In the Netherlands, you can pay for your trip by train, bus or tram with your OV chip card. This card has the size of a bank card; you put credit (money) on it with which you can travel. Before or when you get on a train, bus or tram, you need to check in with the card, and when you get off, you need to check out.
There are different types of the OV chip card:
- The personal card: this card may only be used by you yourself. You can put various travel products and subscriptions on it, which is useful if you travel a lot by public transport.
- The anonymous card: this card may be used by several people, but not whilst travelling at the same time. You cannot add subscriptions to this kind of card, only credit to travel with.
- The card for one-time-use only: some transport agencies offer a one-time-use chip card, that is only suitable for just one trip. You can find out more through transport agencies.
You can buy credit and put it on your card through the website. Please note that after ordering, the credit will not yet have been uploaded to your card! You can pick up your order and charge it to your card at an OV chip card machine. On the OV chip card website, you can find information on what to do if your card is about to expire, if you have forgotten to check out or if you want to check your travel movements. And of course, through the website you can contact the organisation if you have any questions.
