Getting around: OV-chipkaart, trains, and the apps
How public transport works here, what a personal OV-chipkaart gets you, and the discounts students miss.
Check in, check out
Every bus, tram, metro and train uses the same system. Tap in when you board, tap out when you leave, or you pay the maximum fare. You can pay with a bank card (OVpay) or an OV-chipkaart.
Get a personal OV-chipkaart
Order it online at ov-chipkaart.nl (€7.50, needs a Dutch address). You need the personal one for discounts, the student travel product, and to see your travel history for expense claims.
Discounts worth having
- NS Flex Weekend Vrij / Dal Voordeel: 40% off off-peak trains for about €5 a month. Pays back on one trip.
- Student travel product (DUO): free travel if you qualify. Guide.
- Group tickets and day returns: weekend group tickets for 4+ people are absurdly cheap.
Apps
NS (trains), 9292 (everything), Google Maps works fine too. Trains are punctual and expensive; buses are cheap and slow; bikes win everything under 5 km.
Airport arrival
Schiphol has a train station under the terminal. Tap in with your bank card, tap out at your city. Eindhoven airport: bus 400/401 to Eindhoven station. Maastricht and Groningen have direct trains from the big hubs; budget 2 to 3 hours from Schiphol.