We are flying into in Amsterdam from Atlanta on July 20 and will be traveling around the Netherlands with a side trip to Bruges, Belgium until August 10. We will be using public transportation exclusively. It seems that the easiest way to get around is with an anonymous OV-chipkaart, which covers trains, trams, and buses. Is there any way to purchase this online before we go? What I read seems to say it must be bought at the airport or at various stations. We would like to use the card to get from Schiphol to Central Station but also would like to avoid another line at Schiphol. Any suggestions? Is the OV-chipkaart the best way to go?
Posted by
The Netherlands
1587 posts
There are plenty of ticket machines at Schiphol Airport where you can buy an OVchipkaart, there are even ticket machines in the bagage claim area. I’ve never seen lines for these machines. The ticket machines can be switched to the English language and accept credit cards. So there is no reason to buy these cards online and have them send to you, which I’m not even sure is possible in the first place.
You haven’t shared your full itinerary, so it’s impossible to say whether or not the OV-chipkaart is the best way to go. If you plan to take day trips to the immediate area around Amsterdam you can look into this ticket; https://www.iamsterdam.com/en/plan-your-trip/getting-around/public-transport/amsterdam-region-travel-ticket
Posted by
Birmingham, AL
104 posts
We bought ours at the airport in the area where you can purchase train tickets from a person instead of a machine (there was a very short line, probably took no more than a minute or two). We pre loaded it with amount I expected to use, and they activated the card. This area is right next to where you descend onto the train platforms.
If you run low on funds (which we did), it is super easy to add more funds to the card using one of the ticket machines at any train station. Not sure if you can also do that for a tram or bus. Be aware that you need a minimum balance of 20 Euros to use it on a train.
When we left Amsterdam I toothed caress to the same place I purchased them and 5th refunded me the balance left on the cards.
Posted by
Inlet Beach, FL
136 posts
donkronenberger - the OV chipkaart is the best for traveling around the Netherlands by train. We used it on trains for almost 3 weeks--plus a few buses and one ferry to Kinderdijk. They are $7.50 Euro for the card and you must have a certain balance and you can top it up, but only with a certain amount that I can't remember right now---all know is we only needed about 15 cents and had to top it up for at least 5 euro!
Anyway---I have 2 chipkaarts from May that I would be happy to send you that have about 4.40 Euro on them -- plus it saves you the 7.50 Euro charge for the card. Send me your address via private message and I'd be happy to send them to you!
have fun--what a joy to travel around the Netherlands---hope you are visiting many places! We were all over---Dortrecht, Utrech, Leiden, Geithoorn, Enkhuizen, etc.