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All about travelling with your OV-chipkaart

Travel easily by train, bus, tram and metro with an OV-chipkaart. Find out how to top up and check your balance. Discover how the OV-chipkaart works.

Different types of OV-chipkaart

There are two types of OV-chipkaart for travelling: the personal OV-chipkaart and the single-use chip card.

Personal OV-chipkaart

Registered to your name
Yes (with photo)

Season tickets
Suitable for all NS and public transport season tickets (including NS Flex)

Buy from NS
No, available via ov-chipkaart.nl

Price
€ 7.50 (often free with NS season tickets, except for Flex Basis and Flex Weekend Voordeel)

Validity
Automatically replaced when you get a new season ticket.

Loss or theft
Your balance is protected within 24 hours; remaining balance refunded. Automatic top-up is possible.

Single-use chip card

Registered to your name
No (paper ticket with chip)

Season tickets
For single journey travel products only.

Buy from NS
Yes, at NS Ticket Machines, NS Tickets & Service shops, or OV Service & Tickets shops.

Price
Includes fare for your journey plus often a € 1.50 surcharge per ticket.

Validity
Valid up to one week in advance (except for travel to Germany, Belgium or Luxembourg).

Loss or theft
Not applicable.

The anonymous OV-chipkaart is no longer on sale. Do you still have one? If so, you can continue to use it for travel until the end of 2027.

You can also travel with your debit cardwith us. In that case, you travel 2nd class and without a discount.

Please note: Travelling with an NS-Business Card works differently. You do not need to top up balance; you pay afterwards and simply check in and out.

Check and top up your OV balance

If you travel on balance (without NS Flex), make sure there is always enough credit on your card.

How much credit do I need?
  • Traveller without a season ticket: € 20
  • Traveller with an NS season ticket travelling on balance (for example, Dal Voordeel): € 10

Note: The € 10 applies to season tickets such as Dal Vrij, Dal Voordeel and Altijd Voordeel. For Weekend Vrij, € 10 is enough when you travel outside weekends; for Dal Vrij, only when you travel during peak hours.

Checking and topping up your balance

There are several ways to check or top up your balance:

Check your balance
  • Online: Log in at OV-chipkaart.nl.
  • At the station: Hold your OV-chipkaart against the card reader on an NS Ticket Machine.

Top up your balance

You can top up your balance online or at a ticket machine:

  • Online top-up (OV-chipkaart.nl):
    • Go to OV-chipkaart.nl.
    • Enter your details and select an amount.
    • Order the credit.
    • Collect/Activate: Then check in at an NS gate or card reader (this does not work with other operators) or collect your credit at an NS Ticket Machine or service point.

Top up balance online

  • Top up at an NS Ticket Machine:
    • Scan your OV-chipkaart at the ticket machine.
    • Select ‘Load balance’ and then ‘Add balance’.
    • Choose the amount you want to add.
    • Pay by payment card, credit card, or, at some machines, cash coins.
  • Top up at an NS Tickets & Service shop: If you cannot manage the machine, our service staff will be happy to help you at an NS Tickets & Service shop. A surcharge of € 0.50 applies. This does not apply to passengers who use a wheelchair, travellers aged over 75, or travellers with visual impairments.

Auto top-up

Would you like to always have enough credit? Then set up auto top-up. If your balance falls below € 0, we will immediately add extra credit. This amount is automatically debited from your bank account.

  • This service is available only with a personalised OV-chipkaart.
  • You can apply for this and collect your order at an NS Ticket Machine or service point.

Apply for automatic top-up

Travel without topping up your balance (NS Flex)

NS Flex makes it easy to travel without topping up your balance. You pay monthly afterwards by direct debit. You can also change or cancel your season ticket monthly.

  • Discover NS Flex
  • Explore our season tickets

Loading and activating products

Do you want to use NS products? Simply load them onto your personal OV-chipkaart and activate them. It is easier than you think.

Activation

Have you received your personal OV-chipkaart? You can now activate a product such as your NS season ticket, class change or Keuzedagen.

Tip: To apply for an OV-chipkaart, please visit OV-chipkaart.nl.

Co-travel discount

Are you travelling with someone who has an NS season ticket (except Kids Vrij and NS Flex Basis) or a Student Travel Product?

  • By using a co-travel code, you travel together during off-peak hours with a 40% discount.
  • The season ticket holder can take up to three people with them at the same time at a discounted rate.

Find out more about the Co-travel discount

Class change

Class change

If you have a season ticket or OV-chipkaart for standard 1st or 2nd class but want to switch class temporarily or permanently, you can do so.

Find out how to change class

More about your OV-chipkaart

Here you will find answers to common questions about your card.

Expired OV-chipkaart

If you have an NS subscription, you will automatically receive a new card.

Find out more about expired OV-chipkaart

Blocked OV-chipkaart

If your OV-chipkaart is blocked, you can quickly see what to do to fix it.

Find out more about blocked OV-chipkaart