How to use Dutch trains, trams, metros and buses

The short answer: you do not need a ticket or a travel card. On every train, tram, metro and bus in the Netherlands you tap your own contactless debit or credit card, or your phone or smartwatch, on the card reader when you get on and again when you get off. The fare is calculated automatically. Each traveller needs their own card or phone, and you check out with the same one you checked in with.

The system is called OVpay and it covers the whole country, so the card that gets you from Schiphol to Delft also works on the tram in The Hague and the metro in Rotterdam. It is also how our guides travel with guests on our multi-city tours.

Arriving by cruise ship in Rotterdam? The metro from the cruise terminal works exactly as described below, and a contactless card is all you need. Our Rotterdam cruise terminal guide covers the walk to the metro and the way into the city, and Rotterdam cruise port on your own has timed plans for Delft and Kinderdijk in 6, 8 or 10 hours. If you would rather not watch the clock, our shore excursions from Rotterdam start and end at the terminal.

Do I need a ticket for Dutch public transport?

No. Trains, trams, metros and buses form one network with one way of paying. You check in at the start of your journey, check out at the end, and the system charges the right fare. Contactless debit and credit cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay all work. Afterwards you can see your journeys and what you paid in the OVpay app or on ovpay.nl.

If you prefer a ticket, that is still possible: see the section on paper tickets below.

How do I take a train or metro?

At most larger stations you pass electronic gates. Hold your card or phone against the reader to open them, on the way in and on the way out. Where there are no gates, the card readers stand at the entrance or on the platform: tap before you board, and tap again when you leave the station at the other end.

When you change from one vehicle to another, for example from a train to a bus, you check out of the first and check in again on the next, with the same card.

One small habit saves trouble: take the card out of your wallet or phone case when you tap, so the reader cannot pick up a second card by mistake.

How do I take a tram or bus?

Trams and buses have no gates. The card readers are inside the vehicle near the doors, or on the platform at some tram stops. Tap when you get on and again when you get off. The fare is based on the distance you travelled.

If you forget to check out, you can claim the difference back afterwards through your travel overview on ovpay.nl, but it is easier not to need to.

Can two people travel on one card?

No. You cannot travel with several people on one card: every traveller checks in with their own card, phone or watch. If not everyone in your group has a contactless card, buy tickets for the others in the NS app for train journeys, or from a ticket machine.

Can I still buy a paper ticket?

Yes. At most train stations you can buy tickets from the yellow ticket machines, which take cards and in some cases cash. The screen can be switched to English, and you can buy a ticket for a single route or for a set period. At larger stations there is also a staffed service counter.

Do I need an OV-chipkaart or the new OV-pas?

Not for a holiday. The OV-chipkaart, the old Dutch travel card, is being replaced by the OV-pas, a card linked to an online OVpay account; the OV-chipkaart is expected to stop at the end of 2027. Both are mainly useful for people who live or work in the Netherlands and want subscriptions or discounts. A visitor with a contactless card does not need either.

Want to travel first class on the train with your bank card? That has to be set up in an OVpay account first, on ovpay.nl or in the app.

How do I plan a journey?

The Dutch Railways (NS) journey planner is reliable and easy to use, on the website and in the NS app. Google Maps and Apple Maps also work well and are updated in real time when there are delays.

Public transport takes you further than the cities: our guide to Kinderdijk without a car shows how to reach the windmills by bus and boat. And if you wonder whether you will need cash on the way, our post on tipping, cash and cards has the answer.

Is Dutch public transport accessible?

Largely, yes. Most trains have step-free access at the larger stations, with lifts, ramps and clearly marked priority seats. Trams and buses are increasingly low-floor, which makes boarding with a wheelchair, walker or pushchair easier. Announcements are both spoken and shown on screens.

For train journeys you can request travel assistance in advance. The details are on the NS page on travelling with a disability.

Sources: 9292 and OVpay (how paying by card works), NS (journey planner and travel assistance), checked October 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use Apple Pay or Google Pay on Dutch trains?

Yes. A phone, a smartwatch or a contactless card all work on trains, trams, metros and buses. Check out with the same device you checked in with: if you tapped in with your phone, tap out with your phone, not with the physical card.

Can two people use one bank card?

No. Every traveller needs their own card, phone or watch. For anyone in your group without a contactless card, buy a ticket in the NS app or at a ticket machine.

What happens if I forget to check out?

You may be charged more than the journey cost. You can claim the difference back through your travel overview in the OVpay app or on ovpay.nl.

Do I need an OV-chipkaart as a tourist?

No. A contactless debit or credit card, or a phone with Apple Pay or Google Pay, is all you need. The OV-chipkaart and its successor, the OV-pas, are mainly for residents who want subscriptions or discounts.

Can I travel first class with my bank card?

Yes, but only after you have set this up in an OVpay account on ovpay.nl or in the OVpay app. Otherwise buy a first-class ticket in the NS app.