How expats in the Netherlands are rethinking mobility

You've just arrived in the Netherlands from the US, the UK, or anywhere else where a car is simply part of daily life. One of your first thoughts will probably be: I need to buy a car. But within weeks, something starts to shift. Your Dutch colleagues cycle to the office in the rain. Your neighbour doesn't own a car. The family across the street has two kids, one cargo bike, and an OV-chipkaart. Somehow, it all works.

That moment of surprise is something nearly every expat experiences. The Netherlands doesn't just have alternatives to car ownership. It has built an entire society around them.

A country designed to move differently

The Dutch approach to mobility isn't an accident. Decades of urban planning, infrastructure investment, and deliberate policy choices have created a country where not owning a car is perfectly normal.

The infrastructure that makes it work

Start with cycling. The Netherlands has over 35.000 kilometres of dedicated bike paths: fully separated, well-maintained routes with their own traffic signals. In cities like Utrecht, Amsterdam, Eindhoven and Groningen, cycling is often the fastest way to get around.

Then there's public transport. The Dutch rail network connects virtually every city and town, with frequent service throughout the day. In the Randstad, the urban area covering Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, and Utrecht, most destinations are within an hour's train ride. Add trams, buses, and metro systems, and one OV-chipkaart covers it all.

A different relationship with cars

The culture reinforces all of this. In many countries, your car signals your status. In the Netherlands, arriving at a business meeting on a bicycle is entirely normal. There's no stigma attached to not owning a car. If anything, it signals that you've figured out how things work here.

When the alternatives fall short

None of this means car-free living works for everyone. The honest truth is that the Netherlands has two mobility realities. If you live in a major city, work centrally, and don't have young children, you can likely manage without a car entirely. A combination of cycling, public transport, and the occasional shared car handles most situations comfortably.

But the picture changes quickly if you live outside the Randstad, and public transport connections become less frequent. Add small children to the mix, and cycling through a November storm quickly loses its charm. For many expats, this is exactly the situation. You're posted in Eindhoven, Enschede, or somewhere in between. Your partner needs to reach a different city for work. You need a car, but does that mean you need to own one?

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What transportation in the Netherlands actually costs

The monthly cost differences are striking. A public transport subscription like NS Flex costs around €120 per month. Owning a mid-range used car in the Netherlands, once you factor in insurance, road tax, fuel, maintenance, and depreciation, can easily cost over €800 per month. A car subscription, with insurance, tax, and maintenance included, usually falls somewhere in between.

The rise of flexible alternatives

Just as the Netherlands was ahead of the curve on cycling and public transport, it's now leading a shift in how people think about car access. Car-sharing platforms like Greenwheels and MyWheels have stations across most Dutch cities. Need a car for an IKEA run or a day trip to the coast? Pick one up for a few hours, pay by the hour, and return it. No commitment, no fixed costs. For expats who only need a car occasionally, this can replace the need for ownership entirely. 

But for expats who regularly need a car, short-term car leasing, often called a car subscription, has become increasingly popular. You get a car of your own for as long as you need it. Insurance, road tax, and maintenance are included. When your assignment ends, you simply return it. No buying, no selling, no depreciation, no administrative headaches with the RDW (Netherlands Vehicle Authority). Your stay is temporary by nature, your needs may change, and the last thing you want is to lose thousands of euros unwinding a car purchase when it's time to move on. 

Choosing what works for you

The best mobility choice depends on your situation. But the Netherlands gives you more options than almost any other country. The key is knowing they exist before defaulting to the ownership model you're used to. Try cycling for a week. Download the NS app. And if you do need a car, compare the true cost of buying against the flexibility of a subscription.

The Dutch have spent decades rethinking how people move. That neighbour without a car, those colleagues cycling in the rain, they're not making do. They've just figured out what works for them. As an expat, your fresh perspective might be exactly what helps you do the same.