View source for Transport in the Netherlands

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[[Image:Netherlands.jpg|thumb|270px|Traffic in the Netherlands]]

[[Netherlands|The Netherlands]] is both a [[List of sovereign states and dependent territories by population density|very densely populated]] and a highly [[developed country]] in which [[transport]] is a key [[Transport economics|factor of the economy]]. Correspondingly it has a very dense and modern [[infrastructure]], facilitating transport with road, rail, air and water networks. In its [[Global Competitiveness Report]] for 2014-2015, the [[World Economic Forum]] ranked the Dutch transport infrastructure fourth in the world.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://reports.weforum.org/global-competitiveness-report-2014-2015/rankings/#indicatorId=GCI.A.02.01| title = Global Competitiveness Report 2014-2015 - World Economic Forum}}</ref>

With a total road network of 139,000&nbsp;km, including 3,530&nbsp;km of expressways,<ref name="CIA Roadways">{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2085.html#nl |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070613004630/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2085.html#nl |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 June 2007 |title=CIA World Factbook &#124; Field listing: Roadways |date=2014 |website=www.cia.gov |publisher=U.S. Central Intelligence Agency |access-date=17 August 2015}}</ref> the Netherlands has one of the densest [[Roads in the Netherlands|road network]]s in the world; much denser than [[Germany]] and [[France]], though not as dense as [[Belgium]].<ref name="WBroaddense">{{cite web |url=http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/IS.ROD.DNST.K2?order=wbapi_data_value_2011%20wbapi_data_value%20wbapi_data_value-last&sort=desc |title=Road density (km of road per 100 sq. km of land area) &#124; Data &#124; Table |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=2014 |website=Data.worldbank.org |publisher=The World Bank Group |access-date=7 July 2014}}</ref> The Dutch also have a well developed [[Rail transport in the Netherlands|railway network]], that connects most towns and cities, as well as a comprehensive dedicated [[cycling infrastructure]], featuring some 35,000&nbsp;km of track physically segregated from motorised traffic.<ref name="fietsberaad"/>

The [[port of Rotterdam]] is the world's largest seaport outside East Asia, and the largest port of Europe.<ref group=nb>The Rotterdam mainport is about as big as Europe's 2nd and 3rd biggest ports ''combined'', handling roughly the total cargo tonnage as those of [[Port of Antwerp|Antwerp]] plus [[Port of Hamburg|Hamburg]] respectively.</ref><ref name="RPA Stat13">{{cite press release |date=1 June 2014 |title=Port Statistics 2013 |url=http://www.portofrotterdam.com/en/Port/port-statistics/Documents/Port-statistics-2013.pdf |page=8 |publisher=Rotterdam Port Authority |access-date=28 June 2014}}</ref> It connects with its [[hinterland]] in Germany, [[Switzerland]] and France through the rivers [[Rhine]] and [[Meuse]]. Two thirds of all inland water freight shipping within the [[European Union|EU]], and 40% of containers, pass through the Netherlands.<ref name="NFIA Seaports"/> Additionally, the [[port of Amsterdam]] is Europe's fifth busiest seaport, according [[List of busiest ports in Europe|to Eurostat]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Maritime transport of goods at port level - quarterly data |url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Maritime_transport_of_goods_at_port_level_-_quarterly_data |access-date=2025-05-11 |website=ec.europa.eu |language=en}}</ref>

Mobility in the Netherlands is considerable. On the roads it has grown continuously since the 1950s and now exceeds 200 billion km travelled per year,<ref name="SWOV Facts">{{cite press release |title=SWOV Fact sheet &#124; Mobility on Dutch roads |url=http://www.swov.nl/rapport/Factsheets/UK/FS_Mobility.pdf |location=Leidschendam, the Netherlands |publisher=SWOV, Dutch Institute for Road Safety Research |date=July 2013 |access-date=7 July 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100415044922/http://www.swov.nl/rapport/Factsheets/UK/FS_Mobility.pdf |archive-date=15 April 2010 }}</ref> three quarters of which are done by car.<ref name="OECD-ITF">{{cite journal |last1=Waard |first1=Jan van der |last2=Jorritsma |first2=Peter |last3=Immers |first3=Ben |date=October 2012 |title=New Drivers in Mobility: What Moves the Dutch in 2012 and Beyond? |url=http://www.internationaltransportforum.org/jtrc/DiscussionPapers/DP201215.pdf |location=Delft, the Netherlands |publisher=[[Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development|OECD]] International Transport Forum |access-date=7 July 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117223717/http://internationaltransportforum.org/jtrc/DiscussionPapers/DP201215.pdf |archive-date=17 January 2013 }}</ref> Around half of all trips in the Netherlands are made by car, 25% by bicycle, 20% walking, and 5% by public transport.<ref name="OECD-ITF"/> Additionally, Dutch airports handled at least 70 million passengers in 2016.<ref name="NOS Schiphol64">{{cite web |url=http://nos.nl/artikel/2152140-bijna-64-miljoen-zo-veel-passagiers-zag-schiphol-nog-nooit.html |title=Bijna 64 miljoen—zo veel passagiers zag Schiphol nog nooit – NOS |language=nl |trans-title=Almost 64 million—Schiphol never saw so many passengers – NOS |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170109153121/http://nos.nl/artikel/2152140-bijna-64-miljoen-zo-veel-passagiers-zag-schiphol-nog-nooit.html |date=9 January 2017 |website=NOS.nl |publisher=[[Nederlandse Omroep Stichting]] |access-date=9 January 2017| archive-date=9 January 2017}}</ref> Excluding air travel, the Dutch journey more than 30&nbsp;km a day on average, which takes them just over an hour.<ref name="CBS Mobility">{{cite web |url=http://statline.cbs.nl/StatWeb/publication/?VW=T&DM=SLNL&PA=81123NED&D1=a&D2=0&D3=0&D4=0-24,38-56&D5=0&D6=l&HD=130830-1204&HDR=G1,G2,G4,G5,T&STB=G3 |title=CBS StatLine - Mobiliteit in Nederland; mobiliteitskenmerken, regio's |language=nl |trans-title=Dutch Statistics Bureau - Mobility Netherlands trips data |date=2013 |website=Statline.cbs.nl |publisher=CBS - Statistics Netherlands |access-date=15 July 2014}}</ref>

In 2010, 1.65 billion tons of goods traffic was registered, half of which moved by sea and inland shipping, and 40% by road transport. The remainder was mostly by pipelines; rail transport only handles 2% of freight movements through the Netherlands.<ref name="CBS Goederen">{{cite web |url=http://www.cbs.nl/nl-NL/menu/themas/verkeer-vervoer/cijfers/kerncijfers/goederenvervoer-sl.htm |title=CBS StatLine - Goederenvervoer Nederland; vervoerwijzen en -stromen |language=nl |trans-title=Dutch Statistics Bureau - Goods transport Netherlands data |date=2010 |website=Statline.cbs.nl |publisher=CBS - Statistics Netherlands |access-date=15 July 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140718011053/http://www.cbs.nl/nl-NL/menu/themas/verkeer-vervoer/cijfers/kerncijfers/goederenvervoer-sl.htm |archive-date=18 July 2014 }}</ref>

==Road transport==
[[Image:Ridderkerk interchange.jpg|thumb|The north (and largest) section of the [[Ridderkerk]] interchange]]
[[Image:Traffic congestion at A325.JPG|thumb|Traffic jam on the [[A325 motorway (Netherlands)|A325]] ([[Arnhem]])]]
{{main|Road transport in the Netherlands}}
With 139,000&nbsp;km of public roads,<ref name="CIA Roadways"/> the Netherlands has one of the densest road networks in the world - much denser than [[Germany]] and [[France]], but still not as dense as [[Belgium]].<ref name="WBroaddense"/>{{#tag:ref|Japan has the same per country road density,<ref name="OECDroadindic"/> but the Netherlands' area includes 18.4% inland water, compared to 0.8% for Japan. |group="nb"}} In 2013, 5,191&nbsp;km were national roads, 7,778&nbsp;km were provincial roads, and 125,230&nbsp;km were municipality and other roads.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://statline.cbs.nl/StatWeb/publication/?VW=T&DM=SLNL&PA=70806ned&D1=0-1,8,14&D2=0,5-16&D3=a&HD=090330-1643&HDR=G2&STB=G1,T |title=CBS StatLine - Lengte van wegen, wegkenmerken, regio |trans-title=CBS Statline - Length of roads, road types |language=nl |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=2013 |website=Statline.cbs.nl |publisher=Statistics Netherlands |access-date=12 July 2014}}</ref>

Dutch roads include 3,530&nbsp;km of [[controlled-access highway|motorways]] and [[Limited-access road|expressways]],<ref name="CIA Roadways"/> and with a motorway density of 64 kilometres per 1,000&nbsp;km², the country also has one of the densest motorway networks in the world.<ref name="OECDroadindic">{{cite press release |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Road traffic, vehicles and networks &#124; Environment at a Glance 2013: OECD Indicators |url=http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/road-traffic-vehicles-and-networks_5k3ts345b1g7.pdf |location=Paris, France |publisher=OECD Publishing |date=2013 |access-date=10 July 2014}}</ref> The Netherlands' main highway network (''hoofdwegennet'') - comparable to Britain's network of [[trunk road]]s - consists of most of its 5,200&nbsp;km of national roads, supplemented with the most prominent provincial roads. Although only about 2,500&nbsp;km are fully constructed to [[controlled-access highway|motorway]] standards,<ref name="WW snelweg">{{cite web |url=http://www.wegenwiki.nl/Autosnelweg |title=Autosnelweg - WegenWiki |language=nl |trans-title=Motorway - WegenWiki |date=2012 |website=www.wegenwiki.nl |access-date=17 July 2014}}</ref> much of the remainder are also [[Limited-access road|expressways]] for fast motor vehicles only.

[[Image:DRIP op A13 voor Kleinpolderplein.jpg|thumb|left|Dynamic Route Information Panel (DRIP) on the [[A13 motorway (Netherlands)|A13]]]]
Mobility on [[Roads in the Netherlands|Dutch roads]] has grown continuously since the 1950s and now exceeds 200 billion km travelled per year,<ref name="SWOV Facts"/> three quarters of which are done by car,<ref name="OECD-ITF"/> meaning that while Dutch roads are numerous, they are also used more intensely than in almost any other country.<ref name="OECDroadindic"/> Car ownership in the Netherlands is high but not exceptional, and slightly lower than in surrounding countries.<ref>[[List of countries by vehicles per capita]]</ref> Goods vehicles account for 20% of total traffic.<ref name="OECDroadindic"/>

The busiest Dutch motorway is the [[A13 motorway (Netherlands)|A13]] between [[The Hague]] and [[Rotterdam]], with a traffic volume of 140,000 motor vehicles per day.<ref name=CBS_A13>{{cite report |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=2014 |title=A13 busiest national motorway in the Netherlands |url=https://www.cbs.nl/NR/rdonlyres/25CE3592-A756-42B7-BABF-C3E4C4E9375B/0/a13busiestnationalmotorwayinthenetherlands.pdf |publisher=[[Statistics Netherlands]] |page=2 |access-date=23 January 2017 |quote=The A13 in the province of Zuid-Holland is the busiest motorway in the Netherlands. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170123212801/https://www.cbs.nl/NR/rdonlyres/25CE3592-A756-42B7-BABF-C3E4C4E9375B/0/a13busiestnationalmotorwayinthenetherlands.pdf |archive-date=23 January 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>  The widest Dutch motorway is the A15/A16 just south of Rotterdam with 16 lanes in a 4+4+4+4 setup.

[[Traffic congestion]] is common in the Netherlands. The high population density generates significant traffic volumes on both motorways and regular highways. Most congestion occurs in the [[Randstad]], but congestion is a daily structural problem around many larger cities. The Netherlands tries to counter this with an advanced motorway network, with [[Variable Message Sign]]s and electronic signalization across most of the network. The number of passing motor vehicles is counted every minute of the day at some 20,000 measuring stations on the Dutch motorway network.<ref name=CBS_A13/> A special feature of the motorways is the use of [[Permeable paving#Porous asphalt|Porous Asphalt Concrete]], which reduces noise levels, and allows rain water to be drained efficiently, for safety and expedient traffic flow under precipitation.

==Cycling==
[[File:Fietsstraat.jpg|thumb|A [[Cycling in the Netherlands#Fietsstraat (cycle street)|''fietsstraat'']] (cycle street) where cyclists have priority and cars are "guests" and must yield.]]
{{main|Cycling in the Netherlands}}
Cycling is a ubiquitous mode of transport in the Netherlands. 27% of all trips are by bicycle<ref>{{cite press release |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Cycling in the Netherlands |url=http://www.fietsberaad.nl/library/repository/bestanden/CyclingintheNetherlands2009.pdf |location=The Netherlands |publisher=Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management |agency=Fietsberaad (Expertise Centre for Cycling Policy) |date=2009 |access-date=9 July 2014}}</ref> - the highest [[modal share]] of any country in the world.<ref>{{Cite CiteSeerX|title=A fair modal share for cycling: twenty percent by 2020 in Orlando |last=Sommer, Ed. D. |first=Elisabeth |year=2003 |citeseerx = 10.1.1.94.2788}}</ref> Moreover: 36% of the Dutch list the bike as their most frequent mode of transport on a typical day.<ref>{{Cite report|date=December 2014 |title=Quality of Transport report |url=http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_422a_en.pdf |publisher=[[European Commission]] |page=11 |access-date=29 December 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150908145406/http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_422a_en.pdf |archive-date=8 September 2015 }}</ref>{{#tag:ref| Up from 31% naming the bike their main mode of transport for daily activities in 2011.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-23587916 |title=Why is cycling so popular in the Netherlands? |work=[[BBC News]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140307050642/http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-23587916 |archive-date=7 March 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite report|date=March 2011 |title=Future of Transport report |url=http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/flash/fl_312_en.pdf |publisher=[[European Commission]] |page=8 |access-date=11 July 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140307050642/http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/flash/fl_312_en.pdf |archive-date=7 March 2014 }}</ref>|group="nb"}} Some 85% of the people own at least one bicycle. All in all the Dutch are estimated to have at least 18 million functioning bikes,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hollandtrade.com/media/features/feature-stories/?bstnum=4960|title = Home &#124; NL Platform}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iamexpat.nl/expat-page/survival-kit/cycling/general-information|title=Cycling in the Netherlands - General information|work=iamexpat.nl}}</ref> which makes more than one per capita, and much more than the 11.3 million motor vehicles registered on the road.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://opendata.cbs.nl/#/CBS/en/dataset/82044ENG/table?ts=1535032002017 |title=CBS StatLine – Motor vehicles; type, age class, 1 January (registrations)| date=31 January 2018 |work=cbs.nl |publisher=[[Statistics Netherlands]]}}</ref> Almost as many passenger kilometres are covered by bicycle as by train.<ref name="OECD-ITF"/>

[[Cycling infrastructure]] is comprehensive, and public policy, [[urban planning]] & laws are bike-friendly. Most roads except for motorways support cyclists, and bikeways are clearly signposted, well maintained and well lit. [[Cycle track|Dedicated cycle tracks]] are common on busy roads - some 35,000&nbsp;km of track has been physically segregated from motor traffic,<ref name="fietsberaad">{{cite web|url=http://www.fietsberaad.nl/index.cfm?lang=nl&section=nieuws&mode=newsArticle&repository=The+Netherlands+boast+almost+35.000+km+of+cycling+paths|title=The Netherlands boast almost 35.000 km of cycling paths|work=fietsberaad.nl}}</ref> equal to a quarter of the country's entire road network. Busy junctions often give priority to cyclists, or they are equipped with cycle-specific traffic lights.

There are large bicycle parking facilities, particularly in city centres and at train stations. Since the start of the 21st century, parking spaces for 450,000 bicycles were built and modernized at over 400 train stations, and Dutch railways organizations [[ProRail]] and [[Nederlandse Spoorwegen|NS]] are calling for an expansion by another 250,000 by 2027.<ref name=NLTbikerail>{{cite web| url = http://nltimes.nl/2017/06/16/dutch-railways-want-bike-parking-train-stations-public-bike-share-struggles-meet-demand| title = Dutch railways want more bike parking at train stations; Public bike share struggles to meet demand — NL Times}}</ref> Already half of all Dutch train travelers cycle to the railway station, amounting to half a million cyclists daily.<ref name=NLTbikerail/>

In 2013, the [[European Cyclists' Federation]] ranked the Netherlands, together with [[Denmark]] as the most bike-friendly country in Europe.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ecf.com/news/the-first-eu-wide-ecf-cycling-barometer-launched/|title=European Cyclists' Federation – The first EU wide ECF Cycling Barometer launched|work=ecf.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714151023/http://www.ecf.com/news/the-first-eu-wide-ecf-cycling-barometer-launched/|archive-date=14 July 2014}}</ref>

==Rail transport==
{{main|Rail transport in the Netherlands|Dutch railway services}}
[[Image:Railroads Netherlands 2013.svg|thumb|Railway network for public transport in the Netherlands]]
[[Image:NS p4.JPG|thumb|Many trains are double-deckers]]

Most distance travelled on Dutch [[public transport]] goes by rail.<ref name="OECD-ITF"/> [[List of countries by rail transport network size|Like many other European countries]], the Netherlands has a dense railway network, totalling between {{convert|7,021|km|mi}} and {{convert|7,300|km|mi}} of track,<ref name=ProRailnumbers>{{cite web |url=https://www.prorail.nl/over-prorail/wat-doet-prorail/prorail-in-cijfers |title=ProRail in cijfers |author=<!--Not stated--> |language=nl |trans-title=ProRail in numbers |year=2017 |publisher=[[ProRail]] |access-date=20 August 2018}}</ref><ref name=SpoorPro>{{cite web |url=https://www.spoorpro.nl/spoorbouw/2018/08/20/prorail-spoor-barst-uit-de-voegen/ |title=ProRail: spoor barst uit zijn voegen |language=nl |trans-title=ProRail: rail network is bursting at the seams |last=Kruidhof |first=Carlijn |date=20 August 2018 |website=SpoorPro (Trade magazine for the Rail Sector) |publisher=[[ProMedia Group]] |access-date=22 August 2018 }}</ref> or 3,013 ''route'' km, three quarters of which has been [[Railway electrification|electrified]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2121.html#nl |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070613005444/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2121.html#nl |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 June 2007 |title=CIA World Factbook &#124; Field listing: Railways |date=2012 |website=www.cia.gov |publisher=U.S. Central Intelligence Agency |access-date=7 July 2014}}</ref> The network is mostly focused on passenger transport <ref name="intense"/> and connects almost all major towns and cities, counting just over 400 [[Railway stations in the Netherlands|train stations]],<ref name=ProRailnumbers/> more than there are [[municipalities of the Netherlands|municipalities in the Netherlands]]. The national rail [[infrastructure]] is managed by [[Government-owned corporation|public task company]] [[ProRail]], and a number of different operators have [[Concession (contract)|concessions]] to run their trains. ProRail also coordinates the totality of scheduling and proper meshing of the [[Dutch railway services]].<ref name=SpoorPro/>

Public passenger [[rail transport]] is operated mainly by [[Nederlandse Spoorwegen|Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS)]] (''Dutch Railways''); minor parts by [[Arriva]], [[Keolis Nederland]], [[Connexxion]], [[Breng]], [[DB Regio]], [[NMBS]], [[Veolia Transport Nederland|Veolia]]<ref>Veolia Transportation, [https://www.veolia-transport.nl/nederland/index.html Veolia Transport] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017104546/https://www.veolia-transport.nl/nederland/index.html |date=17 October 2015 }}, retrieved 25 March 2015. {{in lang|nl}}</ref> and [[DB Regionalbahn Westfalen]]. During week days all railway stations are serviced at least twice an hour in each direction.{{#tag:ref|On 14 December 2014 a revised railway timetable was implemented in the Netherlands, providing half-hour service to every station served by the NS in the country. |group="nb"}} Large parts of the network are serviced by two to four trains per hour on average. Heavily used routes can be serviced by 8 to 16 trains an hour.<ref name=SpoorPro/>

In recent years, the four largest railway stations in the Netherlands, the [[central station]]s of each of the largest cities: [[Amsterdam Centraal railway station|Amsterdam]], [[Rotterdam Centraal railway station|Rotterdam]], [[Den Haag Centraal railway station|The Hague]] and [[Utrecht Centraal railway station|Utrecht]], have all entered into major reconstruction and expansion. Rotterdam Central station was completely rebuilt, and was the first to complete, reopening in March 2014.
The Hague Central station and Utrecht Central station were reopened, after extensive reconstructions, in February and December 2016, respectively.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://denhaag.com/en/event/43434/opening-the-hague-central-station| title = Opening The Hague Central Station – DenHaag.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.prorail.nl/projecten/utrecht |title = Utrecht - We naderen de ontknoping - Utrecht - ProRail (in Dutch; archived) |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170116214929/http://www.prorail.nl/projecten/utrecht |archive-date=16 January 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
Amsterdam Central station has been undergoing a string of reconstruction works that started in 1997, and is yet to complete.

In 2015 a consultancy comparison of Europe's railway systems found the Dutch network the most cost effective for its performance, together with Finland's.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.consultancy.uk/news/1958/uk-rail-system-8th-in-europe-service-quality-main-issue |title = UK rail system 8th in Europe, service quality main issue – Consultancy.UK (archived) |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150711094307/http://www.consultancy.uk/news/1958/uk-rail-system-8th-in-europe-service-quality-main-issue |archive-date=11 July 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Per kilometre of track, the Dutch rail network is the busiest in the European Union,<ref name="intense">{{cite web |url=http://www.treinreiziger.nl/kennisnet/nederlandse_spoor_zeer_intensief_gebruikt |title=Nederlandse spoor zeer intensief gebruikt |trans-title=Dutch railtracks intensely used |language=nl |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=1 March 2009 |website=www.treinreiziger.nl |publisher=Dutch Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) |access-date=9 July 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714152909/http://www.treinreiziger.nl/kennisnet/nederlandse_spoor_zeer_intensief_gebruikt |archive-date=14 July 2014 }}</ref> handling over a million passengers a day.<ref name="ACS">{{cite web |url=http://www.nu.nl/weekend/3894182/125-jaar-amsterdam-centraal-van-300-300000-reizigers-per-dag.html |title=125 jaar Amsterdam Centraal |last=Hofland |first=Dick |language=nl |trans-title=Amsterdam Central station 125 years |date=3 October 2014 |publisher=[[Sanoma|Sanoma Media Netherlands]] |access-date=4 October 2014}}</ref>  For 2019 some 2.2 million train journeys are scheduled to travel a record number of 165 million ''train'' kilometres (103 million train miles) — a growth of 28%, up from 124 million km in 2004. Until 2030 ProRail projects a further growth of ''passenger'' kilometres by another 45 percent. For 2019, also 8 percent more freight trains are scheduled than in 2018.<ref name=SpoorPro/>

===Future developments===
On the initiative of two European parties: [[RailNetEurope]] and [[Forum Train Europe]], a project called "Redesign of the International Timetabling Process (TTR)" should help to harmonise planning freight- and passenger trains across Europe, to optimize usage of existing rail tracks. Currently, almost all freight trains (96%) deviate from their original schedule, due to the dynamic nature of cargo transport. The new TTR must facilitate ProRail to let unscheduled freight trains run more easily, without requiring complex shifting in the regular passenger train timetables.<ref name=SpoorPro/> As of 2020, timetables will be detailed to tenths of minutes (six second units), instead of whole minutes, to further optimise planning.<ref name=SpoorPro/>

In the long term, significant capacity gains could only be achieved by adding more rail tracks, ''or'' transforming large portions of the Dutch railway system to run more like a metro / subway system, which could support up to 24 to 30 trains per hour on the busiest lines. This would however require a structural disentanglement of the current situation, in which trains, train drivers and conductors all have their own work schedules, following the Japanese model.<ref name=SpoorPro2>{{cite web |url=https://www.spoorpro.nl/management/2018/08/14/nederland-presteert-even-goed-als-japan-bij-versimpelen-spoornetwerk/ |title=Nederland kan even goed presteren als Japan bij versimpelen spoornetwerk |language=nl |trans-title=Netherlands can perform as well as Japan upon simplification of rail systems |last=van Gompel |first=Marieke |date=14 August 2018 |website=SpoorPro (Trade magazine for the Rail Sector) |publisher=[[ProMedia Group]] |access-date=22 August 2018 }}</ref> However, at the moment there are no real plans for such steps.<ref name=SpoorPro/>

==Public transport==
[[File:Waterbus.jpg|thumb|A waterbus connects Rotterdam to some towns to its south-east]]
{{main|Public transport in the Netherlands}}
For longer distances the main [[public transport]] in the Netherlands is the train. Long-distance buses are limited to a few missing railway connections. Regional and rural public transport, serving small(er) towns is by bus. Local and urban public transport is also generally by bus, but the three largest cities ([[Amsterdam]], [[Rotterdam]] and [[The Hague]]) all have extensive [[tram]] systems, that in each case also connect with adjacent cities in their respective [[urban agglomeration]]s.{{#tag:ref|There were many more [[List of town tramway systems in the Netherlands|town tram systems]] in the past, but most shut down before or just after [[World War II|WW II]]. |group="nb"}}

In addition, Amsterdam and Rotterdam also have several [[Metro (rapid transit)|metro]] lines. [[Amsterdam Metro|Amsterdam's subway]] was expanded by a new ''"North-South"'' line in July 2018, after 15 years of construction, costing €3.1 billion.
[[Image:Lijn19.4055.Leidsenhage.2013.jpg|thumb|left|RandstadRail light rail near [[Delft]]]]
Additionally, Rotterdam, The Hague and suburbs in between are connected by a [[light rail]] system called [[RandstadRail]], and one line of the Rotterdam metro system connects all the way to [[Den Haag Centraal railway station|The Hague Central station]]. [[Utrecht]] has its [[Utrecht sneltram|own light rail system]], called [[fast tram]], connecting the city with adjacent [[Nieuwegein]] and [[IJsselstein]]. [[Arnhem]] is the only Dutch city that still operates a [[Trolleybuses in Arnhem|trolleybus system]].

Due to the large number of waterways in the Netherlands, not every road connection has been bridged, and there are still some ferries in operation. In the Rotterdam and [[Drechtsteden|''-Drecht'' towns]] region, a [[water taxi|water bus]] public transport service operates as well.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://en.rotterdam.info/visitors/places-to-go/detail/?id=14527&prefix=attractions&name=waterbus |title=Waterbus |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |website=Rotterdam Tourism & Convention Board |access-date=28 January 2015}}</ref>

Public transport operators are both the public transport companies run by the local government of the cities: [[Gemeentelijk Vervoerbedrijf|GVB]] (Amsterdam), [[Rotterdamse Elektrische Tram|RET]] (Rotterdam) and [[HTM Personenvervoer|HTM]] (The Hague), as well as private enterprise companies like [[Arriva#Netherlands|Arriva]], [[Connexxion]], [[Qbuzz]] and [[Keolis Nederland]].

==Air travel==
{{See also|List of airports in the Netherlands|List of airlines of the Netherlands}}
[[File:Cirrus SR20 Private, AMS Amsterdam (Schiphol), Netherlands PP1151308482.jpg|thumb|300px|Partial aerial view of Schiphol airport]]
Air travel in the Netherlands peaked at a Dutch record number of over 81 million passengers in 2019.<ref name=CBS012020>Over 81 million passengers at Dutch airports in 2019. CBS ([[Statistics Netherlands|Dutch Statistics Bureau]]), 30 January 2020.</ref>

[[Amsterdam Schiphol Airport]], located {{convert|9|km|mi|abbr=on}} southwest of Amsterdam, is the main [[international airport]] in the Netherlands, and the [[List of the busiest airports in Europe|third busiest airport in Europe]] in terms of passengers. Offering direct flights to 326 destination airports around the planet, Schiphol is the world's second best connected airport. The airport handled 63.6 million passengers in 2016, a growth of 9.1% over 2015, peaking at 71.7 million passengers in 2019.<ref name="NOS Schiphol64"/><ref name=CBS012020/> Airfreight tonnage increased by 1.8% to 1.7 million metric tons.<ref name="NOS Schiphol64"/>

Opened in 1916 as a military airbase, Schiphol saw 479,000 flights in 2016, and practically hit its environmentally mandated maximum of 500,000 yearly flight operations the year prior, recording 499,000 [[Takeoff and landing|take-offs and landings]] in 2018.<ref name=CBS012020/> This makes Schiphol one of the world's busiest airports, ''on average'' handling 57 starts and landings per hour on one of its six runways, and thus frequently exceeding levels of over one aircraft movement per minute.

Schiphol is the primary hub for Dutch [[flag carrier]] airline [[KLM]] and its regional affiliate [[KLM Cityhopper]], as well as for other Dutch airlines [[Corendon Dutch Airlines]], [[Martinair]], [[Transavia]] and [[TUI Airlines Netherlands]].{{#tag:ref|formerly ''Arkefly'' and shortened to ''Arke'' in the corporate design to match the travel agency)<ref>[http://worldairlinenews.com/2013/10/22/arkefly-shortens-its-name-to-just-arke/ Arklefly shortens its name to just Arke] Drum, Bruce, World Airlines News. 22 October 2013, retrieved 3 November 2013</ref>|group="nb"}} The airport also serves as a European hub for [[Delta Air Lines]],<ref name="Delta">{{cite web|url=http://news.delta.com/corporate-stats-and-facts|title=Corporate Stats and Facts|work=Delta News Hub}}</ref> and as a base for [[EasyJet]] and [[Vueling]] airlines.

In other regions there are much smaller international airports, the most prominent being [[Eindhoven Airport]], [[Rotterdam The Hague Airport]], [[Maastricht Aachen Airport]] and [[Groningen Airport Eelde|Groningen Airport]]. The airports of Eindhoven and Rotterdam/The Hague are both part of the [[Schiphol Group]], and both experienced growth in 2016. Eindhoven Airport grew by 9.3% to 4.7 million passengers, whereas Rotterdam/The Hague Airport's growth was a modest 0.2%, reaching 1.6 million travellers in 2016.<ref name="NOS Schiphol64"/> At the Maastricht Aachen, and Groningen airports, a considerable share of flights is seasonal in nature. For transport within the country, air travel is hardly used.

The airports of the Netherlands handled 71 million air passengers in 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Netherlands |first=Statistics |date=2024-02-06 |title=71 million air passengers in 2023, but not a record high |url=https://www.cbs.nl/en-gb/news/2024/06/71-million-air-passengers-in-2023-but-not-a-record-high |access-date=2024-05-13 |website=Statistics Netherlands |language=en-GB}}</ref> In the previous years Dutch airports handled 61 million air passengers in 2022,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Netherlands |first=Statistics |date=2023-02-03 |title=61 million air passengers in 2022, quarter fewer than before pandemic |url=https://www.cbs.nl/en-gb/news/2023/05/61-million-air-passengers-in-2022-quarter-fewer-than-before-pandemic |access-date=2024-05-13 |website=Statistics Netherlands |language=en-GB}}</ref> 29 million in 2021,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Netherlands |first=Statistics |date=2022-02-04 |title=Almost 25 percent more air passengers in 2021 |url=https://www.cbs.nl/en-gb/news/2022/05/almost-25-percent-more-air-passengers-in-2021 |access-date=2024-05-13 |website=Statistics Netherlands |language=en-GB}}</ref> and 23.6 million in 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Netherlands |first=Statistics |date=2021-02-01 |title=Nearly 71 percent less air passenger traffic in 2020 |url=https://www.cbs.nl/en-gb/news/2021/05/nearly-71-percent-less-air-passenger-traffic-in-2020 |access-date=2024-05-13 |website=Statistics Netherlands |language=en-GB}}</ref>

In 2015 Dutch airports handled passengers at a ratio of 47 million on European flights versus 18 million on intercontinental flights,<ref name="CBS Luchtvaart">{{cite web |url=http://statline.cbs.nl/Statweb/publication/?DM=SLNL&PA=37478hvv&D1=11,14,17,20-25,31,35&D2=0&D3=256,273,290&HDR=G1,T&STB=G2&VW=T |title=CBS StatLine - Luchtvaart; maandcijfers Nederlandse luchthavens |language=nl |trans-title=Dutch Statistics Bureau - Dutch airports monthly data |date=2013–2015 |website=Statline.cbs.nl |publisher=CBS - Statistics Netherlands |access-date=10 January 2017}}</ref> and in 2013 a slightly less 1.6 million metric tons of airfreight.<ref name="CBS Luchtvracht">{{cite web |url=http://www.cbs.nl/nl-NL/menu/themas/verkeer-vervoer/cijfers/goederenvervoer-zee/luchtvaart-sl.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140718011046/http://www.cbs.nl/nl-NL/menu/themas/verkeer-vervoer/cijfers/goederenvervoer-zee/luchtvaart-sl.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 July 2014 |title=CBS StatLine - Luchtvaart; maandcijfers Nederlandse luchthavens |language=nl |trans-title=Dutch Statistics Bureau - Dutch airports monthly data |date=2013 |website=Statline.cbs.nl |publisher=CBS - Statistics Netherlands |access-date=15 July 2014 }}</ref>

==Water transport==
[[Image:Hanjin Capetown IMO 9054224 p1 Port of Rotterdam 21March2009.jpg|thumb|[[Bulk carrier]] in the [[Rotterdam]] port]]
[[Image:Cosco Guangzhou p03 approaching Port of Rotterdam, Holland 19-Apr-2007.jpg|thumb|Container ship approaching Rotterdam port]]

===Ports and harbours===
The Netherlands has thirteen [[seaport]]s,<ref name="NFIA Logistics"/> three of which have international significance. Handling 440 million metric tons of cargo in 2013, the [[port of Rotterdam]] is the biggest [[port]] of Europe – as big as the next three biggest combined, and the eighth largest in the world.<ref name="RPA Stat13"/> The [[Port of Amsterdam|Amsterdam seaport]] is the second in the country, and the fifth largest in Europe.<ref name="RPA Stat13"/> Additionally, since 1998 the ports of [[Vlissingen]] and [[Terneuzen]] are working as one, under the name of [[Zeeland Seaports]].<ref>[[:nl:Haven van Zeeland]]</ref> Handling 34 million metric tons of cargo in 2012, this is now the third biggest Dutch seaport. For comparison: the nearby [[port of London]] handled 44 million tons in that year.<ref name="RPA Stat13"/>

Through the rivers [[Rhine]] and [[Meuse]], [[Rotterdam]] has excellent access to its [[hinterland]] upstream, reaching to [[Germany]], [[France]] and [[Switzerland]]. The port's main activities are [[petrochemical]] industries and general cargo handling and [[transshipment]]. The harbour functions as an important transit point for [[bulk material handling|bulk materials]] and between the European continent and overseas. From Rotterdam goods are transported by ship, river barge, train or road. In 2007, the [[Betuweroute]], a new fast freight railway from Rotterdam to Germany, was completed.

Three Dutch ports are [[List of Panamax ports|deepwater ports]], that can handle fully laden [[Panamax|Panamax ships]]: [[port of Rotterdam|Rotterdam]], Zeeland Seaports and the port of [[IJmuiden]]. Besides Rotterdam, Amsterdam and Zeeland, the ports of [[Moerdijk]] and [[Vlaardingen]] also support [[Container ship|container liner]] shipping.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.worldportsource.com/shipping/country/ports/NLD.php |title=World Port Source - Ports with Liner Service in Netherlands |author=Mark E. Waters |website=www.worldportsource.com |publisher=World Port Source |access-date=16 July 2014}}</ref> Other notable port cities are [[Dordrecht]], [[Haarlem]] and [[Den Helder]], as well as [[Groningen (city)|Groningen]], which controls the seaports of [[Delfzijl]] and [[Eemshaven]]. Den Helder is home to the Netherlands' main [[naval base]].

===Merchant marine===
{{Unreferenced section|date=July 2014}}
[[Image:Vaarwegen.PNG|thumb|Waterways in the Netherlands]]
*''Total:'' 563 ships (1,000 GT or over) totaling 4,035,899 GT/{{DWT|4,576,841|metric|disp=long}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=Maritime vessels statistics |url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Maritime_vessels_statistics |access-date=2025-05-11 |website=ec.europa.eu |language=en}}</ref>
*''Ships by type:'' bulk 3, cargo 343, chemical tanker 41, combination bulk 2, container 56, liquified gas 20, livestock carrier 1, multi-functional large load carrier 8, passenger 8, petroleum tanker 25, refrigerated cargo 32, roll-on/roll-off 16, short-sea passenger 3, specialized tanker 5 (1999 est.)

''note:'' many Dutch-owned ships are also operating under the [[ship registry]] of [[Netherlands Antilles]] (1998 est.)

===Inland waters===
6,237&nbsp;km of rivers and canals are navigable for ships of 50 tons.<ref name="CIA Waterways">{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2093.html#nl |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070613005552/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2093.html#nl |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 June 2007 |title=CIA World Factbook &#124; Field listing: Waterways |date=2012 |website=www.cia.gov |publisher=U.S. Central Intelligence Agency |access-date=7 July 2014}}</ref><ref name="CBS Vaarwegen">{{cite web |url=http://www.cbs.nl/nl-NL/menu/themas/verkeer-vervoer/cijfers/infrastructuur-financieel/71531ned-sl.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140718011048/http://www.cbs.nl/nl-NL/menu/themas/verkeer-vervoer/cijfers/infrastructuur-financieel/71531ned-sl.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 July 2014 |title=CBS StatLine - Lengte van vaarwegen; vaarwegkenmerken, provincie |language=nl |trans-title=Dutch Statistics Bureau - Waterways and characteristics |date=2013 |website=Statline.cbs.nl |publisher=CBS - Statistics Netherlands |access-date=15 July 2014 }}</ref> Some 3,740&nbsp;km of this consists of canals.<ref name="NFIA Logistics">{{cite web |url=http://www.nfia.com/logistics_infrastructure.html |title=Transportation Infrastructure - Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency |date=c. 2010 |website=www.nfia.com |publisher=Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency |access-date=15 July 2014}}</ref> At least 4,326&nbsp;km of waterways are usable by craft up to 400 metric ton capacity, and over 3,000&nbsp;km are usable by ships up to 1,250 metric ton capacity.<ref name="CBS Vaarwegen"/> Although another source states that all of 6,230&nbsp;km is navigable for craft up to 400 tons, and over 4,000&nbsp;km is usable by ships up to 1,500 metric ton capacity.<ref name="BVB BlueRoad">{{cite book |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=The power of inland navigation |url=http://www.binnenvaartadvies.nl/media/item/25/waardevol-transport-brochure-over-toegevoegde-waarde-van-de-binnenvaart-engelse-versie.pdf |location=Rotterdam, the Netherlands |publisher=Dutch Inland Navigation Information Agency (BVB) |page=47 |date=2013 |access-date=11 July 2014}}</ref>

The Dutch [[Inland navigation|inland shipping]] fleet is the biggest in Europe.<ref name="NFIA Seaports">{{cite web |url=http://www.nfia.com/seaports.html |title=Seaports - Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency |date=c. 2010 |website=www.nfia.com |publisher=Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency |access-date=15 July 2014}}</ref> Consisting of some 7,000 vessels, it takes a share of 35% of the national total annual [[freight transport]], and as much as 80% of [[Bulk material handling|bulk transport]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bureauvoorlichtingbinnenvaart.nl/over/cijfers |title=Binnenvaart in Cijfers |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=2013 |language=nl |trans-title=Inland water shipping in Numbers |publisher=Bureau Voorlichting Binnenvaart |access-date=11 July 2014}}</ref> Also two thirds of all inland water freight transports within the [[European Union|EU]], and 40% of the EU's inland container shipping, pass through the Netherlands.<ref name="NFIA Seaports"/> All in all the Netherlands has so many waterways that virtually all major industrial areas and population centres can be reached by water via [[inland port]]s (200) and [[transhipment terminal]]s (350).<ref name="BVB BlueRoad"/>

==Pipelines==
{{Expand section| date=July 2017}}
[[Pipeline transport]]:
* [[Crude oil]]: 418&nbsp;km
* [[Petroleum products]]: 965&nbsp;km

The distribution network for [[natural gas]] is the most dense in Europe and of very high quality, with a total length of 12,200 kilometres of transmission pipelines and 136,400 kilometres of distribution pipelines.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.hollandtradeandinvest.com/key-sectors/energy/facts-and-figures| title = Quick facts and figures about the Dutch energy industry – Holland Trade and Invest}}</ref> A technical investigation has concluded that the existing Dutch high-pressure gas infrastructure could feasibly be converted for transport of hydrogen in the future.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://d1rkab7tlqy5f1.cloudfront.net/Websections/Energy_Initiative/Technical%20Report%20Hydrogen%20-%20the%20key%20to%20the%20energy%20transition.pdf| title = Hydrogen – the key to the energy transition – Delft University of Technology}}</ref>

The Netherlands has a well-developed pipeline network essential for transporting [[natural gas]], oil, chemicals, and CO<sub>2</sub>.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Riemersma |first=Ben |last2=Correljé |first2=Aad F. |last3=Künneke |first3=Rolf W. |date=2020-01-01 |title=Historical developments in Dutch gas systems: Unravelling safety concerns in gas provision |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925753519302164 |journal=Safety Science |volume=121 |pages=147–157 |doi=10.1016/j.ssci.2019.08.040 |issn=0925-7535|doi-access=free }}</ref> Natural gas transmission network is managed by Gasunie Transport Services (GTS), it connects gas producers, storage facilities, and major consumers across the country.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-01 |title=Gasunie Transport Services |url=https://www.gasunietransportservices.nl/en/ |access-date=2024-05-17 |website=Gasunie Transport Services |language=en}}</ref> The network is divided into two main systems, catering to different types of gas. The low-calorific gas system primarily supplies households, while the high-calorific gas system serves industries and power plants.

Oil pipelines transport crude oil from the Port of Rotterdam to refineries in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Defensie |first=Ministerie van |date=2022-04-04 |title=Pipeline network - Defence pipelines - Defensie.nl |url=https://english.defensie.nl/topics/defence-pipelines/pipeline-network |access-date=2024-05-17 |website=english.defensie.nl |language=en-GB}}</ref> Pernis Chemical Complex is interconnected by pipelines transporting various chemical feedstocks and products between different industrial facilities.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Shell starts new aromatics unit at Pernis refinery in the Netherlands {{!}} Shell Global |url=https://www.shell.com/business-customers/chemicals/media-releases/2016-media-releases/shell-starts-new-aromatics-unit.html |access-date=2024-05-17 |website=www.shell.com |language=en-GB}}</ref> In addition, Organic CO<sub>2</sub> for Assimilation by Plants (OCAP) is a notable CO<sub>2</sub> transport system that supplies purified CO<sub>2</sub> from industrial sources to greenhouses in the Westland area for enhancing plant growth.<ref>{{Cite web |title=OCAP harnesses technology and data to reuse CO2 |url=https://www.capgemini.com/news/client-stories/ocap-harnesses-technology-and-data-to-reuse-co2/ |access-date=2024-05-17 |website=Capgemini |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Government==
Transport in the Netherlands falls under the [[Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management]]. With regard to public transport, not involving national rail, a total of 14 public bodies have been delegated the authority to grant concessions to public transport operators, namely the twelve provinces, plus the two transport-regions specifically for Amsterdam and Rotterdam / The Hague. These 14 parties are united in a cooperation called "DOVA" (''Decentrale Openbaar Vervoer Autoriteiten''), or "Decentralised Public Transport Authorities".<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.dova.nu/| title = DOVA website (in Dutch)}}</ref> The provinces in turn sometimes delegate this authority to their municipalities.

Roads are controlled by authorities at all four administrative levels in the Netherlands. About 5,200&nbsp;km of national roads (''Rijkswegen'') are controlled by central national government agency [[Rijkswaterstaat]], and the country's twelve [[Provinces of the Netherlands|provinces]] manage about 7,800&nbsp;km of provincial roads.<ref name="CBS roaddata">{{cite web |url=http://statline.cbs.nl/StatWeb/publication/?VW=T&DM=SLNL&PA=70806ned&D1=0-1,8,14&D2=0,5-16&D3=a&HD=090330-1643&HDR=G2&STB=G1,T |title=CBS StatLine &#124; Lengte van wegen, wegkenmerken, regio |trans-title=CBS Statline - Length of roads, road types |language=nl |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=2013 |website=statline.cbs.nl |publisher=Statistics Netherlands |access-date=12 July 2014}}</ref><ref name="SWOV weglengNWB">{{cite web |url=https://www.swov.nl/ibmcognos/cgi-bin/cognos.cgi?b_action=powerPlayService&m_encoding=UTF-8&BZ=1AAABgVL3JvF42nWO22qDQBCGX2bHtDdhdnVFL7zwtMRCtY1CrjdmtKVWy7p5~2oSCG3pMCd_vp8Zp662dVPt8yKLZjsZKrIHEOJd_rkKlBsEsed7ga_SNHC5p2IPVR7KUC3Mo7N683if7l7iZheBUO00WhrtsnXTcCIDMgEPR~1J4GabkhZp0ONp3oDM~oGKsTN6tubc2vPZ3MAv3X7onn6SB_oHGntLILA8JCvqZHW6TauyzNOmWEb8nEe~MCd5jTpExhGRc2SMIfOldOWtI1u1J60NYLh4j~RGZNY3MWQgAhAugiAO4ggivAr8LrA~wS_5Lterl7rHN2kuZCQ= |title=Weglengte Nationaal WegenBestand (NWB) &#124; IBM Cognos |trans-title=Road length &#124; National Road Database |language=nl |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=2012 |website=swov.nl |publisher=SWOV, Dutch Institute for Road Safety Research |access-date=17 July 2014}}</ref> Most motorways are national roads, and the remaining national roads are mostly expressways. Only a few motorways are provincial ones, and they are much shorter and serve mostly regional traffic.<ref>[[:nl:Provinciale weg|Provinciale weg - Wikipedia (NL)]]</ref> Frequently, they were previously national roads.

[[Municipalities of the Netherlands|Municipal]] roads make up the bulk of the network, totalling some 120,000&nbsp;km.<ref name="SWOV weglengNWB">{{cite web |url=https://www.swov.nl/ibmcognos/cgi-bin/cognos.cgi?b_action=powerPlayService&m_encoding=UTF-8&BZ=1AAABgVL3JvF42nWO22qDQBCGX2bHtDdhdnVFL7zwtMRCtY1CrjdmtKVWy7p5~2oSCG3pMCd_vp8Zp662dVPt8yKLZjsZKrIHEOJd_rkKlBsEsed7ga_SNHC5p2IPVR7KUC3Mo7N683if7l7iZheBUO00WhrtsnXTcCIDMgEPR~1J4GabkhZp0ONp3oDM~oGKsTN6tubc2vPZ3MAv3X7onn6SB_oHGntLILA8JCvqZHW6TauyzNOmWEb8nEe~MCd5jTpExhGRc2SMIfOldOWtI1u1J60NYLh4j~RGZNY3MWQgAhAugiAO4ggivAr8LrA~wS_5Lterl7rHN2kuZCQ= |title=Weglengte Nationaal WegenBestand (NWB) &#124; IBM Cognos |trans-title=Road length &#124; National Road Database |language=nl |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=2012 |website=swov.nl |publisher=SWOV, Dutch Institute for Road Safety Research |access-date=17 July 2014}}</ref> They are mostly local roads. Aside from the division in provinces, the Netherlands is also divided in 21 [[water board (Netherlands)|water management boards]]. Together with miscellaneous authorities, they own and control another 7,500&nbsp;km of roads.<ref name="SWOV weglengNWB"/> For some roads, it is because they are a physical element of water barriers, like [[Levee#Dike|dike]]s and [[dam]]s while others provide primary access to critical water control structures and may not be open to the public.

==Economics==
Although [[transport economics]] is much more than just the economy of the transport sector itself, the latter is much easier to quantify. In 2012 the Dutch goods transport and storage sectors by themselves accounted for almost 400,000 full-time jobs, employing some 500,000 people. Gross revenues totalled 77 billion euro, leading to results of 4.3 billion euro.<ref name="CBS TransEcon">{{cite web |url=http://www.cbs.nl/nl-NL/menu/themas/verkeer-vervoer/cijfers/infrastructuur-financieel/70673ned-sl.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140718011050/http://www.cbs.nl/nl-NL/menu/themas/verkeer-vervoer/cijfers/infrastructuur-financieel/70673ned-sl.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 July 2014 |title=CBS StatLine - Transportbedrijven; arbeids- en financiële gegevens, per branche, SBI 2008 |language=nl |trans-title=Dutch Statistics Bureau - Transport sectors; economic data |date=2012 |website=Statline.cbs.nl |publisher=CBS - Statistics Netherlands |access-date=15 July 2014 }}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Transport in Europe]]
** [[Transport in Belgium]]
** [[Transport in Germany]]
* [[Transport in the Netherlands Antilles]]
* [[Rail transport in the Netherlands]]
* [[Road transport in the Netherlands]]
* [[Cycling in the Netherlands]]
* [[:Category:Canals in the Netherlands|Canals in the Netherlands]]
* [[List of rivers of the Netherlands]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=nb}}

==External links==
* [https://investinholland.com/infrastructure/ Invest in Holland – Infrastructure] (by the Dutch government)
* [http://www.worldportsource.com/ports/NLD.php World Port Source - Map of Netherlands ports]
* [http://www.bureauvoorlichtingbinnenvaart.nl/index.php?id=53 Bureau Voorlichting Binnenvaart - Inland Navigation Promotion]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Netherlands topics}}
{{Transportation in Europe}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Transport In The Netherlands}}
[[Category:Transport in the Netherlands| ]]
[[Category:Economy of the Netherlands]]