Menu:
OV Chipkaart - Amsterdam Transport Ticket
The OV Chipkaart (OV chip card) is in the process of becoming the new national public transport ticket in Netherlands and will be used on trains, metros, buses and trams. This contactless smart card system is slowly being rolled out around the country - since June 2010 it has been mandatory to use on public transport in Amsterdam. |
The OV chipkaart is set to replace all old ticket types including the popular "strippenkaart" strip ticket system. "OV" stands for Openbaar Vervoer which simply means "public transport" in Dutch.
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. This is done using the special free-standing card readers installed at platforms and on buses and trams. There will also be gate barriers in place at some metro and train stations.
Similar systems are running in London (Oyster) and Hong Kong MTR (Octopus) - but the Dutch system is somewhat more complex as it covers 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. Each personal card contains the holder's photograph and date of birth. Student OV cards (allowing free travel at certain periods) and NS train discount cards 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. It is made from paper card and cannot be reused after expiry.
The personal and anonymous cards are re-useable - either by loading the e-purse with up to €30 credit or by buying a specific travel product on them - such as a 1 day ticket. This can be done at the service desks or at the vending machines in the stations.
Visitors to Amsterdam / Netherlands can purchase either an anonymous card or a 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. - a single fare with the disposable card in Amsterdam is €2.60. This is more expensive than using the e-purse on the personal and anonymous cards. - when using the e-purse, there will be a standard flat charge for boarding (€0.78 in Amsterdam) and the journey will be calculated on distance travelled (€0.104 per km) rather than the old zonal system. If you need to make a connection and board within 35 minutes of check-out you will not be charged the €0.78 base fare again. |  |
- when you check-in a deposit (€4) is taken off the e-purse 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.
- 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. A check-in deposit of €10 (personal) or €20 (anonymous) is taken off at the start of travel if using the e-purse. |  |
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. If you are caught having not checked-in you face the standard fine of €37.50.
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 - discounts are being offered to induce public uptake of the personal card. Even the "anonymous" card could still be tracked by number and anonymity would be compromised if purchasing or topping up the card with anything other than cash.
The OV chipkaart marks the end of the good old strippenkaart which many visitors to Amsterdam have been used to.