๐ณ๐ฑ A1 Level · Lesson 8 of 10
Dutch Transport &
Directions
Learn to navigate Dutch cities — ask for directions, use public transport, buy tickets and get around confidently on foot, bike or train!
๐
Getting Around in Dutch
Essential for daily life in the Netherlands
๐ฒ The Netherlands is one of the most bike-friendly countries in the world — and the Dutch public transport network is excellent. Knowing how to ask for directions and navigate transport is essential for daily life there!
๐ What you'll learn
๐ฒ Transport types
Bike, bus, train, tram, metro and more.
๐บ️ Directions
Left, right, straight ahead, turn — navigate Dutch streets.
๐ Public transport
Buying tickets, asking about platforms, timetables.
๐ฌ Key phrases
Asking the way, distance, how far, how long.
๐ฒ
Cultural Note — The Dutch & Cycling
The Netherlands has more bicycles than people — around 23 million bikes for 17 million people! Cycling is not just a sport — it's the primary mode of transport for millions of Dutch people. Every Dutch city has an extensive fietspad (cycle path) network. The train system (NS — Nederlandse Spoorwegen) is one of Europe's best, and the OV-chipkaart (public transport chip card) is used for all buses, trams, metros and trains nationwide.
๐ฒ
Transport Types
Tap any vehicle to hear it in Dutch
๐ก Remember: Most transport words use de (de fiets, de bus, de trein). A few use het (het vliegtuig, het schip). The article is shown on each card!
๐ฒ
de fiets
bicycle
de ๐ณ๐ฑ
๐
de auto
car
de
๐
de bus
bus
de
๐
de trein
train
de
๐
de tram
tram
de
๐
de metro
metro / subway
de
๐
de taxi
taxi
de
✈️
het vliegtuig
airplane
het
๐ข
het schip
ship
het
๐️
de motor
motorbike
de
๐ต
de scooter
scooter
de
๐ถ
te voet
on foot
—
๐ Grammar: How do you get around? — Met / Per / Te
To say how you travel in Dutch:
met de fiets = by bike · met de bus = by bus
met de trein = by train · met de auto = by car
te voet = on foot (special — no article!)
Example: Ik ga met de fiets naar school. = I go to school by bike.
๐ Transport sentences
Ik ga met de fiets naar het werk.
I go to work by bike.
De trein vertrekt om tien uur.
The train departs at ten o'clock.
Hoeveel kost een kaartje?
How much does a ticket cost?
HOO-feel KOST ษn KAHR-chษ
Ik neem de bus naar het centrum.
I take the bus to the city centre.
๐บ️
Asking & Giving Directions
How to find your way in Dutch
๐งญ Compass directions — tap to hear
Kies een
richting
richting
⬆️
rechtdoor
straight ahead
⬅️
links
left
➡️
rechts
right
↰
linksaf slaan
turn left
↱
rechtsaf slaan
turn right
↩️
omdraaien
turn around
๐
op de hoek
at the corner
๐
voorbij de brug
past the bridge
๐ Direction vocabulary
Waar is...?
Where is...?
VAHR IS
Hoe kom ik bij...?
How do I get to...?
HOO KOM IK BAY
Is het ver?
Is it far?
IS ษt VER
Het is vlakbij.
It's nearby / close.
VLAK-bay
Het is vijf minuten lopen.
It's five minutes' walk.
Ga rechtdoor tot het stoplicht.
Go straight ahead to the traffic light.
Sla dan linksaf.
Then turn left.
U kunt het niet missen.
You can't miss it.
๐ญ Dialogue 1 — Asking for directions
๐ง
Pardon, weet u waar het station is?
Excuse me, do you know where the station is?
๐ฉ
Ja! Ga rechtdoor tot aan de verkeerslichten.
Yes! Go straight ahead to the traffic lights.
๐ง
Dan links of rechts?
Then left or right?
๐ฉ
Sla rechtsaf, en dan is het station aan uw linkerhand.
Turn right, and then the station is on your left-hand side.
๐ง
Is het ver lopen?
Is it far to walk?
๐ฉ
Nee hoor, het is maar tien minuten te voet. U kunt het niet missen!
No, it's only ten minutes on foot. You can't miss it!
๐ง
Hartelijk dank!
Many thanks!
๐ฉ
Graag gedaan!
You're welcome!
๐
Public Transport
Trains, buses and the OV-chipkaart
๐ซ
At the Station — Op het Station
1
het station
train station
2
het perron
platform
3
het kaartje / het ticket
ticket
4
een enkeltje naar...
a single (one-way) to...
5
een retourtje naar...
a return ticket to...
6
Welk perron?
Which platform?
7
De trein naar ... vertrekt om...
The train to ... departs at...
8
Moet ik overstappen?
Do I need to change trains?
9
De trein heeft vertraging.
The train is delayed.
10
de OV-chipkaart
public transport chip card
๐ญ Dialogue 2 — At the ticket office
๐ง
Goedemorgen. Een enkeltje naar Rotterdam, alstublieft.
Good morning. A single to Rotterdam, please.
๐ฉ
Eerste of tweede klas?
First or second class?
๐ง
Tweede klas. Hoeveel kost dat?
Second class. How much does that cost?
๐ฉ
Zestien euro vijftig. Moet u overstappen?
Sixteen euro fifty. Do you need to change trains?
๐ง
Weet ik niet. Van welk perron vertrekt de trein?
I don't know. From which platform does the train depart?
๐ฉ
Perron zeven. Maar let op — de trein heeft tien minuten vertraging.
Platform seven. But watch out — the train is ten minutes delayed.
๐ง
Okรฉ, dank u wel!
OK, thank you very much!
๐ฌ
More Useful Phrases
Places, landmarks and getting around
๐ Useful places & landmarks
het centrum
city centre / downtown
SEN-trum
de bushalte
bus stop
BUS-hal-tษ
de halte
stop (bus / tram)
HAL-tษ
de luchthaven / het vliegveld
airport
LUKHT-hah-vษn
de haven
harbour / port
HAH-vษn
de brug
bridge
BRUKH
het stoplicht
traffic light
STOP-likht
de rotonde
roundabout
roh-TON-dษ
de fietsenstalling
bicycle parking
FEET-sษn-stal-ing
Ik ben de weg kwijt.
I am lost.
IK BEN dษ VEK KVAYT
๐ฎ
Dutch GPS Navigator
Choose your destination — hear the Dutch directions!
๐บ️ Dutch GPS Navigator
Select a destination, then tap direction steps to hear them in Dutch
๐ Starting from: Amsterdam Centraal
Select a destination below ↓
Current instruction:
Kies een bestemming...
Choose a destination to start navigation
๐
Exercise: Match the Pairs
Tap Dutch → then its English meaning
๐ Tap a Dutch word, then its English translation
๐ณ๐ฑ Dutch
de fiets
rechtdoor
het station
linksaf slaan
een enkeltje
Ik ben de weg kwijt.
๐ฌ๐ง English
straight ahead
I am lost.
bicycle
a single ticket
train station
turn left
๐ All pairs matched! +30 XP earned!
✏️
Fill in the Blanks
Type the missing Dutch word
๐ฌ Complete each sentence with the correct Dutch word
1
๐ฒ "Bicycle" in Dutch:
๐ก (FEETS)
2
Ga
tot het stoplicht.
๐ก (straight ahead)
3
Ik ga
naar school.
๐ก (by bike — 3 words)
4
Een
naar Utrecht, alstublieft.
๐ก (a single ticket)
5
De trein heeft
.
๐ก (the train is delayed)
6
Sla dan
.
๐ก (turn right)
7
Ik ben de weg
.
๐ก (I am lost)
8
๐ "Bus stop" in Dutch:
๐ก (BUS-hal-tษ)
๐ฏ
Final Quiz
10 questions — transport & directions!
๐ฏ Lesson 8 Quiz
Transport, directions and public transport phrases
What is "de fiets"?
๐ฒ de fiets
✅ de fiets = bicycle — the most iconic Dutch vehicle! The Netherlands has more bikes than people! ๐ณ๐ฑ
❌ de fiets = bicycle. The Dutch love their bikes!
What does "rechtdoor" mean?
⬆️ rechtdoor
✅ rechtdoor = straight ahead. Recht = straight + door = through!
❌ rechtdoor = straight ahead. (recht=straight + door=through)
How do you say "by bike" in Dutch?
Ik ga ___ naar school.
✅ met de fiets = by bike! Use met de + vehicle for all transport except te voet (on foot).
❌ "By bike" = met de fiets. (met de trein, met de bus, met de auto...)
What is "een enkeltje"?
een enkeltje naar Amsterdam
✅ een enkeltje = a single (one-way) ticket. Een retourtje = a return ticket!
❌ enkeltje = single ticket. Retourtje = return ticket.
What does "De trein heeft vertraging" mean?
De trein heeft vertraging.
✅ vertraging = delay. You'll unfortunately hear this often on Dutch trains! ๐
❌ vertraging = delay → The train is delayed.
How do you say "I am lost"?
?
✅ Ik ben de weg kwijt. = I am lost. Literally "I have lost the way" — a very natural Dutch expression!
❌ "I am lost" = Ik ben de weg kwijt. (the way + lost)
Which word means "turn left"?
↰ = ?
✅ linksaf slaan = turn left. Links=left + af slaan=to turn off!
❌ Turn left = linksaf slaan. (rechtsaf slaan=turn right)
What is the Dutch public transport chip card called?
๐๐๐ = ?
✅ OV-chipkaart! OV = Openbaar Vervoer (public transport). It works on all buses, trams, metros and trains!
❌ The Dutch public transport card is called the OV-chipkaart.
How do you ask "Is it far?" in Dutch?
?
✅ Is het ver? = Is it far? Hoe ver is het? = How far is it? Both are correct, but Is het ver? is simpler!
❌ "Is it far?" = Is het ver?
How many bicycles does the Netherlands have (approximately)?
๐ณ๐ฑ ๐ฒ ๐ฒ ๐ฒ = ?
✅ 23 million bikes — more than the entire population of 17 million! The Dutch really love their fietsen!
❌ The Netherlands has about 23 million bicycles — more bikes than people!
๐
0/10
๐ Next: Lesson 9 — Shopping & Money
Learn to shop, handle money, bargain and navigate Dutch stores!