OV-chipkaart in Amsterdam — How to Get One and Use It

The OV-chipkaart is the rechargeable card used on virtually all public transport in the Netherlands — GVB trams, buses, and metros in Amsterdam; NS trains across the country; and regional buses. Cash is not accepted on any of these. If you travel by public transport in Amsterdam, you need either an OV-chipkaart or a contactless bank card (for GVB only).

Anonymous vs personal — which to get

Anonymous OV-chipkaart (€7.50, available immediately) You can buy one on the spot at a GVB service point or NS ticket machine, load some credit, and use it the same day. The downside: if you lose it, the remaining credit is gone and cannot be recovered. You also cannot load monthly subscriptions onto an anonymous card.

Personal OV-chipkaart (€7.50 + postage, takes 5–7 days) Ordered online at ov-chipkaart.nl. Linked to your name and bank account. If lost or stolen, you can block it immediately and have the remaining balance transferred to a new card. You can load GVB subscriptions (maandabonnement) and set up auto top-up. Most Amsterdam residents get a personal card.

If you need to travel immediately and haven't ordered a personal card yet, buy an anonymous card as a stopgap and switch once your personal card arrives.

How to check in and out — the most important thing

You must check in AND check out at every journey. This is not optional — it is how the system charges you. The OV-chipkaart reader is the yellow post at the entrance and exit of every GVB stop and train station.

• Check in: tap your card on the reader as you board (tram, bus) or enter the platform (metro, train). The reader beeps and flashes green.
• Check out: tap again when you exit. Another beep, another green flash.

Forgetting to check out is the most common and expensive OV-chipkaart mistake. If you do not check out, the system charges you the maximum fare for that journey — on NS trains this can be €20+ for a single forgotten check-out. The GVB app will show you if a journey was not properly closed.

Where to top up

• NS ticket machines at any train station — take most Dutch debit cards and credit cards
• GVB service points at Centraal Station, Leidseplein, and Amsterdam Noord
• Some Albert Heijn supermarkets — look for a yellow OV-chipkaart top-up terminal at the checkout
• Online at ov-chipkaart.nl — top-up is processed the next time you check in at a reader marked with a blue light
• Auto top-up — link a Dutch bank account (IBAN) so the card tops up automatically when balance drops below €10

Using a contactless bank card on GVB

Since 2022, GVB trams, buses, and metros also accept contactless bank cards and phone payments (Apple Pay, Google Pay). Tap the same way you would with an OV-chipkaart. The system calculates the fare and charges your card directly.

Limitations: Contactless bank payment does not work on NS trains. You cannot load GVB subscriptions or get commuter discounts without a personal OV-chipkaart. For occasional visitors or short stays, contactless is convenient. For residents, a personal OV-chipkaart is more economical.

GVB subscription options for commuters

If you commute daily within Amsterdam, a GVB maandabonnement (monthly subscription) significantly reduces costs:

• Unlimited GVB travel (tram, bus, metro): approximately €85–95/month depending on zone
• Loaded onto a personal OV-chipkaart only
• Can be purchased at GVB service points or online at gvb.nl

For NS train commuting, NS offers various subscription types (dal-abonnement for off-peak discount, traject-abonnement for a fixed route). Check ns.nl for current pricing.

Official sources: ov-chipkaart.nl, gvb.nl