The cost of travelling by public transport rose faster in the Netherlands last year than in any other European country, according to statistics agency CBS.

The rapid rise was mainly due to the lower rate of VAT (btw), which is applied to bus, train and tram tickets, going up from 6% to 9% at the start of 2019.

The CBS also found that public transport had become more expensive compared to travelling by car over the past 10 years. The average car journey costs 25% more than in 2009, compared to a 30% increase for trips by bus, train, tram, taxi or metro.

Bus and taxi passengers have experienced the biggest increases, paying 40% more on average than a decade ago, while train and tram journeys are 25% more expensive.

Fuel accounts for around one-third of the total cost of travelling by car, with other expenses including insurance, parking charges and vehicle taxes. Car insurance premiums have increased by more than 50% in the last decade, while parking costs have gone up by 40%, the CBS found.