Transport for The Netherlands API

Free to Use Varies (check documentation)

Overview

Transport for The Netherlands (OVAPI) provides country-wide public transport data covering buses, trams, metros, and ferries across the Netherlands via the KV78Turbo protocol. This free API requires no authentication and provides real-time vehicle positions, stop departures, and journey data. It is a community-supported open data initiative for Dutch transit.

💡

Beginner Tip

The OVAPI base URL is http://v0.ovapi.nl — try /stopareacode/ followed by a stop area code to get live departures. Stop codes can be found on Dutch bus stop signs or via the stopareacode list endpoint.

Available Data

match scores and results
team standings
player statistics
schedule and fixtures
country name and code
population

Example Response

JSON Response
{
  "route": "Line 1",
  "origin": "Station A",
  "destination": "Station B",
  "departure": "08:30",
  "arrival": "09:15",
  "status": "On Time",
  "delays_min": 0
}

Field Reference

TimingPointCode Unique code identifying the timing point or stop in the OVAPI system.
Passes Map of upcoming vehicle passes at the stop, keyed by journey ID.
Passes[].LinePublicNumber Public-facing line number shown on vehicles and at stops.
Passes[].DestinationName50 Destination name of the vehicle, up to 50 characters.
Passes[].ExpectedArrivalTime Expected arrival time at the stop in ISO 8601 format.

Implementation Example

const url = "https://github.com/skywave/KV78Turbo-OVAPI/wiki";
const response = await fetch(url);
if (!response.ok) throw new Error(`Request failed: ${response.status}`);
const data = await response.json();
console.log(data);

What Can You Build?

Note: These code examples are AI-generated and unverified. Always refer to the official API documentation for accurate usage.

Common Errors & Troubleshooting

Empty response The stop area code may be invalid or outside the supported region.
Retrieve the full list from http://v0.ovapi.nl/stopareacode/ to find valid codes for your area.
Service unavailable OVAPI is a community-maintained service that may have downtime.
Wait and retry — also check the GitHub wiki for any known outages or alternative endpoints.
Outdated data Real-time data feeds can lag during high-traffic periods or disruptions.
Include a timestamp check on the response and display the data age to end users for transparency.

Matrix Score Breakdown

🌐 Reachability 30/30
⚡ Speed 20/20
🔒 Security 15/15
🛠 Developer XP 15/20
✓ Reliability 7/15
Response Time 49ms

Fully tested on Apr 5, 2026

Technical Specifications

Auth No Auth
HTTPS REQUIRED
CORS UNKNOWN
Category Transportation
Difficulty Beginner
Verified: 2026-04-07

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