Rotterdam Metro

The Rotterdam Metro is the rapid transit system serving Rotterdam and nearby municipalities in the Netherlands. Operated by RET, it opened in 1968 with the Noord-Zuidlijn between Centraal Station and Zuidplein, crossing the Nieuwe Maas in a tunnel. The system now has five lines, A through E, and Line E also connects Rotterdam with The Hague through RandstadRail. Some outer branches use level crossings and overhead wires, so they work partly like light rail, but locally they are still treated as metro routes.

Rotterdam Metro Map

Map of Rotterdam Metro showing different lines and stations. Click on the map to enlarge it or download the Rotterdam Metro map in PDF format.

Rotterdam Metro Lines and Stations

The Rotterdam Metro route plan is built around five lettered lines. The core stations in the city center handle most transfers, while outer branches reach Schiedam, Hoek van Holland, Spijkenisse, Capelle aan den IJssel, Vlaardingen, and The Hague. For trip planning, use the stations map together with the current route timetable, because some services terminate earlier outside peak periods.

The main stations list for visitors is short and easy to remember. Beurs is the key interchange, and Rotterdam Centraal is the main gateway for national rail, metro, tram, bus, and other city transport connections.

Rotterdam Metro Schedule and Frequency

The confirmed full train schedule is not listed here, so check the current RET timetable before you travel. In practical terms, the metro is described as running from early morning until late at night, with frequent service during peak hours and reduced service on weekends and public holidays.

For opening hours, opening times, operating hours, working hours, timings today, closing time, and the last train, always confirm the schedule today in the current journey planner. This is especially important for late trips, holiday service, and any route timetable changes.

Ticket Pricing and Types

Rotterdam Metro tickets are part of the wider RET public transport system, so the same payment setup works across metro, tram, and bus services. Options include the OV-chipkaart, disposable tickets, mobile tickets in the RET app, tourist passes, day pass products, and contactless OVpay tap-in and tap-out.

USD amounts below are approximate and included for quick comparison. Actual card charges can vary when using distance-based fares.

• RET Tourist Day Ticket: 1 day of unlimited travel across South Holland by bus, tram, metro, and waterbus for €17.50, about $19.
• RET 1 day: €12.00, about $13, for adults and €6.00, about $6.50, for children.
• RET 2-hour ticket: €5.50, about $6.
• Day ticket for 24-hour unlimited travel: €9.00, about $10.
• Multi-day ticket for 2 to 7 days: €14.00-€34.00, about $15-$37.
• OV-chipkaart: charged by actual distance, with a minimum fare of €0.99, about $1.10.
• RET 1-day family ticket: €20, about $22.
• RET 1-day group ticket: €19, about $21, for two people; €25, about $27, for three; €27.50, about $30, for four; and €30, about $32, for five.

The Rotterdam City Card is another visitor-friendly pass. It includes unlimited travel on RET public transport for 1, 2, or 3 days and gives a discount of 25% or more at selected attractions, museums, tours, and restaurants.

You can buy tickets and cards at Rotterdam Tourist Information points, RET service stores and service points, vending and charging machines in metro stations, and in some cases from bus or tram drivers. If you will ride several times, the OV-chipkaart is often the most economical card. For a distance-based ticket price, check the fare shown before you travel or use a fare calculator if your journey planner provides one.

Integration with Other Transportation Modes

Rotterdam is well connected for public transport, and the metro sits at the center of the local transport network. At Rotterdam Centraal, travelers can switch between metro, trams, buses, pedestrian routes, cycle routes, and parking in one area, which makes transfers straightforward.

The city is also working on better multimodal travel. A pilot involving RET, TU Delft, Siemens Mobility, and other partners is designed to let travelers plan combined journeys in a single app, mixing bus, tramway services, metro, shared bikes, and e-scooters.

Research in Rotterdam shows that shared micromobility can work well after a metro trip, especially when it reduces total travel time. That makes the metro more than a standalone system; it is part of a broader approach to transportation in Rotterdam and the surrounding region.

Access to the Airport

Rotterdam The Hague Airport is reachable by metro, bus, shared mobility, and car. The airport address is Rotterdam Airportplein 60, 3045 AP Rotterdam.

By public transport, take metro Line E from Rotterdam Centraal or Den Haag Centraal to Meijersplein, then change to RET bus 33 for the airport. From Rotterdam Centraal, you can also take bus 33 directly. On weekdays, the metro and bus connection can reach the airport from 05:48 in the morning, and the trip from Rotterdam Centraal takes about 30 minutes.

If you drive, use the official airport parking lots. For quick pick-up and drop-off, use the Kiss & Ride near the terminal building. Shared bikes and scooters are available in a hub directly in front of the terminal. Parking charges and parking charges per day are not listed here, so check current airport rates before driving.

• Metro Line E to Meijersplein, then bus 33
• Direct bus 33 from Rotterdam Centraal
• Kiss & Ride for pick-up and drop-off
• Official parking lots for drivers
• Shared bikes and scooters at the terminal

Useful Tips

The Rotterdam Metro is one of the fastest ways to cover longer distances in the city. It is especially useful for moving between the center, suburbs, the coast at Hoek van Holland, and The Hague on Line E.

• Look for the M signs at stations.
• Check the destination on the front of the train before boarding; the line letter and final station confirm the path train you need.
• Use Beurs for easy transfers, since all five lines meet there.
• Use OVpay if you want simple contactless tap-in and tap-out payment.
• Remember to check in and check out on every trip.
• For short stays, consider a day ticket, tourist pass, or Rotterdam City Card.
• For longer stays, a reusable OV-chipkaart is practical for metro, tram, and bus travel.
• Check a journey planner before you travel, especially for late-night service, weekend reductions, or route changes.
• If you plan to drive to a station, check station parking availability and any parking charges before you go.

System Rules

RET applies passenger rules to keep the Rotterdam Metro safe, clean, and orderly. The basics are simple: travel with a valid ticket, respect other passengers, and follow staff instructions.

• Passengers must have a valid ticket at all times.
• Vandalism of the system can lead to a fine of up to €90, about $97.
• Prams are allowed on board, but wheelchairs have priority.
• Dogs may travel for free, but they must not occupy seats.
• Bicycles are allowed only during off-peak times: weekdays from 09:00 to 16:00 and after 18:30, and all day at weekends.
• Eating, drinking, and smoking are not allowed in system facilities.

Operating times can change on special dates. On Friday and Saturday evenings, some lines extend service until 02:00, while holiday timetables may differ from the usual train schedule. Major stations provide multilingual information desks, and Chinese guide maps are available at Rotterdam Centraal.

Future Developments

Rotterdam Metro is moving into a major modernization and expansion phase. RET has approval to acquire up to 46 trainsets, including 38 trains under a fixed €578 million contract, about $624 million. First deliveries are planned for 2029, with passenger service expected to begin in 2030.

The new fleet will replace older trains and increase capacity on Line E, where headways are planned to drop from ten minutes to five minutes. If demand on Line C grows faster than expected, the city may buy eight additional trains.

The new trains are designed with wide walkways, a length of 90 meters, and a maximum speed of 100 km/h. They will also include driverless operation capability, which could support automation later. To prepare for them, approach tracks near Waalhaven harbor will be upgraded with more than €60 million, about $65 million, in public funding.

RET has also described wider long-term ambitions, including new connections toward Kralingse Zoom, Feijenoord City, Zuidplein, Charlois, and Rotterdam Central Station. Another idea is to convert part of the heavy-rail route between Rotterdam Central and Dordrecht to metro operation. The aim is to add more stations, increase service frequency, and eventually support shorter automated headways.

History

The history of the Rotterdam Metro began in 1968, when RET opened the Noord-Zuidlijn between Centraal Station and Zuidplein. The line crossed the Nieuwe Maas in a tunnel and was the first metro system in the Netherlands. At 5.9 km, or 3.7 mi, it was also one of the shortest metro lines in the world at the time.

The second line, the Oost-Westlijn, opened in 1982 between Capelsebrug and Coolhaven. In the late 1990s, the two lines were renamed the Erasmus Line and the Caland Line after Desiderius Erasmus and Pieter Caland. In December 2009, RET replaced those names with the current letter-and-color system to make the branches easier to identify.

The 2000s brought important rail conversions. Line E was created from the former Hofpleinlijn in 2006. It first used the old Hofplein station as its southern terminus, before a new tunnel opened on 17 August 2010 linking Rotterdam Centraal to the existing tracks near Melanchthonweg. At the northern end, former railway platforms at Den Haag Centraal were used until 12 February 2016, when service was suspended for construction of a new elevated station. That station opened on 22 August 2016.

Some parts of Lines A and B, north of Capelsebrug and west of Schiedam Centrum, still differ from the rest of the metro because they use level crossings and overhead wires. Most of the system uses a third rail, while Line E is another exception. Even with those differences, these branches are still generally called metro routes in Rotterdam.

Fascinating Facts

• The Rotterdam Metro was the first metro system in the Netherlands.
• The original 1968 line was only 5.9 km, or 3.7 mi, long.
• Beurs is the only station where passengers can transfer among all five metro lines.
• Line E links Rotterdam with The Hague as part of RandstadRail.
• Some outer branches function technically like light rail because they use level crossings and overhead wires.
• The current letter-and-color line names replaced older historic names in December 2009.

Touring Rotterdam via Metro

A simple metro tour of Rotterdam can start at Rotterdam Centraal and follow the central network through major underground stations. The route is useful for visitors because it keeps travel easy while showing how the city center connects with the wider metro system.

• Start at Rotterdam Centraal.
• Continue to Stadhuis for the city center.
• Travel via Beurs, the main transfer hub.
• Continue to Leuvehaven.
• End the central part of the loop at Wilhelminaplein.

The metro is also useful beyond sightseeing. Line B reaches Hoek van Holland, while Line E connects Rotterdam with The Hague. If you plan to explore all day, the Rotterdam City Card can make travel easier because it includes unlimited RET public transport for 1, 2, or 3 days.