Zuid-Holland introduces free off-peak public transport for low-income residents
Residents of Zoeterwoude with a minimum income can now travel for free on public transport outside peak hours, thanks to a new pilot scheme by the Province of Zuid-Holland. The initiative aims to reduce travel costs and improve mobility for those who need it most.
| Key Data Point | Details |
|---|---|
| Scheme | Free off-peak public transport pass for minimum-income residents |
| Funding | Province of Zuid-Holland |
| Budget | €10 million (total for pilot) |
| Duration | 4-year pilot |
| Eligible Hours | Weekdays from 9:00 AM, all day on weekends and public holidays |
| Transport Provider | Qbuzz (buses in Leiden region) |
| Municipalities Involved | Zoeterwoude, Leiden, Leiderdorp, Oegstgeest |
| Applications in Zoeterwoude | Exceeded available passes; application temporarily paused |
| Provincial Executive | Jeroen van Dijken (mobility) |
| Aldermen Involved | Abdelhaq Jermoumi (Leiden), Herman Romeijn (Leiderdorp), Tim van Tongeren (Oegstgeest), Moniek van Sandick (Zoeterwoude) |
The Province of Zuid-Holland is responsible for regional mobility policies, including public transport initiatives. This pilot scheme reflects its role in addressing social equity and accessibility by subsidizing transport costs for low-income residents.
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Free public transport a great success in Zoeterwoude
Residents of Zoeterwoude with a minimum income will soon be able to travel for free on public transport outside of peak hours. The first public transport passes will be sent out shortly. The scheme is funded by the Province of Zuid-Holland.
With the pass, residents will receive a so-called off-peak free subscription. This allows them to travel for free from 9:00 AM on weekdays and all day during the weekend and on public holidays. In the Leiden region, this includes buses operated by Qbuzz.
New opportunity for travelers with minimum income
Provincial executive Jeroen van Dijken (mobility) handed out an enlarged pass to aldermen from the Leiden region on Friday: Abdelhaq Jermoumi (Leiden), Herman Romeijn (Leiderdorp), Tim van Tongeren (Oegstgeest), and Moniek van Sandick (Zoeterwoude). This drew attention to this new opportunity for travelers with a minimum income.
“This pass gives people more freedom to travel,” says Van Dijken. “It really makes a difference for those who need it most. It opens up new opportunities.”
High interest in Zoeterwoude
In Zoeterwoude, there is a lot of interest in the scheme. We have received more applications than the number of public transport passes that the Province of Zuid-Holland has made available for our municipality at the moment. Therefore, we have temporarily disabled the application button on our website.
Alderman Moniek van Sandick: “There is a lot of interest in free public transport in Zoeterwoude. We hope that the province will make more free public transport passes available, because especially if you live in the Green Heart and depend on public transport, the costs can quickly add up.”
Provincial pilot
The scheme is a pilot project by the Province of Zuid-Holland that runs for four years. The province has made a total of 10 million euros available for this and distributes the free off-peak subscriptions among municipalities.
Residents who are eligible will be informed about this by us. As soon as more public transport passes become available, we will let you know. Keep an eye on the page Free public transport pass for minima for this.