Public Transport and Driving in the Netherlands
Public Transport
The Public Transport is called OV (Openbare Vervoer). Train, tram, bus, railway and high-speed trains enable you to travel basically anywhere in the country reliably. Check out www.9292ov.nl where you can plan your trip / check out bus and train routes etc. If you have a smartphone you can download the 9292ov app or NS app.
If you don't have an anonymous or personalised OV card you can now simply use your bank card to check in and out. This new service is called OVPay and you don't have to activate or setup anything - you simply tap your bank card when checking in and out of your bus, tram, or train station. The fair will be deducted directly from your bank account.
Driving etiquette
Traffic rules state that vehicles have to drive in the right-most available lane. Unnecessarily staying in the left lane for too long may lead to a fine. It may also result in tailgating and/or overtaking on the right-hand side, both of which are forbidden and therefore finable as well.
Very importantly, cyclists and pedestrians are well protected and tend to treat traffic rules as guidelines. For example, red traffic lights are frequently ignored by pedestrians and cyclists. Cycling is extremely common, and cyclists will overtake cars on the right-hand side if they can (especially when cars are waiting for a traffic light, in which case it is legal to do so). In practice, this means that at all times, a cyclist may be present or turn up on the right-hand side of the car.
Dutch Traffic Rules
On the link below there is an English document explaining the Dutch traffic rules.
You might hear people asking: “Bob jij of Bob ik?” B.O.B stands for “Bewust Onbeschonken Bestuurder”
http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_jij_of_Bob_ik%3F
