The OV-chipkaart is the main form of payment for your travel in the Netherlands. If you forget your OV-chipkaart you can still pay with your debit card on the bus, or buy disposable tickets for trains at the train station but they are almost always more expensive than having your own travel card. Remember to always check in and check out by tapping your OV-chipkaart when travelling within the Netherlands!
Getting an OV-chipkaart
There are many reasons why you should get an OV-chipkaart. Firstly, you can download subscriptions onto your travel card and travel for cheaper. Secondly, if you are receiving studiefinanciering, you can only receive the student travel product if you have the personal OV-chipkaart. This product enables you to travel for free or at a discounted rate with Dutch public transport. Click here to visit the official student travel product website or visit the government website for more information.
You can buy an OV-chipkaart online or at a public transportation service desk. You can order a personal travel card online from the official site. If you are eligible for the student travel product, you need to couple your product with your OV-chipkaart. You can do this by visiting this site. After you have successfully linked your card, you can load your product on your travel card at one of the yellow and blue ticket machines.
Topping up your OV-chipkaart
There are two different types of OV-chipkaarts, personalised and anonymous. The personalised OV-chipkaart can only be used by you, whereas the anonymous can be shared among several people, although not simultaneously. The anonymous card cannot be linked to your bank account, so you will have to top-up the card. You can top up your travel card at the ticket machines at train stations or via the internet. There is a set minimum amount that the card has to be topped-up with before traveling. Click here for more information.
The personalised OV-chipkaart can be linked to your bank account. This is preferable if you want to upload a subscription onto your card. Your bank account will be charged directly for all of the trips that you have taken.
Forgot to check-out
This is unfortunate, but it can be fixed at least for a number of times each year! If you forgot to check-out, you can declare this here.
OVpay
OVpay is the new way to check in and out for people who travel second class, without discounts or subscriptions. This is ideal for people who only use public transport occasionally.
You can then check in and check out of public transport with your contactless debit card, credit card or mobile phone. You’ll pay the same standard fares you would if you were using an OV-chipkaart without a discount or subscription. Find out here how it works or watch this short video clip.
Student Mobility Card
One option for students, who need an OV-chipkaart, is the Student Mobility Card. This can act as both a Dutch public transport and International Student Identity Card or ISIC, and gives you 20-40% discount on Arriva bus and train rides outside of peak-hours.
Student Mobility Card Limburg Arriva
It is an OV-chipkaart and can be customised with additional discounts from local transport companies and has a custom application process and app for international students. Read more here.
If you want to connect your Student Mobility card to an international payment method and use the 15% discount on NS trains during off-peak hours, there is a monthly subscription fee of €4.50. (Off-peak hours are before 6:30, between 9:00 – 16:00 and after 18:30 on week days. On the weekend and holidays the entire day.)
If you decide to start working 32 hours a month and get student finance (studiefinanciering) including the free travel product, then you would need to get your own normal personal OV-chipkaart in order to benefit from this.
You can learn more about the OV-chipkaart on the official website.
