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OV-fiets lock

Unlock the OV-fiets with your OV-chipkaart. This is convenient, as you no longer need a key. On this page you can read exactly how it works.

Find a rental locationHow to rent an OV-fiets

How the OV-fiets lock works

To rent an OV-fiets you need a personal OV-chipkaart with a free OV-fiets subscription or an NS Flex subscription on it.

Lock the OV-fiets as often as you like during your journey. The OV-fiets lock only opens with your OV-chipkaart.

Choose a bike and start your rental

Your rental starts as soon as you open the lock at the rental location.

  1. Check the ring lock
    Always check beforehand that the OV-fiets ring lock is closed (lever down). This prevents you taking a bike that someone else is still renting.
  2. Hold your OV-chipkaart to the lock
    The lock opens and the rental starts.

Tip: Does the lock not open straight away? Hold your card to a different spot on the lock.

Locking the bike during your ride

Lock the OV-fiets as often as you like during your journey.

  1. Hold the button down
    to release the chain and secure the bike
  2. Secure the chain to something
    Push the chain back into the lock.
  3. Press the button briefly
    The light on the lock flashes green. Close the ring lock by pushing the lever on the right-hand side down.

Opening the lock during your ride

  1. Hold your OV-chipkaart to the lock
    The lock only opens with your card.
  2. Hold the button down
    then release the chain.

Returning the bike and ending your rental

  1. Park the bike
    In the OV-fiets zone at the rental location.
  2. Press the button briefly
    The light flashes green. Close the ring lock by pushing the lever on the right-hand side down.
  3. Check that the ring lock is closed
    Your rental ends when the ring lock is closed in the OV-fiets zone at the rental location. The light on the lock will then flash blue.

Always keep track of your OV-fiets rental

Link your OV-chipkaart to Mijn NS in the NS app. This makes it easy to see how long you have rented an OV-fiets, whether you returned it correctly and what the costs are.

  1. Open the NS app and sign in to Mijn NS (top right)
  2. Link your OV-chipkaart to your account

You will now see a notification in the app when you rent an OV-fiets.

Can’t see your bike rental?

Check in settings that ‘berichten over OV-fietshuur’ is switched on. Still not seeing your OV-fiets rental? Check that notifications are enabled on your phone.

Have you linked multiple OV-passen to your account? Make the card you use to rent an OV-fiets your favourite.

Veelgestelde vragen over OV-fiets

I cannot open the lock

Check the light on the lock while you try to open the bike.

The light flashes red and an error sound plays

If you are still at the rental location, your card does not have an OV-fiets season ticket on it. You cannot rent a bike with this card.

If you are already away from the rental location, the bike you are trying to open is probably not the one you rented.

The light flashes purple

Check that the lock is properly open. If it is not, try closing and opening the lock again.

Still not working?

Contact the NS Customer Service.

Can someone else rent my OV-fiets while I have it parked?

No. The OV-fiets can only be unlocked again with your OV-chipkaart. Once you lock the bike at the OV-fiets spots in the rental location, the rental stops and the OV-fiets ride ends. The OV-fiets can then be rented by someone else.

How can I tell if my OV-fiets rental has ended correctly?

You can assume your rental has ended correctly once you lock the bike following the instructions.

Would you like to be sure that your rental has ended?
Link your OV-chipkaart to Mijn NS in the NS app. You will then see a notification in the app if you are still renting an OV-fiets.

The OV-fiets is damaged or broken

Is the OV-fiets damaged or broken? Always return the bike to the rental location and tell staff what is wrong. You can also contact the NS Customer Service.

When you report damage, please give the bike number as well. You can find this on the mudguard or the frame.

If the damage to the OV-fiets is due to careless use, you will be charged for the repairs.