opstap

Opstap is a Dutch noun that literally combines op (onto) and stap (step). It refers to the act of boarding or getting onto a vehicle or vessel, i.e., the moment or process of stepping onto something. The term is most commonly encountered in public transport contexts, where it is closely related to instap (boarding) and afstap (alighting).

In transport usage, opstap denotes the boarding event and can also refer to the location where boarding occurs. Signage and timetables may indicate the opstapplaats or opstapzone as the point where passengers should board, as distinct from the afstapplaats where passengers leave the vehicle. In practice, many operators prefer instap, while opstap remains common in some regional or historical signage and documentation.

Beyond transportation, opstap can be used more generally to describe a step onto a platform, stage, or surface when entering a vehicle, building, or other area. The word is primarily used in Dutch and is understood in Dutch-speaking areas of the Netherlands and Belgium (Flanders). Etymologically it reflects a literal act of stepping onto something, in contrast with afstap and related terms describing departure or alighting.

See also: instap, afstap, boarding (in travel contexts).