With NS Flex, you don’t need to top up your OV-chipkaart before travelling; instead, you pay a monthly subscription and receive an invoice each month for the journeys you make, which is paid via direct debit. All subscriptions are flexible and can be cancelled on a month-to-month basis.
The following subscriptions/season tickets are available:
- Dal Voordeel - 40% discount during off-peak hours, weekends and public holidays, and 40% off tickets for passengers travelling with you during off-peak hours.
- Altijd Voordeel - 20% discount during peak hours, 40% discount during off-peak hours, weekends and public holidays, and 40% off tickets for passengers travelling with you during off-peak hours.
- Weekend Voordeel - 40% discount at weekends and on public holidays, and 40% off tickets for passengers travelling with you during off-peak hours.
- Weekend Vrij - Unlimited travel at weekends and on public holidays, and 40% off tickets for passengers travelling with you during off-peak hours.
- Dal Vrij - Unlimited travel during off-peak hours, on weekends and public holidays, and 40% off tickets for passengers travelling with you during off-peak hours.
- Altijd Vrij - Unlimited travel during peak and off-peak hours, and on weekends and public holidays, and 40% off tickets for passengers travelling with you during off-peak hours.
- Traject Vrij - Unlimited travel on a fixed route, plus 40% off other routes during off-peak hours and on weekends and public holidays, and 40% off tickets for passengers travelling with you during off-peak hours.
NS business cards
NS-Business cards are available to businesses for their employees. Businesses can specify whether the cards are to be personalised or valid for a whole department. This allows for easier management of travel expenses, as only one invoice needs to be paid, and users do not need any funds on the card prior to travelling.
Paying for public transport with your bank card: OVpay
As well as the various types of OV-chipkaart, which can be loaded with various subscriptions or discounts if you're a regular traveller, it's now also possible to check in and out with your contactless debit card, credit card or mobile phone in most places in the Netherlands. This new payment system is called OVpay and will eventually replace the OV-chipkaart.
How does OVpay work?
Checking in and out of public transport in the Netherlands is easily done by holding your contactless debit card, credit card or mobile card against the card reader at train station barriers or on board buses and trams. Your payment will be automatic, and you will be able to see it under the description NLOV in your card statement. The price will be the same as when you travel with your OV-chipkaart without a discount or subscription.
Please note that you do need to make sure contactless payment is enabled and that you remove your card from your wallet when you check in or out.
What do you need to make use of OVpay?
You can check in and out with the following:
- A contactless debit card from ABN AMRO, ASN Bank, bunq, ING, Knab, Rabobank, RegioBank or SNS.
- A contactless credit card from Mastercard or Visa.
- A foreign contactless card from Maestro or V PAY.
- A mobile phone that is linked to a debit or credit card for contactless payment. So, this also includes Apple Pay or Google Wallet.
Where in the Netherlands can you make use of OVpay?
You can pay for public transport with OVpay in most places in the Netherlands. However, you can check the official website to make sure that you can use this payment method where you are or where you want to travel to.
Public transport tickets in the Netherlands
Instead of checking in and out with an OV-chipkaart or OVpay, you can also purchase a ticket (either from the driver or from one of the ticket machines at the station). You can also purchase travel products online and load them onto your card using a ticket machine.
Single tickets
If you are just making one journey, then it is a good idea to buy a single ticket. This ticket is valid from 12am one day, until 4am the next morning. If you are travelling back the same day, a return ticket is advisable.
Day tickets
Day tickets give you 24 hours of unlimited travel from the moment you check in. You can also purchase a day travel card for more than one day, with the price becoming relatively cheaper the more days you purchase.
Amsterdam travel ticket
This ticket gives you unlimited travel on the bus, metro, ferry, tram and train in Amsterdam. You can travel on transport provided by GVB, NS and certain Connexxion buses. This ticket is valid until 4am after the last day of validity.
Group return ticket
This ticket is for four to 10 people, with every passenger after the fourth paying an extra amount. The departure station and arrival station must be the same for all passengers, meaning that passengers may not exit the route before they have reached the arrival station specified on their ticket. It is only possible to order this ticket online, and it can be used from 9am on weekdays and all hours during the weekend. The more people travelling on this ticket, the cheaper it is.
GVB 1-Hour ticket
The GVB 1-Hour ticket gives you unlimited travel on GVB services in Amsterdam for one hour, but cannot be used on GVB night buses.
Bicycle-only supplement
Love cycling? The bicycle-only supplement allows you to take your bicycle on the train, metro or tram during off-peak hours. Bicycles are not allowed on trains during peak hours.
Checking in and out
It is important to check in and out correctly, as this is how the fare you pay for your trip is calculated. In order to check in, your OV-chipkaart must be at least 10 euros in credit (20 euros for anonymous chipkaarts).
You can check in and out at the NS gates or poles at stations. Just tap your OV-chipkaart on the card reader and you will hear a bleep and “Ingecheckt” (checked in) will appear on the little screen. When you check out, you will hear two bleeps and the display will show the price of your journey and your balance (unless you use NS Flex).
Be aware that if you switch between networks, such as from the NS train to the metro, you will need to check out at an NS pole or gate and then check in again with your next provider.
Forgetting to check in or out
It is important to check in, as you may otherwise receive a fine from the train conductor for travelling without a valid ticket. If you forget to check out, you may be charged the full boarding fee, a maximum of 20 euros.
However, you can check out up to six hours after your journey. If this is not possible, you can request a refund for the difference between your boarding fee and the cost of your actual journey. You can do so online using your OV-chipkaart number, which will display all of the journeys you have made without checking out.
Journeys with a missed check out may not appear on the list for two weeks. Once a refund has been requested and approved, it can be reloaded onto your OV-chipkaart via one of the station machines.
It is important to remember that there is a limit to the amount of times that you can request a refund online, namely three. After reaching this limit, you will be referred to the customer service department of NS.
Discounts and free travel
Senior citizens (older than 65) and children (4-11 years old) receive a travel discount (a lower base fee and lower rate for every kilometre) with a personal OV-chipkaart.
Children under 4 years of age can travel for free, and children aged 4-11 can travel on a Railrunner ticket with a reduced fare of only 2,50 euros, which is valid all day.
OV-chipkaart expiry
Every OV-chipkaart comes with an expiry date that is clearly marked on the front or back of the card.
The personal OV-chipkaart is valid for five years. Six weeks before the expiration date a letter or email will be sent to you with the options of applying for a new one or refunding the remaining credit.
If your anonymous OV-chipkaart is about to expire, visit the OV-chipkaart website and complete the "Restitutie verlopen anonieme OV-Chipkaart" form to refund the remaining credit.
Lost OV-chipkaart
In case of theft, you can have your OV-chipkaart blocked and the remaining credit transferred to either your bank account or to a new OV-chipkaart. The Customer Service number is 0900-0980 (0,10 euros per minute). This only applies to personal OV-chipkaart owners.