In Amersfoort, residents with a low income can apply for a free public transport subscription from April 1, 2025.
This initiative is a collaboration between the municipality of Amersfoort and the province of Utrecht and offers free travel during off-peak hours within the province for a year. The project is intended to make mobility more accessible for people with a limited budget and is a follow-up to an earlier trial for seniors.
The free public transport subscription is available to adults and young people between the ages of 12 and 17 who live at the same address as a participating adult. With this subscription, they can travel for free on U-OV and Syntus Utrecht buses and trams during the week outside rush hours and all day during the weekend. The subscription also remains valid if the bus or tram line runs partly outside the province of Utrecht.
To qualify, the family income must not exceed 150% of the social assistance standard. In addition, a personal OV chip card with photo is required, on which the free travel product is loaded. Residents who do not yet have an OV chip card can apply for one via the official website of the OV chip card.
With this scheme, the municipality of Amersfoort hopes to relieve the financial pressure on people with a low income and offer them more opportunities to move freely through the city and the province.
For seniors who participated in the trial 'Free travel for 2024+ with a tight budget' in 66, there is good news: they can use this scheme again. In February 2025, they will receive a letter from the province of Utrecht with a special registration code, with which they can register again from 1 April.
The application period runs from April 1 to September 30, 2025. The application form is not yet available, but will be placed on the municipality's website at that time. Residents who want to stay informed can send an e-mail to gratisov@amersfoort.nl to receive a notification once the application process starts.
