Payment Methods

As you embark on your public transportation journey, it’s important that you know your options when it comes to payment methods. In this article, we’ll walk you through the array of payment options available, ensuring a smooth and convenient travel experience.

Dutch public transportation charges fare based on the distance travelled, and there are multiple means of payment for public transportation:

1) OVpay: OV-pas, debit card, credit card, or mobile payment

You can pay using your OV-pas, debit card, credit card, or mobile phone. With the OV-pas, you can travel across the entire country by train, bus, tram, and metro using just one card. The new OV-pas, together with the debit or credit card, is replacing the OV-chip card, which will be discontinued.

Recharge your balance whenever you want. Or choose automatic recharge, so you never have to recharge yourself. You can easily check your travel costs in your OVpay account.

The OV-pas doesn’t yet work for all subscriptions and travel products.

2) Ticket

The good ‘old ticket is also still an option at many buses and stations. However, it is the less preferred option since the corona pandemic — and many public transportations (especially buses) are getting rid of it. So it is safer to opt for an OV-pas or other contactless payment method instead (it is also generally cheaper!)

First time using contactless payment? Make sure that you follow these steps:

Step 1: Have enough balance on your OV-pas or bank account

The balance on an OV-pas needs to be topped up before it can be used. You can top up your balance using your OVpay account, at vending machines, select service desks, or by credit or activate automatic reloading online via the webshop. An automatic deposit amount of €10 is reserved on the card for train travel and €4 for bus travel. You cannot travel if the balance is below this amount.

Step 2: Check in when boarding

Check-in as follows:
Hold the OV-pas, your card, or your phone (in payment mode) in front of the card logo on the smart card reader
You will hear a beep and the green indicator will light up; if you check in at an access gate, the gate will open

If you are travelling with children and pass through access gates, the children will have to pass through the gates one by one. Only put the card on the reader once – if you do it twice, it will check you back in (or out). You will be fined if an inspector checks the tickets and you are not checked in.

If your OV-pas includes a valid travel product, it will be used for the journey. If not, you will pay for the journey with the balance on the card. The boarding rate will be temporarily deducted from the card balance and the actual journey costs are settled against this boarding rate when you exit.

Step 3: Check out when exiting

You need to check out following the same procedure as you did to check-in. Otherwise, you will be charged for the full journey of the line you are on. However, if this happens to you, you can claim this back though your OVpay account.