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The OV-Chipkaart is in use on all forms of public transport including trains, trams, buses,
RandstadRail and metros. OV stands for Openbaar Vervoer, which means public
transport in Dutch
1. Types of Tickets
- Single tickets (one-time use tickets, dispolsable)
- Anonymous OV-Chipkaart (best for visitors who will travel a lot)
- Personal OV-Chipkaart (residents only)
* Single Tickets
If you buy your ticket at a ticket machine it is sometimes possible to pay with cash
(coins), but most ticket machines dont accept cash. In order to pay you can use the
following cards : Maestro, V-Card, Mastercard or VISAcard.
For payments with VISA or Mastercard you pay a supplement of 0,50. At the stations,
90% of the ticket machines is ready for credit cards.
Do I have to check-in and check-out with a Single-use Chipkaart for the train?
Yes. You need to check-in and check-out respectively at the start and end of your
journey. This must be done by placing the Single-use Chipkaart onto the special free-
standing NS card-readers at station platforms and halls before entering the train. If your
Single-use Chipkaart is not checked-in, your chipcard is not valid for travelling and you
risk a fine.
Note : Inside the trains card-readers are not available, so dont forget to check-in
before entering the train.
What is a HTM-Uurnetkaart?
The HTM-Uurnetkaart allows you to travel with HTM (bus, tram and RandstadRail) for 60
minutes. This ticket allows you to hop-on and hop-off on all HTM-lines.
What is a HTM-Dagkaart?
The HTM-Dagkaart is a chipcard which allows you to travel with HTM (bus, tram and
RandstadRail) for one day. This ticket allows you to hop-on and hop-off on all HTM-lines.
If you buy your ticket at the tramdriver you can only pay in cash.
The Anonymous OV-Chipkaart may be branded with the travel provider you purchased it
from, however the card is valid on all public transport companies. If you buy your card at
one of the NS stations the card is automatically activated for all public transport,
including rail travel.
If you buy the card at one of the other mentioned addresses you may need to pre-
activate your card for rail travel at one of the ticket-machines at an NS station.
If you buy your ticket at a ticket machine it is sometimes possible to pay with cash
(coins), but most ticket machines dont accept cash. In order to pay you can use the
following cards : Maestro, V-Card, Mastercard or VISAcard.
For payments with VISA or Mastercard you pay a supplement of 0,50. At the stations,
90% of the ticket machines is ready for credit cards.
When you transfer from one carriage to another you do not need to check-out and check-
in again. You only check-in at the station where your journey starts, and check-out at the
station where your journey ends.
When you transfer from one vehicle to another you need to check-out. You will again
check-in when you enter the next bus or tram.
After buying your Anonymous OV-Chipkaart immediately load some credit. This can be
done at the NS or HTM service desks, or at a NS ticket machine.
Some stores have small yellow machines (see below) which can be used to load credit,
however these machines only accept Dutch debit cards.
Once purchased and loaded with credit the Anonymous OV-Chipkaart can immediately be
used.
Without the original tickets or transaction overviews your travel expenses will not be
reimbursed.
Can a non-resident purchase a Personal OV-Chipkaart? Yes, but only those who live or
have an address in Belgium, Germany or Luxembourg. Initial payment for the card can
be made by credit card or Paypal - however, automatic top-up is only possible via a
Dutch bank account.
When you transfer from one carriage to another you do not need to check-out and check-
in again. You only check-in at the station where your journey starts, and check-out at the
station where your journey ends.
When you transfer from one vehicle to another you need to check-out. You will again
check-in when you enter the next bus or tram.
In order to use the Personal OV-Chipkaart, a minimum credit is needed of 4,- for public
transport and 20,- for train trips.
Without the original tickets or transaction overviews your travel expenses will not be
refunded.
Checking-in
* You can check-in up to 30 minutes before the scheduled departure of your train.
* At the departure station, hold your OV-Chipkaart up against the NS card-reader in one
of the gates or free-standing card-readers.
* You will hear a single beep.
* The screen will display 'Goede reis' ('Have a good journey') or the name of your
ticket.
* You have now checked-in and you can board your train.
Checking-out
* At the arrival station, hold your OV-Chipkaart up against the NS card-reader in one of
the gates or free-standing posts.
* You will now hear two beeps.
* The journey fare, remaining credit, name of your product or ticket and class will
appear on the screen.
* You are now checked-out and the standard single train fare for your trip is charged and
the deposit is returned.
* You must complete check-out on the rail network within a maximum of 6 hours after
check-in.
* If you fail to check-out within 6 hours after checking-in, you will lose your 20,-
deposit.
Note:
When you transfer from one train to another you do not need to check-out and check-in
again. You only check-in at the railway station where your journey starts, and check-out
at the railway station where your journey ends.
Note:
If there is an error on check-in or check-out the card-reader will beep 3 times.
Metro: Use the special free-standing card-readers at station platforms and halls before
entering the Metro. Inside the Metro-carriages card-readers are not available, so dont
forget to check-in before entering the Metro.
Checking-in
* When you enter the vehicle hold your OV-Chipkaart up against the card-reader located
near the door.
* You will hear a single beep.
* If you travel with a Personal or Anonymous OV Chipkaart the screen will display 'Goede
reis' ('Have a good journey'). If you travel with a travel product (for example the HTM-
Dagklaart) the screen will display IN OK.
* You have now checked-in.
Checking-out
* When you leave the vehicle hold your OV-Chipkaart up against the card-reader located
near the door.
* You will now hear two beeps.
* If you travel with a Personal or Anonymous OV-Chipkaart the screen will display the
costs of your journey and the remaining credit on you e-purse. If you travel with a
travel product (for example the HTM-Dagklaart) the screen will display UIT OK.
* You are now checked-out and the costs for your trip is charged and the deposit is
returned.
* If you fail to check-out you will lose your 4,- deposit.
Note:
When you transfer from one vehicle to another you must always check-out before leaving
the vehicle. You will again check-in when you enter the next bus, tram or RandstadRail.
When you transfer from one Metro to another, you must only check-in at the station
where your journey starts and check-out at the station where your journey ends.
Note:
If there is an error on check-in or check-out the card-reader will beep 3 times.
Would you like to buy multiple tickets? You can. For example for a travelling companion
or for a different day of travel. You can add, delete or change an e-ticket in an order.
Check your details a second time if necessary; there is no refund for an e-ticket that has
been ordered and paid for.
You will then be sent an e-mail for your records, containing a link to the e-ticket. You can
either print the ticket right away or later when you receive the e-mail with the e-ticket as
an attachment.
The confirmation screen and the e-mail message themselves are not valid tickets. Only
the file you reach with the link is a valid ticket. You download this file and print it yourself
in A4 size, in colour or black and white. This printout is your e-ticket, with which you can
travel on the day you have chosen and with your valid ID.
The e-mail will be sent to the address you supply. E-mail addresses with a firewall, such
as are often used by businesses, are accessible with difficulty or not at all, so always use
an e-mail address without one.