tariefkaartjes

Tariefkaartjes are small cards or tickets that display tariffs or prices for a service, product, or admission. They function as a reference for pricing and, in some cases, as proof of payment or authorization to use a service. In public transport, tariefkaartjes historically indicated the fare for a journey, often broken down by zone, distance, or time, and could be used in conjunction with another ticket or as a single-use card.

Historically, tariefkaartjes were widely used in tramways, buses, and rail networks in Dutch-speaking regions, especially in the 19th and early 20th centuries. They were printed with the current tariff structure, including base fares, distance surcharges, and distinctions for children or reduced-rate passengers. Some tariefkaartjes also served as validation tools, being stamped or punched by conductors when a ride was taken.

Beyond transportation, tariefkaartjes have appeared as price lists for services or admissions, such as museums, theaters, or industrial tariffs. In these contexts, they convey the applicable prices or terms of access at a given time.

In the modern era, physical tariefkaartjes have largely been replaced by digital tickets, smart cards, or mobile apps that encode fares electronically. Nevertheless, the term remains in historical references and in philatelic or archival studies, where old tariefkaartjes are collected and analyzed as part of transportation or commercial history.