The Hague pilot ‘Kids voor Niks’, which allows children aged 4 to 11 to travel for free by bus and tram, has proven to be a great success. New figures show that approximately 55% of all children in The Hague now use the free public transport card. Because ‘Kids voor Niks’ meets a need, the Municipal Executive has decided to extend the pilot by one year.
“ With ‘Kids for Nothing’, we lower barriers for families and increase the freedom of movement for children in The Hague. We see that children are going out more often, discovering new places, and becoming more independent. The fact that more than half of all children in The Hague now travel with the free public transport card shows how great the need is and how well the pilot is working. The positive experiences of parents and the consistent use of bus and tram confirm that we are really making a difference with this pilot. That is why we would like to continue this success ,” says Alderman Arjen Kapteijns (Mobility).
Since the start of the pilot on March 10, 2025, a total of 32,615 children have used ‘Kids voor Niks’. In April 2026, as many as 16,500 unique cards traveled in a single month. Participation is highest in neighborhoods with many Ooievaarspas holders, such as Centrum, Escamp, and Laak. Analysis of HTM and EBS travel data shows that children not only apply for the card but also use it regularly. Most children make multiple trips per month, especially on weekdays around school and leisure times. The average trip distance is 2.8 kilometers, indicating short trips within the city.
Children travel more often, further, and more independently.
Survey research among parents also shows that the pilot is working. Children use public transport more frequently and for a wider variety of destinations, parents indicate that their child visits places they did not visit before, and attitudes towards public transport have clearly become more positive. Satisfaction with accessibility, comfort, safety, and especially costs has increased. Consequently, the pilot demonstrably contributes to increasing children’s mobility and lowering financial barriers for families.
Differences between neighborhoods
Participation varies by neighborhood. Reach is highest in densely populated neighborhoods and areas with many Ooievaarspas holders, which may indicate that the pilot contributes to reducing transport poverty. With the extension, the municipality continues to invest in accessible and affordable public transport for all young residents of The Hague and strengthens the mobility and opportunities of children in The Hague.
More information (in Dutch): https://www.htm.nl/reisproducten/productvoorwaarden/kids-voor-niks/
Text & Image: Gemeente Den Haag. Translation to English: The Hague Online