DutchDutch public transport has its own little language: you check in, you stap over, and above all you do not forget to check out. Here are the words, and the one mistake that costs you money.
Short answer: hold your card at the reader when you get on (inchecken) and again when you get off (uitchecken). On most buses, trams, metros and trains you can use your OV-chipkaart or your contactless bank card. Forget to check out, and you pay a high fixed amount instead of your real trip.
1 The words
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| inchecken / uitchecken | to check in / to check out |
| overstappen | to change (trains, buses) |
| instappen / uitstappen | to get on / to get off |
| het perron, het spoor | the platform, the track |
| de halte | the stop |
| de vertraging | the delay |
| het saldo | the balance on your card |
2 In a sentence
Almost all of these are separable verbs: in a normal sentence the first part goes to the end. You check in, je checkt in; you change in Leiden, je stapt in Leiden over. More about this in scheidbare werkwoorden (in Dutch).
YouPardon, moet ik hier overstappen voor Utrecht?
ConductorJa, in Leiden stapt u over. Spoor 5.
3 What the announcements say
- Volgende halte: Centraal Station. Next stop: Central Station.
- De trein naar Utrecht heeft vijf minuten vertraging. The train to Utrecht is five minutes late.
- Deze trein rijdt niet verder. This train terminates here.
- Vergeet niet uit te checken. Don't forget to check out.
Tip: announcements on trains are usually in Dutch first, then often in English. Listen to the Dutch first and check yourself with the English: free listening practice on every trip.
Every Dutch person has forgotten to check out at least once. The difference is that they still talk about it years later.
Partner tip On your next trip together, let the learner do the talking at the station: one question for the conductor or the information desk, Gaat deze trein naar Leiden? The partner stays close but quiet, and only helps afterwards. On the train, say the announcement you just heard to each other once more.
Test yourself
"Ik ___ in Leiden ___." (overstappen)
Ik stap in Leiden over. A separable verb: the first part goes to the end.
What happens if you forget to check out?
You pay a high fixed amount (the boarding fee is kept) instead of the price of your real trip.
