Dutch municipalities roll out deep public‑transport discounts for low‑income residents

The province of Utrecht and all 26 of its municipalities have introduced a discounted fare scheme for residents with low incomes. Riders receive a 70 % to 100 % reduction on U‑OV bus and tram services during off‑peak hours, with seniors aged 65 and over getting up to an 80 % discount and the municipality of Amersfoort offering free travel.

Approximately 10 000 applications have been submitted, and 25 municipalities have already launched the program while one is preparing to start. The initiative aims to keep public transport affordable and enable residents to stay active in society, whether visiting family, working, attending medical appointments or leisure trips.

Separately, in Winterwijk/Ruurlo a free trial‑travel event on 17 June let residents who had not used public transport for a long time travel by bus and train with the help of an OV‑ambassador. Participants were shown how to use an OV‑chip card, travel apps and other payment methods to build confidence for independent travel.