Station Den Haag Ypenburg: bus N5 from Nachtbus and bus 30 from Streekbus.
• Brasserskade: tram 1.

4) Metro Line E:
• Nootdorp: bus 484 Buurtbus.
• Pijnacker Centrum: bus 484 Buurtbus, and bus 55 from Streekbus.
• Pijnacker Zuid: bus 484 Buurtbus, and bus 174 from Streekbus.
• Berkel Westpolder: bus B10 Nachtbus, and bus 174 from Streekbus.
• Rodenrijs: bus 170 from Zoro bus and bus 173 from Streekbus.
• Meijersplein: bus 33 from Stadsbus.
• Melanchthonweg: tram 25, and Stadsbus 35.
• Blijdorp: bus 33 from Stadsbus.
• Station Rotterdam Centraal: Metro Line D, buses 33, 38, and 44 from Stadsbus; bus 40 from Streekbus; buses B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B7, B8, B9, B10, B11, B16, B17, and B19 from BOB-bus; buses 836, 860, and 890 from Nachtbus; and trams 4, 7, 8, 12, 20, 21, 23, 24, and 25.
• Stadhuis: Metro Line D, and trams 21, 23, and 24.
• Beurs: Metro Line A, B, C, and D; buses B5, B7, B11, and B16 from BOB-bus; buses 836, 860, 891, and 892 from Nachtbus; bus 32 from Stadsbus; and trams 8, 20, 21, 23, 24, and 25.
• Leuvehaven: Metro Line D, and trams 8, 20, 23, and 25.
• Wilhelminaplein: Metro Line D, buses B11, and B16, and trams 20, 23, and 25.
• Rijnhaven: Metro Line D, and bus 77 from Stadsbus.
• Maashaven: Metro Line D, buses B7 and B11 from BOB-bus; bus 431 from Nachtbus; and tram 2.
• Zuidplein: Metro Line D, train 395 from the Interliner, buses B7 and B11 from Nachtbus; buses 82, 84, 90, 91, 92, 93, 130, 136, 139, 143, 144, 146, 160, 164, 166, 167, 168, 170, 171, 172, 173, 174, 176, 177, 183, 184, 187, 190, 191, 290, and 310 from Streekbus; and buses 44, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 72, 74, 76, and 77 from Stadsbus.
• Slinge: Metro Line D, buses B7 and B11 from the BOB-bus; buses 68, 70 and 72 from the Stadsbus; and buses 82, 183 and 283 from Streekbus.