Nederlandsche Tramweg Maatschappij

Nederlandsche Tramweg Maatschappij (NTM), Dutch Tramway Company, was formed in Utrecht on 24th April 1880 and originally planned to operate lines across the Netherlands. Despite these plans the company would only operate trams within the province of Friesland, with some extending into the neighbouring sections of Groningen, Drethe and Overijssel.

The company’s first tram line would open on 6th October 1880 between Dokkum and Veenwouden and was built to standard gauge with operations initially using horses. This first line would be extended, and new ones added to the network over the following years so that by 1933 the company would run trams on 297km of track. Between 1913 and 1926 it would also gradually move away from horse power with the introduction of steam engines, although this process would be slowed down by the fact that the track need to be replaced to allow the heavier engines to operate.

16th July 1930 also saw the company begin to operate buses for the first time and this would become the main focus of the company over time. From 1933 the tramway system would contract as this year saw the first route close, the Hijkersmilde to Meppel section which had been opened in 1916.

Further closures occurred on 13th August 1939 but the rest of the network continued to be operated throughout the Second World War. Following the end of the conflict many of the remaining lines were either transferred to Nederlandse Spoorwegen or closed. At the same time remaining routes began to lose their passenger service in favour of buses.

The company continued to operate until 1st April 1971 when it merged with Noord-Oost-Friesche Autobusonderneming (North East Frisian bus company) Leeuwarder Auto Bus Onderneming N.V. (Leeuwarder Auto Bus Company) and Leeuwarder Auto Bedrijf (Leeuwarder Auto Company) to form Friese Autobus Maatschappij The Frisian Autobus Company.