What is a tourist transport card for the Netherlands?
Unlimited travel in all buses, trams, metros and ferries operated by the following public transporters: Arriva,
A personal OV-chipkaart costs € 7,50 and is valid for five years. You will receive your new card within six working days. Please note: there is no mail delivery on Mondays.
Paying for public transport is easy: simply use your contactless debit card, credit card or mobile phone to check in and out using OVpay or a public transport chip card (in Dutch: OV-chipkaart).
The Amsterdam & Region Travel Ticket allows you to explore all that Amsterdam has to offer, along with the iconic sights and scenery of the surrounding area. Tickets are available for one, two or three consecutive days, so that you can use it for a day trip, weekend break or three-day excursion.
In Amsterdam and throughout the Netherlands, the public transport chip card (OV-Chipkaart) is a rechargeable card used for travel on trams, buses, metros and trains. Residents typically own a personalised card that can be loaded up with credit.
If you're in Amsterdam for a longer period of time and use public transport regularly, buying an OV-chipkaart is the best way to go. If you are here for a short period and rarely use public transport, then it is better to use tickets.
It's easy to buy an OV-chipkaart at a station. Just follow the on-screen prompts at the yellow ticket machines, or ask for one at a service desk. At Schiphol, the ticket machines are located right next to the escalators that descend to the train platforms.
It is easy to travel throughout the Netherlands by train, bus, metro or ferry. What's more, it is incredibly sustainable. The rail network in the Netherlands is quite extensive and the trains are modern and comfortable.
The Netherlands is a very modern country. You can pay with cash or a debit card, and often with your phone via NFC, Apple Pay, or Google Wallet. Not to mention the latest phenomenon, 'Tikkie', which is also being used more and more.
The OV-chipkaart
The chipkaart is therefore an efficient solution to traveling with numerous paper tickets – a traveler only needs one card to get around instead of dozens of tickets from various different transport companies. The card can be fully personalized, but it's not a requirement.
How to get a travel card in Netherlands?
To apply for the personal version of the chipkaart - via OV-chipkaart, GVB Tickets & Info, or GVB Customer Service - you must have a Dutch address and a bank account. Residents of Belgium, Germany and Luxembourg can also acquire one by paying via a Dutch bank account, PayPal, or credit card.
| Distance | 7 miles |
|---|---|
| Average train duration | 14 min |
| Average train ticket price | £5 (€5) |
| Train frequency | 50 a day |
| Direct train | Yes, there are 33 direct trains a day |
Although a public transport pass is included, the connection between Schiphol Airport and Amsterdam Station is not included. To cover this journey you will have to buy a separate ticket for the NS train or the Airport Express bus.
GVB 72h / 3 days
This card entitles you to unlimited travel around Amsterdam - day and night - on bus, tram and metro for 72 hours from first check in.
If you are going to spend several days in the capital city and plan visiting other towns in the country, purchasing an OV-chipkaart is the best idea. You will be charged according to the distance of each journey. The smart card costs 7.50€ and it is rechargeable.
Unlimited city-wide public transport by GVB metro, tram, bus, and ferry for the duration of your card. One free Amsterdam canal cruise by a participating canal cruise company of your choice. One free canal cruise in Haarlem and a Rederij Volendam Marken ferry ride. 24h free bicycle rental.
Credit cards are widely accepted too, though in some small shops or hotels, there might an extra charge (2-6%) if you pay by a credit card, passport may be required. Generally, the most preferred payment method is Euro cash with the banknotes up to 50 Euro bill.
The anonymous OV-chipkaart and single-use chipkaart can be bought at the NS-ticket machine. The personal OV-chipkaart can only be purchased online via www.ov-chipkaart.nl; they cannot be bought from NS directly. This website also provides information about the status of your order.
Travel using the e-purse on metro/trams/buses is generally cheaper than buying single 1 hour tickets, especially for shorter trips. Travel on trains with the anonymous card saves paying the €1 disposable ticket surcharge.
There are two main ways to pay while traveling by train in the Netherlands. You can either buy tickets online or from a ticket machine, or you can use your OV-chipkaart, or smartphone using OVPay.
Does OV-chipkaart work everywhere in the Netherlands?
A national 'OV-chipcard' (smartcard) for public transport was introduced in 2012. Since then, we use this OV-chipcard for public transport everywhere in the Netherlands. Regardless of whether you take the bus, tram, metro or train, you can use this card to pay for any trip you make.
➢ Choose an amount you wish to add. ➢ You can pay using cash (coins) and debit cards (Dutch PIN/Maestro/V-Pay) and credit cards (MasterCard/Visa). Topping up the debit on the “OV-Chipkaart” outside train stations.
Planning Your Trip to The Netherlands
To capture the Netherlands beyond Amsterdam, opt for a weeklong visit. While five days is ample time to cover a variety of the country's major highlights—most centering in and around the capital—a couple of extra days allows you to get off the proverbial beaten path.
The cheapest way to travel around Amsterdam is walking but if you need to get somewhere fast, the use of an OV chip card is the answer. Being used on trams, buses and metros, the OV chip card (OV-chipkaart) is the easiest way to pay for all your travel about town.
The Dutch capital's center is very walkable as it's so compact – perhaps a little too much as it tends to get very crowded. Luckily, public transport connecting central Amsterdam to more spacious outer districts is extensive, dependable and well-priced.
