Amsterdam was one of the first cities to embrace the chip card system for public transport. Yeah, we loved our paper stamped ‘strippenkaart’ as well, but on a rainy day or when left in the laundry, that piece of paper was doomed unusable. So now we have evolved, we’ve got another plastic card to fill our wallets. The OV-chip card, one card for busses, trams, subway and railway. But for tourists, it is not always very clear how this system works. So here’s a short how-to and where-to-get, but let’s start with the essential: what fits you best?
Think ahead
Don’t think of Amsterdam as a London or New York kind of city. You might end up walking most of the time. I often see people buying a ticket on the tram from Dam Square to Anne Frank house, paying $3 for a one-way paper ticket. The walk from Dam to Westermarkt (the stop for Anne Frank’s) is less than 10 minutes. Do you need public transport from your hotel to the city center everyday? Try to get an idea of how much you are actually going to use the public transport.
Card purchase and top-up machines at the central train station of Amsterdam
Tosser or keeper
So one choice is to buy a card for 24 hours, 48, up to 1 week of hassle-free travel all day long. Mind you, this is a paper disposable chipcard available at several locations like the AKO bookstores (located at Schiphol and most train stations), and at the automats on train and subway stations. You can find the rates here. If you are going to stay a couple of days, and are in the city center, you might want an anonymous plastic card. This one’s 7,50 and then you top up.
Mobile top-up machine
Chip card purchase
You can get a card from a machine, but I suggest you walk into one of the AKO book shops at the station. It’s just easier, machines are stupid, a friendly guy behind the counter who has seen the likes of you forty times that morning is not. Ask for the anonymous card. Ask up front if your bank card is useable for top up and where you can top up, chances are there’s a machine right there in the shop. Check if your card works, if not, don’t panic. The bigger machines at the subway and train stations accept coins.
Top-up
You’ve got the card, now you’ll have to stick some money on there. You’ll find the mobile top-up in supermarkets, stores, tourist info’s etcetera. They take cards, not coins, and you can not purchase a new card here. Chances are you’re the Schiphol or central station when you want to buy the card. In
Typical card purchase and top-up machine on the subway station
that case, lucky you, the machines are all around. If you bought the card from a machine, you can use that machine for top-up. Just press ‘English’ and follow the instructions. Ask for help! How much? Well, when you’re not planning on taking the train, and you stick around for a couple of days, just start with €15,-.
How to know what your expenses will be and choose between daycard or chipcard
If you’re on a budget, or if you’re like me and you just prefer the experience of getting the same card as locals use, then here’s a way to figure out if it’s worth your money. There’s this website, that’ll give you the fee for a trip, which means you can look at a typical day and see how much it would cost. Would you take the subway or tram? How many stops? Don’t forget: walking in Amsterdam gets you far. Check this website and get a picture of your travels and fees. Also, you can plan your trip from Schiphol to Amsterdam, easy does it!
Still in the weeds? Ask me a question! I read your comments.
Thanks very nice blog!