Different types of OV-chipkaart
There are three types of OV-chipkaart for travelling: the Personal OV-chipkaart, the Anonymous OV-chipkaart, and the Single-use chip card.
| Feature | Personal OV-chipkaart | Anonymous OV-chipkaart | Single-use chip card |
| Registered to a name | Yes (with photo) | No | No (paper ticket with chip) |
| Season tickets | Suitable for all NS and public transport season tickets (including NS Flex). | Not suitable for season tickets, unless specifically stated. | Only for single travel products |
| Purchase via NS | No, through ov-chipkaart.nl | Yes, at NS Ticket Machines or other sales outlets. | Yes, at NS Ticket Machines, NS Tickets & Service shops, or OV Service & Tickets shops. |
| Price | € 7.50 (often free with an NS subscription, except Flex Basis and Flex Weekend Voordeel) | €7.50 | Includes fare and often a surcharge of € 1.50 per ticket. |
| Validity period | Automatically replaced with a subscription. | Five years from the production date. | Up to one week in advance (except for travel to Germany, Belgium or Luxembourg). |
| Loss/Theft | Balance protected within 24 hours; remaining balance refunded. Automatic top-up available. | Cannot be blocked; no balance refund. Automatic top-up not available. | n/a |
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.
Did you know? You can also travel with your payment card (OV-pay) with NS. In that case, you travel 2nd class and without a discount.
Check and top up your OV balance
If you travel on balance (without NS Flex), you must always keep enough balance on your card.
How much balance do I need?
| Traveller | Minimum required balance |
| Traveller without a season ticket | € 20,- |
| Traveller with NS subscription travelling on balance (e.g. Dal Voordeel) | € 10,- |
Note: The € 10,- applies to subscriptions such as Dal Vrij, Dal Voordeel and Altijd Voordeel. For Weekend Vrij, € 10,- is sufficient if you travel outside the weekend; for Dal Vrij, only if you travel during peak hours.
Checking and topping up balance
You can check or top up your balance in several ways:
1. Check balance
- Online: Log in at OV-chipkaart.nl.
- At the station: Hold your OV-chipkaart against the card reader of a ticket machine.
2. Top up balance
You can top up your balance online or at a machine:
- Top up online (OV-chipkaart.nl):
- Go to OV-chipkaart.nl.
- Enter your details and select an amount.
- Order the top-up.
- Pick up/Activate: Then check in at an NS gate or card reader (not valid for other carriers) or collect your balance at a ticket machine or service point.
- Top up at a 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 with your payment card, credit card or, at some machines, coins.
- Top up at an NS Tickets & Service shop: If you have trouble at the machine, we are happy to help at an NS Tickets & Service shop. There is an extra charge of € 0.50. This does not apply to travellers using a wheelchair, travellers over 75 years old, or travellers with a visual impairment.
3. Automatic top-up
Would you like to always have enough balance? Apply for automatic top-up. If your balance falls below € 0, extra balance will be loaded immediately. This amount is automatically debited from your bank account.
- This is only possible with a personalised OV-chipkaart.
- You can request it and pick up the order at a ticket machine or service point.
4. Travel without topping up balance (NS Flex)
NS Flex lets you travel easily without topping up your balance. You pay monthly afterwards by direct debit. You can also change or cancel your subscription monthly.
Loading and activating products
If you want to use NS products, load them onto your personalised OV-chipkaart and activate them. It is easier than you might think.
Activation
Have you received your personalised OV-chipkaart? You can then activate a product, such as your NS subscription, class change or Keuzedagen.
Tip: Apply for an OV-chipkaart at OV-chipkaart.nl.
Co-travel discount
Do you want to travel with someone who has an NS subscription (excluding Kids Vrij and NS Flex Basis) or a Student Travel Product?
- Use a co-travel code to join in the off-peak hours with a 40% discount.
- The subscriber can take up to three people with a discount at the same time.
Class change
If you have a subscription or OV-chipkaart for standard 1st or 2nd class, you can switch class temporarily or permanently.
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.
Blocked OV-chipkaart
If your OV-chipkaart is blocked, you can quickly see what to do to fix it.