What this solves
The IJ ferries crossing the river in Amsterdam (lines 101, 102, 105, 106, 906) are the city’s most underrated free service. Anyone — tourist, resident, anyone — boards them without a ticket. Tourists who buy a €6.50 GVB day ticket to “use the GVB network” don’t need it for that segment.
- Five Amsterdam free ferries. Lines 101, 102, 105, 106 across the IJ; line 906 to NDSM-werf. Board with no ticket, walk on.
- Three regional waterbuses: Rotterdam Waterbus (Drieberke-Cappelle), Dordrecht-Maassluis, Dordrecht-Zwijndrecht. These charge per leg.
- Hopper discount: the multi-stop 5-ride waterbus day pass (€6.99 in 2026) is cheaper than 4 single tickets on Rotterdam Waterbus.
The calculator
How to read results
In Amsterdam, all five IJ ferry lines are unconditionally free for any passenger. The calculator distinguishes between users who also ride GVB tram/metro (who need the €6.50 day ticket for the rest of their transit) and ferry-only riders (who should pay €0).
In Rotterdam and Dordrecht the regional Waterbus is a paid service. A 5-ride hopper day pass beats pay-per-leg once you take 5+ ferry hops in a day. The hopper is non-transferable between operators.
Limitations
- Free only on GVB ferries. The Connexxion N-ferry (N-Ferry) and Waternet tours charge separately. Verify the operator before walking on.
- Bike supplement. Bringing a bike on the GVB IJ ferry is free (no ticket needed), but Connexxion ferries charge €2 per bike.
- Hopper pass is daily. Rotterdam Waterbus hopper pass expires at end of operating day (around 00:00); not valid the next day.
- IJ ferries don’t run 24h. Last ferry is around 00:15 from Centraal direction NDSM; after that you’re stuck on the wrong bank.
FAQ
Why are the IJ ferries free?
Because historically Amsterdam\'s IJ was a working port and ferry crossings were always part of public infrastructure. After the North Sea Canal cut off the back side of the city from the center, ferries replaced bridges. GVB runs them as a free service for residents, not as a tourist product.
Can I take my OV-fiets on the ferry?
Yes. No surcharge. Walk your bike onto the ferry, tie it to a railing, ride free.
Is NDSM-werf reachable by ferry?
Yes — line 906 from Centraal, free, ~15 min ride. That\'s the easiest way to reach NDSM\'s street art, markets, and the A\'DAM Lookout across the water.
Do I need to reserve the Waterbus hopper pass?
No — buy it at the kiosk on board or at the terminal. €6.99 in 2026 (Rotterdam) or €7.50 (Dordrecht). Five legs included. OV-chipkaart users can load it directly on the card.
Sources
- GVB ferry service info (gvb.nl/ferry)
- Rotterdam Waterbus hopper pass & routes (waterbus.nl)
- Dordrecht Waterbus hopper tariff sheet 2026
- Gemeente Amsterdam ferry subsidy report
Related tools
The most popular IJ-ferry trip — Centraal → NDSM via line 906.
Once across the IJ — same-mode decision tree.
Other boat transport — canal cruise vs the museum ferry.
Driving in? P+R ArenA + metro also crosses the IJ.