OVchipcard

The OV-chipkaart is a personal or anonymous smart card used for public transport in the Netherlands. It replaced paper tickets and the strippenkaart system. The card can be loaded with credit or a subscription. To travel, passengers check in by holding the OV-chipkaart against a reader at the start of their journey and check out at the end by doing the same at the exit reader. The fare is then automatically calculated and deducted from the card's balance.

There are several types of OV-chipkaart. The personal OV-chipkaart is linked to an individual, allows for subscriptions and discounts to be loaded onto it, and can be blocked if lost or stolen. The anonymous OV-chipkaart is not linked to any person and is suitable for occasional travelers. A starter package containing an anonymous OV-chipkaart can be purchased at many locations.

The OV-chipkaart is used on trains, trams, buses, and metro services operated by various public transport companies throughout the Netherlands. It is a key component of the modern public transportation system in the country, aiming for efficiency and ease of use for travelers. The system is managed by TransLink Systems.