Train/Bus ticketing options. With OvPay, ChipKaart and other choices which might be best for us?

The great thing about traveling in the Netherlands is that you do not need to worry about tickets. You can just tap in and out with your credit card.

You can read about the details of public transportation in my trip report:

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/solo-in-the-netherlands-and-belgium-my-trip-report

Carrie,
While I appreciate your excellent trip report, I'm still looking for answers. I don't see anything on the rail site that talks about local trams/buses that I'll need to get from the station to hour hotels and to get round towns. (Remember our ages and what we're carrying).

It also seems that neither 1st nor 2nd class, when using a credit card and the app, give off-hour discounts and the site still mentions Chipkaart and OVPay, which i'm not sure we need.

I'm still looking for a little more help.

Thanks.

John

There are a couple Dutch regulars on here that can answer better than I, but here goes...

The Chipkaart is a loadable pay card, not sure it offers any advantage over tap to pay, maybe more hassle in that you have to load it, manage the balance, and then maybe get a refund of unused amount, maybe not.

OVPay is more the nationwide system. If you use your credit card to tap in and out, you are using OVPay. The system works for all public transport, trains, buses, trams, and metro. You can download the OVPay app, but really, about all that will tell you is your history of use and the cost, and it does allow you to correct a transaction, it is not needed to use tap-to-pay.

There really is no need to use First class, all your trips are short, the tap system is second class passage, gives you the appropriate rate for the time and distance. It is not valid though on Eurostar, or private buses (like the dedicated bus to Keukenhof as part of the Combi-ticket)

So not really confusing, just each have a credit card, or phone wallet, and tap in, tap out, and don't worry about it.

Not sure where your hotel is but trams in Amsterdam may get you close, but if dragging your bags is an issue, a taxi might be the option there.

“ I don't see anything on the rail site that talks about local trams/buses that I'll need to get from the station to hour hotels and to get round towns.”

What rail site?

“It also seems that neither 1st nor 2nd class, when using a credit card and the app, give off-hour discounts and the site still mentions Chipkaart and OVPay, which i'm not sure we need.”

Again, what site are you on? OV Pay is a fairly new thing, so any site mentioning it is actually quite up to date and not still mentioning it.

In general OV Pay may be the easiest. No matter if you use busses, trains or trams, you simply tap your card at the reader when you enter the train station or when you board the bus or tram. You tap again when you exit the train station or disembark from the bus or tram and the fare is calculated.
There is no automatic off-hour discount for the trains. There is only a time-price deal available on certain less busy routes. Trains from from and to Schiphol Airport never have these time-price deals. The price-time deals need to be bought in advance and are only available via the website of the national railway company www.ns.nl/en

I don't see anything on the rail site that talks about local
trams/buses that I'll need to get from the station to hour hotels and
to get round towns. (Remember our ages and what we're carrying).

You can just tap in and out with your credit card for the trams and buses, in addition to the trains. There is no need to purchase any tickets. It really is that simple.

Perhaps the use of OV Pay is what is causing confusion. That is just the way to pay using your credit card. So, instead of saying “tap in and out with a credit card” they are saying “use OVpay” which is just using your credit card. No app or tickets needed.

https://www.ovpay.nl/en/how-it-works

Dutch_traveler, I was referring to Carrie's post she references to her trip report which listed https://www.ns.nl/en/travel-information/ns-app site.

That is the railroad's site.

I think for traveling with our bags, we'll probably use first class and use second class for the other routes. We are pretty old and it would make it easier for her.

So, if I can tap on and off trams, trains and buses with my credit card, would there be any advantage to OVpay?

35 years ago when we first started making trips to Europe, it was so much simpler but now in the twilight, it seems so difficult.

I guess there's no need to pre-register our cards and if we need to use a different one, we are okay as long as we use the same one for on/off on any trip.

Can the credit card be used for first class tap in or will we have to purchase a ticket at the kiosk?

I'll just have to remember to bring my "We didn't vote for the lunatic and his clowns" shirt.

Thanks again to everyone for the suggestions.

“ So, if I can tap on and off trams, trains and buses with my credit card, would there be any advantage to OVpay?”

May I suggest you to reread the previous answers again. The system that allows you to use your debit/credit card nationwide on trams, trains and buses is called OV Pay. So when you use your credit card to tap in and out, you use OV Pay.

“ Can the credit card be used for first class tap in or will we have to purchase a ticket at the kiosk?”

On trains, OV Pay is programmed to charge you the 2nd class fare. If you want to travel 1st class on trains, you’ll need to buy train tickets online or at the train station. But even with luggage, there really is no need for traveling first class.

If you are planning to use one (non-AMEX) credit card between the two of you, one can use the physical credit card and the other Apple or Google Pay on a device to tap in and out.

Of course, you can still procure tickets at the train and metro stations or on buses and trams (no cash) or get (for example GVB) day tickets for Amsterdam (instead of procuring tickets for each individual metro, tram or bus trips) when there).

Regarding first class, there really is no advantage with luggage. There are no porters or luggage people, you still have to get to the same platform as the rest of the people, go through the same train doors, there are just different seats, and really no more storage.

We can afford first class on train. Should we choose that?

These train rides will be very short and I can't think of a reason to choose anything but the normal 2nd class tickets.

Regarding the how to plan the multiple steps from a starting point to a finishing point to identify mass transit options along the route, Google Maps is a great starting point and gets you 95+% of the answer you will need.

Go to Google Maps, choose your starting point (hotel/dock/restaurant/whatever), and then "directions", add the destination point and click the little train icon. That will show, for example, going from Centraal to a downtown Haarlem hotel will be a combination of a train (Intercity/Sprinter) and a bus (maybe the 2 or the 300), and then a walk of a tiny bit. And you'll also be able to drill down more plus get the estimated times, platforms, and even step-by-step directions once there.

And the tapping of a credit card (really a unique card/phone/watch) is super easy to do and likely the least complicated bit once you've done it once.

Please be patient with me.

Carrie had mentioned about using the credit card to check in and out and I had previously read about OVpay but now it seems they are one and the same thing - to use the tap-in credit card, I have to use OVpay. Is that correct? That's what confused me.

We both have phones and we'll each use a different credit card.

We are flying from Atlanta to Copenhagen then another flight to Amsterdam. Unlike when we were young, this will be a far more draining trip than when we were young. I'm a disabled veteran and we both have medical issues. I figured that after the long trip, first class would be less stressful if 2nd class was crowded. Even if everything goes well on our flights, we'll be tired, I'll be grumpy and she will be stressed out. We'll decide when we arrive at Schiphol which class to take but I want to be prepared.

Thanks once again and I do appreciate the advice. As a retired engineer, I do want to fully understand all alternatives in advance. After 52 years together, I know how just a small bit of confusion can make a wonderful trip become a disaster for her and trigger her medical problems.

We were just in Haarlem April 2024. You do not need to stay at the airport the night before your flight home.
There is a #300 bus that you meet in front of the Haarlem train station. It runs every ten minutes. It takes about 30 minutes to the airport. You also tap pay for this bus.
The train to the airport involves changing trains, so the #300 bus is the most convenient mode.
When is this trip? Sorry if I missed that.
I have attached my Trip Report.
Enjoy this wonderful country. Safe travels!

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/the-netherlands-belgium-april-2024-brought-the-rain-pants-needed-the-rain-pants

“ Carrie had mentioned about using the credit card to check in and out and I had previously read about OVpay but now it seems they are one and the same thing - to use the tap-in credit card, I have to use OVpay. Is that correct? That's what confused me.”

Just like in the USA or Canada, there are different public transport companies providing public transport in the Netherlands. There isn’t 1 single company that operates all the trains, busses, trams and subways in the entire country. The trains throughout the entire country are mainly operated by NS, trams and subways in Amsterdam are run by GVB, trams in Delft are run by HTM etc etc.
So when all these different companies and the Dutch banks came together to organize that people ilcould simply use their debit or credit card to tap in and out in public transport throughout the entire country, they wanted to have a name for this new payment method. They decided to call it OVPay. OV is the acronym of Openbaar Vervoer, which means Public Transport. And Pay is the English word pay. It may seem strange to use an English word for a Dutch thing, but the Dutch word would be longer and we use a lot of English words anyway. Besides that, in Dutch “OV” is pronounced as Oooh Vay so it nicely rhymes with Pay.

Having written all that, the important thing to remember is that you don’t need to do or activate anything to use OVPay. Just by tapping your credit card at a reader you already use OVPay. I hope this clears it up.

OVpay is a payment and integrated ticketing system. This system allows you to use your credit card to tap in and tap out (more information here: https://www.ovpay.nl/en/how-it-works). By tapping in and out, you are using OVpay.; it is the system behind it that makes this work.

For your trip from Amsterdam to Haarlem, (and maybe from Schiphol to Amsterdam), you can check in the NS app what two first class ticket will cost in advance and compare this to the costs of an Uber. The price difference could be such that using an Uber may be an alternative to consider on these relatively short stretches..

If you use Uber, they come to where you are, and they will lift your heavy bag into their car. If you have never used Uber, have a younger person show you how to use it. I’m 75, and I used it many times last Spring in Europe for the first time, after I was shown how to use it. All the drivers were very friendly and always handled my bags.

Thanks, dutch_traveler! I found your explanation of OV pay very helpful, I myself also get confused on the travel options in and around Amsterdam. I may have missed it in the above posts, but is the OV Pay only valid for travel in AMS, or does it work to get to Haarlem, Leiden etc?

OVpay isn’t limited to just Amsterdam and works in the entire country. Participating parties can be found here: https://www.ovpay.nl/en/about-ovpay-who-is-in.

Getting to Haarlem, Leiden, etc. wouldn’t be an issue using OVpay.

Thank you for all of this information! I added this App on my phone, and a pay card. However, I noticed that the user is instructed to use this App within 60 days, which I won't, so I may have to do this again. I would not bother with the APP but I am paying for myself and a grandson using one credit card. As I understand it, I can swipe the phone for one of us, and use the card for one of us. I admit that I am not wild about having to take out my best travel Credit Card each time, but I can make it work. I am definitely not going to use two different credit cards each time.

Thanks everyone. Our trip leaves from the U.S. in the middle of March and I think now I have everything I need. I loaded the OVPay app on both our phones but we have not yet attached a credit card to either app (we'll be each using our own card numbers and I have explained it all to her how it works based on what I read here and on the OVPay site. I think we're good to go.

Anne, does one of you have an Apple Watch?

I think we're good to go.

Unfortunately, it sounds like you are still unclear. You do not need to use the OVPay app. You just need to tap with your credit card at the gates. You are going to use your credit card, not an app.

You are making this more complicated than it is. To pay, you will simply tap with your credit card. You do not need a phone or an app to do this. And no tickets.

"Unfortunately, it sounds like you are still unclear. You do not need to use the OVPay app. You just need to tap with your credit card at the gates. You are going to use your credit card, not an app.

You are making this more complicated than it is. To pay, you will simply tap with your credit card. You do not need a phone or an app to do this. And no tickets. "

With the Credit Card ties to the app, I believe I can see the transactions as well as see if we forgot to tap in or out and to set up as being seniors.

With the Credit Card ties to the app, I believe I can see the transactions as well as see if we forgot to tap in or out and to set up as being seniors.

You can see your transactions, though you do need to go through a process where once you tap in and out, and the transaction posts on your credit card statement, you can enter additional transaction details that will link the account. I did not bother with this.

As for any Senior discount, I believe that only applies to resident Chipkaart holders, who then link their Dutch bank debit account. OV-Pay then allows them the discount using their debit card or phone only, as opposed to having to use the chipcaart.

As for any Senior discount, I believe that only applies to resident Chipkaart holders, who then link their Dutch bank debit account. OV-Pay then allows them the discount using their debit card or phone only, as opposed to having to use the chipcaart.

After almost a month and a half, I finally get a reply from OVPay to that question:

Thank you for your message on January 25, 2025. I apologize for the delayed response. You indicate that you would like to use age discount while you’re visiting the Netherlands. I understand that you have questions about the age discount. Hereby I give you my response.

Use the OVpay app to add your age-based discount to your contactless card. With this discount, you’ll save 34% on bus, tram or metro travel.

To all those that replied to my original post and my other replies, I want to thank you all. We had a great trip.

We followed our original plan and I'm glad we did. We arrived in Schiphol and immediately took the train to Delft for two nights. Loved it. One change was that we did NOT take first class - we took one look at the first class and second class compartments and decided there really was virtually no difference and first class was virtually empty. Others in second class helped us with our bags.

After Delft, we took the train back to Amsterdam to catch our cruise. Unfortunately, neither Google Maps nor any of the Netherlands apps showed any way but walking to get to the cruise port for our 9 day cruise. We ended up dragging our heavy bags and, because we took the lower road which ended in a dead end with the need to climb a lot of stairs to get to the upper road, resulting in my having to carry each one up separately as she couldn't lift that kind of weight.

Upon arrival by the port, we discovered that there was a tram and two different buses that would have taken us from Centraal Station to the port with just a short walk to the ship. Our cruise ship was very enjoyable and we got to see a number of towns with tour guides and all were included in the fare.

After the cruise ended, we planned to take the tram to Centraal Station and the train to Haarlem. That day, Centraal station was closed as they were doing track work near it so we would have to get to a different Amsterdam station to get to Haarlem. She (who must be obeyed) said she wanted to take a taxi to the station so I went along with that. Then the taxi driver convinced her that he could take us to the hotel in Haarlem directly for not much more. She insisted we do that and it cost us MUCH more. But after 53 years of marriage, I could not disagree nor complain.

We spent 5 nights in Haarlem and had a great time while also taking train trips to Alkmaar and Zandvoort aan Zee.

We stayed our last night near Schiphol and I'm glad we did. It allowed us a relaxing morning in Haarlem, a nice bus ride without worrying if we would arrive at the airport on time and a relaxing night. Because we had an early flight, along with the confusion finding the SAS check-in counter and a broken luggage conveyor, it would have been a nightmare for us to not be there 2 hours early.

Lastly, to those that said to skip the OVPay app, you are dead wrong. We got a discount on the bus because we were seniors and were overcharged on one of our bus rides. It was only having the app that proved we were not taking the bus from the wrong location. OVPay gives one a clear indication of sign-in/sign-out and the times and locations.

Again, thanks for everything from all of you.
Again, thanks to everyone.

Thanks for reporting back. Glad you had a nice time.