Discover Rotterdam The Hague Airport Transfers
Rotterdam The Hague Airport (RTM) is one of the most convenient airports in Europe to land at if your final destination is a city centre rather than a sprawling suburb. Tucked into the Overschie district just 5.5 kilometres northwest of Rotterdam’s Coolsingel, the airport is small enough that you can clear immigration, collect your bag and be standing at a bus stop or taxi rank within ten minutes of touching down. The challenge for most visitors isn’t navigating the terminal, it’s working out which of the several onward options actually makes sense for their trip.
Unlike Amsterdam Schiphol, Rotterdam The Hague Airport doesn’t have its own railway station or a metro stop directly outside the terminal doors. Instead, getting into the city involves a short connecting bus ride to link up with Rotterdam’s excellent metro network, a direct bus service, a taxi, a pre-booked private transfer, or picking up a rental car and driving yourself in via the A13 motorway. Each of these has a genuinely different balance of cost, speed and convenience, and the right choice depends heavily on how much luggage you’re carrying, what time your flight lands, and whether Rotterdam is your only stop or the first of several Dutch cities on your itinerary.
This guide walks through every practical way to travel between Rotterdam The Hague Airport and the city centre, with real journey times, realistic cost ranges and honest advice on who each option suits best. We also cover the slightly confusing question of what to do if The Hague, rather than Rotterdam, is actually your destination, since the airport carries both names but sits considerably closer to Rotterdam.
Whether you’re arriving on a Transavia flight from a European city break, touching down with British Airways or Pegasus Airlines, or flying in on one of the airport’s growing number of leisure routes to the Mediterranean and North Africa, the transfer logistics are largely the same. What changes is your priorities: a solo backpacker on a tight budget will make very different choices to a family of four with pushchairs and suitcases arriving on a delayed evening flight.
By the end of this guide you’ll know exactly which bus number to look for, which metro line gets you into Rotterdam Centraal, roughly what a taxi should cost, when a private transfer is worth the extra money, and whether hiring a car at the airport makes sense for exploring further afield. Let’s start with a side-by-side comparison before breaking each option down in detail.
| Transfer Option | Typical Journey Time | Cost | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metro (via Meijersplein) | Approx. 15-20 minutes to Rotterdam Centraal | Approx. €4 (2-hour RET ticket) | Budget travellers, light packers, anyone comfortable with one connection |
| Bus (RET Bus 33) | Approx. 25 minutes direct to Rotterdam Centraal | Approx. €4 (2-hour RET ticket) | Travellers who prefer a single-seat ride with no transfer |
| Taxi | Approx. 15 minutes to the city centre | Approx. €35-45 | Late arrivals, tight connections, small groups wanting door-to-door speed |
| Private Transfer | Approx. 15-20 minutes to the city centre | Approx. €40-65 depending on vehicle size | Families, business travellers, anyone wanting a pre-booked fixed price and meet-and-greet |
| Car Hire | Approx. 10-15 minutes to the city centre via the A13 | From approx. €30-50 per day, plus fuel and parking | Visitors planning day trips beyond Rotterdam, or arriving with a lot of luggage |
About Rotterdam The Hague Airport
Rotterdam The Hague Airport carries the IATA code RTM and sits just north of the Rotterdam Alexander district, right beside the busy A13/E19 motorway that links Rotterdam with The Hague and, further afield, Delft and the wider Randstad. It’s the third-busiest airport in the Netherlands after Amsterdam Schiphol and Eindhoven Airport, though it’s a fraction of the size of either: a single, compact terminal building that most passengers can walk end to end in a couple of minutes.
The airport’s name reflects its role serving both major cities of South Holland: it sits roughly 5.5 kilometres from central Rotterdam and around 20 kilometres from central The Hague, which is why journey times to the two cities differ so significantly, even though both are reachable on the same metro line. Don’t assume “Rotterdam The Hague Airport” means the two cities are equidistant; for anyone heading straight to The Hague, the extra travel time is worth planning for.
Airlines operating from RTM focus mainly on short and medium-haul European leisure and city routes. Transavia runs some of the airport’s busiest schedules, TUI fly operates seasonal holiday charters to destinations such as Egypt and Lapland, and scheduled carriers including British Airways, Pegasus Airlines, Aegean Airlines, Air Arabia Maroc and Air Algérie connect Rotterdam to hubs and leisure destinations across Europe and North Africa. There are no long-haul or transatlantic routes, which is part of why the terminal stays manageable even at peak times.
Inside, facilities are basic but sufficient: a handful of check-in desks, a small security hall, a few gates, a couple of cafés and shops airside, and car rental desks in the arrivals area. There’s no dedicated fast-track lane comparable to Schiphol, but because passenger numbers are so much lower, queues rarely build up the way they can at larger Dutch airports. Most travellers report clearing the airport from touchdown to landside in well under 20 minutes outside of the busiest summer departure banks.
Metro: RandstadRail Line E via Meijersplein
The fastest all-public-transport route into Rotterdam is the metro, though it’s worth understanding upfront that there’s no metro station directly at the airport terminal. Instead, you’ll take RET Bus 33 for the short hop to Meijersplein/Airport metro station, then change onto RandstadRail line E, which runs between Den Haag Centraal and Rotterdam Centraal via Meijersplein. The connection is deliberately timed, with RET scheduling bus 33’s arrivals and departures to line up with metro E’s, so the changeover at Meijersplein rarely involves much waiting around.
Once you’re on line E, trains run in both directions from Meijersplein: one direction towards Slinge in southern Rotterdam via Rotterdam Centraal, the other towards Den Haag Centraal. For anyone heading into central Rotterdam, the ride from Meijersplein to Rotterdam Centraal takes only a few minutes, and combined with the connecting bus, the whole airport-to-Centraal journey typically comes in at under 20 minutes door to door. Trains are frequent, running roughly every five minutes or so through the middle of the day, which makes this a genuinely low-hassle option even if you’ve never used Dutch public transport before.
Tickets work the same way across the whole journey: tap in with a contactless bank card, a phone wallet, an OV-chipkaart, or buy a paper RET 2-hour ticket (around €4) from the machine at the airport or via the RET app before boarding the bus. That single fare covers both the bus 33 leg and the onward metro leg, so there’s no need to pay twice. If you’re planning to use public transport extensively during your stay, an RET or Rotterdam Tourist Day Ticket (around €14.50) may work out cheaper than paying per journey, particularly if you’re combining the airport transfer with sightseeing trips the same day.
Service runs from around 6am until just after midnight on weekdays, with a slightly later start and reduced frequency at weekends. If you’re landing very early or very late, it’s worth double-checking the current RET timetable before relying on the metro, since the first and last connections don’t run around the clock. For most flights arriving during the day, though, the metro via Meijersplein is the quickest and cheapest way into central Rotterdam, and it’s the option most locals would recommend to a visitor without heavy luggage.
Bus: RET Bus 33
If you’d rather avoid changing vehicles altogether, RET Bus 33 also runs as a through service between the airport and Rotterdam Centraal, continuing past Meijersplein rather than stopping there. This gives you a single seat from the terminal door to the station concourse, which can feel simpler if you’re travelling with kids, unfamiliar with the metro system, or just prefer not to juggle luggage through a change of platform.
The trade-off is time: travelling the whole way by bus takes around 25 minutes, noticeably longer than the bus-plus-metro combination, since the bus follows surface streets rather than the largely grade-separated metro line. It’s still a perfectly reasonable option, particularly outside rush hour when Rotterdam’s roads are quieter, but if speed matters more than simplicity, the metro connection via Meijersplein will usually get you there faster.
Frequency on bus 33 is reasonable but not exceptional; it’s not a service that runs every few minutes around the clock, so it pays to check departure times in the RET app or on the digital display at the airport bus stop rather than simply turning up and expecting an immediate departure. Early risers should note that the first bus of the day leaves around 05:55 on weekdays, a little later at 06:42 on Saturdays and 06:09 on Sundays, which matters if you’ve booked an early morning flight and are trying to reach the airport rather than leave it.
Fares are identical to the metro option: tap in with a contactless card or OV-chipkaart, or buy a 2-hour RET ticket for around €4, which will also cover a metro or tram connection later in the day if your plans change. For visitors on a tight budget who don’t mind the extra ten minutes on board, bus 33 is a dependable, no-fuss way to reach the city, and it’s especially handy if your accommodation is closer to a stop along the bus route than to Rotterdam Centraal itself.
Taxi
A regulated taxi rank sits immediately outside the arrivals hall, staffed around the clock by licensed Rotterdam taxi operators. This is the most straightforward option if you land late at night, have an early morning departure to catch, or simply don’t want to think about timetables and connections after a long flight. Given the airport’s small size, there’s rarely a meaningful queue for a cab even during busier arrival windows.
Journey time to central Rotterdam is around 15 minutes in normal traffic via the A13, making it comfortably the fastest door-to-door option on this list when the roads are clear. During the evening rush hour, or if there’s an incident on the motorway, that can stretch out, so build in a little extra time if you’re cutting things fine for a connection, dinner reservation or event.
Expect to pay somewhere in the region of €35-45 for a standard taxi to the city centre, depending on your exact drop-off point, time of day and whether any surcharges apply. Rotterdam’s taxis are metered, but it’s sensible to confirm the approximate fare with the driver before setting off, particularly late at night. Cards are widely accepted, though it doesn’t hurt to have a little cash as a backup.
Taxis make the most sense for solo travellers or small groups who value speed and simplicity over cost, for anyone arriving outside public transport operating hours, and for travellers with heavy luggage who’d rather not manage a bus or metro change. For larger groups, though, it’s worth comparing the taxi fare against a pre-booked private transfer, since a larger vehicle booked in advance can sometimes work out similarly priced per person while adding the certainty of a fixed fare.
Private Transfer
Pre-booked private transfers have become an increasingly popular alternative to hailing a taxi on arrival, and several operators serve Rotterdam The Hague Airport with door-to-door service booked in advance online. The core appeal is certainty: you know the price before you fly, a driver tracks your flight and waits even if it’s delayed, and you’re met inside or just outside arrivals with a name board rather than having to find and negotiate with a taxi yourself.
Journey times are essentially the same as a taxi, around 15 to 20 minutes to the city centre via the A13, since the vehicles use the same roads. Where private transfers differ is in the extras: many operators offer English-speaking drivers, child seats on request, larger vehicles for groups or extra luggage, and the option to book a return journey at the same time so you don’t have to think about transport again until it’s time to fly home.
Pricing typically runs from around €40 for a standard saloon car up to €65 or more for a larger vehicle suited to a family or small group with substantial luggage, though exact rates vary by provider, vehicle type and how far in advance you book. It’s usually a little more than a walk-up taxi fare for the equivalent trip, but the fixed price and pre-arranged pickup can be worth the premium, particularly for a first visit to Rotterdam, a late-night landing, or a group travelling with young children.
Private transfers are also a sensible choice for business travellers who need a predictable, professional pickup for a meeting schedule, and for anyone connecting onward to somewhere less central than Rotterdam Centraal, since several operators will drop you directly at a hotel, conference venue or residential address anywhere in the wider Rotterdam or The Hague region, which public transport can’t always do as conveniently.
Book Your Airport Transfer with Welcome Pickups
Arriving in a new destination can be stressful, especially after a long flight. Welcome Pickups lets you pre-book a private airport transfer, so your driver is ready and waiting when you land.
It is ideal for first-time visitors, late-night arrivals, and travellers who want a smooth, reliable start to their trip. Instead of searching for taxis or navigating public transport, you can head straight to your accommodation.
Want to compare prices first? You can also check these trusted airport transfer providers before making your booking.
Car Hire
Rotterdam The Hague Airport has car rental desks in the terminal building operated by the major international brands, including Sixt, Hertz, Europcar, Avis and Budget, so picking up a car on arrival is straightforward and doesn’t require a shuttle bus to an off-site rental centre the way some larger airports do. Rates typically start from around €30-50 per day for a compact car, though prices fluctuate with season, demand and how far ahead you book; booking online in advance almost always beats a walk-up rate.
The airport’s location right next to the A13/E19 motorway is a genuine advantage for anyone hiring a car, since you can be on the main road network within a minute or two of leaving the rental car park. Central Rotterdam is around 10 to 15 minutes’ drive away outside peak periods, and the wider Randstad (The Hague, Delft, Leiden) is easily reachable within half an hour to 45 minutes depending on traffic.
That said, a hire car is arguably the least useful option if Rotterdam city centre is your only destination. Parking in the centre is metered and can be expensive, traffic in the city itself is often easier to navigate on foot, by tram or by metro, and several of the most-visited attractions sit in pedestrianised or restricted-access zones. Car hire earns its keep when you’re planning to use Rotterdam as a base for day trips, to Kinderdijk‘s windmills, Delft, The Hague, or further into South Holland and Zeeland, where public transport connections are less direct or you want the flexibility to set your own schedule.
If you do hire a car, factor in fuel costs, any one-way drop-off fees if you’re returning the vehicle at a different location, and the cost of parking at your accommodation, since not all central Rotterdam hotels include this. For a short city-only stay, most visitors will find public transport, a taxi or a private transfer more cost-effective and considerably less hassle than driving and parking a rental car.
Compare Car Hire Prices
If you’re planning to explore beyond the airport, hiring a car gives you the freedom to travel at your own pace. Comparing prices before you book can often save money while helping you find the right vehicle for your journey.
Compare prices from two trusted car hire comparison websites to search thousands of vehicles from leading rental companies, compare rental conditions, and find the best deal for your trip.
Travelling Onward to The Hague, Delft and Beyond
Because Rotterdam The Hague Airport carries both cities’ names, a fair number of arriving passengers are actually heading to The Hague rather than Rotterdam. The good news is that the same RandstadRail line E connection at Meijersplein serves both destinations: you simply take bus 33 to Meijersplein and then board a line E train heading in the Den Haag Centraal direction instead of towards Rotterdam. Allow around 40 minutes for the full journey to Den Haag Centraal, roughly double the time it takes to reach Rotterdam Centraal, since The Hague sits considerably further from the airport.
Taxis and private transfers to The Hague are also readily available, though naturally cost more and take longer than the equivalent Rotterdam trip, so budget on the fare being noticeably higher given the extra distance, and confirm the price with your driver or transfer operator in advance. If you’re planning to spend time in both cities, it’s worth reading our guide to the best things to do in The Hague alongside this one, since many travellers combine a stay in Rotterdam with day trips to The Hague and its beaches at Scheveningen.
Delft, the picturesque canal town famous for its blue-and-white pottery and its historic Markt square, is another popular add-on for visitors flying into RTM. It doesn’t have its own airport transfer route, but it’s easily reached by train from Rotterdam Centraal in around 15 minutes, so most travellers head into Rotterdam first via any of the options above, then continue to Delft by rail as a separate short hop once they’ve settled in.
Whichever city is your final stop, it’s worth checking our guide to day trips from Rotterdam for ideas on combining an RTM arrival with wider exploration of South Holland, especially if you’re renting a car or holding a multi-day travel pass that covers onward rail journeys.
Which Transfer Option Is Best for You?
If you’re travelling light, comfortable navigating a short bus-to-metro connection, and want the cheapest reasonable option, the metro via Meijersplein is hard to beat: it’s fast, frequent and costs around €4. If you’d rather avoid a change of vehicle and don’t mind an extra ten minutes, the direct bus 33 service does the same job in one seat for the same fare.
For late-night arrivals, tight connections, or when speed genuinely matters more than saving a few euros, a taxi from the rank outside arrivals is the simplest choice, and at around 15 minutes it’s the fastest way into central Rotterdam under normal traffic conditions. Families, groups, and anyone who prefers the certainty of a fixed price and a driver waiting with their name on a board should look at a private transfer instead; it costs a little more than a taxi but removes any uncertainty around wait times or fare negotiation, which can be worth a lot after a long flight.
Car hire is the right call if Rotterdam is one stop among several: if you’re planning to see Kinderdijk, Delft, The Hague or further afield under your own steam, having a car from the moment you land can save considerable time over relying on trains and buses for every leg. But if your trip is Rotterdam-only, renting a car adds cost and hassle (parking, navigating one-way systems, returning the vehicle) without much upside, since the city centre itself is compact and easy to cover on foot, by tram or by metro.
In short: metro or bus for budget-conscious independent travellers, taxi for speed and simplicity, private transfer for families and anyone wanting a guaranteed pickup, and car hire only if your itinerary extends well beyond Rotterdam itself.
Rupert’s Handy Travel Tips
Landing at Rotterdam The Hague Airport is refreshingly quick, but a little planning still goes a long way. Here’s what I’d want to know before touching down.
- Double-check your destination city: the airport serves both Rotterdam and The Hague, and the journey time to each is very different, so confirm which metro E direction you need at Meijersplein before you board.
- Buy your RET ticket before boarding the bus: a single 2-hour ticket covers the connecting bus 33 and the onward metro leg, so you won’t need to pay twice or fumble for change mid-journey.
- Check timetables for early or late flights: public transport doesn’t run 24 hours a day here, so if you’re landing before 6am or after midnight, plan on a taxi or pre-booked transfer instead.
- Confirm your taxi fare upfront: Rotterdam’s taxis are metered and reliable, but it’s always worth agreeing an approximate price with the driver before you set off, especially late at night.
- Only hire a car if you’re leaving Rotterdam: the city centre is compact and easy on foot or by tram, so save the rental car for day trips to Delft, Kinderdijk or The Hague rather than driving within Rotterdam itself.
Want to meet the reindeer behind our travel tips? Find out more in our page Who is Rupert?.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the closest metro station to Rotterdam The Hague Airport?
There’s no metro station directly at the terminal. The nearest connection is Meijersplein/Airport station, reached by a short ride on RET Bus 33, where you can board RandstadRail line E towards either Rotterdam Centraal or Den Haag Centraal.
How do I get from Rotterdam Airport to Rotterdam Centraal by public transport?
Take RET Bus 33 from outside the terminal, either riding it all the way to Rotterdam Centraal in around 25 minutes, or changing at Meijersplein onto metro line E for a faster combined journey of around 15-20 minutes.
How much does a taxi from Rotterdam Airport to the city centre cost?
Expect to pay approximately €35-45 for the roughly 15-minute journey into central Rotterdam, depending on traffic, time of day and your exact drop-off point.
Is there a direct train from Rotterdam Airport to the city centre?
No, there’s no railway station at the airport. The closest equivalent is the bus-and-metro combination via Meijersplein, which connects to Rotterdam’s wider NS train network at Rotterdam Centraal.
How far is Rotterdam The Hague Airport from the city centre?
The airport sits around 5.5 kilometres northwest of central Rotterdam, in the Overschie area beside the A13 motorway, which is why most transfers take well under 30 minutes.
Can I get from Rotterdam Airport to The Hague directly?
Yes. Take bus 33 to Meijersplein and then board metro line E in the Den Haag Centraal direction. The full journey takes around 40 minutes, roughly double the time to reach Rotterdam Centraal, since The Hague is considerably further from the airport.
Is it worth renting a car at Rotterdam The Hague Airport?
Only if you’re planning day trips beyond Rotterdam itself. For a Rotterdam-only visit, public transport, a taxi or a private transfer will usually be cheaper and less hassle than driving and parking in the city centre.
What time does public transport start and stop running at the airport?
Bus and metro services generally run from around 6am until just after midnight on weekdays, with a later start and reduced frequency at weekends. If you’re arriving outside these hours, plan on a taxi or a pre-booked private transfer instead.
Further Reading
Once you’ve made it into the city, our guide to the best things to do in Rotterdam is the natural next stop, covering the city’s landmark architecture, museums and markets in detail. If you’re planning to venture further afield during your stay, day trips from Rotterdam covers routes to Kinderdijk, Delft, The Hague and beyond, including how to get there without a car.
Arriving or departing by sea rather than by air? Our ferry routes from Rotterdam guide covers the city’s ferry connections, including services operated by DFDS. If your itinerary also includes Amsterdam, it’s worth comparing this guide with our Schiphol Airport transfers page, since the two airports work quite differently in terms of onward transport.
Finally, if you’re planning to use public transport extensively across South Holland during your trip, it’s worth reading up on the Holland Travel Ticket and the NS Day Ticket, both of which can simplify getting around once you’ve left the airport behind. Travellers combining Rotterdam with The Hague should also see our guide to the best things to do in The Hague.
Last Updated
August 2026.
We regularly review this guide to ensure transfer times, bus and metro route numbers, and cost ranges for Rotterdam The Hague Airport remain accurate and up to date, since public transport schedules, fares and taxi pricing can all change over time.
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