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OV Chipkaart - new transport ticket in Amsterdam & Netherlands
The OV Chipkaart (OV chip card) is to become the new national public transport ticket in the Netherlands and will be used on trains, metros, buses and trams. The system is slowly being rolled out through the country - it is currently mandatory in Rotterdam (entire network) and on the Amsterdam metro. |
The OV chipkaart is set to replace all old ticket types including the popular "strippenkaart" strip ticket system.
The smart card works using an embedded RFID chip and passengers need to "check-in" and "check-out" at the start and end of their respective journeys using the special card readers. There will be barriers in place at metro and train stations.
Similar systems are running in London (Oyster) and Hong Kong MTR (Octopus) - but the Dutch system will be far more complex as it will cover the entire transport network of the country.
There are 3 types of OV chipkaart available:
1. "Personal" - this is generally for Dutch residents who register their full details via a Dutch-only application form. The card costs €7.50 and lasts 5 years. Personal OV card holders will be the only travellers who can use discounts and special types of season ticket. NS train discount cards now come embedded with the OV chipkaart.
2. "Anonymous" - no registration is required, discounted travel will not be possible. The card also costs €7.50 and lasts 5 years.
3. "Disposable" - a card which can be bought with a single travel product only that cannot be reused after expiry.
The personal and anonymous cards are re-useable - you can charge them up at the service desks or at the vending machines with a certain euro amount (maximum €30 on the "e-purse") or buy a specific travel product on them - such as a 1 day ticket for example.
Visitors to Amsterdam / Netherlands will be able to purchase either the anonymous card or the disposable card. For more about different types of tickets including multi-day options see: Public transport ticket types for Amsterdam
Some points about the OV chip card:
- unlike a strippenkaart multiple person travel is not possible - every individual must have their own OV chipkaart. You are able to buy an anonymous card and give it to someone else to use.
- when you check-in a deposit (€4) is taken off the card balance - when you check-out the cost of the journey is deducted but you get the deposit back. If you fail or forget to check-out you will lose the €4 deposit which will likely be more expensive than the journey cost! If you have 12 failed check-outs in a 2 week period the card is disabled - it can only be restored by visiting a customer service desk.
- there will be a standard flat charge for boarding (€0.78 in Amsterdam) and the journey will be calculated on distance travelled (€0.10 per km) rather than a zonal system currently in use.
- if you are saying goodbye to someone at a station and not travelling you can check-in and check-out for free as long as your stay is within 20 minutes.
- be careful where you store the card as it may be affected by other chip cards placed next to it.
- it is now possible to purchase NS train tickets with the OV-chipkaart. Conductors on board have a special hand held device that can read the cards to check the ticket validity.
This system has been set up at great expense with 2 main benefits for the transport companies and authorities-
1. Revenue protection - to reduce the ability of people to ride for free, something which has been endemic on the Amsterdam metro.
2. Privacy / "Big Brother" - obviously such a system is able to log all the public transport journeys an individual makes and a few Dutch people have expressed some concerns. This issue has been somewhat glossed over and sidestepped in the marketing blitz. Even the "anonymous" card can still be tracked by number and anonymity would be compromised if topping up the card with anything other than cash.
The OV chipkaart marks the beginning of the end of the good old strippenkaart which many visitors to Amsterdam have been used to. The strippenkaart is still valid everywhere except the Amsterdam metros and Rotterdam city but be aware that the old ticket system is being phased out - the OV chip will be the only way to travel in the near future.
Getting Around > OV Chipkaart