Routes and timetables
Our buses and trams can take you almost anywhere you want to go in the Haaglanden region, which embraces The Hague, Delft, Rijswijk, Voorburg, Leidschendam, Nootdorp, Wateringen, Leidschenveen, Zoetermeer and Zoetemeer-Oosterheem.
The Lijnennetkaart (route map) provides a good overview of all our routes. It also shows street names and public and touristic locations.
You can search our timetable database directly from the homepage of this website. The tables are available for each line individually, sortable by destination and stops. First, choose the route and your preferred destination. You will then be taken to a page where you can choose between planning a route (from a to b, on one bus or one tram line) or consulting the timetables or route lists. You can also see an overview of all public transport in the vicinity of your destination. The various lines and stops are clickable and will put you through to the timetables.
Zones and strippen
For pricing purposes, the Netherlands is divided into zones for travel by bus or tram. The Hague and Haaglanden region is also divided in this way. The HTM zone map shows how many zones a trip will cross.
To travel by bus or tram, you can choose from various types of tickets. The 'strippenkaart' (literally ‘ticket of strips’) is the most well known. This long, narrow ticket is divided into segments known as 'strippen'. You decide beforehand how many zones your trip will cross and then count off the required number of 'strippen' on your ticket. Each zone costs one 'strip' and there is a starting fee of one strip. You therefore add one 'strip' to the total to arrive at the number of 'strippen' your trip requires.
On HTM buses, the driver can stamp your 'strippenkaart' for you. Just tell him or her your destination or the number of zones you want to cross. When you board a tram, you can either stamp your 'strippenkaart' yourself with the stamping machine or ask the driver to stamp it for you. To use the stamping machine, count the correct number of 'strippen', fold your ticket at the bottom of the correct strip, and then insert the card with the fold forwards into the stamping machine until you hear a click.
It is possible for more than one person to travel on the same 'strippenkaart'. All you have to do is stamp the correct number of 'strippen' for each person. For example, if you and a friend are going to cross two zones, stamp the last one of three 'strippen' for yourself and then do the same for your friend.
Boarding, alighting and changing vehicles
Please board our buses only via the front door. Hand your ticket to the driver to stamp or show him or her your valid, stamped 'strippenkaart' or your season ticket. Each time you change to another bus (or tram), you must show your ticket again. When you wish to alight from a bus, you must use one of the side or rear doors. You may board (with a valid ticket!) or alight from our trams via any of the doors.
To let the driver know that you want the bus or tram to stop at the next stop so that you can get off, press one of the ‘stop’ buttons in the vehicle. A red light will come on to confirm your request. At the stop, the bus driver will open the doors. Remember, though, that if you want to alight from a tram, you will have to press one of the ‘open’ buttons beside the doors.
Lost & found
Left something behind on a tram or bus? Don’t worry: our personnel check their vehicle after every trip. In most cases, they retrieve forgotten objects and deliver them to HTM Klantenservice (HTM Costumerservice).
You can contact HTM Klantenservice on the following business day (Monday to Friday, 11.00 to 17.00) at (070) 38 48 203. If you lose something on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday, please contact HTM Klantenservice on the following Monday.
Season tickets
A season ticket bears one or more stars, representing the number of zones for which it is valid. The number of the central zone is printed on the ticket. A season ticket with only one star is valid only in the central zone; a season ticket with two stars is valid in the central zone plus one adjoining zone; one with three stars is valid in the central zone plus two adjoining zones, etc.
Where to buy tickets
'Strippenkaarten' and other tickets can be bought from:
You can also buy 'strippenkaarten', and other tickets in certain local shops. These shops sell tickets exclusively for HTM.
'Strippenkaarten' are valid throughout the Netherlands, while a season ticket is valid only for the zones you have paid for.
A strippenkaart entitles you to use any transport company (except the Nederlandse Spoorwegen*) that operates within the zones you wish to travel through. If you stamp your strippenkaart for one, two or three zones, it is valid for 60 minutes; if you stamp it for four, five or six zones, it is valid for 90 minutes. You may change as many times as you wish to other trams or buses, provided that your ticket is still valid. If for some reason your journey will take longer or cross more zones, you will need to stamp additional strippen.
A one-week season ticket is valid for seven days from the date of commencement. A one-month season ticket is valid until the same date in the following month. An annual season ticket is valid until the same date in the following year.
Note that national tickets (such as 'strippenkaarten') have a limited life: once new rates have been introduced (which happens once a year), you may continue to travel for only 12 months on a ticket bought at the old rate. Once a ticket has been bought, it cannot be exchanged or refunded.
*) For trains (Nederlandse Spoorwegen; NS), there is an exception to the rule. It is allowed to use the 'strippenkaart' to travel by train between stations in The Hague.
Service, safety and ticket inspection
Apart from the tram or bus driver, you may also encounter other HTM staff while you are travelling.
These service and ticket inspection staff are there to serve travellers and to ensure safety during the trip. Service staff can be found on all HTM's buses and trams. They are there to provide information and to lend a helping hand to passengers boarding or alighting from the vehicle. They also accompany children to school and assist during major events. These staff are also regularly on patrol at the stops at Centraal Station, Holland Spoor Station and certain stops in the city centre.
At these stops, the inspectors might ask to see your ticket before you board a bus or tram. You must be in possession of a valid ticket in all HTM vehicles and at the security stops. If you cannot produce a valid ticket, you will be fined € 37.40.
In some instances, however, an inspector might give you the opportunity to buy a € 25,- ‘control ticket’ instead of paying the fine.