Public transport tickets in the Netherlands: Travelling on public transport
In the Netherlands you use a public transport card called the ‘OV-chipkaart’. You can use this OV-chipkaart on the train, bus, tram and metro services throughout the country. There are several different types of public transport cards available. In many cases you can also use your contactless debit card, credit card or mobile phone to check in and out.
Choose the right ticket for you
A single, disposable paper ticket is probably the best option if you only plan to use the train, bus, tram or metro once. However, the OV-chipkaart can save you money if you plan to use the train, bus, tram or metro more frequently and over a longer period of time.
Buying a public transport ticket at Schiphol
At Schiphol, you can buy the single paper ticket at the blue-grey ‘Public Transport Tickets’ machines. These are located at the baggage reclaim area of Arrivals 3 and just outside Arrivals 3, at the escalators, up to Departures 3. In these ticket machines you can also buy your Amsterdam Travel Ticket.
It’s easy to buy and top up the rechargeable public transport chip card at the NS ticket machines at all railway stations. These yellow machines are operated by the national train carrier ‘Nederlandse Spoorwegen’ (NS), At Schiphol you will find them at Schiphol Plaza.
Amsterdam Travel Ticket
With the Amsterdam Travel Ticket, you are able to travel on virtually all of Amsterdam’s public transport. You can buy a one, two or three-day pass. Your ticket also includes the trip between Schiphol and Amsterdam, by Amsterdam Express (bus 397).
Always check in and out
It’s important to always check-in and check-out when you travel. It’s easy – if you travel by train or metro, you just need to swipe your card at the card readers at the stations/platform. For the bus and tram, you do this at the readers on board the bus or tram.