One of the first things that is sensible to do is to buy an OV chip card. Even if you bring a car or bicycle from abroad, it is wise to buy one. The costs are low and you will definitely need it once. If you always have to buy a ticket separately, you will have to wait in line for a long time and you will also lose more money. You use the OV chip card for all public transport in the Netherlands. That means bus, train, metro and tram. You load the OV chip card with money or you put a subscription on it. The OV chip card is a plastic card the size of a bank card that fits in your wallet.

The OV chip card has several advantages. This way you can view your travel details online, you no longer have to queue at the counter. You can also easily transfer from one mode of transport to another, without having to buy a new ticket first.

2 sorts of OV chip cards

There are two different cards: a personal OV chip card and an anonymous OV chip card.

Personal OV chip card:

If you often travel by public transport, the personal OV chip card is handy. You can put different travel products on it at the same time and also use subscriptions and age discounts. Everything on one card.

A personal OV chip card costs €7.50 and is valid for five years. You will receive your card within six working days on average after ordering it.

With a personal OV chip card you can:

• use personal travel products, such as a monthly subscription, a route card or a bus subscription.
• benefit from the age discount if you travel on balance.
• make use of automatic reloading so that you always have sufficient balance on your card.
• View your travel details online via 'My OV-chip' on www.ovchipkaart.nl and easily print a travel expense claim for your employer.
• In the event of theft or loss, have your card blocked to prevent misuse.

What do you need to request a personal OV chip card?

• Digital passport photo of yourself
• use iDeal to pay

Where to buy? You can apply at www.ovchipkaart.nl

If you have a personal OV chip card, you can log in to www.ovchipkaart.nl and view your travel details. For example, you can see how many costs you have incurred and on which day you traveled.

Anonymous OV chip card:

The anonymous OV chip card is not linked to a person. So you cannot put subscriptions on the OV chip card. You can use the anonymous OV chip card with more people, but you can't all travel with it at the same time. An anonymous OV chip card is very useful for a family for example.

If you occasionally travel by public transport or if you do not want to disclose your personal information, the anonymous OV chip card is probably useful for you.

• You can share the OV chip card with the whole family (but not at the same time). For example, you travel by train to Amsterdam with the anonymous OV chip card and your son uses the same card a day later to go to football by bus.
• The OV chip card is available to purchase at stations, tobacconists and service counters.
• If you load a balance on it, the OV chip card can be used immediately.
• The OV chip card is also useful for your employees. If they occasionally have to travel for business, they can use an anonymous OV chip card from your company. Employees then do not have to advance the trip and declare it afterwards.
• The OV chip card is valid for five years from the date of manufacture.

An anonymous OV chip card costs €7.50. You can buy an anonymous OV chip card:

• at vending machines at stations
• at various tobacco shops (such as Primera)
• at some supermarkets
• at some Bruna stores
• at OVshop on www.ovchipkaart.nl
• at the counter of a carrier (such as GVB and RET)

We recommend that you handle your OV chip card with care. An OV chip card is a contactless card with a chip and antenna in it. You cannot see this from the outside. 

Tips:

• Keep your card in your wallet or other suitable protection. Your card will be damaged less quickly and will therefore last longer.
• Do not damage or bend your OV chip card. This can lead to the card not functioning or malfunctioning.
• An anonymous OV chip card is not protected. This means that you cannot have the card blocked and replaced after it has been lost or stolen. You also cannot get back the balance that was still on the card.