Pupil Transport

Student transport is offered by the municipality of Zoetermeer to support travel to and from school. 

Parents

As a parent, you are responsible for your child. You first look at what you can do for your child and what your child could learn in traveling to school. The municipality also offers packages to learn to travel independently.

Transport

If you need support from the municipality, there are various forms of transport and compensation. These forms are transport by bike, public transport (ov), adapted transport (bus or taxi) and transport by private car (ev). These forms are with and without supervision.

Pupils

Pupil transport can be a possibility for pupils with a disability and/or pupils who go to a so-called direction school. This direction school or school with a religious conviction must be located more than six kilometres from the home address.

Education

The education that the students attend concerns special education (so), secondary special education (vso), special school for primary education (sbo), direction school or regular primary or secondary education for students with a disability.

What you need to know

Is your child already using student transport? Then you will receive a letter in April as a reminder that you need to submit an application again for the new school year.

Terms

An application for pupil transport must meet certain conditions. These conditions are stated in the regulation and policy rules for pupil transport .

The starting point is to see what your child can do themselves, possibly with supervision. Then we calculate a reimbursement of the costs of public transport or transport by bicycle. If this is not possible, then there may be a question of own transport. And ultimately adapted transport may be a possibility. 

To determine whether your child is entitled to student transportation, we take the following into account:

  • the distance between home and the nearest accessible school
  • the travel time by public transport
  • the age of the child
  • the child's disability(ies) (physical, hearing and visual, mental or psychological)
  • the type of school

Does your child live in a boarding school or foster family to go to the right special (continued) education? Then you can also get transport during the holidays and/or the weekend.

Transport by taxi

We only provide taxi transportation if your child is unable to travel to and from school by public transportation (even if accompanied) due to a disability.

Own contribution

Is your child going to (special) primary education? Then you have to pay a personal contribution. We calculate this contribution based on your joint income.

Is your income for the school year higher than the specified standard? Then you must pay the costs for the first 6 kilometers yourself. Is the distance from your home to the nearest primary school more than 20 kilometers? Then the municipality may ask you to pay part of the costs yourself. This depends on your income.

Does your child have a disability? Or is your child unable to travel (under supervision) by public transport? Then you do not pay a personal contribution.

For all basic standard amounts for Student Transport 2025/2026, please visit the VNG website .

Medical Statement

You must include a 'Medical statement' with your application. This statement must be drawn up by an expert. An expert is an independent medical or pedagogical expert or an independent expert determined in the partnership for Appropriate Education. This expert is described in more detail in the policy rules .

Transport advice

  • You must include a 'Transport Advice' with your application.
  • You can request this advice from your child's school.
  • In this statement, the school provides advice on what form of student transport is required.

Change in your situation

If your situation changes during the school year, you must inform us. This can be done by email or by post.

By email to

studentenvervoer@zoetermeer.nl

By mail to

Municipality of Zoetermeer
Regarding Student Transport
PO Box 15
2700 AA Zoetermeer

Apply

For school year 2025-2026

Student transport 2025-2026, applications

Please send the following documents with your application:

For school year 2024-2025

Student transport 2024-2025, applications

Please send the following documents with your application:

How long will it take?

  • We will process your application within 8 weeks.
  • Is there any information missing? Then it will take longer than 8 weeks.
  • You will receive the decision by post.

Useful links