Guideline to accessibility in the Netherlands
Blog
Updated: 10-02-2020
Ensuring a carefree stay for you, this article provides an overview of information about accessible travel in the Netherlands.
Accessible accommodation
Find accessible hotels in Amsterdam, Rotterdam and the Hague on our dedicated webpage called ‘Accessible Hotels in the Netherlands’. In order to book a hotel during your stay in the Netherlands, please let us know about your specific needs and we will arrange an adapted room for you in the requested city.
Accessible toilets
Find information, an overview and an app with accessible toilets in the dedicated article ‘Accessible toilets in Amsterdam’. In the recommended app called ‘Accessaloo’ you will also be able to find accessible toilets in other cities in the Netherlands and in other countries in Europe.
Mobility equipment hire
Click this link to find all assistive devices you can hire through Accessible Travel Netherlands. You can rent the following equipment:
- Wheelchairs
- Beach wheelchairs
- Mobility scooters
- Special needs bikes
- Shower chairs
- Hoists
- High-low beds
- Walkers
Restaurants
Dining in an accessible restaurant in Amsterdam? Find our listing of nice places to have a lunch or dinner here.
Transportation
Amsterdam Schiphol Airport
When visiting the Netherlands by plane you will first encounter Amsterdam airport. The biggest airport in the Netherlands is called Schiphol Airport and is situated close to Amsterdam. It will take approximately 20 minutes to get from Schiphol Airport to Amsterdam city centre by taxi or by train. Schiphol Airport is wheelchair accessible. Schiphol offers assistance for people with disabilities, elderly and other people with need for help. In order to get assistance upon arrival or departure, Axxicom Airport Caddy service desk needs to be contacted in advance.
Read more about the accessibility of Schiphol airport
Planning the use of public transportation
There are some useful apps to download prior your stay in the Netherlands that help with planning your journey upon arrival.
- Ns Reisplanner: NS operates the trains in the Netherlands. Check the departure and arrival times and other details of your train journey with this app. Available in English.
- 9292ov: The real-time journey planner 9292OV can be used to plan your public transport journey from A to B. Check what time the connecting bus departs and if there are any changes or delays in your travel itinerary. Available in English.
- GVB: GVB operates the tram, bus, metro and night bus in Amsterdam. Check with the GVB app where and when your transport is departing. The app is only available in Dutch, but a very good mobile website in English: en.gvb.nl.
Other useful apps to download while in the Netherlands: see them here.
Travelling by train
Travelling by train is a popular way of transport in the Netherlands. The Dutch Railways (NS) finds it essential to make travelling by train accessible for all customers. Therefore, most trains have an entrance for a wheelchair and enough space inside. The employees of NS can provide mobile ramps to install at the entrance of the train that help you to get inside. It is possible to arrange a journey assistant to help at the train station or even join the trip. For mobile ramps or asking for an assistant, it is advised to contact the NS at least 3 hours prior departure. The train stations are made accessible with elevators, ramps and tactile guide lines. The departure times are listed on electronic notice boards and in most cities, you will find a service desk with people who can provide you with information at all times. You can purchase your ticket at one of the ticket machines at the train station or at the NS service desk.
Contact details
To request assistance during the train journey you can call the NS Service desk for access needs 24/7:
- 0031 (0)30-2357822
- In the event of problems or to cancel your journey: 0031 (0)30-235722
Read more about getting around in the Netherlands by train.
Travelling by tram
If people are not cycling in Amsterdam, they take the tram. The tram is a convenient, fast and save transport method. From Amsterdam Central Station, many trams depart to other parts of the city. The GVB (public transport company) is increasing its accessibility, for people with disabilities, people with less mobility, people with baby buggies and people with heavy bags. New buses and trams increasingly have entrances on street level and space for wheelchairs and baby buggies. Older trams are less accessible for people in a wheelchair and other users that need better access. The older trams that are accessible have a ITS symbol at the accessible entrance. ITS is the International Accessibility Symbol. Most trams go every 10 to 15 minutes. In the evenings, the trams go less often and in the weekends the schedule is different. Most trams run from 07:00 AM until between 12:30 AM. The tickets can be bought at the GVB Ticket and Info Desk or in the tram with the conductor.
Read more about using the tram in the Netherlands.
Taxi transfers / private transportation
Accessible Travel Netherlands organizes accessible transfers for people with limited mobility and their travel companions to and from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport.
Transfers can be arranged with a variety of vehicles:
- Minivan van with platform lift
- Coach or touring car with platform lift for groups
Get more information about these transfers
Taxi transfers / private transportation
Accessible Travel Netherlands organizes accessible transfers for people with limited mobility and their travel companions to and from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport.
Transfers can be arranged with a variety of vehicles:
- Minivan van with platform lift
- Coach or touring car with platform lift for groups
Get more information about these transfers
Tours and activities
Accessible Guided Tours
Accessible Travel Netherlands organizes accessible transfers for people with limited mobility and their travel companions to and from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport.
Transfers can be arranged with a variety of vehicles:
- Minivan van with platform lift
- Coach or touring car with platform lift for groups
Get more information about these transfers
Boat tours
Discovering the Netherlands from the water? It is possible! We offer accessible boat tours in Amsterdam and Rotterdam.
Cycling in the Netherlands
In the Netherlands, it is common to go everywhere by bike. There are special needs bikes available for you to provide you the true experience of getting around by bike just like a local.
Bike rental locations:
- Starbikes Rental: near Amsterdam Central Station
- Vierfiets: at the station of Amersfoort, center of the Netherlands
- Twentefiets: In Twente, Utrecht area
- Vermeulen Bikes: in Den Hoorn, Wadden Islands, Texel
- Fred’s Verhuur: in Schagen, North-Holland
- Velorette Recreatie: in Aalten, Eastern Netherlands
- Van Raam: in Varsseveld, Eastern Netherlands
- Reiber Rijwielen: in Drenthe
- Fietsverhuur Brabant: in North-Brabant
- De Hoge Veluwe: in Hoge Veluwe National Park
Museums
For cultural experiences, visit one of the plenty museums in Amsterdam! We have summarized the accessibility of the most popular 3 museums in the blog ‘Accessible Museums in Amsterdam’. The majority of museums in Amsterdam provides accessibility for people with varying abilities. Museums that provide good accessibility for people with physical limitations include the Scheepvaartsmuseum (Maritime Museum), the Jewish History Museum and the Hermitage Museum.
Museum that are partly accessible include the Rembrandt House and the Anne Frank House. At the Anne Frank House, it’s possible to enjoy a Virtual Reality tour. This tour is created to make the exhibition visually accessible for people with mobility impairments. This tour provides a very similar experience to what co-visitors have, but without climbing the stairs.
Besides in Amsterdam, other cities in the Netherlands have extraordinary museums too. We have written about several of these museums in the below articles;
- Accessible Museums Rotterdam.
- 2019 Year of Rembrandt and the Golden Age
- Destination highlighted; Maastricht. This article includes information about accessibility of museums in Maastricht.
- Not museums, but castles in the Netherlands are worth a visit too! Read about them in the article ‘Accessible Castle Visits’.
- ‘Visit Utrecht; the hotspot for locals’ provides a list of accessible museums in Utrecht.
- Accessibility of the Zuiderzee Museum in Enkhuizen.
Parks & recreation
Besides museums and castles, there are plenty of types of attractions in the Netherlands. You can see the miniature version of the Dutch attractions in Madurodam, you can go to the fairy tale theme park called ‘Efteling’, you can admire the tulips in Keukenhof or enjoy the nature of the Hoge Veluwe National Park.